When did you feel "normal"?

My DD is 2.5 weeks old and I still feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster. I don't feel depressed- it's more like anxiety. I feel part of why I'm having a rough time is my grandmother passed away this week- we were extremely close. I feel like life will never be "normal" again, if that makes sense. Anyone else experience this?

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I'm so sorry for your loss! Experiencing something like that so soon pp will definitely throw you for a loop.

I am 7 weeks pp. Normal is now different than what it was before, but I totally know where you are coming from. I think it took a good 3-4 weeks for my emotions to feel 'steady' again, and I absolutely felt anxiety more than anything else. With the loss you are experiencing I think it makes sense that it may take a bit longer for you.

I'm still more emotional and cry more easily than I did before, but I do feel things have stabilized. Be easy on yourself and ask for help. Emotional rollercoasters are normal!

When did you feel

Never!!!! Normal will never be normal again. It's a new normal. Give yourself some time. 2.5 weeks is still early and you had a loss (hugs).

I didn't really start feeling more normal til I went back to work at 8 weeks.

When did you feel

It's a diff normal. I started feeling more like myself at 5 weeks pp and I made sure to get dressed out of my nursing bra and sweats. Once I mad it a point to shower, makeup and get dressed I felt human again. The emotions were and still are a roller coaster. Plus I lost my mom I. '07 so having a newborn was hitting me on a whole other level.
it does get better though and you had a loss during an emotional time to begin with. Sorry about your loss.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I felt like I was finally in a groove around 4 months.
A new normal of course, but I felt a little more on solid ground for the first time.

When did you feel

I am so sorry for your loss.
I started to feel more like me again around 3 months. And like everyone else said its a new normal... You find a new routine. A new way to run errands; go for walks; play dates and etc... But like anything else once you get it, you just get it... And it all starts to little by little feel better, easier, a lot less overwhelming...

I promise it does get better. When I initially didn't feel better I started talking to someone and that helped a lot.

When did you feel

It takes time. These first few weeks are very hard as you are recovering physically and hormone wise. Plus you have a little one that you are trying to figure out. My grandmother passed away 1 week after my son was born and it was horrible. It took time to grieve her passing and my hormones were not helpful. Try to rest if you can, take a break from everything. You need to focus on you and your baby. No one should fault you for not being as involved as you may have been a few months ago. If you were close to her, and it sounds like you were, she would want you to take care of yourself and the baby. I am so sorry for your loss.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

The first 6 weeks was hell. Total emotional hell. I had a traumatic labor, followed by a horrible C section recovery and hospital stay.

Now at 2 months, I feel a LOT better. And that's because I am back at work. I know it sounds terrible, but I don't think I am cut out To be a SAHM. The days and nights were blending into each other, I felt so incredibly alone and exhausted. Even if people were helping me I still could not relax and release the anxiety.

And I have an amazingly content baby who doesn't so much as make a peep unless he is hungry or wet.

But I still could not chill the F out. I thought DH would have me committed for being a complete lunatic.

Now that I am at work, we have a really awesome little schedule and I am so much more relaxed, focused and content. It goes without saying that I don't stop thinking about him or missing him from the moment I drop him at my mom's house til the moment I pick up (I usually RUN from my car to the house because I can't wait to see him). But I completely think that the time I spend at my job keeps me sane, and for that, I know it makes me a better mother. I cherish every second I have with him, and I don't beat myself up over being back at work and enjoying it.

I am still so new at this whole mommy thing, but that's my experience so far. FM me if you ever want to talk

Message edited 12/8/2013 6:38:12 PM.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I don't know. I'm 4 months pp and still feel like I'm living a life that's not really mine, it's so weird. I think I'm starting to get used to it though, maybe.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I'm so glad you posted this... I'll be 3 weeks pp on Tuesday and I have definitely been having a hard time adjusting, just not feeling normal or like myself anymore. I try not to get down on myself because it is such a change but it's reassuring to see many other women confirm that it IS normal not not feel like yourself quite yet. I'm looking forward to getting there and I'm relieved to know that there will be a new normal... at some point.

When did you feel

Not till I went back to work, and then slightly more out of my funk by 6 mos.

When did you feel

I was a basket case the first 2-3 weeks straight. then I was at a point where I wasn't hysterical everyday, but still extremely overwhelmed.

I would say about 2 months until I really calmed down. But I really started enjoying things at 6 months. It gets better I promise you. I thought I was going insane but it went away. You still feel crazy but it's normal mom crazy…not I'm scaring myself and my husband crazy ;)

I also had a traumatic experience happen in my family during my daughter's infant life. That kind of stress of course is adding to the way you're feeling--but it's mostly hormonal and once they level out you'll feel loads better. I'm so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. xoxox take care.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I'm sorry for your loss.

I would say about 4 months I started to really feel normal. Everyone else is right normal won't ever be like your old normal its just something you gradually get use to.

I was very experienced with kids before my dd was born because I worked and owned in daycare for years. I thought I was going to be so confident and it would be so easy. I was a wreck. The hormones are CRAZY. No one really prepares you for how overwhelmed you will feel with not just love for your baby but stress, anxiety and fear. I'll never forget those first few weeks I cried everyday my DH went to work. I was so exhausted I'd cry for no reason. By the time my dd was 2 months I had a routine for myself. I showered/cleaned/shopped/cooked and made myself get out of the house. Getting out makes you feel normal. Once my dd was 4 months I was back to normal well really I fell into my new normal. I was back in control of my life, and she was sleeping and eating more on a schedule which makes life easier.

Message edited 12/8/2013 7:53:52 PM.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I'm sorry about your loss.

2.5 weeks is very early. You are still very emotional and hormonal and it's totally normal! Around 5 weeks pp I started to notice a difference and I think around 9 weeks I started to feel more like my old self. And then a couple of weeks later DS started sttn and I felt like a new person because I was sleeping again!

But you will never feel like your old "normal" again. Having a baby changes you and you'll have a new normal. Anxiety, to some degree, is always going to be there because you have a new life to worry about! But it should not debilitate you. If it does, please talk to your dr!

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

Sorry for you loss

My dd just turned one and I still feel different emotionally. I think it just changes you an you adapt to your new life. Congratulations on your new baby. Hang in there you will definitely take a bit of time to fall into your new role as mommy

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I think on average I'd say around 5 months PP.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

Around 6 months was better for me, and a year even better then that. After I weaned DS around 14 months I felt even more like myself because my body was back to being my own again and his life didn't depend as much on my life (as in I'm not providing his sole source of nutrition). It does get easier, and you will establish a new "norm" so to speak. Things also get more and more rewarding. Congratulations on the baby!! It's not easy but it does get easier.

When did you feel

So sorry for your loss. I fell into my new normal at about 8 weeks when she started sttn.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

sorry for your loss

it took me about 4 months to feel *normal*
hang in there

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I'm sorry for your loss

For me, I started feeling much better somewhere between 6-8 weeks and I think it was tied to two things: (1) baby started sleeping better and I was REALLY not dealing well with the lack of sleep; and (2) I decided to move from EBF-ing to EP-ing because I had overactive letdown and was very depressed about baby constantly choking and gagging while feeding from the breast.

I have to warn you though, not sure if you're BF-ing, but when I weaned from the pump between 6 and 7 months post partum I developed post partum anxiety and ocd. I'm now 8.5 months post partum and I am feeling better with treatment, but still not 100%. I feel like the hormonal change in quitting the BF-ing was way more pronounced than I ever expected.

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

Re: When did you feel "normal"?

I'm 3m pp tomorrow and I still feel off. I'm also still recovering from an episiotomy that just won't heal! .

Like others have said, it's going to be a "new normal". I have to keep telling myself this because at times I'm expecting to feel the same way, both physically and mentally, as I did before getting pregnant.
It's a little different because my LO was in the hospital for a month and we were in a nice routine then. Now we're home, I'm back at work, and I'm trying to figure out how to add more hours to do the day .


I just read the 2 above posts and I am bf'ing and have dealt with anxiety for a long long time. I'm getting anxiety about getting anxiety when I start weaning lol.

Message edited 12/9/2013 11:27:57 AM.

When did you feel

I think when I went back to work; around 4 months pp. it takes a little while. Give it time!