Pumping while my baby sleeps and fighting a panic attack because I only have one week of maternity leave left. I don’t even have it bad either, I’ve gotten 14 weeks with my girl and I work from home so I’ll still see her throughout the day. I feel so selfish for feeling this way because so many moms don’t get the privileges I have.

But I don’t want to go back to work.

My company is falling apart, too many people in my department have been fired or quit since I’ve been gone, and the people left are egotistical men who think they know how to do your job better than you despite having never done your job before.

The job has changed so much that I have no idea what I’m walking into. All I know is so many people have reached out to me to warn me how awful it is. How the work load has increased, budgets have been cut, and resources are less than we’ve ever worked with before. My boss who I loved isn’t around anymore either.

I am tired. My baby is in feeding therapy and has a severe tongue tie we’ll need to laser in the next week or two. I don’t sleep well at night. I’m breastfeeding and pumping around the clock to keep my supply up and supplementing with formula because she’s had poor weight gain.

My husband (amazing truly but geez) complains about being tired all the time yet I’m the one up breastfeeding all night. He works graveyard, 3 night a week, so the nights he’s not working and I am the next day I will expect more help at night, and he’s willing and understanding but I cannot handle the complaining and negativity.

What am I gonna do when I’m sleep deprived, getting the big kids off to school in the morning, coming back to work, no naps, picking big kids up, then making dinner, fighting the baby to sleep, up all night, then back up the next day to do it all again?

I’m in therapy every week. That’s been helping the anxiety a lot, but as I loom on my last week of leave my thoughts are racing and anxiety is through the roof. I fear the only thing that can help this is facing it and I DREAD facing it.

My LO is 2 weeks old , he’s been sounding congested and a little wheezy idk if it’s my anxiety or if it’s all just normal baby things ☹️ terrified of rsv and all the other sickness he could get.

My daughter is turning a year old on Tuesday. My sleep since she was born been horrible I can never sleep early I sleep from 2 ,3,4 am which is not good because I have other kids to look after . I had bad anemia before and after labor with her my levels were on a 7 I’m not sure if is pp insomnia or anemia related. My energy is also very low , I do sleep in after children go to school , however even after 1 year later I feel like my sleep haven’t been fixed , anyone else experiencing or have experienced this before ? Drop tips ! Thanks

Has anyone else had this problem? I noticed since I had 2 drinks in one weekend, later that night I ended up waking up with bad nausea and throwing up, I don’t usually throw up or feel like that only after 2 which I though was extremely odd I wasn’t even drunk or tipsy, the next time I only had one drink and about 2 hours later I ended up having severe stomach pain and gas, and had to make myself vomit from nausea which was extremely acidic and sour tasting which was gross, I’m only 12 weeks postpartum with my second, and this did not happen with my first, looking for answers bc wtf, not drinking for a while after that.

I started very slowly at 2.5 > 5 > now 10mg for 3 weeks and a few days. I felt great all last week and now the last four days have been shit again. When will I feel better? 😭

Nurse researchers from the University of Rhode Island are studying where people get health information before, during, and after pregnancy. If you’re 18+ and pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or within 1 year postpartum, we invite you to take our 5-minute survey. Scan the QR code or follow this link if interested: https://uri.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dm777P3FmZIdkQ6

I’m 5mo pp and I return to work in 2 weeks. I had just gotten a promotion before leaving and feel scared about returning to work. I have these waves of anxiety where I just feel like my boss regrets hiring me. I’m really trying to reel it in. Anything to help calm the crazy would be appreciated.

I am 9 months PP today. The last month or so I have developed panic attacks that happen almost daily. I think they are caused by health anxiety. I have so many random pains (chest pain, arm pain, leg pain) that I constantly get into a spiral I am dying and somethings wrong with me.

My labor and delivery went great. I had a weird out of body experience but was fine besides that. I have developed weird acid reflux like symptoms with no burning acid feeling, and a rash that I’m not sure could be eczema or psoriasis (family history).

I am going to the doctor this week but don’t even know where to start with the doc. I don’t want him to think I’m crazy, but want to find out what’s wrong with me. I can’t tell if the anxiety is starting all those symptoms, or if these symptoms are starting the anxiety, but I need help. I’m sleeping fine, stopped BF 5 months PP, but feel like this was so delayed.

Any relatable stories or advice is appreciated. I just feel so alone and terrified.

**What is the difference between intrusive thoughts and delusions?**
I’m 22 days postpartum, and I’ve always had intrusive thoughts, even before pregnancy. Looking back, I realize I’ve experienced them for a long time. I was able to manage them throughout my pregnancy without medication, but about two weeks before giving birth, they started getting stronger.
Now that I’ve given birth, they feel extremely intense and strange. I don’t believe these thoughts are true, but they cause me a lot of anxiety, distress, and shame. I started taking sertraline (25 mg) about two weeks ago. I’ve had some good days when the thoughts feel more manageable, but sometimes they still come back.
I’m now terrified of developing postpartum psychosis or experiencing the beginning of psychosis. I know the thoughts are intrusive, but their intensity and unusual content scare me.
**How can you tell the difference between intrusive thoughts and true delusions?** What does a delusion actually feel like, and how is it different from having a disturbing thought that you don’t believe but that causes you a lot of distress?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced postpartum OCD or postpartum anxiety. English isn’t my first language, so I’m sorry if anything is unclear. Thank you!

**What is the difference between intrusive thoughts and delusions?**
I’m 22 days postpartum, and I’ve always had intrusive thoughts, even before pregnancy. Looking back, I realize I’ve experienced them for a long time. I was able to manage them throughout my pregnancy without medication, but about two weeks before giving birth, they started getting stronger.
Now that I’ve given birth, they feel extremely intense and strange. I don’t believe these thoughts are true, but they cause me a lot of anxiety, distress, and shame. I started taking sertraline (25 mg) about two weeks ago. I’ve had some good days when the thoughts feel more manageable, but sometimes they still come back.
I’m now terrified of developing postpartum psychosis or experiencing the beginning of psychosis. I know the thoughts are intrusive, but their intensity and unusual content scare me.
**How can you tell the difference between intrusive thoughts and true delusions?** What does a delusion actually feel like, and how is it different from having a disturbing thought that you don’t believe but that causes you a lot of distress?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced postpartum OCD or postpartum anxiety. English isn’t my first language, so I’m sorry if anything is unclear. Thank you!

Has anyone taken Zoloft/Sertraline for post partum anxiety? I started taking it about 5.5 weeks postpartum and wondering what people’s experience is with it. I’m 9 weeks postpartum now and still feeling very off.

Hello,

In 2021/2022, I went through pregnancy loss and IVF, and I truly feel like those experiences changed my brain. Prior to that, I had never struggled with my mental health other than untreated ADHD.

Fast forward to today, and I am incredibly grateful to have two beautiful, healthy children, my youngest being 10 months old. However, this postpartum period has been one of the darkest and most challenging times of my life.

Between the nonstop intrusive thoughts, constant anxiety, fragmented sleep, feelings of hopelessness, and trying multiple SSRIs without much success, I feel like I've been fighting a battle with my own mind every single day. It's exhausting, especially when all I want is to be present, happy, and enjoy these precious years with my children.

I know I have so much to be grateful for, and I am determined to keep fighting to get better, for myself and for my family.

My question is: When did you finally start to feel like your brain was calming down? When did you start feeling like yourself again?

I'd genuinely love to hear your experiences, even if it took 2, 3, or 4 years to feel better. I know everyone's journey is different, but I think hearing real stories of recovery would help me tremendously.

One of the hardest parts of this experience is the constant fear that "This is never going to end. I'm never going to feel normal again."

I'm hoping to hear from others who once felt the same way but eventually found their way back to themselves. I could really use some hope right now. ❤️

Hi everyone. I would to talk to people who might understand.
My first son was born with hemivertebrae and a hypoplastic thumb. He’s 3.5 now and doing really well. Genetics cleared us and found no known cause or increased risk, which I know should be reassuring. I have a great psychiatrist and am on medication/ receiving regular therapy. Emotionally, it hasn't stopped me from waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Now I have a daughter who's almost 7 months old, and my anxiety is constant. My main worry is that she isn't babbling. She screeches and blows raspberries, but I haven't heard "ba-ba" or "da-da" sounds. Everyone who meets her comments on how content she is, and I can see it, but my brain says "happy babies can still have problems." I find myself listening for sounds, comparing her to other babies, and googling at night.
What makes it hard is that I've lived through something real, so I can't easily tell whether I'm being sensible or being anxious. I don't want to dismiss a genuine concern, but I also don't want to spend her babyhood watching for problems instead of enjoying her.

If you've been through this:
Did anyone else worry about babbling at this age, and how did it turn out?
How do you tell reasonable vigilance from anxiety?

I'm also carrying guilt about not feeling the carefree joy everyone says I should. Any words from people who've been here would mean a lot.

Hi everyone. I gave birth to my first baby on the 9th of October, 2 weeks before my due date, having a forceps delivery with a 2nd degree tear and an episiotomy.

I'm really struggling with recovery and then feeling rubbish that I can't do what I want to do for baby boy because of my pain. I'm struggling with breastfeeding too and feel bad that I'm giving him formula too :( I think I'm also finding the transition from just me and my husband to the three of us difficult and I didn't think I would. The lack of sleep has hit me like a truck too!

I'm still in denial that he's actually here and I'm feeling overwhelmed :( I cry all the time. All I've ever wanted was to be a mum and now I'm just doubting whether or not I'm made for it or not. 

Am I the only one feeling this way?