#PPDChat: Blindsided: When Real World Tragedy Collides with Postpartum Mood Disorders
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Tag Archives: Postpartum Mood Disorders
On the Sixth day of Dismissmas: Six women a-denying
On the sixth day of Dismissmas,
Postpartum sent to me
Six women a-denying,
Five hours of sleep,
Four Just Snap out of Its,
Three perfect babies,
Two depressed parents,
And a wailing mess in a pear tree.
Not many Childbirth Educators talk about Postpartum Depression during Childbirth classes. (A big thank you to those of you who DO and do take the time to go in depth with it) It’s often glossed over as something that will happen to someone else.
When it does happen, many mothers start out denying their symptoms. Sure, motherhood is hard. The lack of sleep, the crying babies, and the impossible learning curve can all take their toll. So how do you move past denial and into reaching out for help? And how do you tell Postpartum Mood Disorder Symptoms from typical new motherhood issues?
It’s not easy.
Here’s a quick run-down of things to look for that may signal something more serious is going on beyond normal new motherhood struggles:
NUTRITION:
- Is mom eating?
- How is she eating? A Lot, a little, just right?
- Is mom eating healthy foods? (excessive sugar & caffeine can contribute to mood difficulties)
- Has she rapidly gained/lost weight without explanation? (make sure Mom gets a thyroid screen)
SLEEP:
- Does Mom sleep when baby does?
- When Mom goes to sleep does she fall asleep right away or is struggling to get to sleep or unable to stay asleep?
- Does she awake refreshed or is she still fatigued?
MOOD:
- Is Mom acting like herself?
- Do things seem out of order?
- Is mom showering or taking care of personal hygiene?
- Is it hard for Mom to make a decision?
- Has Mom been crying for no apparent reason?
- Does Mom seem anxious?
- Is Mom bonding with baby?
Denial will get you nowhere fast. It’s a dangerous and swift flowing river leading bad places.
Reach out for help. Start out with a physician with whom you are comfortable talking about your mental well-being. If he or she dismisses your concerns, talk to another doctor until someone listens to you. I know it is hard. I know when you are in that deep dark place the last thing you want to do is reach out, reach out again and again. I know you are not in the mood to explain your story to yet another receptionist or doctor. But every time you do, you are one tiny step closer to healing. One step closer to recovery. One step closer.
You can do it. You are not alone in this at all. There are so many mothers who have been where you are and they are standing with their hands outstretched toward you. Waiting to grasp your hand and pull you up. Don’t forget to reach for them too when you are reaching for help from professionals. You won’t regret it, I promise.
Survivors of Postpartum Mood Disorders are some of the strongest damned women I know – trust me, you WANT them holding you up!
On the First Day of PPD Dismissmas: A Wailing Mess in a Pear Tree
On the first day of Dismissmas,
Postpartum sent to me
A wailing mess in a pear tree.
Many mothers struggling with Postpartum Depression are not weeping, wailing, messes. Instead they may find themselves struggling with anxiety, irritability, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, jealousy of the other parent, a loss of desire for previously held hobbies or interests, etc. Also important to note here that a mom with a Postpartum Mood Disorder may be perfectly capable of putting on a mask to fool others (and herself) into thinking she is perfectly normal.
The baby blues may cause random bouts of crying or mood swings for the first two to four weeks after delivery for some new moms. If these symptoms get worse during or do not dissipate after the first month after giving birth, please reach out for help. 1 in 8 new moms go on to develop a full blown Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorder. You can get in touch with an ever growing network of knowledgeable moms and professionals through Postpartum Support International. PSI can be reached via their website or their warmline at 1-800-944-4PPD.
My Postpartum Voice is now on Facebook
I finally got around to completing a Facebook page for My Postpartum Voice at Facebook!
I hope to continue to improve on it as time goes by but right now it is a work in progress.
You won’t regret it.
The Postpartum Smoke Monster
No, not that one.
While on Twitter last night, I connected with a mom who mentioned something about “smoky rooms.” I replied to her. Those smoky rooms? Surreal. Very surreal.
Until last night though, I had forgotten about them. A remnant of my postpartum experience abandoned in a dark corner.
In the midst of my darkest days, I saw wisps of grey smoke floating through the room. They were always above me, too far to reach. Sometimes there was an overheated electrical scent hanging heavy in the air.
Until last night, the grey smoke wisps were an experience of which I had never spoken.
During the course of my conversation with the first mom, who said close friend of hers also experienced the same phenomenon, yet another mother chimed in, shocked that we were discussing smoke we had seen during our Postpartum experiences. Suddenly we were bonding over smoke. Smoke we had clearly imagined in the midst of our Postpartum Mood Disorders.
Then there is the reference of recovery feeling as if “the fog has lifted.” What if the fog really does lift? What if we really are surrounded by fog when struggling with depression?
Did you experience this? What did the fog look like for you? You’re not alone out there in the fog or smoke. There are others who have been there too.