Hi all,
I'm a first time mum with a 5 month old baby. I thought everything was going really well until Christmas, which involved packing up car and a day long boat trip to see family, where my mum was ill and house very crowded for 2 weeks. Began to feel very sad then and it still hasn't lifted. I'm still doing all I need to do, enjoying baby although not as much as before. The pregnancy and birth was ok, but I did have bad vomiting, gestational diabetes, a lot of stitches, and trouble breastfeeding as baby has a bad dairy allergy. Also had in laws here for 3 months post birth which I think made it difficult to have space to process all that had happened.
My main symptom / issue is that I have pretty bad insomnia. Waking at 2, 3 or 4 am not for baby but with worries and not getting back to sleep for the last 6 weeks. I'm the main earner and my husband who runs is own business part time looks like he will lose business. I've been on half salary for maternity leave and we have used all our savings. I should also add I got a new job, moved city, moved house and had a baby in one year. I feel a lot of pressure to go back to work and to be successful (and well) for all the family. I would say I probably have more anxiety than depression, that's what it feels like anyway. I also started vaping (!!) After years off cigarettes which I feel so stupid about.
Went to doctor and he diagnosed PND and gave me a sertraline prescription. Still haven't started it. I suppose my main worry is taking it if I don't really need it (situational depression?), difficulty coming off it, and perhaps being on it long term. The usual worries with antidepressants I suppose.
I'm just wondering if anyone else had similar experiences, symptoms, diagnosis, and went on sertroline or waited for it to pass?
Thanks so much, sorry for the long post.