Post natal depression - did you suffer from it or not? Please take our one question, instant poll.

[carriemumsnet]

PND has always been a big topic on Mumsnet but the stats on exactly how many women experience post natal depression haven't been updated for quite a while.

Please take our one question, instant poll here

Thanks

MNHQ

I wonder whether this is going to produce statististically useful info. Won't a greater proportion of PND sufferers be attracted to the poll in the first place? IYSWIM

I had PND and AND with my first and then very badly with my second. I was actually hospitalised for a few days with heart problems whilst pg with dc2. After all sorts of tests they decided it was due to AND so sent me back to the B&B I was in with my 2yo and left me to it The PND was awful but I kept it to myself and struggled on. Nobody asked anything, nobody did anything.

When pg with my 3rd the consultant almost went overboard with concern for my mental health after my history. He sent me to see Pysch nurses for assessment even though I said I was fine and wanted me to carry on seeing them regularly after the birth. Unfortunately once I'd had the baby it was nothing to do with him anymore and noone did anything. My HV changed at 6 weeks and she told me I needed to have the edingburgh test then but didnt have any on her so to ask the new HV. I did and was told it would be done at 16 weeks when they did the weaning visit. At 6 months I asked to have the visit because I overheard the HV telling someone thats also when they give out the bookstart packs and I wanted the books!! Now if they'd have done the test at 6 weeks I would have been honest, by 6 months I was further in my hole and more settled into it, if anyone can understand what I mean by that, and actually didn't want to talk to anyone about it and didn't want anyone's help so lied on every question. Luckily its not been so bad this time but I'm shocked by how useless they were given my history.

I definitely didn't have PND but I DID have severe post natal OCD. Which I only realise retrospectively, and I wish I had got help, because I was in hell for 3 years, fearing I was going to throw my daughter out of a window/off a bridge/wake up in the middle of the night and kill her. I can't believe I'm the only one.

The PND questionnaire administered by my health professionals consisted of the single question "Are you feeling depressed at all?"

I suffer from PND, I have since dd1 was born(6 years ago) I went to get help when she was 5 months old. but the doctor just said that because I had put on make up and had straightened my hair, I can't be that bad She said that people with real pnd can't manage to do even simple things So, I can't go to the dr now to get help. Even though I feel really bad now, I can't pluck up the courage to go. So, mine's not confirmed, but have submitted a 'yes'.

I was wondering if the no score was artificially low, I've seen it at the top of the chat board for a couple of days, but only actually read that it related to people who hadn't suffered it as well as had when I went to hide the thread. I am not switched on at all to pnd as it hasn't bee4n relevent to me, so would generally avoid any talk of it on here because I know nothing about it.

This isn't a terribly scientific poll really. I mean, only people who've suffered from it are likely to respond. I only know one person who suffered from PND - it is not that common ...

stretchmarkSCREAM, that's awful.
Please don't let one incredibly insensitive and unhelpful GP stop you from getting help for your depression.
Do you have a partner or a friend that could make an appointment for you with a different GP, and then accompany you to the appointment?
You could write down how you feel, so you can hand that to the doctor in case you don't feel up to talking about it all.
You could let us know the area you are in (vague area, not specific place ) and we'll try and find some support for you.
You have dealt with all this alone for so long - let us help you access some help?
Please feel free to CAT me if you want to.

I have voted, No

i know it sounds stupid but when i had ds 2 the doctor offered me anti depressents for pnd. at that point i felt fine but have sometimes felt like i made the wrong choice. how long after a child can you still be classed as having pnd?

Phantasmagoria that kind of intrusive thought is an absolute classic sign of PNI, I couldn't see a table corner without imagining bashing my babies head on it, or a train approaching without imagining pushing the pram in front of it.

I had PNI with my 2nd Dc and probably with hindsight to a lesser degree with my 1st. The Hv was fine with diagnosing it the second time but crap at actually dealing with it. I did go to the Dr's and got Ad's which didn't seem to help at the time, but may have if I persevered. I was supposed to have counselling visits from the HV, she was more awkward than me and made me feel basically shite by saying I had to play with the children more, and generally concentrated on them more than me.

She even said the fact that we didn't go out every single day was causing their brains to be damaged. Because of course if you don't take your dogs children out for walkies every single day, their brains will not develop

Does it count if you were depressed after the birth but not because of the baby?

Or hormones (corrects self).

I had PND after my ds (7) was born. I was the main earner so was back to work fulltime when he was 4 months old .

I was the epitome of normality. The one that could do it all, work fulltime, look after a baby and still bake cakes at the weekend. I was a crumbling suicidal mess inside. My H was the only person that saw me. I would be hysterical on the floor in front of him, crying so hard I wet myself a few times. yet I could go to work, hold meetings, control projects..... and work nights out I was the life and soul. So for the poster that said her GP told her women with PND can't be bothered straightening their hair. PISH!!!! I deserved an oscar for my performance at being the happiest new mum on earth. I hated me, I hated my life, I hated my H (now nearly ex thankfully, but unrelated story). I loved my baby boy in a robotic way.... I would've died for him, but showing affection was more for public viewing than from the heart.

I had my dd 3 years later and, thanks to MN and my health visitor (got help when ds was 18mthd old)... I was monitored closely. I had AND diagnosed at 32 weeks with my dd, just talking about my fears and telling EVERYONE about how bad PND is...meant that I had no PND with dd. I experienced what new motherhood is meant to be like.

FOr me knowledge was power. When I found out I was pg with dd, I told all my friends and family the behaviour in me to look out for.

It didn't happen again thank god. But JESUS it was the scariest time in my life. I planned my suicide in a cold and matter of fact way. It was the best gift I could give my son if I dies and he didn't have to be near me. Alien to me now!!!!!! So far from how I feel now. I'm stressed, still have panic attacks and down days.... but that's all they are. Down days!

I love MN coz it made me get help.

LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOOOOOUUUU!
x

ps.I'm a wee bit drunk,

With hindsight, yes I had PND, but I would not let myself admit it at the time.

I never know how to answer the "Did you have PND?" question.

Without doubt I was depressed after dd was born, but to start with I was absolutely fine. It was other goings on in my life that led to my depression. I had to go back to work full time with a long commute, I was miles away from anyone who could help me out, dh was working nights - it was grim. I remember getting a chest infection when dd was about 4 months old and I could barely function. No one helped with dd, cooked for us, brought me hot toddies. I started going downhill from there on in, completely and utterly convinced that I was on my own. I went back to work when dd was 6 months old and struggled hugely with that - my job wasn't what it was when I left and I was dropped right in the shit with a massive project and no boss. Nope, not PND. Just my usual depression which has come and gone in cycles since I was a teenager.

yes and currently on my 2nd weeks of ad's
mn was fab for me last week thankyou to those who answered!

one of the bestest friends thats been helping me and so incredible is watters! not sure what shes changed to now watters something lol

'So for the poster that said her GP told her women with PND can't be bothered straightening their hair. PISH!!!! I deserved an oscar for my performance at being the happiest new mum on earth. I hated me, I hated my life, I hated my H (now nearly ex thankfully, but unrelated story). I loved my baby boy in a robotic way.... I would've died for him, but showing affection was more for public viewing than from the heart.'

We're reading from the same hymn sheet here!

A lot of people comfort eat, can't look after the house, etc. when they're depressed.

But others are almost manic. A mess would raise my anxiety levels about a hundred percent.

I'd had insomnia for years and every time I get PND it goes into overdrive.

My house is then immaculate, dinner's done by dawn and I lose scads of weight.

Grooming becomes almost obsessive compulsive.

But I see where strecthmarkSCREAM is coming from and I have been in similar situations.

You go and seek help, and get one ignoramus and just think, 'Forget it. I'll just muddle through.'

I did teh questionnaire, and although I knew I was depressed, I didn't score badly enough. I a mnaturlly "high", so "low" for me is not as low as for other people.

I was only eventually offered help when I rang the HV and told her I was watching myself hitting, and hitting and hitting by baby boy. and that if I did it, I didn't think I'd stop. I was offered counselling - 9-5 mon-fri, with no childcare, and child not welcome. very helpful.

yes - was diagnosed about 6 months after my girl was born. Was on meds and saw psyche doctor and nurse - finally discharged after 3 years but am pregnant again and have been referred back to mental health services and put back on meds as I was so bad last time. Feeling fine at present - much better since meds. The worst thing is the stigma. When I was asked to go back on the meds in this pregnancy I said no, but then I thought if it was a 'physical' problem I wouldn't refuse medical sdvice, so why refuse it for a 'mental' prblem - they are the experts so i decided to do as I'm told - glad I did!

Hi ive had post natal dipression with ocd after my second child was born my obsessions were on filodofikal thinking it mean having continious thaughts aboutnwho we are and from where we come from and other questions. Is there anybody out there who had these types of obsessions or im the only one.