Activities to do to make me like my baby

[istill]

I am suffering from PND and not in a great place. I stopped taking the antidepressants but I wouldn’t have said they were making me like DD, just made me in a better place and not wanting to walking out into oncoming traffic.

DD is 5 months.

We’ve tried baby massage, it was a course with the NCT and it was nice meeting other people but whenever I to do it, she is really uncooperative.

Skin to skin doesn’t work and I get her at a bad time.

I’ve tried reading and playing but everything just goes in her mouth.

Any other suggestions?

what about a bath together? put a change mat down next to the bath with a towel on it so you can pop her over the side when you want to get out

In all honestly, I was the same as you until I went back to work. I go 3 days a week, DS goes to nursery. I get adult conversation and feel like me again, he gets a lot of attention and activities there so I don't feel too guilty on the days he has less activities at home. I do things with him he can't do at nursery like take him out for a walk, take him to get weighed etc. This morning we spent an hour folding one load of washing because he loved to unfold it. I literally make no firm plans because as soon as I try to rush him, he gets into playing with something and then I feel bad. Baby classes did nothing for me other than make me feel like everyone else had their shit together and I didn't!! It will get better op

I second trying to do some things you enjoy and bring DD along (walk, swimming, time outside)

I just wanted to say I found this age really hard - once DD could walk and now she talks too (she’s 2.3) it all got so much easier & more enjoyable.

People say toddlers are hard work / difficult but I’d rather have 10 2 year olds than one little baby! Hopefully things will start to get better for you really soon.

SIL has 2 with a similar age gap to what you will have. Pregnancy and first months were hard, but now they are the best of friends, and she never has to do nappies etc again!

It is so very normal to have feelings like this and not many people will admit it to themselves let alone speak to others about it. With my first child (and no PND to contend with) I didn’t have feelings for her for 9 months, with my second child it comes and goes and he’s a toddler now.

This all pervasive love and liking your child thing doesn’t happen for everyone and is often romanticised in baby groups. The rush of love thing does come eventually but it can take a while. Babies are hard.

How do you grow to like and love them more? Take time away from them regularly.

@istill sorry if you thought I was criticising you,I'm sure you will come through the other side