Post Partum Depression starts in Pregnancy

[Ee]

Great info, thanks for passing along.

[lolo918]

Interesting article. I also like the point made about there not being a one size fits all for depression- it doesn't always look the same or occur in the same situations.

[hellok2010]

I second the whole not being one size fits all for depression point. Anytime this comes up I think of my best friend who has had a horrible time with depression her whole adult life and had a terrible time with it in her pregnancy and post partum. Luckily she sought help and her husband is very supportive. It's so important to be aware and not brush this under a rug.

[honeylemon]

I think this is great information but it's also important to remember that you can have a perfect, complication free pregnancy and birth and still end up with PPD.

Definitely not one size fits all.

Thanks for posting. I always support conversations and education about this subject.

[honeylemon]

Feb 7, 2015 9:29:33 GMT -5 @blackpearl08 said:

As women, we are very tough on ourselves and I worry that can delay seeking help or recognition of a problem.

So true. My PPD was undiagnosed and untreated the first time because I thought I would be seen as a bad mother. I didn't realize getting help was the only way to make me a better mother.

[katietopaz]

Thank you for posting this. Something I'd like to talk with my doctor about, as well as research myself, is if my previous struggles with depression make me more susceptible to PPD. Because depression is something I've dealt with since I was a teenager I've gotten much better at recognizing when the way I'm feeling goes beyond the normal blues, as well as when to be extra aware when I've had a potential trigger event. But I'm not sure it would manifest the same way in PPD, so I want to be as proactive as I can.

I'm always glad to see this topic openly discussed. There's still a stigma against PPD and depression in general in our society.

[viola]

Thanks for sharing!

[CTri17]

very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[hotcoconuts82]

Feb 7, 2015 9:57:01 GMT -5 honeylemon said:

Feb 7, 2015 9:29:33 GMT -5 @blackpearl08 said:

As women, we are very tough on ourselves and I worry that can delay seeking help or recognition of a problem.

So true. My PPD was undiagnosed and untreated the first time because I thought I would be seen as a bad mother. I didn't realize getting help was the only way to make me a better mother.

Same here.  I went untreated after my first.  Know the signs and don't be afraid to talk about how you are feeling.

[seventythree]

Feb 7, 2015 13:55:53 GMT -5 katietopaz said:

Thank you for posting this. Something I'd like to talk with my doctor about, as well as research myself, is if my previous struggles with depression make me more susceptible to PPD. Because depression is something I've dealt with since I was a teenager I've gotten much better at recognizing when the way I'm feeling goes beyond the normal blues, as well as when to be extra aware when I've had a potential trigger event. But I'm not sure it would manifest the same way in PPD, so I want to be as proactive as I can.

I'm always glad to see this topic openly discussed. There's still a stigma against PPD and depression in general in our society.

I think it's great that you want to be proactive about this! That is pretty well the reason I got myself into therapy shortly after my BFP. I'd been looking for someone anyway, but my OB referred me to a psychologist who specializes in perinatal mental health. She said that because I've had varying levels of depression/anxiety since my teens I am a slightly higher risk for PPD, but also that actively seeking treatment prior to giving birth, as well as the level of awareness I have about my symptoms, triggers, etc. are very beneficial.

[cosmicav]

Thank you for this article. Actually, I think I may need to suck up my fears and get to a therapist. I've had struggles with depression and anxiety in the past, and I can't tell if I'm just feeling normal pregnancy mood swings or if it's getting to be in the pregnancy depression realm of things. I keep thinking, 'there's no reason to feel so sad when I have so many great blessings in my life' but then, that doesn't stop the negative emotions and randoms bouts of panic. My physical health is good, but I never fully considered about how important mental health would be for this too. I know that's a silly thing to say because obviously mental health is important, but I guess I have been more focused on the physical side of things? Ah well... will definitely be considering seeking some professional opinions.