Think I've PND but don't know how severe my condition is and most of all, where do I start to get help.

[annalee]

I first suspect I've PND when I failed to breastfeed my new born. Then after spoken to the health visitor, I felt a lot better and thought the PND would have been resolved. But tonight after my 2am feed, I started feeling really depressed and had to cry myself out in the living room for an hour. As I returned into the bedroom, and watched my husband and baby fast asleep in the room, I couldn't stop feeling depressed and had to get out of the room to cry so to avoid waking them up.

[bigmomma]

Hiya x I found out I had PND after about 8 months of having our little boy. We had a very bad birth and was quite unwell for about a month after so didnt bond with him. I was on automatic pilot. I never didnt care for Zac but was always making sure I wasnt with him on my own for a while so always made sure I visited people or went out. I never enjoyed those 8 months although felt I had to be really happy. Kept putting my feelings to one side. It was when I went back to work I kept breaking down and just couldnt cope with full time work and looking after my husband and son. It was Occ health, health visitor and GP whio confirmed I had PND. I have been on anti depressants and off sick since October and having counselling which has helped enourmously. Everyone has different ways of coping and symptons of PND so everyone is different but my health visitor gave me a book to read which is called 'inside no-one hears you cry' and its not a big book and has short stories from women who have been affected by PND. I found each story i could relate to and i think thats scary but at least you dont feel alone. Definately speak to health visitor and GP as depending on when your little one was born it could be baby blues but that doesnt last long so speak to someone and be totally honest. They will not judge you. I was worried i would be classed as a bad mother and have social services etc but couldnt be further from the truth. What I will say to anyone is to get help sooner rather than later. I had a friend who comitted suicide to PND as couldnt speak to anyone so dont underestimate this illness. Good luck hun - having a baby is not all you think it was going to be and such a life changing time but now I absolutely love my son to bits and def have some of my maternal instinct is now in full swing so you can get through it xxx Good luck xx

[HopefulPNI TRUSTEE PNI ORG UK Volunteer]

Hi there,

I think your next step might be to talk again to your Health Visitor or GP...if you feel you can. many suggest that the earlier it is treated and 'nipped in the bud', the better. Personally, I left things too long and wished I'd asked for help sooner.

Let us know how you get on.

Hopeful xx

[annalee]

Thanks for both of your posts. I found that my emotions are often triggered during the night, esp after my husband returned from work, but then I seems to be fine when I'm with my little one alone during the day. I'm unsure what the reason is there...

Thou I will definitely try to speak to the health visitor / GP next wk.