Postpartum Depression

CB · Sep 4, 1998

Can't say I've noticed it in my daily practice as an ED nurse but I'm sure if we screened mothers who came to the ED for other reasons ie. a sick child that we would find alot of it. I can tell you that I suffered from post-partum depression myself so I know the terrible emotional roller coaster that it can be. After my first pregnancy 7 years ago I was an absolute basket case for at least 6 months and a lesser basket case for the better part of my son's first year. I cried all the time, I was so overwhelmed(which I think is typical of first time moms) and I really had minimal support since I have no family nearby. At first I just thought that this was just the way all new moms feel...then I would go back and forth between feeling like it was normal and then feeling as if it was not normal and that I should tell someone. I never did tell anyone....I just dealt with it the best I could which was a big mistake. I finally did tell my obstetrician but only when I found out I was pregnant again 5 1/2 years later. I let them know how I felt after my first child and that I was really afraid of going thru that again. I delivered twins in December 97 and had some depression during the first 2 weeks where I cried alot for no good reason but within the first month the depression seemed to magically disappear. I can't begin to explain why such a vast difference between the two pregnancies. Maybe this 2nd time I was just too busy to be depressed!!!!!