PND Vs. Chronic sleep deprivation

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I have a 20 week old baby who wakes to feed every 90 minutes/2 hours in the night. He's exclusively breastfed and our attempts to wean him onto a bottle have been a disaster. We've had HV input, and whilst sympathetic, they've not been much practical help.

As a result of not sleeping, I am really struggling with my mood. I am quick to anger/take offence, feel hopeless and useless. I have been suicidal and self harmed but it's been much better recently.

I thought I had PND, but then about 2 weeks ago the baby slept s tiny bit better, and I felt like my old self again. It was wonderful, and really gave me hope.

Didn't last longer than a week as he's gone back to not sleeping BUT it made me think that maybe I don't have PND.

DH disagrees and thinks I need to see a GP. I'm not averse to this as if it's having a wider impact on family then I need t try and sort it,

I wonder whether an AD would help, but the I think really what I need is SLEEP!!!

I'd welcome your experiences if you've had similar. Did ADs help you? I've tried them all in the past to no avail

I was in exactly the same situation with my second baby; breastfed, wouldn't settle with anyone else or take a bottle, waking 2 hourly for months. I was absolutely exhausted. I ended up taking ADs but have weaned off them as sleeping improved. We stopped bf at 17 months (his choice) and shortly after he started sleeping through or (more often) waking once. Sleep deprivation is culminative for me so a couple of good nights wasn't enough to fix it. Definitely speak to your GP. You don't have to suffer.

Also, not to scare you but at 20 weeks they may be a way off sleeping through. Mine were 14 and 17 months! You may be in for the long haul - see the Dr

😏 thank you Quilliam, I think you're probably right.

Did the ADs help in your case?

I could have written your post OP except we are formula feeding. At one point I was so exhausted I was hallucinating and cried every single day. I also thought I was slipping into PND.

I decided enough was enough and we had to try get DS sleeping again. We'd kind of just been winging it up until recently so put a plan in place. We addressed his naps, sleeping environment and stopped rushing in every time he cried.

We also split the night in 2 so DH takes him up until his last feed at about 11/12 I put earplugs in and go to bed as early as I can. I then take over from then and deal with him until 7am when DH takes him again for an hour for morning feed. Is there anyway that you can split the nights? I feel like I'm finally getting back to myself again after just a few nights getting 6/7 hours sleep.

You have to just find a way to get through it until your LO decides to start sleeping better. DS is getting a bit better but I reckon is a long way off sleeping through if you feel you need help please go see your GP

Yes, they did. I was only on a low dose but it gave me back my resilience and I stopped feeling so overwhelmed and teary. I also started to be nicer to DH. Now I'm off them I'm seeing therapist instead who is wonderful - definitely recommended though it's an expensive option. We'd sacked the cleaner recently so I'm using that money and living in a dirty house.