Baby Blues

I have a beautiful 7 week old baby girl at home and I'm a stay at home mom. I have no reason to be sad but for some reason I can't shake this feeling of being sad over the fact that my whole world is different now. Being a Mom is hard work...especially with an infant. I'm reaching out for support from other Mom's who experienced a sort of blues...not being super happy with being a mom. I have mood swings...sometimes I am very content and feel all is right but other times I find myself in tears over the smallest incident. Anyone relate to that? What can we do? I'm want to join a Mother's Center in my community to help out and get to network with other moms. I was hoping to network here too. THanks for listening.

Re: Baby Blues

I went through the same exact thing. When DD was a newborn, I remember calling my mom crying saying I made a mistake and that I couldn't handle this. It all passed with time. By 3 months, I was pretty much feeling back to myself.

Hang in there!! I can't say it gets easier, but it does get sooooooo much better! Joining a Mom's group definitely helps. For me, hearing that other Moms are going through the same thing really made me feel less depressed.

Re: Baby Blues

being a mom is the best and hardest, most draining thing you will ever do. EVERYTHING you are feeling right now is 100% normal. my DS is 4 months old and i still get overwhelmed at times. i really wish they came with a manual!

my best advice is to get out there - like you said, join a moms group, or even do a GTG with some mommies on here if you feel comfortable. when i was on maternity leave i felt terrible if i stayed home too much - it left me too much time to obsess over things, especially when DS was napping, and i felt useless. once i did a few GTGs and i was able to talk about all of my mommy/baby issues with other moms, i felt SO much better.

congrats on your little girl, enjoy every second with her.

Message edited 1/15/2009 3:54:59 PM.

Re: Baby Blues

it will become easier (taking care of your newborn).... and it will become more and more rewarding as DC responds more to you

I didn't have baby blues, but I can imagine how difficult it is... if it persists, you should probably call your OB.... there's no need to endure those hormone fluctuations without help

Re: Baby Blues

What you are feeling is sooo normal!! So many new mom's go through this. I was very emotional. The best way to describe how I felt was as if I was mourning my "old life". After 2 weeks I was feeling better and eventually the feeling went away.

Did you speak with your OB?

Many hugs!

Re: Baby Blues

I hope that once you're in a good routine with the baby, feeling better about youself, etc...that your mood will brighten

Re: Baby Blues

i felt that way too....my appetite was for the birds i actually lost 31lbs the first week i was home bc i wasnt eating, i cried a lot and overall just didnt feel "right" or "myself"....i was sooooooooooo overwhelmed and just plain down in the dumps....i also had a baby that was screaming for almost two months straight until we got her on a new formula and meds for acid reflux....that was just added stress and depression....things didnt feel like they would ever be "back to normal" but they did.....id say by the end of the third month i felt sooooooooooooo much better....u need to be able to talk to ppl its sooooooo important i remember just crying to my mom on the phone saying i couldnt do this anymore....and now im soooooooo happy telling her the newest thing kaylie did....things WILLLLL get better for u I PROMISE but in the meantime u MUST talk to ppl to get ur thoughts feelings and emotions out so u dont feel alone or crazy

Re: Baby Blues

Your not alone! Its normal to feel this way after you have a baby, I had the baby blues bad after I had my DD, it lasted for a few weeks, its a big life change, but it will get better!!

Re: Baby Blues

Posted by MelToddJulia

Your not alone! Its normal to feel this way after you have a baby, I had the baby blues bad after I had my DD, it lasted for a few weeks, its a big life change, but it will get better!!

Re: Baby Blues

It totally stinks, I was there (I think a lot of us were). I cried all the time, I couldn't understand why I wasn't head over heels in love with my little guy. It was a scary time. But definately by 2-3 months the fog lifted and things are 100% better. Don't feel bad about feeling sad, it's normal. If you think it's really bad though definately go to your OB to talk about PPD. I agree with the PP's- get out and see other people. This time of year is hard, but you'll feel better if you can. I think there is a group of us meeting up next week- FM me if you're interested

Re: Baby Blues

You are not alone and being a Mom is a huge life adjustment just know that there are so many resources out there to help you through this. You can consider calling the hospital that you gave birth at an they should have some info on postpartum depression.

Re: Baby Blues

I definitely experienced the baby blues the first two weeks I after I delivered, though they have faded considerably, I still have "twinges" now and then.

It was very hard for me to accept how incredibly different my life had become in an instant. Though pregnancy prepares you to some degree, you can still get up and go whenever you feel like it. I also had a sick labor that ended in an unnecessary (at least I think so)c-section that I am still recovering from, so that was a definite contributing factor.

I am enrolled in a second Master's degree program which starts again in a couple of weeks. I remember telling DH that I couldn't wait to start going to school again and he made a comment about how I wanted to escape--it wasn't meant to be mean, but I burst into tears because it was partially true and I felt so guilty about it.

I have been on anti-anxiety/anti-depressants in the past and as soon as I am through breastfeeding, I will go back on them. I also plan to go back to work in September.

Maybe if you find something to occupy you part time like a class, a small job, volunteering--anything to give you "you" time, that will help you feel a little more like yourself again.

Don't feel alone. I think it is so common for women to feel like they lose a little bit of themselves after they give birth. FM me if you ever need to talk...

Re: Baby Blues

The change in your life is one thing, but your body chemistry right now is such that those moods just come on. Some people are a lot more sensitive to those body chemistry changes.

Re: Baby Blues

I felt the exact same way...honestly still have that feeling once in awhile still after a year! I love DD soo much but it was and still is a big adjustment.
I would say that i felt normal again at around 4months PP...it was like a cloud that was hanging over me lifted.