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Advice for when baby comes...
Follow your gut!
I will admit that I think when my baby was first born that I suffered from some PPD, still dealing with it to be honest. Felt at times I was not bonding with the baby as I should be. I spoke to my family so they were all aware and I could rely on them for help, guidance, and to help me pull me through.
Well at 3.5 weeks my little girl started having major gas issues. Tried the drops seemed to help a little. After a week we went to the pediatrician, she said it was probably reflux lets keep an eye on things. After another few days I just felt like something was off, she was cranky and crying for no reason and then she started spitting up a lot. Everyone kept telling me babies spit up don't worry. I called the dr again was told to monitor it but babies spit up. Spit up turned to vomiting, probably every 3-4 feedings. Another call to dr, we switched bottles to Dr Browns. Another vomit... another call to Dr we switched formula. I was then told to monitor the baby for 24 hours and write down notes to every feeding. That night the next few feeding were ok, then all of a sudden more vomiting, projectile and I just couldn't wait 24 hours I called the dr again that morning. Everyone thought I was crazy calling every 5 min, telling me I was a first time mom and over reacting it was more then likely bad reflux. We went to the Dr that morning and the Dr again said it is probably reflux but go get a sonogram of the babies stomach to rule out Pyloric Stenosis... But its more common in boys they doubt thats what it is. Off to Good Sam we went! 4 hours later my beautiful little girl was in surgery! She indeed did have pyloric stenosis.
Pyloric Stenosis is when the muscle between the stomach and the intestines grows to be too small and the food cannot pass causing the baby to throw up. It usually starts showing up between 4-6 weeks. The surgery was only about an hour, they put her under, gave her a little epidural type thing to numb her from the waist down to ease any further pain and they went in and just snipped the opening a little larger.
My little girl had surgery on a friday night and was back home in my arms by saturday night. By that saturday 3pm she was a changed baby, back to being a happy little girl, able to eat and enjoy it! By sunday morning she was back to her full 4 oz bottles. It was the FASTEST most terrifying 24 hours of my life. Yet at the same time the most relieving because I knew what was wrong finally and in essence the moment I knew I could do this... the moment that little nagging feeling that made me a mother became active. I followed my gut.
As for the PPD, I still have moments of sadness, worry and whatnot but I am getting better with each day that passes, some days are better then others. But I am getting help and have the help of my family. Even through all of this I trusted my gut and you should too when your little ones arrive.
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