Homesick feeling after birth of baby

[Rachy11]

Hi just wondering if anyone else had this. Gave birth to my second baby 12 days ago and for the past few days Iv had this weird homesick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don’t feel down or depressed but suddenly will get this feeling. I’m sure I had it with my little girl several years ago. I’m assuming it’s hormones but I’ve mentioned it to a few people and no one else seems to have had it!

Sounds like anxiety and baby blues to me. Your hormones are all over the place- just ride the wave and know that better (and worse) times are coming!

I get what you mean. I think it comes from things being different. With DD, we arrived home at 7pm on a Friday evening in winter. I felt quite discombobulated by the difference between our evening and how things would have been the week before. Things were somehow the same and different at once, and in some ways I missed the 'old' ways. I guess being homesick is the same, that missing/longing for something else whilst you (hopefully!) adjust. Second time round it is another shift, so understandable to feel it again.

Are you breastfeeding at all? I know some people get a sort of ‘feeling of dread’ when they get a milk let down. Mention the feeling to your HV if it persists. All the hormones as well as the end of the anticipation of waiting for baby to arrive can make you feel all kinds of weird things. (Congratulations on your new baby!)

It's great that you can recognise the feeling as 'homesick' it makes me wonder if you're feeling hormone/birth driven anxiety. Perhaps in your subconscious you are missing being pregnant?! Everything seems so daunting once the baby arrives. Congratulations on your baby though 👶.
Its a long time since I was at this stage but I had issues with growing anxiety amid worry I was coping in the right way. If this gets worse please seek advice from health visitor. Hormones and sleep deprivation mixed with adjusting to a massive change is hard, even though you have your beautiful baby. You've done an amazing job, get rest, eat snacks and go with it. Take care

Yes, it's this. The change from the status quo.

I have this. It’s extreme in the early days. I feel sickeningly depressed as the let down starts. So much so that I have to stop speaking or doing whatever I’m doing to just rude the wave is to speak. It’s over within minutes but it’s awful. As the months pass it’s less brutal but still there. im surprised you’ve heard of this because after four babies only one midwife said she knew of it.
im glad you have!

congratulations OP. I would say it’s a mixture of all the very well written suggestions above.
in my own experience I have felt some sadness that the anticipation was over. There’s such a huge build up to a new baby & then it’s done, over with. It’s not of course, far from it, but it felt a bit that way.
enjoy your new bundle.

Ride the wave so to speak

If you are breastfeeding and it is happening while you are feeding then it's called D-mer, I will try to attach a link that explains it
www.todaysparent.com/baby/breastfeeding/d-mer-depressed-while-breastfeeding/

I’m not breastfeeding but it’s probs did set off when my milk came in. I had a very traumatic birth with my first baby and so had a lot of anxiety going into this section. Also feel a lot of guilt as I was admitted to hosp after having my first and spent over a week separated from her. I am under a counselling service so will be speaking to someone tomorrow and hopefully this will help. Thanks for your replies xxx

Hi OP!

I also have been experiencing this, feels like homesickness/guilt/worry and just comes on and washes over you. I’m currently 7 weeks PP! It’s deffo hormones, do you have any other symptoms? I’ve noticed a real distinct lack of appetite, was wondering if it was linked to thyroid issues as I know this can be an issue pp and cause anxiety. Hope it rectifies soon! X

I got that after my son was born it was definitely baby blues only lasted about a week.

Oh, this is so familiar! I felt homesick and as if I'd been wrenched out of my previous existence at first. It did pass, of course.

Look after yourself, it's a bugger of a hormonal time ♥

I got this! Lasted about a week. It’s hormones I think. It was really odd, but passed. Give it time 😊

Thanks for replying everyone! It’s def happening less often but still getting the odd wave of it. I also think my first period is on its way so probably a lot of hormones from that too x

I totally had this! I remember saying to my husband 'I feel homesick for you'. I real acute homesickness, like I used to feel as a child if I was on a sleepover.

Yes that’s exactly what it’s like, the feeling I’d get when I was on a sleepover! It’s mad! It’s happening less and less but randomly happened today when I was out at a restaurant with my baby and my mam and sister. I think today it’s because it reminded me of my first maternity leave but then my little girl wasn’t with us as she was at school so think there was a bit of guilt there maybe x