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Postpartum depression advice

3 replies

marvmaise · 09/07/2021 19:06

This is going to be long- but I have previously suffered with depression and anxiety before and during pregnancy, I've had therapy for 5+ years but that didn't help. I also use to be in a position where I had partner/ family telling me horror stories of medications making me not want to take what the doctor prescribed which was stupid but that's my fault for listening.
3 weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful son, the first week I felt fine just lots of hormones but since then I've just felt numb. I love my baby to bits but I just feel so unhappy in my self. I'm dealing with body issues too. I can't describe it but everything I'm doing it's just like I feel numb and I'm just doing it to do it, does that make any sense. I know lack of sleep probably doesn't help, but I don't feel tired I feel restless. Everything I do taking the baby out in the pram it's just pure anxiety, crying, sometimes I'm watching tv but I'm not even watching it I'm just staring into space, I probably sound insane.
I want to reach out for help but with my track record with mental health I'm worried that my doctor ect will say I'm unfit to be a mum. I don't want to hurt myself I don't want to hurt my baby i take care of him the best I can and I love him, I just want to feel happy that's it. Long story but please be kind I am a first time mum trying to be the best she can be I just feel so stuck.

OP posts:
marvmaise · 09/07/2021 19:08

@marvmaise

This is going to be long- but I have previously suffered with depression and anxiety before and during pregnancy, I've had therapy for 5+ years but that didn't help. I also use to be in a position where I had partner/ family telling me horror stories of medications making me not want to take what the doctor prescribed which was stupid but that's my fault for listening. 3 weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful son, the first week I felt fine just lots of hormones but since then I've just felt numb. I love my baby to bits but I just feel so unhappy in my self. I'm dealing with body issues too. I can't describe it but everything I'm doing it's just like I feel numb and I'm just doing it to do it, does that make any sense. I know lack of sleep probably doesn't help, but I don't feel tired I feel restless. Everything I do taking the baby out in the pram it's just pure anxiety, crying, sometimes I'm watching tv but I'm not even watching it I'm just staring into space, I probably sound insane. I want to reach out for help but with my track record with mental health I'm worried that my doctor ect will say I'm unfit to be a mum. I don't want to hurt myself I don't want to hurt my baby i take care of him the best I can and I love him, I just want to feel happy that's it. Long story but please be kind I am a first time mum trying to be the best she can be I just feel so stuck.
I also feel like a terrible mother not feeling happy that I have this amazing blessing. And I don't want to talk about it to anyone I know just incase they think the same.
OP posts:
marvmaise · 09/07/2021 19:22

@marvmaise

This is going to be long- but I have previously suffered with depression and anxiety before and during pregnancy, I've had therapy for 5+ years but that didn't help. I also use to be in a position where I had partner/ family telling me horror stories of medications making me not want to take what the doctor prescribed which was stupid but that's my fault for listening. 3 weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful son, the first week I felt fine just lots of hormones but since then I've just felt numb. I love my baby to bits but I just feel so unhappy in my self. I'm dealing with body issues too. I can't describe it but everything I'm doing it's just like I feel numb and I'm just doing it to do it, does that make any sense. I know lack of sleep probably doesn't help, but I don't feel tired I feel restless. Everything I do taking the baby out in the pram it's just pure anxiety, crying, sometimes I'm watching tv but I'm not even watching it I'm just staring into space, I probably sound insane. I want to reach out for help but with my track record with mental health I'm worried that my doctor ect will say I'm unfit to be a mum. I don't want to hurt myself I don't want to hurt my baby i take care of him the best I can and I love him, I just want to feel happy that's it. Long story but please be kind I am a first time mum trying to be the best she can be I just feel so stuck.
Also bodily issues- it's just every meal I eat even though I haven't got much of an appetite as it is, my mind starts telling me that I shouldn't of eaten that and I should be loosing weight instead, which then leads me to feel sick to my stomach- which probably sounds insane but it doesn't help that my partner openly gets off to other girls while I can't satisfy him understandably and my insecurities make me feel awful about it like I have to compete with them which may sound so stupid and I'll probably be judged for it because he says it's normal but I just can't seem to be accept it.
OP posts:
BrokenLink · 09/07/2021 19:40

You sound like you have good insight into your mental health and you are reaching out for support which is all good. It is by no means too late to start taking medication for your mood. Have another discussion with your doctor. Your negative thoughts about your body are part of the depression and will probably also improve with medication. The vast majority of women feel very unhappy about their bodies after childbirth and realistically it will take a while to go back to normal. Your body has created a new human being and you are meeting all of your babies needs. You totally deserve some kindness and appreciation.

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