What resolved your post natal depression?

[ParentalGuidances]

Other than medicine?

@MolliciousIntent I think sleep deprivation can lead to depression so improving sleep could work at curing some people’s depression but I know v well getting more sleep with small kids just isn’t a quick fix . Also tbf , although medication helps so many and I’ve nothing against it at all , a lot of people struggle to come off it.
Exercise can hugely help and sleep , can you go into another room with earplugs while your oh deals with the baby op?

Sleep training and going back to work (knowing the DCs were in a great nursery)

I was more just miserable and not myself than I think true pnd but I'm also going to say sleep training and going back to work. I went back at 6 months. It was ideal for me and I would do the same again.

I also started a mum and baby class around 5 months (when COVID restrictions we're lifted), which gave me time to just enjoy being with my baby, rather than just sorting out all the primary care stuff all the time. I felt like it really helped our bond after a bit of a rough start.

TM - transcendental meditation. Worked a treat for me.

Time (1.5 years or so) and a course of CBT which was incredibly helpful

Citalopram. Second time, citalopram and a course of behavioural activation therapy. Honestly, it was a chemical imbalance fixed with some medicine. As soon as I took it, it felt like my mind snapped back together.

A few hours out with a friend every week and not being mum.

Lots of talking Bout how I was feeling, exercise and CC.

honestly. when my kid went to school age 4.5

oh and giving up BFing when DD turned 2 y/o helped a lot

Sleep training, time and sertraline. The sleep training saved my sanity, the sertraline saved my life.

Same!

I love your mum

Yes, absolutely. Things vastly improved for me when DS was down to 1 wake up a night. Also doing the chores when he was awake during the day (so could have a cup of tea and a sit down / a nap when he napped), lots of walking with the pram and a bit of Zumba. It's bloody hard OP and I wish you the best.

Sleep, citalopram and time. A long time. Going back to work has also helped. Best wishes OP💐

Medication until the point at around 10 months I was FINALLY able to get some sleep!

Stopping breastfeeding at 9 months (which allowed me to get some time to myself and improved sleep) but mainly citalopram- no real exaggeration to say it saved my marriage (and possibly my life.)

Going back to work.
Planning things to look forward to.
Time.

Prozac
Sleep

Didn’t have PND after subsequent deliveries.

Eating well.

Taking supplements (particularly magnesium and B vitamins).

Shifting my expectations (especially around sleep, some babies sleep poorly it’s no ones fault it just is)

Meditation and having a mantra of “the difficulty being transient”.

Accepting my limitations, I’m only one human being, it’s ok to not tick every box, every day, still setting tasks and acknowledging completion.

Breastfeeding until natural weaning.

With post natal OCD, the most important thing for me was asking myself “is this thought rational”, “do the risks I fear exist in reality”, then working through that.

It took around 2 years to be completely on top of things and I do still suffer intrusive thoughts and anxiety but I’m (on the whole) able to manage things successfully.

I got much better with sertraline.
Another improvement at 18 months when I usually got 4 straight hours sleep a night, and another improvement at at 2.5 years when I usually was only woken once a night.

Honestly, sleep. But I wouldn't have survived to the point where he slept a sensible amount without the drugs.

Medication,
Therapy,
Baby bonding help with a play therapist,
Getting a new job and starting working again part time,
Exercise,
Prioritising sleep and my own needs in general,
Planning holidays and other things in the future (gave me a timeline back, in maternity leave I just didn't even know what month we were in most of the time)

Sertraline and CBT. Getting a less toxic job. Exercise. Time.

Sertraline
CBT
Better sleep
Time

Sertraline
Good friends
Support from the perinatal mental health service
Returning to work
Time
Talking to other women honestly