2 pregnancy update

[linzi686]

Hiya every just wanted to update you, don't come on here much but I'm 30 weeks pregnant with my second child and had pp after my son in 2013. This time around I had a few down days in the 1st trimester, with bad anxiety (could be due to lockdown too) I've been quite calm and mentally well in my second trimester and currently. I am starting to get a little nervous now, but know that's totally normal. The support I've got this time round is absolutely fantastic and I have a medical plan for straight after birth including a mild dose of olanzapine ( what I was on and worked well last time) I'm just wondering if anyone had any signs of pp in late pregnancy? I did with my 1st and thought about death a lot even visiting my grandparents grave, something I've never done prior or since the 1st pregnancy.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello linzi686

Thanks so much for the update . I’m sorry to hear you suffered PP in 2013.

Congratulations on your second pregnancy It’s good to hear you have fantastic support and have a medical plan in place. As you say, I think it’s totally normal to be a little nervous now as you have come through some ups and downs in 30 weeks. It must also have been a very challenging time during the Covid restrictions.

I didn’t have any signs of PP in late pregnancy which must have been very unsettling for you. Like so many mums here, my episodes came completely out of the blue after looking forward so much to our babies. Have you been able to talk about your worries to your care team?

My PP episodes were so long ago and for some PP did not return, so I wish you all the very best in these last weeks of your pregnancy. Try to rest as much as you can and be kind to yourself.

[linzi686 in reply to Lilybeth]

I have talked to my mh team and its been noted to look out for signs in late pregnancy. Thank you for your kinds words.

[Lilybeth Volunteer in reply to linzi686]

Hi linzi686

That’s good to have talked to your team so they are aware of signs to look out for. Take care and stay safe.

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi linzi686,

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I am glad to hear that you have so much support in place this time around and a medical plan in place after the birth. It can't be easy with the current restrictions, so I am glad to hear they are taking good care of you.

I had pp in 2018 and have not had another pregnancy since. I remember having a good pregnancy and how pp in the early post natal days came a bit out of the blue too. But there were a couple of occassions when I surprised myself and others with my reaction. Its very difficult to say at the time what is the anxiety of becoming a new parent and what is the more spiralling out of control kind. I for once close to my due date went into a heightened alert mode, where I took it as my resposibility to tie any loose ends in my life and my family's. And I thought this is what people call nesting, I am just doing it a bit differently.

I am sure this pregnancy is bringing back many memories for you and that on its own can be overwhelming, so reach out when you feel you need to talk some things through, have you been offered counselling? sometimes just having a safe environment on which to vent out can help. We are always here to listen as well, so write whenever you feel like.

Take good care and let us know how you get on, all the best

[Hidden]

Hello, yes I had pp with my second as well. When I had a delusion (too frightened to get into bed - for no reason) I knew what it was and contacted mental health. They put me on 2.5mg if olanzapine. And my baby was born 12 weeks later. He’s fine, he’s 12 and he’s just started high school.

After the birth they increased to 5mg, but I couldn’t tolerate it, I was like a zombie, so they put me back down to 2.5. Can’t remember how long for, but I remember doing night feeds so I wasn’t too dopey.

I want to encourage you, I remember him as a tiny baby, I enjoyed his first year. I stayed home and everything was fine. 🙂. It was kind of healing, after the trauma with the first one.

All the best with yours.

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Wishing you well with your trimester Linzi. You seem to be well prepared with a good support network.

Keep well and take good care of yourself. Lots of mums will be here to support, who have had the experience of a second or third child.

I was extremely poorly in 2010 after my son's birth and was sectioned. We feel blessed with one child only, but I may can explain how I mellow down my ongoing anxiety, which is part of my Bipolar 1. The therapeutic remedies are useful for all mums, who need a bit of me time;

- aromatherapy with a distiller

- taking a bath with some special treats, such as a face mask, one of this special bath bombs, aromatic candle lights etc, I use various incense sticks

- gentle Yoga exercises one can access via you tube

- learning how to meditate

The above I use quite regularly beside Reiki and structured meditation, you can access a lot on mindfulness and the mindfulness of breathing, chakra balancing etc on I Pod and you tube...there is a lot of guided things...

We all have our little ways to relax...trial and error helps to create something tailor made to your needs...

Stay safe x

[Hannah_at_APP Administrator]

Just adding my best wishes here for your last weeks of pregnancy linzi686. I had PP after my eldest and another child, 4 years later and was lucky to remain well. I remember well the feeling of excitement and nerves and not knowing “how much” I was allowed to look forward to things as I obviously was... but was also feeling scared too and didn’t want to go “too” excited or manic even. With the current lockdown restrictions and uncertainty I can imagine that it’s a worrying time - it is for so many people, especially if you are expecting a baby.

It’s so great to hear you have good support in place though and a plan for after the birth. Whilst I didn’t have any signs of PP in pregnancy, as you’ve described, I did take a low dose of olanzapine on delivery and found it beneficial for sleep and to have as something we were trying to do to minimise the risk of becoming unwell again. I’m sure you’ve seen it but the APP Insider Guides also have some useful info, including planning pregnancy (& early days after giving birth), here’s the link: app-network.org/what-is-pp/...

All the best and thinking of you, XX