Could I have post natal five months after birth?

[jessebuni]

I first realised it a while ago but it's taken a month for me to admit that there is definitely something wrong with me and a further 2 weeks to speak to my husband about it.

I'm not sure if this is post natal depression or something else. My son is 3 nearly 4 and my daughter is 5 months. It just seems a bit late after birth to still be feeling post natal.

I worry about everything. All the time. I don't like leaving the house without my husband or someone else like a family member or really close with me in case my son tries to run off (he ran off in town October and the police officer that found him reported me for it) so now I'm terrified that if something happens again they'll take my kids away or something. I'm fine going to my mums or my nans, you know people's homes where I know me and the kids are safe but to town or the supermarket, no! I was able to go to the supermarket and put my son in the trolley seat next to the baby seat. But he's really a bit big to go in it anymore and so I'm terrified to take him without him being in a trolley. I have also tried various reins but as soon as they're on he throws himself on the floor and won't move for all the punishment, encouragement or bribery in the world.

Also I literally worry about things like the house catching on fire (to the extent that every power switch in the house must be off at night or if we go out and it drives my husband batty) or if I'm driving home from someone's house at night I panic that the driver behind me will run us off the road and is a murderer or something. And various other extreme worries which I'm sure other parents worry about but I literally think about these things every day and live my life terrified which I'm sure can't be normal...

Does anyone else have this? Is it just a temporary thing?

[Einsty]

I am sure that someone much more helpful will come along, but just wanted to handhold. I read that the peak for PND is actually eight months after birth. I definitely felt very low around five to eight months, when my resources were at their most diminished - and sounds like you have z lot on your hands - incident when DS ran away sounds very upsetting. Hugs and more hugs ...

[Damash12]

Hi from what I've read on the subject pnd can come on anytime within the first year. I could have written your post though and my baby isn't even here yet! I do have a 4 yr old but I worry about everthing and anything happening. I suffer with anxiety. I think the policeman was very harsh to you and this has triggered a fear. I would explain how you are feeling to GP. Good luck x

[StaciSylvan]

Hi i was diagnised with PND when my second was 4.5 months. I would really reccomend going to see your GP. I had PND the first time but was in denial i found that my GP was supportive and i got the help i needed and was able to enjoy my kids xxx good luck xxxx

[thixotropic]

Mine kicked in at about 6months.

I was told that the way to help decide the difference between 'normal' worry and depression is to ask yourself
'is it interfering with my day to day life?'

If you find yourself not going out, or restricting where you go, then it's worth having a chat to your doctor.

From the sound of your post, they worry is starting to take over then I'd book an appointment with a nice sympathetic gp.

It really turned things around for me. Hope you feel better soon.

[loula24]

I have had it from the birth and have just about managed (on Prozac and Olanzapine) although have felt incredibly wobbly & not right, but now my daughter is 6 months I have definitely dipped and found myself unable to stop crying. So much so, that I have come to my mother's (on my own for a while to try and recover) so I can face going back. I am finding it so hard at the moment. I also have a very lively three year old and we live in a very small flat and it all just seems to drive me a little crazy. At a very low point right now. Can anyone give advice on how they turned things around & recovered from PND? I am also finding the adjustment from being able to focus on one child to being with 2 very difficult.

[tazmo]

I think all the excitement of the new baby wears off about 4-5 months ish and the reality hits of how hard it can be when you have this little thing in your life which is unpredictable and you can't control what happens. The sooner someone accepts that they can't have all the answers and accepts support from those around them can be the key in turning things around.

I don't have all the answers but I know I experience pnd though luckily up to now not too badly. I have 3 children and experienced it to varying degrees post kiddies generally a few days after, then would be ok, then would hit around then the 5 month mark. With ds1, I had it about 5 months and kept anticipating the baby would wake up (when he was actually sleeping througH) and would see the sun come up and chk him constantly. Dh eventually had to say he would get up for my son and he does the nights most of the time now, even with my other 2 children. I would also scream at my son because he would be wriggling on the change mat at 5 months. Not normal I know - just the sheer look of terror in my baby's face (and luckily dh was here) made me realise I was not right.

I would also feel like screaming at the top of my lungs for everyone to f off ( which I didn't). With my most recent child (she is 5 months old now). I was in the car with my mother and she was winding me up so much I really wanted to stop at the side of the road and tell her to get out the car. this feeling has worn off now, but it is scary). I also have times of paranoia when I think there is a stranger in the house wanting to kidnap the kids. I find myself checking the whole house, cupboards etc. Have I sought help - er no, but I take each day as it comes and tell myself no to be so bloody stupid. I also tell dh and he helps out extra when it hits. I have a supportive dh and know not everyone has. Must admit, I'm feeling pretty good right now, but sometimes something can just make me head back towards depression (eg if I feel one of my friends is being funny with me). I hope I would be brave enough to seek help from my gp if all of this got out of hand.

My health visitor recently assigned is a neighbour (!). Not best pleased as her hubby is a right busybody and the temporary one, I was building a reasonable relationship with as I had admitted to the health visitor this time I'd believed to be suffering from pnd. Not sure if this helps anyone - but the message is, it is extremely common for pnd to strike and you are not alone - even if you choose to use forums such as mumsnet to be 100% honest of how u r feeling. Important to recognise also you are not well and to seek help if you feel you are a danger to yourself or those who r dependent on you. A girl in the next town killed herself due to pnd and left a poor newborn with no mother. Seek help if you r feeling this way as it does get better.