Hello beautiful community, I've posted on here before while recovering from PPP back in 2020 and then in my recent pregnancy for advice on preventative medication. First of all I wanted to thank all of you wonderful ladies who have responded with your personal experiences and just general advice and encouragements... Although no experience is the same, it was very encouraging to read your stories.
Just to give you an update, after consulting with my partner and my mental health team, I opted not to take preventative medication during pregnancy. The main reason for this was the fact that having a natural childbirth was important to me and I didn't want any "external" elements to potentially interfere with the onset and the progress of my labour.
Additionally, I was feeling and sleeping fine during the pregnancy - if that were to change, I was ready to start the medication in pregnancy.
My mental health plan included me taking a small dose of Quetiapine after the birth and continuing for a few weeks post birth. If any symptoms occured, I had options of increasing the dosage, having home-visiting mental health unit and/or transferring to the mums&baby unit, as a last resort. I was fortunate not to experience any post-partum symptoms this time round. I took 12.5mg of Quetiapine the first night after the birth (1/2 tablet), then went down to 1/4 and hen gradually to 1/8 of a tablet. I stopped the medication completely after 3 weeks post birth. I had continuous follow-ups with the mental health team until 12 weeks post-partum. I didn't experience any withdrawal symptoms when I came off the medication.
Things have been and felt very different this time - beautiful birth and blissful postpartum. I feel very lucky in that I had lots of support from family and prioritised rest in the first month above everything else. It was very helpful to have plans A, B and C in place and to mentally let go of any expectations about birth or postpartum and just embrace this new experience as it unfolded.
Baby girl is now nearly 5 months.
Xx
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Climber-mum
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It's so encouraging to hear your story about having another child after pp. And I'm sure it will bring a lot of comfort to other women who are thinking of having another baby.
It's never guaranteed what will happen is it? but it's so lovely to hear that you've had such a positive experience.
Many congratulations and wonderful to hear. I had a similar experience, as I had psychosis after giving birth to my son in 2019. I didn't have a reoccurrence of the illness with my second child. She turns 1 in 1 week!
Thank you for sharing Climber-mum that is so encouraging to hear. I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with my second having had pp with my first. Thank you again for sharing your experience. Xx
We have made the decision (may change our mind) to not have any more children after having PP. Our little one is 8 months old and if we decide we want more we will adopt rather than me falling pregnant again.
Congratulations on your little girl. It's lovely to read your update, and to hear that you have been well since having your baby. Thanks so much for sharing what worked for you. This will help, and give hope, to so many people reading on here. So many of us go on to have children after PP and it's great to share experiences of what helped us.
Wow what a gorgeous, positive and hopeful story to hear! I’m so thrilled for you that you got the birth you wanted and no mental health issues. Sounds like a dream.
I also had pp back in 2020 when the first lockdown hit. I don’t speak to many that had it then, but I realise I am not alone as it was such an awful time as it was. How were you treated? Home or mbu? My care was really delayed and it took a month until psychiatrist actually came to my house to see how severely ill I was. All the trauma for my self and my family could have been avoided if they came to visit a month earlier and got me the correct help right away..
Anyway, all is well now. But I’d be intrigued to hear how other mums care was during lockdown 2020.
Hello Isabella5991,Yes, I also had a misfortune of giving birth and having pp in the middle of COVID. Long story short, I was discharged from the post-natal ward without any regard for my mental health, which was in a very poor state after 5 days of no sleep. The next morning after I got home, my husband had to call the ambulance because I was in severe distress/delirium. I was taken into an emergency and eventually admitted to a general psychiatric ward, where I was supposed to only spend a couple of days, while waiting for a bed to become available at the mum and baby unit. I ended up staying there for nearly 2 weeks... During that time, I could only see my husband and baby for 1h per day. I was eventually transferred to the mum and baby unit where I was finally reunited with my son and I spent another 2 weeks there.
Thinking back, I guess the most frustrating issue with it was not having access to the family support that we were counting on. As both of our families live overseas, COVID completely overrode our plans to have the support for the birth and post partum with our first babg...
I just wanted to add my congratulations on the birth of your daughter I'm so glad you stayed well and had a positive experience, thank you for sharing your news with us and as others have said, I'm sure it will give hope and encouragement to others.
Hi Rachel,Our oldest loves the baby! I find the 4-year gap is just wonderful... He is old enough to take care/play by himself. He's out of nappies, can eat, dress, etc on his own. At the same time, he's fascinated by the new baby and we can include him in her care by giving him small tasks. I think it would have been very hard if the older child were younger (<3yo)...
Hi, your story is wonderful to read. Congratulations and I wish you and family all the best.
Can I ask, as my husband and I are trying for a second child (& I'm on a low dose of quetiapine, 50mg) did you have NHS medical support? Or private? I'm so pleased that your doctors were able to support you and you only had to take a small dose of quetiapine for a short time. I accept sometimes medication is needed, but I also find antipsychotics very very sedating.
All my experience of NHS mental health/ perinatal team or adult mental health team, just seem to recommend doling out the drugs. I want to reduce my dose, but I often come up against resistance. It seems to me my doctor would prefer to keep me drugged up and not take any risk (were I to reduce or come off one day in the future).
So I just wondered how you & your doctors agreed to give you a low dose for such a short time.
Hello Dolly292,Of course, I'm happy to answer - although I live in Australia, so my situation may not completely apply.
I was on medication for 4 months post birth/pp from the first baby. So I was off it for 2.5-3 years before I got pregnant with my second. I went through the public system here in Australia for the birth of my second. I was fortunate enough to access continuity of midwifery care and to give birth at a birthing centre rather than hospital, which I think made a huge difference in making me feel safe and cared for throughout the pregnancy and postpartum.
I get what you mean though about the doctors prefering not to take the risk and to keep you on medication. To be honest, I was quite anxious discussing my wishes to not take preventative medication in pregnancy with the psychiatrist, as I was terrified of being judged for 'disagreeing' with the doctor. My partner was very helpful in overcoming that fear and he gave me the confidence to state my case to the psychiatrist. I think at the end of the day, we simply showed the doctor that we were both aware of the risks and we had plans on how to manage them. And to be clear, the doctor's recommendation was still for me to take a preventative dose, but she agreed on the alternative compromise - for me to take some medication after the birth and to stay a few extra days at the hospital post birth.
Sorry, I know it's not the same system in the UK, but I hope it was at least of some help.
Best of luck with trying for your second baby ❤️❤️❤️.
Dear Climber-mum, congratulations! So lovely to read your update and how well you are getting on. Beautiful birth and blissful postpartum, what a lovely sentiment! I wish you all the best for your gorgeous family of 4, thank you for updating us with such brilliant news.
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I'm so glad you stayed well and had a positive experience, thank you for sharing your news with us and as others have said, I'm sure it will give hope and encouragement to others.
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