I have a 8 month old could I still have ppd? Second child after 13 years.

I have 4 children. I believe I suffered from Postpartum after the first one (now 6) even though I never sought help. I would just lay around crying all the time. After #3 (18mo. old) I felt really sad all the time and had no energy to do anything. I now have a 4 mo. old and after seeing your show I believe I am suffering from not only postpartum from this one but a carryover from the 3rd child. I am afraid that it may be more than just "postpartum". Do you have any suggestions on where I can go to see if it is just postpartum or something more.

Do women experience postpartum illnesses after experiencing a miscarriage?

I haven't been diagnosed with postpardam depression, but I think that I may have it. I have a four month old son and I've noticed that I am very sleep deprived all the time, I have trouble concentrating during normal activities, I find myself getting very angry and upset about little things. I haven't had thoughts about hurting my child, but I do get very frustrated and upset with him all the time. Is this normal or do you think that I may have postpardam depression, if so what can I do to better myself?

Had ppd after 2nd child 30 years ago!! Dr. at time said it 'will go away' Ten years later, I was finally treated by Dr. who said he had seen many women whose depression had BEGUN as ppd. Fatigue and other depressive symptoms were present. Have been treated by medicine ever since. Periodic consults with psychiatrists have only reinforced idea it began with pregnancy and delivery and that there were no 'issues' exacerbating the diagnosis. Now two of my daughters have experienced similar reactions after birth of children. What is going on?????

I suffered postpartum depression during my first pregnancy and am currently being treated for it after the birth of my second. My doctor prescribed an antidepressant and it seems to be working well. We would like to have another child in a couple of years. What are the chances of this happening again? Are antidepressants safe during pregnancy? How long should antidepressants be taken?

My daughter is exspecting her first baby. She is bi polar, and also has crohns desease. Mental health says during pregnancy women tend to do well and not experience episodes as they do in the norm. So far she has done very well with some mild depression along with being tired and sick at her stomach. She is in the beginning of her second trimester now.Being she is single she is living with me, and n i keep a watchful eye on her, and will continue after her delivery. Thank you for your report !

Did I hear in the report on postpartum illnesses, that it could last for years? If so, this is the first I've heard about it. Why or what would cause a mother to suffer so long?

Hi - I'm not the dr but wanted to let you know my postpartum issue took over three years for me to conquer it. I think that each person is different and recovery time varies like eye color - it's just the make-up of the person and the treatment.

Is there any correlation in these studies between medications during labor, such as Stadol, or epidurals and postpartum depression?

My Son's best friend had a baby almost 2 years ago. When he was born he had a physical problem called Extrophy of the Bladder. Since that time the little one has had several surgical procedures and many bladder infections. This, alone, is enough to create depression and stress in the marriage. However, the baby's Dad is now contenplating separating from it's Mother, not on his own accord, but because his wife has become distant, mean-spirited and cold to him. She often goes out alll night long with "girlfriends" and refuses to talk to him about what is causing her behavior. He has told me that she was totally different before (She began to change just before the baby was born) and had always been very loving and happy. He is destroyed by the thought that his little family may be separated. His little boy is the absolute light of his life. Is it possible she has post-partum depression, even though it started before delivery?

Dr. Tim, Does Post Partum Depression present itself any other way? For example: Since giving birth 6 weeks ago, I have experienced extreme sleeplessness, rapid heart beat coupled with hot flashes and sweating. I have been running on a couple hours of sleep for days and lay awake for hours even though I could be sleeping and my body is physically tired.

Yes it does!! I had the exact same symptoms and was diagnosed with PPD and severe anxiety. I have never had anxiety before so this was all new to me. I have been taking Zoloft for two weeks and it is helping. I'm starting to sleep more and feel more like myself. Don't wait go talk to your doctor ASAP.

Dr. Johnson, Since the birth of my children, I have not been the same. Here it is almost 6 years since my oldest, and 4 years since my youngest. I have days where I seem to be able to acomplish anything, then there are days I feel like I can't event get out of bed, for no reason at all. Some days, nothing upsets me, then there are others, that for the littlest thing, I will get upset and yell at everyone. Right after the birth of my children, I was told that "It happens to most mothers, and it will get better." Well, it hasn't progressed; but it hasn't gotten any better over the years. Any suggestions for me?

Dr. Tim, I am a postpartum mental health specialist and although I was very pleased that this topic was getting national media time, I was quickly disappointed that psychotherapy was not mentioned as an inttervention. In fact, I am afraid that the message that you gave was that treatment is either in the form of medication or sometimes hospitalization. I have treated many woman with ppd (as well as pp anxiety, which was also not mentioned) and they have recovered and gone on to have successful succesive pregnacies and postpartum transitions. Most woman I have treated have opted for medication as well but the combination of both forms of treatment has been most effective.

I think the study is very interesting but was left with several questions. Did the study show any correlation between the incidence of PPD and method of childbirth, i.e. C-Section, vaginal, epidural or other pain management drugs, etc.? Also, did the study show any correlation between the incidence PPD and those moms who breastfeed vs. those who did not? Also, you indicated primary course of treatment for those with PPD or other mental illness as drugs. Is that an option if the mother is breastfeeding?

Where can we find Dr. Tim Johnson's answers?

dr tim why do insurance companies get the upper hand in this. i have been an rn in the nicu and nursery for 19 years total and you know it is apparent to me that it has gooten worst since we converted the nursey over to mother baby units and have allowed 24 hour discharge. the mom never gets to sleep and when they used to stay for at least 2 days moms would always opt to leave the baby in the nursery so the y could get some shut eye. now its very few and they seem to feel compelled to keep the baby because they think it would look bad cause its not the norm to send the baby back. moms get bomb barded whin the first two weeks with everyone wanting to see the baby. its endless. there isn't any home health coverages for moms either so moms could take and use a care giver just for tlc. thanks for listening i hope this gets looked into.

My daughter had a baby last Tuesday. She started uncontrollable crying while still in the hospital. They started her on Prozac. She came home from the hospital on Friday, but by 5a Saturday she was calling us crying and unable to function with the baby. I stayed with her Saturday and Sunday; then she came to stay with us starting Sunday night. She does well during the day, but around 6p she starts the crying. She had planned to go home tonight because she was feeling so much better about handling things; then she again had a dramatic turn-around in the evening and could not go. She says she doesn't know why she's crying, and is upset that this is happening to her. She hates feeling incompetent or "like a baby"; but cannot control it. She has an 8-year-old and a husband. Does this mean the Prozac isn't working? or just hasn't had time? maybe she should take it at night? Should we call her doctor for additional help? They have her on 50mg, which she takes in the morning. Thanks for your opinion.

The program mentioned that women are at risk for more serious mental illnesses after childbirth such as schizophrenia. This happened to me. I had a history of depression and postpartum depression, and after my second child, I got psychotic as well. My psychotic condition persisted and now, four years later, I am told that it is permanent. My question is, how common is this? I have never met another woman like me, although I've read and heard on programs like yours that this happens. Psychological professionals act like they've never seen a case like mine, partly because of my age (I was 35 when the baby was born.)Usually schizophrenics are diagnosed in young adulthood, but mine clearly happened after childbirth.