PPD and future births

[Alana]

Is it possible to NOT get PPD if you have had it before?? After my dd was born in Feb 04, I developed very very bad PPD, and had undiagnosed fibromyalgia. Dh and I really want another child....but Im SO scared to go through that again. It was hell. Im just thankful my older dc were only 2 and 3 at the time, and it doesnt seem to have affected them now. I tried to get help and I had filled out that online quiz and had a very high score. The Dr looked at it and said "We tend to fill these things out when we are feeling our lowest, and that can skew the results, you are probably just overwhelmed with 3 young children" I took that test on a GOOD day! i dont like taking meds for anything, and Im not sure what to think about antidepressants and nursing. Is it pretty much guaranteed that I will have PPD again because I had it before>?

[Goddess3_2005]

I had PPD with 4 out 5 of my pregnancies. IF I ever get pregnant again I think I won't get it because of what I know about nutrition and supplements that are nessisary to keep my self from getting depressed. If I didn't change my diet etc I think it would be very likely I would get it again.

[Gale Force]

Alana -- My case is like Goddess3_2005 -- mine was rooted in nutritional deficiencies. Of course, I thought I was healthy. It was only going through hell and back and a lot of testing that convinced me that I needed to make a major lifestyle change. My son is 3 1/2 and I am still not ready for another one -- my levels are a lot better, but I know I would have problems again.

With fibromyalgia, you should definitely get help from a doctor who works with nutritional deficiencies regardless of whether you have more children. Work on your health now and then you can decide on other children.

Amanda

[newcastlemama]

I have read that some antidepressants are safe to use while nursing (the cost/benefit to the mom and baby that is)
I see it like this, If I can take a medicine that lets me go on living my dreams or not and want to die, I pick the first. I take and have great results with effexor.....I did not have defiencies in my blood ect.....mental illness runs in my family.

You may not get it again just because you can be more prepared (you know when things are getting bad for you ect) Your chances are higher for getting it again but maybe you could just be monitored very close by your dr midwife and then they can start helping right away if you have any symptoms.

[Gale Force]

Originally Posted by newcastlemama

I did not have defiencies in my blood ect.....mental illness runs in my family.

If your doctor is not informed on the proper blood work, it is very likely that the tests did not tell the full story. But the full story may be that you are not deficient in vitamins or minerals, none of us can know. But depression is associated with toxic exposures, and allergies as well. I had all of them and it took over two years of searching to nail it down and I am still not sure if we have it all nailed down.

Medication can be a very good short term solution if it is effective for you, but I cannot agree that medication is a good long term solution. The medication itself requires nutrients in order for it to be metabolized while it gives your body no nutrients at all. It bankrupts our bodies of their nutrition. When deficiencies are often underlying all of this, medication can make it much worse in the long term. It is not a sustainable strategy if health is your long-term outcome.

[Gale Force]

Originally Posted by newcastlemama

I did not have defiencies in my blood ect.....mental illness runs in my family.

I am at least the third generation sufferer of PPD and the underlying cause did run in my family, it wasn't genetic yet it was "inherited" in a sense. My grandmother was institutionalized at least twice for it (though they didn't call it "PPD" back then, just a "nervous breakdown" soon after birth). My mom fared a bit better than her but also took better care of herself. If I didn't have two other adults living with me helping me get through, who knows what would have happened to me. All this is to say that on days when you have more energy, read about this stuff I am telling you about because it could change your life. Sherrie Rogers has a book Depression: Cured At Last which is very thorough.

[newcastlemama]

My dr did have me do bloodwork..he is VERY through and informed.He is the best dr in the area as far as I am concerned...he is known as the "patients' advocate".He will go natual whenever possible, but takes depression very seriously. He is my father's neighbor and took care of him during his major manic episode. He also kept my stepmom from having a hysterectomy as recommened by her OB, because he did her bloodwork and found out she just had a testosterone problem!!!
I see my dr (he's a DO) tomorrow so I will ask him about defiencies but he will probably just refer to my bloodtest (I came out very healthy in all categories). I am hoping not to be on meds forever, but I just take things one day at a time now....

[Gale Force]

Originally Posted by newcastlemama

I see my dr (he's a DO) tomorrow so I will ask him about defiencies but he will probably just refer to my bloodtest (I came out very healthy in all categories).

Most will check more traditional things like thyroid and iron but not necessarily magnesium, manganese, B vitamins, folic acid, and there are lots of others. Digestive disorders contribute as do toxicities and food allergies. Most doctors have little to no information on this, just like thrush. Go read posts in the BFing forum about doctors' advice on treating thrush.

I am hoping not to be on meds forever, but I just take things one day at a time now....

IKWYM. It's actually kind of nice to graduate to "one day at a time" from "one minute at a time" and "one hour at a time." I take my progress where I can find it.

[newcastlemama]

maybe dropping dose in a few months!!!

I just got back from the dr...he said I seem and look great compared to where I started especially.

I asked him about defiencies, toxicities, allergies ect and depression and he said he just returned from a conference on that subject and he was not conviced in the science behind all that (hair samlpling ect) He said there are toxins in the world and I could eat more organically ect to reduce them in my body. : He also supported my veganism as a choice I made for my health (plus my son is allergic to all dairy products and I want him to eat our foods too..)

I am so excited, he said if things are still going well for me in 4 months that I can start dropping off my meds!!!!!! I am so happy to have a goal to work towrds at this point...I really like projects and goals
I hope everyone is having a blessed and healthy day.

[Gale Force]

That's great you have such a big change to look forward to and to work toward. More progress.

Originally Posted by newcastlemama

I asked him about defiencies, toxicities, allergies ect and depression and he said he just returned from a conference on that subject and he was not conviced in the science behind all that (hair samlpling ect)

So it sounds like his concern is both in the linkage (deficiencies --> depression) and in the assessment tools (hair analyses). Hair analyses are controversial as assessment tools, but I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water. And like I said, most conventional docs don't buy the main premise.