Post-natal depression - experiences needed please!

[Rhubarb]

I'm re-building my website based on unplanned pregnancies. Part of the site is dedicated to dealing with pre and post-natal depression. I'd like to include other women's stories as half the battle with depression is realising that it is an illness and you are not alone. Therefore if you've suffered and would like to help others in the same boat, please either post your experiences here or contact me at guinness _ maiden at hotmail dot com. I will treat all stories with respect and confidentiality.

Thanks very much!

Do you want pre-natal too?

Yup! I've posted in the Post-Natal topics too.

Hi Rhubarb
the Community Practitioner & Health Visitor Association has got a one day conference on PND on their website (postnatal illness - the silent epidemic)...might be worth having a look as it's next wed (29th March)\link{http://www.msfcphva.org/events/eventshome.html\Click here}

Hello Rhumba

My story is Helen's story on www.depression-in-pregnancy.org.uk/

It is run by a lady called Delphi. She is doing a lot of great work to make people aware of pre-natal depression. Take care xx

Are you interested in something other than "straightforward" depression - my problem during PG was OCD which, because it went untreated for too long, made me clinically depressed. If it is of use to you, am glad to give you more detail.

Sorry Rhubarb - having a crazy day today! Sorry to confuse you xxx

Hello! I've been in contact with Delphi on the other site and as I've included her story with a link to her site, I think I'll leave your story there Simplyred, I don't want to pinch her entire site! However visitors to my site will be able to read your story if they visit the link, which I'll encourage them to do. You sound like you had a traumatic time of it, hope you're ok now!

mummysandy, I'll have a look at the link you posted, might be helpful - thanks!

TearsBeforeBedtime - depression has many triggers, so it doesn't really matter which particular trigger you had, in fact it might strike a chord with readers and lead to their being diagnosed with OCD too! So yes please, any experiences you have would be very useful!

Thanks for all the replies, I do appreciate it!

will send you a long boring detailed e-mail then Rhubarb at some point this weekend (bet you can't wait, eh!)

Rhubarb - yes I'm very very much better thanks. It came on quickly at 26 weeks and disappeared as dd was born. How do I get to your site - I'd love to see it.

\link{http://www.unplannedpregnancies.co.uk\Here} and I'd appreciate any feedback on it, though please bear in mind that I haven't finished it yet, and it will be going through a facelift fairly soon I hope!

hi rhubarb. i don't know if you remember or not but i posted a while ago on another thread and you, along with another lady, were there for me when i needed loads of help and support. you can use my story to help other ladies in the same boat x.

is pre-natal depression the same as ante-natal d.? went through a-n definitewly as circumstances at time rather difficult and didn't have any1 to talk to then either. i think mn is really good sometimes if you need to talk to someone but it depends on someone seeing the post in the first place and then taking time to answer it

will send you the promised e-mail very shortly!
Have just had a brief look at your site - one thing I am nodding my head vigorously at is how isolating Ante-natal depression is - I remember feeling like the one and only PG woman feeling that way. I think it's such an amazing thing you are doing, raising people's awareness of the surprisingly common "downside" to pregnancy.

fransmom - yes I do remember! I was pleased to see you around again, hope everything is ok with you now. I'd love to use your story if you can bear to go through it all again. I can be contacted via the link in my previous post.

TearsBeforeBedtime - I've got your email, thank you. Your story is very moving and must have taken a large amount of courage to write. I'll include all of the stories received sometime this week, the site is being updated atm. I'll post on MN when it's all completed. I'm hoping that by raising awareness of this kind of thing, and my sharing experiences, we can empower women to seek help and not to struggle alone.

Thanks everyone.

Just emailed you Rhubarb.

ups and downs, rhubarb, tho thanx for asking. hows u?

oh good, glad you got the e-mail! it involved a wee bit of erm dutch courage (double vodka to be precise) to write!!!

hows about this one? i had a really good day today, then had run-in at work, came home and had one with dp, then later on he turns round and asks me whats wrong, like i haven't told him already. he then turns round and accuses me of making him feel worse than he makes me feel- after i told him he's lucky he hasn't got pnd. he then said he's sleeping on settee, so i said sleep in the car for all i care.
sorry i just having really bad night, i have to be up at6 but i don't wan to do anyhting tomorrow

I suffered from ante natal depression while expecting DS2, which turned into PND after the birth. Didn't know there was such a condition as ante natal depression whilst going through it & felt really guilty that I was not happy as I should be while pregnant. For this reason I kept a lot of it inside me & didn't talk to anyone about it.

yes there is, only it isn't as widley known as pnd. i too felt guilty, (long story) so please don't think you on your own X

rhubarb, would it be possible to cat you when i feel a bit stronger please?

Hi,

I am a post-graduate student who, due to my own experiences after having my dd, is doing research on postnatal depression. I am looking for Mums who have had thier first baby in the last year to complete a short questionairre. It is totally anonymous, you are not even asked your name and can be accessed on the link below

www.surveymonkey.com/s/9TQRFV5

Hi,

I am a post-graduate student who, due to my own experiences after having my dd, is doing research on postnatal depression. I am looking for Mums who have had thier first baby in the last year to complete a short questionairre. It is totally anonymous, you are not even asked your name and can be accessed on the link below

www.surveymonkey.com/s/9TQRFV5