r/Postpartum_Anxiety

Second time mum, and losing my mind with anxiety over my LO’s sleep. She has prolonged jaundice as she is EBF and has been investigated for thyroid issues. She has the all clear on both of these but my concern is that she sleeps so much! She sleeps through all the noise from my 3.5 year old! All she seems to want to do is sleep. She will wake for feeds in the day but I am still waking at night. If we are lucky she might have an awake time for around an hour in the morning, and often cluster feeds in the evening. She’s gaining weight but slowly and has plenty of wet/dirty nappies. I’m worried about her calorie intake and am so tempted to start on some formula. My first was so aware and awake at this point with so many smiles and cooing. Why isn’t my second doing the same?! Any one with similar experience please can you reassure/give advice?!

Feeling lost. 14 months postpartum and confused about the state of my marriage. The hate I have for my MIL has deepened significantly in the past few months, exacerbated by more frequent visits (she and FIL currently live about 4.5hr drive away). My husband cried when they left today and I just felt numb. I don’t understand how he can love someone so much that I hate so much. I feel overwhelming anxiety, mostly associated with their visits, but also just in general. I have to live with having her in my life until she’s gone. Fighting with her just makes things worse. Has anyone lived through this and had it get better? Thinking of starting some sort of anti anxiety medication so I feel better and getting some therapy. Please, if you have improved your relationship with JNMil, tell me your secret, I am really suffering and need help!!!

I'm 9 months postpartum with my first baby (a son, born in August). In December, I lost my mom to cancer. I weaned in February. And since February, I've been dealing with a brutal resurgence of panic disorder that had been mostly at bay for years.

I know the combo of post-wean hormones + grief + already having health anxiety as a trigger is basically a perfect storm. But knowing that doesn't make it easier when it's happening.

The panic attacks have been more intense than anything I remember. I had one today that lasted 90 minutes and even though I've had panic attacks for years, I genuinely wasn't sure it was one. I was begging my husband to call 911. He held me off because my vitals were normal, and eventually it passed. But in the moment I was completely convinced something was actually wrong.

What's been throwing me lately is that the attacks seem to get triggered by these random waves of EXTREME fatigue. Out of nowhere I'll feel so physically awful that my brain spirals into "something is really wrong with me" and the panic takes over. I don't know if the fatigue is hormonal, grief-related, postpartum thyroid stuff, or just my nervous system being fried - but the pattern seems consistent.

I've also been more depressed than usual on top of all this. Just kind of flat and heavy when I'm not anxious.
I'm working on getting more support (therapy, talking to my doctor), but right now I mostly just want to know: is anyone else navigating postpartum + grief at the same time? Or postpartum + a panic disorder flare? Especially the fatigue to panic loop?

I just feel really alone in this specific combination right now and would love to hear from anyone who's been there.

I truly been struggling with my postpartum after my son was born a few months ago. I have experienced PPD, PPA, and PPR and I’ve been actively getting treated for it. But being at home has been the hardest on me. My husband is not supportive at all. He makes everything my problem and turns anything and everything around on me. I get told to suck it up on a daily or fuck your anxiety. I get called stupid and a bitch every other week because I’ve done something or had a bit of attitude. Thats another thing god forbid im angry a bit. I cant be but he can, he can have an attitude all he wants. He can be an asshole, but if i do it, oh god it’s then end of the world. I take care of my son when my mom isn’t around. There are a very few days in Which he will actually do something but other then that he’s sitting down, fucking of to gods know where, or making ever excuse in the book not to be a dad. Anytime I ask him to help me I get sighed at. Everything is done with an attitude. I cook, I clean, I take care of my house while having a full time job as well.

Mentally I’m drained. I feel like I don’t have someone that will help me when things get hard. I’ve suggested therapy but if I do he threatens to leave me. He uses my name to hurt me. Three days home from the hospital he threaten to leave again because I didn’t hear him very well explaining my breast pump. He tells me my mental health is a joke and that there is no reason for me to be the way I am. I didn’t have a tough birth, but mentally I wasn’t okay before I had him.

My husband has hurt me throughout my entire pregnancy and postpartum journey and he blames me for the way he acts saying I didn’t do enough before or that I’m not giving out the way I should be. I’m exhausted and need guidance. I’m alone in everything and I’ve shown him time and time again I’m with him, but it’s never enough. It’s never good enough. Am I crazy or is this okay behavior because I don’t think it is.

I think I’m dealing with pretty severe postpartum health anxiety and I honestly just need to get this out somewhere people might understand.

I’m currently 7 weeks postpartum and already started therapy because the anxiety started affecting my daily life.

Pregnancy itself was extremely difficult. I had HG the entire pregnancy with dehydration, ketosis, multiple IV drips, and nonstop vomiting literally until delivery. I also caught chickenpox during pregnancy and was warned about possible congenital varicella syndrome risks. There were discussions about termination, extra scans, amnio, and basically constant fear until around 24 weeks when things finally started looking reassuring.

I had an elective C-section at 37+5 and delivered a healthy baby boy. Initially everything seemed okay, but then things spiraled after discharge.

My baby developed high bilirubin, became lethargic, and stopped feeding properly, so we rushed to the ER. Then around 1 week postpartum my BP suddenly started going high (130–150/90–97). I got hospitalized again for 4 days for monitoring. After that I started having intense palpitations with heart rates in the 120s–130s. ECG showed sinus tachycardia.

Eventually I weaned off BP meds over the next few weeks, but mentally I never recovered from the constant “something is wrong” feeling.

Then at 4 weeks postpartum, after only light spotting until then, I suddenly had episodes of bright red bleeding/gushes. My OB ordered an ultrasound and beta hCG (negative). Ultrasound showed:
“Endometrial thickness 21 mm with mild collection and thick mobile echoes in the cavity.”

The bleeding reduced after a few days and became spotting again. Yesterday at exactly 7 weeks postpartum, my OB prescribed Regesterone for 14 days and asked me to update her after withdrawal bleeding starts. Although no spotting since yesterday. Haven’t started the dose yet

But now I’ve completely spiraled again.

I started reading my C-section notes and saw:
“Uterus was atonic. Methergin given. Bilateral uterine artery ligation done. Pr withstood the surgery well”

Ever since reading that, I cannot stop thinking:
- Did I almost hemorrhage and die?
- Am I still at risk of secondary hemorrhage?
- What if something retained/infected is being missed?
- What if the bleeding means something dangerous?
- What if I suddenly collapse?

Logically I know doctors would’ve intervened if something was seriously wrong, but my brain keeps jumping to catastrophic conclusions. Every symptom sends me into a black hole of Googling and fear.

Has anyone else had postpartum health anxiety this intense after a medically stressful pregnancy/postpartum experience? Did it get better?

Hi mamas! Would love to hear if any of you have had similar experiences or if there’s a RN or OBGYN that can help advise me what to do.

At about 5 weeks pp I started having episodes of gushes of blood and passing clots but the size was more like a golf ball or smaller. It happened a few times and I notified my OBYYN. Got an ultrasound, they found retained placenta and I went under anesthesia to get it removed the week after.

I’m now 7 weeks pp and it’s been a week after my operation and I’m having those episodes again but this time it seems more intense and happening in the middle of the night or when I get up to nurse my newborn. The blood is super intense and I’m passing a lot of big sized clots.

I went to the er yesterday morning because I was bleeding through pads and passing big clots, the on call OB works with my OB and mentioned that she saw the images from the hysterosopy and that she’s certain the retaining placenta is gone. I get sent back home.

Last night at 3am, the bleeding starts AGAIN and this time I’m passing two clots at a time the size of plums. I’m constantly bleeding through pads! The bleeding chilled out after an hour and then I was able to go back to sleep a bit but I’m so confused. If it’s not the retaining placenta, what can it be?

I called the clinic this morning asking if I can go in for another ultrasound. I just want answers and I’m terrified something else is wrong!

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

X

Hi everyone I’m usually a reader on here, never post but I’m so hopeless that I can use some guidance. I’m currently 18 weeks pregnant and my anxiety has sky rocketed in the past week. I’ve seen my phycologist 3 x and I’m Not offered anything but Zoloft which I know my options are short while pregnant. But if I have it super bad can’t they make an exemption and let me worry about the risk? I have crying spells and get anxiety attacks at random times of the day I’ve been depressed wanting to rot in bed and mind u I have other kids to attend to. I’m so confused and sad as to what to do next.. idk how to help myself if doctors aren’t helping me. Would the hospital help me?

I have tried lexapro and Zoloft for PPA and had HORRIBLE side effects to them, so am trying Remeron tonight. A little concerned I’ll be too groggy to hear my baby if this is something that works and I stay on for a while. Any success stories? Also please no horror stories - I cannot handle those right now :) thanks!

Hey guys, new mum here. I gave birth to my daughter 4 months ago and I love her more than anything. While my mental health is okay (thank god) my physical health has been extremely poor. I know that the immune system is worn down after pregnancy and birth, but what I am experiencing is really scary. There has hardly been a week where I felt completely healthy. I already been sick twice with throat and ear infection included high fever and nausea. Several very serious colds that last for 2 weeks minimum. My nose is still blocked basically every time I lay down to sleep (that is a thing that hasn’t changed since pregnancy) And the times I don’t have a visual sickness I usually feel like something is about to break out any minute. I always feel a slight joint pain, dry throat, headache and I am feeling cold, then when I dress warm I sweat outside.

Adding to that one, my daughter is going through sleep regression now and basically wakes up every hour of the night and refuses to sleep on her own. I am so tired now that I think I also feel sick from the lack of sleep.

I feel incredibly guilty because I feel I haven’t been there for her 100% since she was born because of this. I always wished for a big family with my husband with at least 2-3 kids but this situation really makes me question if I will be in a position to take care of more than one. I am so sad. I take probiotics already, I don’t drink or smoke and I try to sleep as much as possible (right now not much though)
What else can I do? Will this ever get better? Do you have any advice? I am really desperate

I am 8 months postpartum and had PPA in the beginning and then it slowly got better and now it’s 100% worse. I had to delete tiktok because I started going down a rabbit hole and I feel like I’m losing it. And now my LO is having separation anxiety and I feel so guilty because it’s so draining. I haven’t slept in 2 nights I even called out of work because I just feel like something is going to happen. My husband doesn’t believe in anxiety so when I talk to him about it he just brushes it off. And I just don’t feel like myself.

I am almost 7 months postpartum and I am having a really hard time with symptoms. I have daily headaches, I’m dizzy, brain fog, just overall feeling unwell. All day every day since birth. There is nothing that makes it better and nothing that makes it worse. I have had every blood test, brain MRI, wisdom teeth removal, seen a neuro, PCP, OB, eye doctor, and no one can figure out anything. The headache is not positional but I am wondering if it’s possible for it to be from my epidural? Anyone have anything similar. I am so frustrated and need answers. It’s affecting my everyday life

Is postpartum or perinatal anxiety “contagious”? Do other moms’ anxiety about their pregnancies and babies increase others’ anxiety?
I’m a laid back person and am noticing other moms’ anxieties are making me question if I’m supposed to be anxious about the same things they are. I notice I feel defensive when people tell me all the things they think I should be buying and doing to babyproof my home, or warning me of how difficult everything in my life will be once baby is here (‘you’re going to be lonely, you’ll lose hair, you won’t sleep well, you can’t shower, you’ll hate your pets’). I know people mean well, but I don’t want to approach parenthood with the amount of anxiety and stress I notice others experiencing.. but all the advice I’m receiving is causing me to doubt myself..
Thoughts?

Hello all!

Second time mom- new born is almost 3 months. After having her I got hit with intense PPA and PPD. Our first few nights home I couldn’t sleep even when she was sleeping and that spiraled into sleep anxiety. I had major sundown scaries and just had overall lost my joy for life with how miserable I was.

I was given Ativan to get back on track with sleep and then started 25 mg of Zoloft. Luckily I only took the Ativan for three nights then managed to start sleeping on my own without it. Zoloft gave me every side effect possible but I pushed through.

Luckily the Zoloft really seemed to be working and my psychiatrist told me to wait the full twelve weeks and we could talk dosage but since it seemed to be working we figured I’d stay this low since I’m incredibly sensitive to meds.

However this week I’ve seemed to have a set back week which I’ve heard is common adjusting to Zoloft (it also happened to me at week 3) but now I’m back to having anxiety around sleep even tho this past week with the ups and downs and the past 4 weeks have been great- falling asleep naturally, bay sleeps pretty much through the night, I wake up when she stirs but fall back to sleep easily. Now I’m getting nervous about sleep again and fearful of not being able to fall asleep which obviously only adds to my anxiety.

Im hoping this is just another temporary set back and won’t last much longer but I’m looking for women in similar situations and what helped them or how long it lasted. I’m also breastfeeding so I’m limited to what I can take):

Hope someone can relate. This has been the hardest on me mentally this time around postpartum.

1st birthday!! My postpartum anxiety is finally easing up, not gone, but less. Today marks a whole year! Feels good to be here. I wish I could tell my past self that we did it, well with the help of my therapist and partner. But ya know what, I have worked my ass off to calm those thoughts and keep working on it. So proud of where I am today. Now to eat this cake in bed while my little one is sleeping soundly in the crib next to me.

Hi everyone, I’m a new mom currently breastfeeding and pumping. Life seems to suck.

My breasts are quite sensitive due to much feeding, so I’m looking for a really comfortable and gentle breast pump that won’t cause pain or irritation. Portability is also very important to me — something lightweight, easy to carry around the house, or wearable for when I’m out and about.

I did a ton of research and was set on getting the S2 because it looked excellent for comfort and portability, but it keeps getting delayed. I need something reliable that I can actually buy and receive soon. I am a little desperate...

Please share your experiences — what pump did you love (or regret buying)? Any specific models or brands that worked great for sensitive skin? Any info would be amazing too! Thank you so much in advance! This community has been incredibly helpful during my breastfeeding journey.

Currently me and my partner are doing shifts with our newborn, he sleeps 8-2 I sleep 2-9 well I should…problem is I can’t sleep. I convince myself every time that my partner will fall asleep with the baby and crush her🥲😭she’s a preemie &currently 5weeks old & 5lbs 12ounces

. I’m so so paranoid ,I hate that I can’t shut off.