This is a fascinating comment. Thanks for sharing. I never thought of it from a PTSD perspective.

I’m pretty sure that there’s probably actual literature to support that, too.

Yeah - my life has been revolving around recovering from perinatal depression...so it was the first thing that I thought of.

Eh, it’s just like depression. Black people just need to choose to be happy and then they will be! They just need to choose success and they they will be successful! They just need to choose not to feel the effects of decades of systemic and institutional racism due to sub par policies and active choices to…

Yup. It was a dumb comment. Not my finest moment.

It’s like you’re in my brain...

Yup...several people have pointed out the goof. I accept it! It was a stupid comment. :D

That’s so interesting. I’m still really scarred from the first experience and wouldn’t necessarily say I like motherhood. So the idea of complicating my life with a second (those words aren’t a judgment on you or anyone that has multiples, it’s my messed up headspace right now) is terrifying, and at times PTSD…

Yup. Not my finest moment...

Yup. Someone already pointed out how stupid of a comment it was that I made...diamond tipped drills, for freak’s sake!

touche!

You’re not. Plus I’d be paranoid about losing it, breaking it, chipping it, etc...

Hmm. Yeah I think PPD killed any desire to have a second kid. But that’s a good data point.

Did it help? Was your second pregnancy better?

I don’t know if you’re up for it, but we made it work by pumping. So, I had worked to pump up a fridge supply and had some extra. Basically I did this by pumping a bit after the baby finished eating. You have to teach the baby how to take a bottle. So what I would do is leave a bottle (4 - 6 ounces) of pumped milk and…

Yeah, those are familiar thoughts. If the anxiety about having the kid is really upsetting, definitely consider talking to a doc. Also, talk therapy is really helpful with that type of stuff. I had some similar anxieties and found the talk therapy very useful. And of course, we can keep talking.

It’s quite common. I was ambivalent toward my child, had no bonding, no connection. I was tired, even in the second trimester. I was in a fog too. I didn’t realize it was so bad until I actually got treatment for the postpartum depression, six months after I gave birth.

Please be very open about your symptoms with your OBGYN. If you suspect prenatal depression, use those words and force them to do some research and talk to the other OBs. If you have prenatal depression, you are more likely to get postpartum depression...so please stay on top of it.

I think your conclusion makes a lot of sense. The other thing that I would add is that prenatal depression can also create a fog-like state. Studies suggest that prenatal depression is much more common that we think it is. The symptoms can vary from crying a lot, to just feeling lethargic, etc. all of which could be…

Ha ha ha. OK, will do!