Need a handhold please

[LucieStar]

I'm suffering with severe post natal depression and I am being admitted to a Mother and Baby unit this evening with my 11 day old baby. I'm terrified.

Well done for getting the help you need 💐

Hey good for you in getting the help you need to recover. Mental illness is like physical illness, and the staff are there to help you recover back to full health and enjoy life and your baby in full.💐

It's not your fault you're ill, and you're going to the best place to get help. You're not the only one to feel like this.

If you haven't read it, this page has useful information and quotes from other women who've been in an MBU. Good luck www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/mother-and-baby-units-(mbus)

You'll be in good hands! An excellent mother recognises when they need help. All the best.

You are doing exactly the right thing for you and your baby. It's absolutely not your fault that you are ill. You will get the treatment you need, and then you will get well again. Your baby has you and that's all they know or need at the moment! Wishing you all the best and a swift recovery

You will be fine my darling, please don't be scared. You will get the help you need and this feeling will be temporary I promise ❤️
I'm holding your hand. I wish you all the very best. You are a wonderful mum, don't let the intrusive negative thoughts tell you otherwise. I know how much harder to do than say that is, honestly. I used to say outloud at the end of each day "I have done a good job today" and it really helped. Focus on yourself, focus on your baby, take things an hour at a time. You will get better xxxxx

Hand hold OP, you are going to get through this ❤️

After you've had a baby you experience such a huge change in hormones so the way you feel isn't permanent. I would look at it as your body sort of recalibrating and you getting some support while that happens.

You will get through this. You will be proud of yourself. You will be in awe of your strength. It must be terrifying but a really positive step to getting the help and support you need.

Thanks everyone. My partner is packing our bags for us right now, I just feel numb. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

Hope you're doing ok OP, thinking of you 💐

It WILL get better I promise you. Hormones and tiredness and the whole life changing experience of having a new baby are terrifying for lots of mums. You've absolutely done the right thing and I PROMISE you you'll be fine, you'll look back in 3 months time abs realise how far you've come 💐💐

How are you doing @LucieStar

I came home the next day, they said it was just extreme sleep deprivation rather than mental illness as such. I'm still not feeling on top of the world to be honest but better than I was. I just want to feel like me again so I can enjoy my gorgeous baby properly. Thanks everyone for asking, it means a lot x

@LucieStar I was in such a similar position. I had such severe sleep deprivation they called a crisis team out to assess me to see if they were concerned for my mental health. They too said it was just sleep I needed and I was prescribed 2 nights of strong sleeping tablets whilst my OH and mum looked after the baby. I felt so guilty at the time but in the long run it got me back on track with my sleeping and I started to be able to function again and be able to be a new mum. 5 months in and I'm totally back to myself - I would say I was back to myself after 8 weeks really. It does take time but don't underestimate sleep deprivation. I was hallucinating and all sorts. Glad you're on the mend xx

@LucieStar I don't know of this will make you feel better (I hope it will) but I did NOT have PND, I did however have a full blown, sleep deprived, disaster at day 10 pp. I cried and cried and wished I hadn't had DD, and sincerely wondered whether I'd actually have to die to leave her at an orphanage... I was an absolute mess.

A few days later she slept through 4.5 consequtive hours. And oh my goodness. I felt so much better.

Keep a close check in yourself and how you're feeling. But there is a reason they use sleep deprivation as a torture technique.

Can you hand-off to your partner and sleep in shifts, just for a very short time?

Hoping you're ok @LucieStar - be kind to yourself

Thanks for updating us OP, I really feel for you. I remember the first couple of weeks after my DD (now 6) was born and no one really prepares you for just how emotional and sleep deprived you are going to feel but it does improve.

I know the baby is your world right now but your health is important too, you need rest and nutritious food. Look after yourself 💜