Expecting My Second Child & Scared After Horrendous PND!

[BreakingMum2021]

Hi Mums, I'm a newbie here so bear with me (sorry if this is in the the wrong place...)

I've recently found out that I am unexpectedly pregnant with my second child. DH & I swore that we didn't want any more children after a bad experience with our first (colicky, wouldn't sleep, extremely fussy velcro baby). We briefly spoke about termination but I just can't bring myself to do it.

Now I have always wanted two children but I suffered PND after DS which went untreated for a good year. We also lived with my inlaws who were in the house with me & DS 24/7 (not to mention my VERY opinionated MIL). I found Maternity Leave extremely restricting and lonely.

However, with DS (2.5) now I am absolutely in love and besotted with him. We have lovely relationship and I am finally feeling happy again.

I guess I'm after some experiences. I want to have this baby and I know I will love it, but I am absolutely petrified of feeling the way that I did when I had DS, the absolutely bombshell it had on my life and things being exactly the same of worse. Any help mums?

I'm afraid I'm only a mum of one at the moment but I'd be in a similar position to you as I had terrible mental health while pregnant with her.

I'd suggest you get referred to the perinatal mental health team straight away so they can put support in place for you.

Have you also considered antidepressants? They might help take the edge off and are safe in low doses for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Finally, I'd say that you've been through the worst possible with the first little one and you made it through. You know you can do it again!

Congratulations by the way! Xxx

I have ds2.5 and I'm 8knths pregnant with #2.

I also had undiagnosed PND and I felt sad, lonely and isolated.
I know what to look out for now and I definitely will seek help if I feel like I'm heading that way again.

Re. The actual babies. Everyone says they are so different from each other, there's no way to know if they'll have the same issues BUT this time you will have experience and know what to expect/do.

It is a worry but I think now you're aware you had PND then it can only be better this time around.
Are you now living with just DH and DS?