post partum depression

[worder]

how long after baby's birth can you suffer from it? any personal experiences? am asking for a friend of mine with a 3 month old baby. thank you much.

[mike1222]

Google "Postpartum" and you will get all the info you require.

[Lindy Loo]

It does vary but I started with post natal depression after about 3-4 weeks. My mum was the one to point it out to the doctor on a home visit, and he suggested a 3 month course of anti-depressants, which did help.

Each woman is different, as this type of depression is often associated with hormonal changes after the birth.

If your friend is depressed try and persuade her to speak to the health visitor and her Doctor. Both can advise her on coping strategies, and may be a short course of medication will help. It does clear up but your friend will need some support.

She is very lucky to have a friend who cares and is concerned about her.

Good luck to you both and take care 

[Robinia]

With my first baby it was  the same as your friend, about three months after the birth that I started with depression.  I was very young & didn't seek help & it went on for a long while before I felt better naturally.

Nowadays there's much more help about - please, as lindy loo says, try & get her to see someone.

Good Luck.

[Xena1973]

I know Post Partum is a terrible illness to have and depends on each individual. I had it in October last year when i was 5 months pregnant with my daughter but i also had anxiety and was having panic attacks. (HORMONES ARE THE PROBLEM) I saw phychiatrists, consultants, doctors...you name it i saw them. I was desperate to go on medication and are still on them now! Has well as seeking help for her your friend will need all the help she can get from family and friends.......support is a big priority in helping someone who is depressed...although you might not see it, it does help!

[zgma]

I had it for the whole first year, and was too wrapped up in it to recognize it for post-partum depression - even with friends telling me to go to a doctor.  It did eventually slowly disappear, and only in retrospect did I realize I'd been really depressed. 

 

I think that at the time I just brushed it off as being new to parenting and having to adjust to a complete lifestyle change.  I would absolutely recommend therapy for your friend, as I think that's what pulled me out of it, but as lindy loo says, medications may be very helpful as well, since it is at least partly hormonal.

[Hgrove]

Do you mean post natal depression?  I have not heard of a separate condition called post partum depression. I think I had it for the first three years - yes three years.  Although I don't know whether what I really had was post natal depression or just good old depression.  At my six week check the doctor asked if I had been depressed.  My brain was so befuddled I said no, I just desperately desperately needed sleep.  And that is the extent of the help I got.  Which is probably why I had it for three years.