My Experience with Postpartum Anxiety and Depression

Perinatal Wellbeing - The Podcast about Prenatal, Pregnancy & Postpartum Health

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Content Warning: Intrusive Thoughts, Suicidal Thoughts
On today’s episode I share my story of having Postpartum Anxiety and Depression after the birth of my 3rd child. I share the different signs and symptoms that I experienced, what my journey to recovery looked like and how I made meaning from that challenging time.

Highlights:

My Backstory highlighting previous breastfeeding and baby blues experiences 3:15

Birth and the beginning of my Postpartum Experience 5:39

The symptoms I experienced 6:21

Shame and guilt around breastfeeding 9:11

Social Media and comparisons 10:59

Lactation Consultant suggested PPD, researching PPD 12:31

Other Symptoms 14:21

Intrusive Thoughts 15:32

When I knew I needed help 16:58

6 Week check-up and asking for help 18:41

Referral to a support program and journey to recovery 21:02

Diagnosis and medication refusal 24:11

The ups and downs of recovery 25:12

Contemplating medication at 6 months postpartum 26:44

Starting medication and medication change 29:08

Grief 30:50

The 1 year mark and more grief and sadness 31:41

My husband’s support 34:35

ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder diagnoses 35:18

Making meaning out of my story 37:00

Awareness of my mental health 38:14

Resources:

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [e-mail]

Check out Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net for more information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as free online support groups and a provider directory.

You can look for an individual therapist on www.psychologytoday.com .

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