Previous PND sufferer - can I reduce the chance of getting it second time round?

[cg007]

DD1 is 19 months old, and I had terrible PND for the first 12 months which was helped (a bit) by Seroxat. Thinking about having baby no 2 but really concerned about entering the long black tunnel of PND again, particularly with a toddler AND a newborn to cope with! What can I do (if anything?) to reduce my chances of getting it a second time round? Has anyone tried progesterone therapy? Or ADs during pregnancy? Or counselling? I know I can't control PND but if there is anything that will minimise the risk of a repeat performance, I'd do it!

I have similar concerns. Is there a specialist team in your area? I saw peri-natal team and they did CBT. Said they would see me again in any subsequent pregnancy.
It's horrible to think of going back there, I agree, but have many more positive feelings about how things would be different with more experience under my belt.
Sorry this is short - toddler on knee!

I don't think there is a specialist team in my area, but I could press my GP for more info. Experience I am sure will help, but I can't help think about women who get it with their second and subsequent babies - PND is no respecter of experience! At least I have a wider support network of other mums around me this time around. When I had DD1 I knew no-one in my area!

This is what worries me too. In my case I think it was 50:50 between too high expectations of self and chemical/hormonal changes. But what if it was just all chemical and nothing I can control! I think support is essential, and not having too much change in your life before you give birth. When I had DD we had got married, travelled extensively, moved house, and coped with redundancy all in one year. By the time I got to the pregnancy and birth I had very little reserve left. Also I knew very few people with small children and both sets of parents were quite far away.
Talk to your GP, and see what he/she says. What you know now is though, that it DOES get better... so even if you do get it again, it may not seem like the bleak dark hole you can't get out of like it did the first time.
I'm thinking of trying again later on this year. DD is 2.5yrs. If I don't do it soon I may never get around to it!

A worry for me too, I've spoken to my Gp about a drug I've heard of here called Cyclogest whcih is give to you immediatley after the birth or a few weeks beforehand and its supposed to level out those hormones. My Gp is presecribing it for me form 36 weeks.

Interesting... is it compatible with breastfeeding though?

Thats something i forgot to ask him at the time, bit of a Doh! moment as i plan to breastfeed myself so am going to find out when i see midwife tomorrow!

Just did a bit of googling... as with all drugs and breastfeeding, they think not but they don't know! (Suspect no one would pass research past ethics board)

Am not sure if this was what she (MW) was on about, but last time because I suffer on and off (totally on now) with depression there is some sort of injection they give you after the birth or something? I was only half listening and it was 2.3 years ago now, but am sure it was some boost thing to help. I didn't have it, and just by coincedence really the first 8 odd months were the best in years - I did get it back again though (unsure if it's PND, or just got depression again). I guess it depends in a way how you manage your depression - I don't have medication anymore due to a) being pregnant b) just prefer not too really and c) if i'm that bad it's another thing to OD on so alot of my management is self management really which obviously is something I can give a good try at using to help after the birth of this one. Obviously everyone is different, and try as I may I do get to the point of medication again but my own sort of way this time is really try and prevent it as best I can in the ways I think triggers it - ie. I don't drink tea or coffee after about 5pm, not at all if I am feeling abit low or edgy, same with sugary things etc. But then maybe that is managing more my anxiety... SOrry, am really waffling now - from a medical side of it I guess the injection, and/or low dosage ADs before you possibly get it? That, and alot of 'practical' measures in place like putting a support network in place, doing the whole healthy eating/exercise/as much rest as you can to try and prevent it. Am so sorry, does that make any sense?

I've only heard of cyclogest in the form of going up your bum or fanjo (nice) not as an injection btw

Went to see the midwife today and she said that Cyclogest was okay to take if you are planning on breast feeding. phew.

Promising! Will you let us know how you get on? I'd really love to hear if it helps.

I too had PND with first baby (DD now 2.9), but I don't think as bad as you guys as never got to taking medication. It was a very black period in life and I was v. scared of it coming round again to point it almost put me off having another baby, but DS is now 15 weeks and I don't know when I last felt so content, actually think having him has been some kind of cure for me... it really, really might not happen again (although I was made cross by the number of people who kept telling me this when I was pregnant 2nd time, sorry). You WILL cope much better with no2. Baby may be a lot easier (even though you end up busier with toddler and baby on the go), you won't stress out over same things and you know early signs of PND to watch out for. I get so much pleasure from DS that was sadly lacking from DD's earlier days.

hi, i was pretty much the same as the last post, my ds is 4 and dd is 1, with my ds i was really down to the point of just not wanting him anymore, but i had alot of councilling and cbt and came of my antis, when ds was 2, when i was pregnant with my dd my partner cheated on me ( it was only a drunken kiss) and my mother cut me out of her life cos i took dp back ( only after making him see what his life not living with the kids would be like if he did it again). i was terrifed that i wouldnt be able to cope when i had my 2nd baby. but because of the cbt i was able to work hard on myself to get through the pregancy without letting myself dwell on what cant be changed, i know that i will always have depression but i have the skills to change the way i think about life, i hope this makes sense, if not just ask q's. xxxx

All really helpful info - thank you everyone. I'm going to make an appointment to see my GP and see what she says, and may stamp my foot about getting some CBT. If anyone hears of anything else, please let me know and best of luck to all of you lovely mummies x

I'm being referred to some specialist unit in manchester as I am ttc my second, but this might only be for people with psychosis problems, I dunno. I'll post back when I have more info.