I delivered my daughter two weeks ago at 36 weeks four days. She had a few problems that went away quickly enough but she wasn’t able to come home the same day I was discharged, she came home the next day. The day that I was discharged we left the hospital and I cried all the way home. I felt guilty that I couldn’t carry her inside longer so that she could come home the same day,(she came home the next evening.) I even have felt like I was “in mourning” not being pregnant anymore. Through the days I really wasn’t eating or sleeping much, the latter I assumed from having a newborn at home, and I am almost down to my prepregnancy weight (I gained 30 pounds.) I have been down and kinda sad and have went “off” at silly little things. The weather we have been having has been harsh and I have been couped up and not able to get out much. I assumed my mood was due to not getting out and sleep deprivation. Last night my husband joked with me about not wanting to go christmas shopping and I wanted to snap at him, instead I excused myself to go take a shower and “let it go” there and cried. When I got out my husband was there, I didn’t hide it well and wanted me to talk about it. Also last night my daughter, who is very vocal when she sleeps, was being herself and I was getting frustrated at not being able to get to sleep while she slept knowing that I would be up soon to feed her. I know this can happen, baby blues and PPD, and I figured that was what was going on. I made a promise to her to talk to the doctor about it at my 2 week appt, which I did. He told me that not eating and sleeping went past baby blues and into depression and he prescribed 50mg of Zoloft twice daily for a short time. My question is while I know I have been down, I assumed baby blues and that it would go away quick enough, he thinks depression and put me on drugs. This scares me, I have read the pamphlet that comes with the prescription and I am not sure whether to take it. I was told by the pharm. not to breastfeed while taking it either. I was wondering if anyone had any insight into this. I have been so excited to be a mommy and this is coming out of the blue and it upsets me to think that, though I have never been depressed before, that just because I had a baby I would be now. Has anyone been able to take this medication and been able to do it short term and feel better. I have my moments where it kicks in, I thought depression was that you felt down all the time. I have moments but its not all the time. Also is 50mg twice daily a small dosage, I am scared to take it and have it make me feel weird.
thank you so much!
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2 comments ↓
Reading your story was as if I was reading my own…. my heart goes out to you. My son came one month to the day early and also had to stay an extra day at the hospital for jaundice and I cried all the way home and could not sleep at all that entire night. My advise to to try the zoloft, I did and it did help. My son is now going on 7 months and all is better I came off of it just fine. I had the same feelings as you and kept putting it off and i was unable to see how bad it was till I was better adn able to look back on it. I wish all the best.
Hi there, gosh my heart goes out to you.
First of all, regarding the medication contact the Breastfeeding Network Drug Line. The pharmacist there doesn’t just issue blanket instructions that you can’t take drugs with b/f and really works out whether you can or not. The website is http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression after my daughter was born. I would say, from my own experience, that taking the tablets allowed me to enjoy my daughter without undue anxiety and anger.
I get the impression you are feeling that the depression means that in some way you are not pleased to be a mom, but that is not the case. The two things are not related in that way. Your body has just been through a kind of biological hurricane over the last nine months and is still experiencing it now. It’s not surprising that that fact, coupled with just how darned hard it is looking after a newborn should result in some mood changes. Also one key thing that leaps out at me from your heartfelt message is your feelings of ‘guilt’ at not being ‘able’ to carry her inside any longer. You should seek some counselling to talk these feelings out because they are not rational. There could be loads of different reasons why your daughter was born at that time, none of which are in any way your ‘fault’.
You sound like a loving mum who could just do with some loving support herself. Confide in your husband and accept that no-one expects you to be super-mum. Motherhood is not easy, and the way to deal with this is to seek out support, friendship, information, techniques and anything else that helps you.
The very best of luck to you, and warm good wishes for you and your family.
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