r/Postpartum_Anxiety

Hey everyone! I’ve been wondering about this and thought this would be the best place to ask.
For those who’ve been through the postpartum stage, what was the hardest part that you weren’t expecting? Or what ended up being way more difficult than people made it seem?
Also, if you could go back, what’s one thing you wish you’d had, known, or gotten help with that would’ve made those first weeks (or months) a little easier?
I’m not just talking about the big things—I’m also curious about the little day-to-day struggles that people don’t really mention but actually make a huge difference.
I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks for sharing ❤️

I am 8 months post partum and currently breastfeeding my baby. I had the typical ‘baby blues’ at 8 days post partum which lasted a few days but then I would say my mood has been pretty good until about three weeks ago. Three weeks ago I’m not sure what happened but I just feel like I ‘crashed’ emotionally and felt incredible brain fog, anxiety, intrusive thoughts and low mood and what felt like complete apathy towards everything. This lasted a week and has gotten mostly better except for my mood and I am currently feeling very disconnected emotionally from my bub which is breaking my heart. I know I love him so much but I am finding it hard to feel that towards him - l used to feel such joy when he smiled or laughed but now I feel just emotionally blunted.

I have seen my GP and she believes I may have depression. I have organised some psychology appointments and I already take an SSRI for anxiety but this may be adjusted in the future.

Has anyone else experienced this?!? I hate this feeling as I am normally a very happy, joyful person. Is it sleep deprivation or hormones or maybe a combo of both?? I have so much guilt that I am missing out on so much because I just don’t feel as present or engaged 😢

Im currently 5 weeks postpartum and I feel like i have had back to back health issues since then. It started off with mild eczema on thr backs of my hands and a cold for 2-3 weeks. That eczema now covers the entire backs of my hands, wrists, arms, and body, with the patches on my hands being raised and leathery? I've had a cold sore that just healed and more pop up immediately right after. I was also admitted to the hospital because my blood pressure shot up to 160/118 but that's resolved now.

Im just wondering if anyone else is experiencing back to back problems? Its kind of taking a toll on me mentally because I feel like i cant provide for my daughter as well as i would like to.

I am currently 18 months ppm & I feel every months when my period comes around I feel so much more anxious & stressed about everything than I ever did. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I’ve experienced depression before but this feels different. Thanks in advance

I’m 8 weeks pp, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy via c-section. I’m a doctor too and I don’t know if it’s a contributing factor but I’m always on edge. I feel like I’m not doing something right and I will mess it up as a mother. I had latching issues at first which injured my nipples badly and I resorted to pumping. I tried to nurse him once my injuries healed but he rejects the breast and only wants bottle. I was affected by it initially and later made peace with it (somewhat)

For the past 1 week I have a fear that me kissing him on the cheek near his ear has affected his hearing somehow. And I don’t know if im paranoid but he seems to startle less to loud sounds while asleep.
I keep taking him to the place I work for the smallest of things and repeatedly reassured.

I feel like my anxiety is getting in the way of being a good mom. Is it all in my head? I really don’t want medications as I’m worried about my milk supply.
Do people really get over ppa without meds?

I am 6 weeks pp with my second child and have very bad anxiety about my first who is 2 years old. I keep thinking something bad will happen to him and just so sick to my stomach about it.

I also have anxiety with my newborn but less intense. I also felt this strong anxiety with my first so maybe it’s just repeating?

Usually I’m able to calm down but it’s not working today and I have no idea what to do.

I don’t know what’s is going on with my sense of time. I have like none. I went to the zoo yesterday with my son and it actually feels like that was a month ago. Is something wrong with me I’m so scared. I had a c section a year ago nothing is the same I feel completely changed not just bc I’m a parent now but mentally emotionally all around changed and not a good way

I’m currently 6 weeks postpartum.
Lately I’ve been having really bad anxiety that I’m gonna lose one of my loved ones.

I’ve suffered postpartum depression in the past with my other pregnancies and I tried so hard not to get it this time round.

First three weeks were great, I was happy and felt filled with love and gratitude that I finally have all that I wanted.

And then week 5 I started to get bad anxiety and worry. Health anxiety about me , baby , my other kids and even partner. It’s like no matter how hard I try to be present and tell myself this is just hormone related there’s a voice inside my head that says no something bad is going to . happen. Feels like a dark cloud is always following me. Which is making me scared to be happy - if that makes sense.

I’m not detached from my baby like I became with my other children with postpartum depression . This time is different I feel overly scared and filled with fear that something is gonna take my family away.

I went to watch my elder sons perform tonight in a room filled with hundreds of people and my heart began to pound. I was getting anxious and even though there were hundreds of people there I felt like I wasn’t even there and still alone.

Anyone felt like this. It’s really robbing me of happiness and time with my loved ones. It’s hurting because even though I’m suffering in silence with this I know my family can see me start to drift away mentally.

Feel like I’m going crazy?? Like maybe this is just how I am. I love my family and it hurts that this anxiety and fear is putting distance between us. I just want to know how I get back to them as my normal self because right now I don’t feel like myself.

Any success stories out there ?? Any one been through this ?? What helped you get out of it? What triggers it ??

I only asked if this is anxiety or depression because In the past I’ve never had this much anxiety.

Has anyone struggled postpartum with a parent not showing up the way you expected?
I’m completely exhausted trying to balance work and motherhood, and I’ve been really hurt by the lack of support from my mom. I keep finding myself wanting to revoke her access to me and my baby because the resentment just keeps growing.
If you’ve been through something similar, how did you cope? Did you set stronger boundaries, accept the relationship for what it is, or eventually rebuild it? I’d really appreciate hearing from moms who’ve been there.

I (24f) had a baby last year and from the moment he was born I have been worried something is gonna happen to him. The first two weeks i could not sleep and not because of him crying, he was a good baby rarely cried, it was because i was/am terrified (SID) so I would sleep for two to three hours and my husband or my mom would have to watch him while I slept and i mean watch him and/or hold him make sure he is breathing. Well after the first two to three weeks I finally set up the eufy sock to my phone and was able to sleep but still im so terrified im not staying up like I was but still need to monitor him and when I do wake up ill panic until I see or feel him breathe. So my question is, when will the panic stop? Will it ever stop? (A little extra context i do have and have always had anxiety naturally) He is 10 months old currently.

I’ve been co-sleeping with my daughter since we brought her home, she’s 12 weeks tomorrow. We resulted to co-sleeping because I did try to keep her on her back the first couple of days but baby has been an avid side sleeper since our time in the hospital. Of course that isn’t safe as she can roll. In turn bassinet sleep meant there wasn’t much sleep at all for either of us as being on her back caused & still causes her to wake very quickly. Since bringing her into our bed she and I have been able to sleep sometimes up to 7 hour stretches which has been so nice. Today though all of a sudden anxiety has taken over my thoughts and I’m terrified that something could happen and it’ll be my fault. She sleeps for the most part in my arms and we’re both on our sides, sometimes she sleeps on mine or my partners chest. I’m scared and don’t know if I’m doing the right thing by keeping her with us. Anybody have any non “black and white” advice?

How many people actually do that? She’s 2 months tomorrow. Her sleep and wake windows are definitely changing but I can’t tell you any more than that cause I am not paying close attention. I’m more concerned about how much she’s drinking.

Also diagnosed with severe PPD PPA so hanging on by a thread as it is.

Hello loves,

I’m a first-time mom who is now 8 weeks postpartum and struggling after developing severe postpartum preeclampsia. I had a completely healthy pregnancy and chose an elective induction at 39 weeks because I was planning to travel for my doctoral graduation. During labor I developed gestational hypertension, a fever, and chorioamnionitis, but overall both my baby and I were doing well and were discharged home.

Three days later, I suddenly developed a severe headache and my blood pressure was 164/111. I went to triage, where my labs and urine tests were normal, my blood pressure came down, and I was sent home. The next day, after my OB nurse advised me to watch for warning signs, I developed the worst headache of my life while at my baby’s first pediatrician appointment. Within a short time, I could barely feel my legs and my vision became blurry. I returned to triage and was admitted and diagnosed with severe postpartum preeclampsia.

I was on blood pressure medication for about a month and thankfully have been off of it for several weeks now. Physically, I’ve recovered somewhat, (still have elevated ALTs and found out i have extremely high bp and heart regurgitation), but mentally I’m struggling. The experience left me terrified of dying young and leaving my baby behind. During those weeks on medication I checked my blood pressure constantly, and now my thoughts often revolve around death, mortality, and fear about the future. I find myself looking at people and wondering when they’ll die, which then spirals into fears about my own mortality. It feels like I’m stuck in a loop that I can’t shut off.

I’ve spoken with a psychologist informally and have tried coping strategies, but both of us feel it may be time to explore anxiety medication. I’m scared to start medication, but I’m even more scared of continuing to live with these thoughts.

I desperately want more children, but I’m frightened by what happened and scared it could happen again. I’m looking for advice, positive stories from others who overcame postpartum anxiety, or experiences from anyone who went through severe postpartum preeclampsia and came out the other side. What helped you heal mentally, and how did you know it was time to seek additional treatment for anxiety?

hey yall, i’m about three weeks postpartum and haven’t been doing well. i’m with the baby nearly 24/7 with only occasionally moments where my husband goes in to hold and care for him. this is not his fault but my inability to be away from the baby. i can’t even leave his room to go take a nap in our bedroom. my husband wants to help more but i don’t know how to let him. i feel a lot of guilt for asking him to help, worried he’ll get frustrated if the baby doesn’t soothe, and want to honestly throw up being away from him. my husband has not done anything to make me not feel confident in him caring for the baby and i know im projecting my own anxiety. how do i get better at letting him help?

i do have an upcoming appointment with behavioral health to talk through this as well but wanted to see if anyone’s gone through something similar or have any advice.

hope you moms are doing well! postpartum a b*tch lol but we’re making it through !