I’ve had a pretty difficult past few yrs. I was in 2 year relationship and I found out I was pregnant. When I was 3 months pregnant I found out that my best friend took advantage of me when I was drunk. ( I should have been more responsible). His sister e-mailed me and told me that her brother told her that my baby might be his. I told boyfriend about it and he stood by myside. Then on Christmas eve he broke up with me. Minding you I just turned 9 months. He blew me off for the rest of the time but only went with me to my prenatal visits. 3days before my son was born he started dating this girl from work. And kept lying to me about he just needed to to himself. A couple days later we tooka paternity test and found out that he was not the father. I was devistated and went into a form of depression. I was so blinded by everything that he would tell me after that with all the ” I Love You’s” & the “I dont want to be with her” and messing with my head, he continued to have a whenever-he- felt-like-it- relationship with me. Then I became pregnant by him and he had me have an abortion because he didnt want it and I couldn’t take care of another child. But by the time i went to have the procedure done, i have an ectoptic pregnancy and had to have the procedure done regardless. Then few months later I met my husband. At first we didnt look at each other in any sexual kind of way since we both just came out of pretty bad relationships. The first week we talked non-stop, about anything and everything. He fell in love with my son from the day he met him. 2 months later we got married. Everything happened so fast. From the time we got married my husbands help went down hill. We got married in September. In september he found out he had kidney stones, October Pnemonia, November atrial fibulation (which is very rare in a 24yrs old.) December, upper respiratory infection that lasted 2weeks. January his Gerd and acid reflex was really bad. April he had another upper respiratory infection and found out he has asthma. This monday he just had surgery because he had an inguinal hernia. in December he got laid off from work. And we had to move back to my parents house in April, (due to financial problems.) July he decided to go back to school for his Bachlors’ in Business Management & got his job back working part-time. I just graduated from Medical Assisting and got my diploma last months. I can’t afford daycare so I can work or have anyone in my family that can watch him until I can find a daycare i can afford. Then being a first time mom while my sons going through his teribble two’s at one, and getting spoiled by my parents. I still havent found a job yet. Then my husband is also a rapper and put his dreams aside and decided that now is the time to start. He’d leave the house at 8′oclock and wont come back until 4 in the morning. I dont know what to do. My family tells me thats not good, and i trust & love him but have second thoughts. Can anyone give me advice on how to cope with stress?

Hi,
I’m using my g/f’s account on here because i need some advice. She has postnatal depression (as per the title) and the main thing thats concerning me is she won’t eat. Ok she will eat but feels horrible when she does, no shes not anerexic, she just hasnt eaten a decent meal for about a week now and im really concerned. All i’m asking is can someone give me some advice on what do and if possible do you know any supplements or tablets that can help build her immune system and body back up to a healthy level? Doesnt matter what you can offer me , money is no object in this case!

Thanks

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hope you can help.
I have 2 kids ages 8 months and 5 years. after my first child was born my partners got severe postnatal depression but never really accepted this until 2 and a half years later when she was fine.

Over the past few months I have started to pick up these signs again and it has now got to breaking point.

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I am a 23 year old female. I am healthy and I eat a proper diet. I usually only drink water (4-6 glasses a day). I do have a sweet tooth though. Since Jan 10th of this year I have had dry mouth. It feels like it is more my tongue and the roof of my mouth. My saliva seems ok under my tongue and inside of lips at times. My tongue is white and my saliva gets frothy. I do experience dry eyes at times, but it is the winter and it is VERY dry where I live. I am not on any medications and I wasn’t at the time. The only thing I was taking was a prenatal vitamin because I am spacing out my pregnancies. I have tried 3 different meds for oral thrush (my doc said I had it) but the dry mouth feeling never went away. Since the beginning of 2009 I have been under alot of stress and anxiety and depression now because of my mouth. I know anxiety can cause dry mouth, but for almost 2 months?? I have been tested for diabetes, and I do not have it. I also do not have HIV. I had a virus right before I got my dry mouth. Also I have had alot of sinus problems since 2007. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
p.s. I do have GERD.

Basically I have always known that she was mentally ill (due to growing up with her behavior, but now I know that she was originally ‘normal’ before and only became mentally ill after suffering postnatal depression, it has now prompted me to investigate what is actually wrong with her.

She has expressed the following symptoms:
- Fatigue; she’s always tired, though she is also anaemic, though I don’t know whether she has always had this
- Paranoia; most of the time my mum is strangely happy and ditzy (sometimes in a child-like way) however sometimes some form of trigger (a random person usually: there is no links between the people who have set her off in the past), will walk past and her mood will instantly change, she will become paranoid and possesive, convinced the person is some how trying to hurt me or my sister. She will just stare at them, with a blank look across her face, sometimes she may approach them (which can be quite awkward) and prefers to be left alone by my family at this point; she has snapped at us in the past
- She also talks (mumbles) to herself quite frequently, especially about certain subjects, such as past boyfriends and referring to myself and my sister as “snow white princesses”

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I am 22 weeks pregnant. Prior to pregnancy, I smoked about 20 cigarettes a day, since I found out I was pregnant I smoke about 10 cigarretes a day. Yes, I receive prenatal care and take prenatal vitamins. My doctor is aware of the smoking and has me on a plan to decrease gradually. When I quit “cold” turkey, my BP went high and anxiety levels went up, so we are on a plan to decrease cigs. My baby appears healthy in the womb and there are no concerns that the dr has. Has anyone ever experienced this and could not quit?? I LOVE my son and only want the best for him and that is why we are decreasing slowly.

I am a 31 year old woman. I have a 9 year old and a 4 month old. I had the baby blues 9 years ago when I had my first child. I then was put on depression meds. I have been on them since. I take Effexor XR 150mg daily. During my most recent pregnancy I took prenatal vitimans which are called Vinate II. My ob told me to finish up the bottle of those vitimans, I have been taking those daily for about 12 months. After I had my daughter I was having issues with my bladder not being strong so my ob had me start taking Oxybutynin, to help straighten the bladder muscles. I take 3, 5mg pills per day, and have been on them for about 3 months. A month ago I was Phentermine 37.5mg for weight loss. I have lost 11 lbs in a month. When it was given to me my blood pressure was slightly high. Doc told me that if I lose some weight hopefully it will go down. I have always had great pressure. I am a little over weight. As time has gone by since I had my most recent child I have had different things and feelings going on with my body. I will say, I know my depression is under control, as I know my body. Now I am experiencing headaches, tight and tense neck and shoulders, leg aches, tired in mid afternoon(even while I am on diet pill), and my mom mentioned that she can see yellowing of my skin below my eyes. NOT the whites of my eyes. I don’t see the yellowing. Any ideas on what could be the problem? I know going to the doctor would be a good idea but…I am a little nervous about that. When my recent child was 3 months old I went to him and asked for the diet pill and he said that he was concerned about giving it to me because of my depression. I felt that I want to get this baby weight off, as that is what would make me depressed! So I went to a weight loss clinic that gave me the meds. I have done a little research and haven’t found much about these meds haveing these types of side effects besides headaches. I am wondering maybe low iron? Maybe something happened when I had my daughter 4 months ago and it is finally catching up to me?? Any thoughts?? Thanks

Hi, i have a small baby, she is 4 and a half months old. I think i could be suffering from postnatal depression. I was depressed for the majority of my pregnancy due to it being unplanned and pressure to abort (from her father) After she was born, i had the baby blues, i think it was because i was so overwhelmed with having a new baby etc, but i soon got into the swing of things, and i do love my daughter dearly. Lately things have taken a turn for the worse, and i find myself crying more often than not, i have suicidal thoughts, i hate myself and feel like a failure. If it wasn’t for my elder daughters (15 & 16) my baby would surely be in care, as days when i can not even bare to look at my baby, they take over for me. Which makes me feel even worse, that i have to subject them to this life. I don’t leave the house, unless i absolutely need to, and when i do, i feel self conscious and paranoid like everyone else can somehow sense that i am a failure. I find it hard to go to sleep, which in turn makes it harder for me to wake up at a decent hour. Everybody around me like my mothers, sisters seem to expect me to be ‘strong’, so sometimes i pretend that i am happy, to make them feel better, but inside i am dead. I just want to feel better again. I often wish i did have an abortion or i think about giving my baby up for adoption. I have even called social services to do so, but didn’t give them my real details, the next day i was happy that i did that. I am going to the docs on friday, and i plan to confess how i am really feeling. But i just want to hear from other mothers who maybe suffered from postnatal depression too and recovered. Honestly, did the medication work? and how long did it take to have effect? and how does it make you feel? groggy? more alert? what?
Thank you everyone 4 all your input and 4 sharing your experiences.I have a beautiful home with a large garden, and i recently purchased a 12ft trampoline which i use from time 2 time, so i think i get enough exercise and fresh air. I am just not enjoying mixing with people right now, so i spend alot of time at home. As I don’t want other pples sympathy. Also where i live i dont have any friends or fam, every1 lives far away.Lately i have been going out on Friday eves and drinking, listening to music ( which feels really good and makes me 4get about my life for a moment)…but it is only temporary. Every where i go, everyone seems to be happy. It hurts to see moms and dads with their babies, knowing i am raising mine alone. Her father hates me. He came to a few hospital appointments, was there when she was born and was around for a few weeks after, but due to an argument we had in June, he hasn’t seen her since and he wont talk to me. This doesn’t help, as i don’t know whats going on.

this is going to sound really selfish and i feel horrible talking like this because i know in the end its worth it. I’m 38 weeks pregnant. i obviously know i have 2 weeks left. i find myself crying and having panic attacks every night. i have a new pain every day. i call the doctor almost every day with concerns. ive had massive heartburn problems since the beginning of my pregnancy. i have had extreme hip pains and problems since about the middle of my pregnancy. i haven’t really had morning sickness. thank goodness. i feel sick to my stomach almost every day now. ive thrown up two times in the last 3 weeks. ive have leg cramps, they feel like period cramps in my leg, i also get these feelings in my stomach. i have to pee and or poo every 10-20 minutes. no joke. ive been having a headaches every day that are almost impossible to get rid of. ive been checked for preclampyia, dont have it. ive been checked for gestational diabetes, dont have it. the baby and i are “perfectly fine” except a little low iron. i have a crazy lift in my appetite. I’m having more frequent hot flashes. I’m 1cm dilated, 75% effaced, and his head is extremely low. ive tried walking and having sex. I’m on medication for my heartburn and they aren’t working anymore. I’m on a prenatal. I’m on an iron supplement. I’m on anxiety medication. and i take tylenol with codeine which isn’t really working. i have contractions but not that often. and all everyone keeps telling me i just have to wait it out. im so sick of hearing that. i just want my body back. i want to feel normal again. not be sick every day! i dont want to have panic attacks anoymore. i want to be able to sleep at night. im sorry im venting but what pregnant woman doesnt need to. im here for more support and advise that anything. thanks you in advance.

My baby boy is now 31/2 months and yesterday I looked in the mirror and for the first time I noticed my hairline is receding. I already look so awful after this second pregnancy and none of this happened with the first. Granted I was unable to take prenatal vitamins because it never stayed down but had I known about this hair loss horror I might have kept forcing them down everytime they came up. My hair thinned a lot with the first pregnancy three years prior but OMG this time I am balding at the front. What can I do to stop this??? My belly still looks awfully fat and jiggly to the point where sucking it in is hopeless and I am too exhausted even to exercise everyday because I am up at stupid hours all the time consumed with baby, preschooler, husband, house work and housewife duties (paying bills, grocery, dropping off and picking up monster toddler at school with baby in tow all the time). I have tyres all around my midsection and I feel so embarrassed by the way I look that I have become dowdy, dressing down in t-shirts to cover my flabby, overlapping belly in my jeans. My self esteem is waning and I feel so depressed (NOT POST NATAL DEPRESSION I might add). I used to be so fit and so skinny that at one time I considered taking weight gain suppliments. I was an avid hiker, gym enthusiast, swimmer, scuba diver and adventurer and at that time I was a carreer oriented woman. I have since given it up to be a full time mommy and wife which equals overwork and underpay. I used to be able to shake off things that could get me down but this weight gain has got me down down down. I know someone is going to tell me to go to councelling but really can anyone suggest anything else before this? My birthday recently passed making me 38 and I went all out, dressed up and looked (I thought) great!! Then I saw the pictures and felt so awful at how fat I looked but marvelled at how pretty I managed to look….especially my hair. It’s not just vanity working here either but I have always been happy with my looks. Now I’m tired though happy with my wonderful husband, toddler and my bundle but my 3 year old is telling me I am a fat mommy. Well now I am a fat, BALDING mommy and that does NOT feel good. I eat right, do the most exhausting work at home that makes me sweat more than the gym and drink plenty water. Whatelse can I do to stop this hair loss and lose this damned weight so I can feel normal again?