Tell me it gets better...

DD was born a week ago today. DH went back to work yesterday. I cry and cry and cry and my anxiety level is so high. I love my little girl and our snuggles and time together. But I get overly emotional when DH leaves and then when he comes home. I recognize this is ridiculous.
When will hormones start regulating?!?

Eta: the nausea is pretty bad too

Message edited 9/16/2014 8:11:39 AM.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

Things should get noticeably better around the 2 week mark and then continue to get a little bit better each day after that.

Tell me it gets better...

It gets better. The hormones are crazy after you give birth. Give it some time.
If you find after a few weeks you aren't feeling better, speak to your dr.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It takes a few weeks.
It's a LOT. This HUGE life change coupled with your hormones raging out of control.
I would just sit on the couch and cry and sob for no reason..
It took about a month to get a little bit more leveled out for me.

Tell me it gets better...

It gets a lot better! I used to cry and cry and tell my husband that I was a bad mom because the baby would cry. But that's what baby's do! They cry. After the three month mark I felt totally back to normal, but it got better each day.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It definitely gets better!! Go out for walks. I found that being outside helped a lot, even if it was just 1 quick walk around the block.

It got progressively better, but I remember week 5 pp was when I finally felt like my old self again.

Just remember it's the hormones coupled with the lack of sleep...but things always get better!

Congrats on the LO!

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It will get better. I was a complete mess for the first 2 weeks and then a little bit of a mess for the next 2 weeks. I would cry over nothing at all (my DS was going to grow up one day, my DH did not sit next to me on the couch, my mom left and I didn't think I could handle my DS all by myself).

If it's still present at your 6 week appointment, I would speak to my doctor about it.

Tell me it gets better...

it does get better - hang in there. for me it took probably 2 months with both children to feel "normal" again...although still felt sleep deprived for a while longer
with dd, the crying didnt stop until i went back to work....which at that point i just cried bc i had to leave her at daycare

Re: Tell me it gets better...

I cried almost everyday the first few weeks. It definitely gets better. By 5-6 weeks I was feeling somewhat back 'normal.' It helped when DH went back to kinda have a routine. I know a newborn is unpredictable but try to get out for a walk at least. It will help. And DEFINITELY sleep when the baby sleeps. Don't worry to much about the house. You'll feel much better with some sleep.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It gets better sooner rather than later usually. Make sure you are getting up and showering and getting dressed. It helps your overall mood to get things normal again. Get out and go for walks when its not raining. It will help you out.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It should get better after 2 weeks PP

If you notice you're still very emotional talk to you doctor.

Tell me it gets better...

It does get better!
I was fine when I got home with DS. Probably "too fine"... i was running myself into the ground doing everything round the clock bc I wanted everything to be perfect. By weeks 3-4 I was sick and exhausted. I started getting very emotional and would throw up from nerves every time my DH went to work. After 2 more weeks I figured out that I needed more rest and it got better. Im sorry you are going through this.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

Aw, hang in there. It will get better. I was like that with all three of mine--especially my first. I was like, 'WHAT was I thinking having a baby?! Everything was great before and now everything sucks.' I'm lol now, but that was how I really felt...I wished I got a dog instead

Think of it.. this is your first kid, you're on your own with her, you can't just "run out" for a cup of coffee or for anything--everything's a big production. Plus hormones! In my case, my DH went back to work the next DAY and my DD cried all.day.long. That doesn't sound like fun, does it? This is a WHOLE NEW life...it takes time and not a week's time!

But look, I had two more and love every minute (ummmm...yeah...) of it!

My advice is to take one day at a time, ask for and accept help, and keep a sense of humor about everything. You'll be fine...

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It definitely gets better, its just the baby blues. I was the same exact way especially at night. This is all new to you, just know your doing the best you can. What helped me was getting as much help from family as possible so I can nap (I needed to sleep to feel better), taking a shower and doing my hair made me feel better too. Go for walks with the baby and make sure you get some me time even if its just going to the supermarket alone for 20 minutes. Hang in there!

Tell me it gets better...

Hugs to you-- like the others said-around the 2 week mark I started to feel like myself. I also went and got a haircut (and color done because I didn't do it while pregnant) and I felt soooo much better.

Tell me it gets better...

I didn't start feeling better until about the 6 week mark. I too would just start sobbing for no reason. At my son's 1 month ped appt I actually broke down in the room when the doctor asked me how he was doing. I wasn't crying for any particular reason, I just remember not being able to stop! The ped was awesome, entertained DS while trying to talk me through what I was feeling. She even told me that she would do the same thing with her first child. After talking for a half hour she made me realize that the combination of hormones and lack of sleep was causing the tears. Her suggestion was to have someone I truly trusted to watch DS overnight so I could get some sleep--if I was nervous do it in my own house...getting a good night's sleep definitely helped! Once 6 weeks hit, DS was sleeping much more at night and I started feeling so much better. I still have my days (although they are few and far between) where I start to tear up a little because I get overwhelmed but I promise you it will get better. Don't be afraid to ask for help!!!!

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It's definitely normal not to feel normal!!! It took me quite some time to adjust to post-partum life. Hang in there!

Re: Tell me it gets better...

Talk to your doctor. I had terrible anxiety. After My 1st baby I went untreated. After my 2nd I went on Xanax and and the antidepressant, lexapro (I wasn't depressed but it helped the anxiety). I was on it for 6 months then I was fine and didn't need any more. Obviously some anxiety is normal, but there is something that can be done about it if it's something that's really bothering you. It's scary taking care of a newborn, plus being extremely sleep deprived, plus adjusting to the shifts in hormones plus loosing control of your life. It does get better, but you might need to talk to your dr.

Message edited 9/17/2014 4:38:03 AM.

Tell me it gets better...

It does get better. It takes some time. I was a total mess after ny dd. I was anxious oerwhelmed scared and tired plus a whole bunch of other emotions i didnt understand. I would cry all the time. I was so anxious i couldnt sleep when my dd would sleep. I had panic attacks when my dh went back to work. I even wanted my old life back. I just wanted to sleep when i wanted to sleep. Get dressed. Take a shower. I actually missed my commute to work (which totally sucked lol)
The point is i was a mess. I absolutely loved my dd but i felt completely put of control. I ended up getting some help because it lasted longer than what felt normal. For me it lasted almost 3 months.
I knew right away my feelings werent the same as my friends because i had previously been in therapy for my anxiety.
For my friends that experienced it and never suffer from anxiety it went away after a few weeks.
But just know your not weird. Its totally normal. We all go through it. Its hard but you get through it and you see how amazing being a mom is. And all the fear and anxiety melt away. It also helps when you start to get sleep again.
When my dd started to sleep better and i got her on a routine i started to feel better too.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

What you're experiencing is completely normal, and it does get better.

Just worry about surviving this time. For me I stopped feeling like I was drowning at around the 4 week mark, but it's different for everyone.

You're doing a great job and you WILL get through this.

Re: Tell me it gets better...

It definitely gets better. I would spontaneously burst into tears. It lasted about 2 weeks. Hang in there. It's perfectly normal. Hormones are no joke!