Surviving Post-Natal Depression: At Home No One Hears You Scream
I had rather a crappy experience during labour and both me and my son nearly died. I didn't get to hold him till he was almost a week old and i felt like i hadn't bonded with him. This led on to extreme feelings of helplessness and inadequacy followed by lots of time spent crying my eyes out. It was the first time i felt unable to talk to my partner - who wants to admit to less than fluffy feelings about their beautiful new baby.

I had an idea of what i was suffering from but felt too ashamed to talk to anyone about it so i got myself a book and read it on the sly. I finally felt that i wasn't alone and that things might not be like this forever. It gave me the courage to talk to my partner and after a stint in counselling and a course of anti-depressants i was finally able to take joy in my son. It still rears it's head from time to time but now i know i can cope and i always turn to this book for support.

Mumsnet, not a book i know, but this also helped loads, being able to talk to people that had come out the other side was a real help.
(The Ginger Penguin la la la la la la, Tue 20 May 2008, 17:11, 2 replies)

PND sucks
My wife had it twice (similar situation to yours the first time round). Thankfully it hasn't stopped her being a wonderful mum, although it looked ropey for a while there. I admire anyone who can get through that kind of hell. Psychoactive drugs rule!
( SteamedCleaner, Tue 20 May 2008, 18:25, closed)

Well done on coming through
I watched my aunt go through very bad PND - she ended up as an inpatient - and it scared the poop out of me while I was pregnant.

I had my other half primed on what to look out for but thankfully other than the usual blues got through okay.

Keep fighting it!
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Tue 20 May 2008, 19:08, closed)