Feeling low about lack of sleep

[pleasethanks]

My DD is 5 months and a shit napper. It was good for a while and I was feeling great and loved being a mum. She pretty much refuses to nap now and the various support threads on here got me thinking. Her lack of napping is very difficult as she needs to nap and ends up horribly overtired and upset and I have not a minute to myself. There is no doubt this has made me very low and I did not feel like this when she napped. So, I in all honesty probably need to see my GP, but I can't help but think my probably PND has been caused/made worse by her desire to fight sleep and had my child had a different character I probably would have been feeling very different. I certainly am not blaming her, it is just the way things are.

Does anyone else feel the same?

Hopefully all these posts reassure you that you're not alone, pleasethanks! From what I've read, the symptoms of PND sound very similar to the effects of sleep deprivation and it's hardly surprising that we (as in all the sleep deprived parents on this thread) are so desperate to change things. I had to try and convince my HV yesterday that I didn't have PND, just hadn't had more than 2 hours sleep in a row for over 4 months (and no more than 4 hours since DD was born 7 months ago) and so was totally shattered. Her only suggestion was CC and cutting out night feeds unfortunately, I just wish sleep issues were taken more seriously and paid more attention by HCPs.

Incidentally, DD has had a cold recently and napped for over 2 hours at a time on 3 consecutive days, in the pushchair but in the house without me pushing it. Those were the best days I've had in ages, just being able to potter around doing my own thing and not walking the streets for hours trying to get her to nap!

WRT to Pantley's last resort technique that narmada describes, we've been doing this out of desperation with DD after trying the other NCSS suggestions and not really getting very far. It took about 3 nights before we were able to put her down awake and have her fall asleep on her own which is major progress from being fed to sleep and eased gently into her cot. Unfortunately it still (now been doing it about a month I think) takes up to an hour and a half on some wakings to get her back to sleep, and she is still waking up roughly every 2 hours (I've reduced the feeds to every 4, I think we'd be getting better results if we cut out night feeds altogether as it would be more consistent, but I don't think she's ready for that yet), but I think we are getting there and to me it doesn't feel the same as CC because we don't leave her. It's still not pleasant to listen to though!

Yes, I have had postnatal depression with both babies and I think most of it is to do with sleeplessness although I do have a predispoistion to it as well. I don't think it's a co-incidence that most of the mums with PND that I know have had extremely sleepless babies. You can do anything on a full-night's sleep.

Afraid you can't do anything on a full nights sleep. My one sleeps through, but I struggle with the day times massively when day after day she refuses to nap.

True enough - me being blase. How much sleep in total is she getting in a 24 hour period? Does she at least go down of an evening so you can have some time to yourself then?

Is there anyone who can take her for a few hours so you can have some you time?

When she naps she gets about 15 - 16 hours. she sleeps 12 hours at night. yes, I know I am lucky, very lucky in that regard. i have asked for support during the day now and it is helping. I feel less stressed about trying to get her down when someone is here with me.

I am really glad you are getting support - you need it if you've got PND. Hope things improve soon :)

Glad to hear you're getting some support pleasethanks, I know I can get totally obsessive about napping when I'm on my own all day but it helps to have someone else there for both practical assistance (esp. if they can take your DD out for a nap in the pushchair or something and you can get a proper break for an hour or two) and to help you stop getting anxious which I'm sure makes things worse as babies pick up on it.

Thanks. It does make things much easier and at least if she wont settle I know someone else will take her out. I do miss her though!

Hello count plasticspoon and bumper I recognise you all from other sleep threads. OP you're so not alone. It really feels like that and it's no wonder sleep deprivation can trigger PND, it's bloody horrible. I sat in bed breastfeeding my dd in floods of tears at 4 this morning after many many wakings. You think should i feed, should I rock her, what should I do? I dunno, I guess it will get easier given time but I have every sympathy with parents who go to CC methods early on, you just get to the end of your tether. Sorry to hijack a bit. I'm feeling quite shit and wondering myself if I'm on the verge of PND.

smell I feel better for going to the Dr and getting help and my DH has instructed his parents to support me. Now that i have been diagnosed I feel less guilty/worried, so that is a good thing.

Absolutely. I had a chat with DH tonight about it and he understands now a bit more about how I'm coping. Going to talk to the HV tomorrow I think, when I get her weighed. Hope you have a good night please