| Product: |
Post-Natal Depression |
| Date: |
07/05/08 (71 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: NONE!
Disadvantages: Too many
First a bit about postnatal depression.
What is post natal depression
Post natal depression (P.N.D) happens after having a baby, it doesnt happen to everyone although it does happen to 1 in 10 women. It can last weeks, months or even years. Sometimes there are reasons why women get it but most of the time the reason is unknown. One of the reasons for developing pnd is lack of nutrients during pregnancy such as omega 3 (from oily fish, seeds and nuts), magnesium (from leafy green veg and seeds) and zinc (from seeds and nuts).
Symptoms
Tired and lethargic or numb, low mood, difficulty looking after yourself or your baby, loss of interest in self or baby, crying, difficulty concentrating, sleep and appetite difficulties, irratibility, anxiety and panic attacks, loss of interest in sex, feelings of guilt and inadequacy, stomach pains, headaches and blurred vision. There are lots of symptoms but not all of them affect everyone. some people may only feel one or two, some people will experience most of the symptoms.
Help and support
Most women suffer in silence as they are sometimes embarrassed or ashamed to tell anyone. Also alot of women are scared to tell their midwife in fear that social services may be involved and take the baby away or incase they arfe seen as being a bad mum. You must seek help as soon as possible as this is not something that will just disappear. Plenty of rest and support is needed and anti depressants or councelling are often offered. Anti depressants take around 2 weeks to take effect and should be taken for 6 months after feeling better. It doesnt help when mothers are told to pull themselves together, being left alone with the baby for long periods of time, walking out on her or plying her with drink.
Baby blues and pueperal phychosis
Baby blues is the most common form of pnd, it is usually a short period of feeling tearful and emotional which is brief and manageable but can sometimes develop deeper and become longterm.
Pueperal phsychosis is a much more severe form of pnd but mothers rarely experience this.
Complimentary therapies
Some people find that complimentary therapies work just aswell as medication. These include cranial osteopathy, herbal remedies and homeopathy. Massage, reflexology and aromathereapy are commonly used to help with pnd.
PND fathers
Depression can also affect fathers, it affects around 1 in 25 new fathers. Causes include pressures of fatherhood, increased responsibility, expense of children, change of lifestyle, changes in relationship and lack of sleep. It is most frequently associated with mothers who have PND.
Now my story of my Postnatal depression
When i first fell pregnant with my son i was over the moon, all i could think about was going out to buy baby things and thinking of the day my baby was going to be born. Everything went well through my pregnancy, except for the morning sickness. My baby was growing great and i was pretty much healthy apart from my anaemia ( which i had before i fell pregnant) which got slightly worse during pregnancy but not too bad.
I went into labour 7 days late (the day before i was due to be induced) and i was so excited although a bit scared aswell. I had a long labour (26 hours) then i was rushed into surgery for an emergency cesaerean section. I lost alot of blood during the operation and was close to death so after my son was born i was taken and given blood transfusions and needed 24 hour care for the first 2 days. When i was moved into my own little room outside the ward i felt much better.
I had to stay in hospital for a week and the day after i was moved i began to feel a bit down. I had heard about new mothers getting baby blues and i thought that was probably all that was wrong with me. I kept it to myself as in was sure it would pass in a few days once i had settled down at home. I was wrong! I felt bad for months, and it seemed to get worse everyday. I hated myself, i was crying all the time even over just silly things. I still didnt tell anyone as i wanted to be strong for my family, especially my new baby boy.
After a few months my partner told me that he had been noticing that i was moody and emotional and the next time we went to see the health visitor he mentioned it to her. She gave me a little test, it was like a questionnaire on how i was feeling. I thought i would be fine but i wasnt! I had scored almost the highest score you could, she asked me why on earth i hadnt come to her sooner and i explained that i didnt want to because i didnt want to be seen as a disappointment. I was given anti depressants and was told it would take a couple of weeks for them to start working but after a month or so they still werent making a difference so i went back to my doctor and my dose was increased. nothing seemed to work, i tried loads of different anti depressants and strengths. Eventually after months of trying different pills i was given ones that felt like they were making a difference. I stayed on them for almost 2 years and then was allowed to come off them. By this time my son was 3 and a half!! I was off my anti depressants for a couple of months when i fell pregnant again and as soon as i found out i started to worry about getting it again.
My baby girl was born by planned cesaerean section 1 week early and it went ok but i lost alot of blood again. I felt ok for the first few weeks and thought i might have escaped the dreaded PND this time but no such luck! When my baby was 4 months old i started to get all the symptoms of it again. I am on the same anti depressants as last time but not so high a dose and i am feeling better. My daughter is 20 months old now and i am still on the medication. although i feel better im still not sure i am ready to come off them yet. Hopefully i will be pnd free soon.
I hope my review has been useful, thank you for reading. x
Summary: Its horrible!!!
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