Is this normal?

[LJJ90]

Hello! My baby is just turning 5 months old, I felt great for the first 4 months but the last 3/4 weeks I feel like this whole thing is unbearable. I'm a single parent, my child has never been a relaxed sleepy baby, he's very noisy constantly screeching or growling if he isn't next to me or attatched. I feel extremely overwhelmed I spend my whole day crying. Today I've stood in the kitchen with the blender on for ten mins to drown out the sound, I just want to leave. Does everyone feel like this at some point?!

Oh dear, OP! It can be difficult at times, but it sounds like you've been finding things tough for a few weeks now. Are you sleeping well? Sleep deprivation makes everything worse. If you are struggling/feeling overwhelmed for a sustained period, can you seek help now before things get worse? Are you in a childcare bubble/ do you have a friend or relative who could take the baby for a walk to give you a break? If not, please contact your GP or health visitor to explain how you're feeling. Having a baby during lockdown is very difficult, with the restrictions on activities and social contact, and as a single parent it must be even worse.

I don’t know if it’s normal or not OP, but I have a 4.5 month old and feel exactly the same right now. Its so full on, and i’m sure its being exacerbated by this stupid bloody pandemic!!!

I think its normal to have days where you feel like this. I have a 3 month old, and had pretty serious PND on DD1, but if this is a regular occurrence then it may be something you want to speak to your GP about. A lockdown and a baby is insanely hard. It's so isolating and endless. Lockdown will exasperate the hard times, but with PND, it is something that needs dealing with or it can take over. Is this something you feel regularly? Or is today a bad day compared to other days? I have been finding things overwhelming too, lots of sobbing and worry and feelings like life will never get better, so I have been referred to the post natal mental health team again.