ppd with #2, but not #1?

[Samjm]

I just took the online quiz and scored 68. This confirms what I've been thinking bu afraid to admit - that I have some form of ppd.

How often do women get ppd after their 2nd baby, if they didn't have it with their first?

Thanks

[Nisupulla]

I did.

[guestmama9906]

I did not have it with my first. I was much younger though, and there are 6 years between #1 and #2.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I have PPD and I've never had it before. 3rd birth, 4th child. I had sort of a manic spell after the twins, though.

[kayla14]

I had it with #2 and #4.


Lisa

[Stacymom]

I had problems with ppd after the birth of my second as well. Interesting, because her birth was a far more "fulfilling" experience in some ways.

[jtbuko]

Yes, with #2, but not #1... but with #2 I put two careers I love on hold, moved across the country for dh's job, and cut out dairy due to colic... so there was a lot of isolating, taxing stuff going on to trigger ppd.

[maliceinwonderland]

I was told by a doctor I work with that's it's actually more common to get ppd after your second child. I don't know firsthand yet, but I imagine going from 1 to 2 kids is a pretty difficult transition.

[ComfyCozy]

I don't know how often it is, but I got it after my fifth, but not the previous four. If I understand correctly, we get "depression" when we are so overwhelmed/stressed/etc that our bodies cannot manufacture the proper amounts of the chemicals we need to keep ourselves emotionally balanced. It would actually make sense that if we have twice the load after the second baby, then even if we handled the first arrival unscathed, it might show up after the second.

[Slackermom]

Yes. I had the baby blues for a couple of weeks after DD was born, but when baby#2 came along, I had full-fledged PPD.

[greenkids]

nak
Me too. : DC2 just turned 12 weeks, DC1 almost 2, I was fine with DC1, feeling pretty bummed lately. So to you!

[greenjenny]

I had it with 2, not 1 or 3. # 2 is my only boy, I wondered if the hormone difference was part of the culprit.

[CountryMom2e]

I had the baby blues with #1, and some real issues with my birth experience (emergency c-section instead of my planned natural birth, post-partum preeclampsia & bedrest, breastfeeding problems). I remember sobbing at night, struggling with how to reconcile this drugged-out feeling I had from birth. Plus dealing with a newborn, etc.

#2, I had a beautiful, surprising VBAC after 11 weeks of bedrest for preeclampsia. I was on such a high after the birth (apparently a euphoria after birth before PPD is common). I immediately started running about, doing everything I couldn't before, juggling the baby and my toddler, cooking, cleaning, etc. Even hosted my entire extended family for DS2's christening at 6 wks post-partum. All while renovating our house and living with my dad. Ugh. I was so stupid!

Found myself unable to do anything, to think straight. It took 80% of my energy just to put a smile on my face for my kids. I couldn't sleep, and started to want to hurt myself just to feel something. All I could feel was sadness, anger, and disappointment - the happy feelings were completely muted. Called my MW, she referred me to a psychologist and prescribed an SSRI.

If you think you have it, you probably do. The three pronged approach is the most effective at treating PPD - medication, therapy, and exercise. You need all three to get the best results. I am now weaning off of the meds (I was switched to Celexa b/c of side-effects I had on my first SSRI) and am still breastfeeding my now 10 mo old. Most docs do not understand breastfeeding & antidepressants, so go in armed with info from Kellymom.com

You can do this - it is like wearing sunglasses all the time - you don't know how bright it really is outside until you can get them off!!! Good luck --

[EllasMummy]

I have PPD after #2. DS is 15 months old and I still feel very low. After DD was born was the happiest time of my life.

I found the change from 1 to 2 children much harder than I thought it was going to be. I was tandem nursing them for 10 months and my DD was diagnosed with epilepsy during this time. All these things have added to my depression.

[Aliviasmom]

It happens all the time. Did you get the baby blues with your first? Also, if you have it once, your chances of having it again are a lot higher...and it's usually worse each time. I did a paper on this about a year ago.