[dvalentine]

Has anyone else been diagnosed?

[SchmennaLeigh]

After both of my parented sons were born, I was diagnosed with PPD. It's been an especially rough road this time around.

How are you dealing? Have you been diagnosed? Was it after relinquishment or a parented child? Please reach out. There are some great blog resources I can point you towards if you are interested.

[taramayrn]

I haven't, but we'll see once this new baby is born. I imagine it could be a possibility.

[bromanchik]

I think the normal process of traumatic loss in newly placing birthmothers is often mistaken for PPD. The bottom line is getting the help you need. And getting the real issues addressed.

[SchmennaLeigh]

Brenda; Hmm. I'd be wary of that statement. Not that the loss isn't traumatic enough. I'm not dismissing the loss. (Though I personally didn't even allow myself to grieve for some time after her birth.) But if we're simply dismissing every birth mother's emotions after birth and relinquishment as solely related to relinquishment, we're not addressing the actual physical imbalance of hormones in the postpartum period. For me? PPD was a thousand times worse than my post-relinquishment period. I think birth mothers need to be made aware that it IS possible and not just be brushed off.

[SchmennaLeigh]

Interesting timing, this conversation. A favorite blog of mine just posted about a recent study and a possible "cause" of PPD. Could be promising for all mothers.

Postpartum Progress: Research May Have Uncovered Cause of PPD

[taramayrn]

Someone recently asked me if I had ppd after the birth of my placed son T. I didn't know how to respond - I wasn't sure I could distinguish between the normal grief of relinquishment and the post partum depression, in my experience anyways.

[bromanchik]

Originally Posted by SchmennaLeigh

Brenda; Hmm. I'd be wary of that statement. Not that the loss isn't traumatic enough. I'm not dismissing the loss. (Though I personally didn't even allow myself to grieve for some time after her birth.) But if we're simply dismissing every birth mother's emotions after birth and relinquishment as solely related to relinquishment, we're not addressing the actual physical imbalance of hormones in the postpartum period. For me? PPD was a thousand times worse than my post-relinquishment period. I think birth mothers need to be made aware that it IS possible and not just be brushed off.

The bottom line is that good mental health care professionals always address the symptoms first... so any kind of serious depression is going to be addressed medically if necessary. My issue is that too often trauma and grief get written off as PPD, so the theraputic work is not done. As a therapist I take any depressed client's symptoms into account when making recommendations. But the theraputic work is vastly different for someone who has placed a child verses one who is parenting after birth.

[SchmennaLeigh]

Originally Posted by taramayrn

Someone recently asked me if I had ppd after the birth of my placed son T. I didn't know how to respond - I wasn't sure I could distinguish between the normal grief of relinquishment and the post partum depression, in my experience anyways.

Having had the diagnosis of PPD twice now, I can tell you that what I experienced after relinquishment was NOT PPD. It was a monster of its own. PPD left me immobile, unable to function, unable to leave the house.

[taramayrn]

Originally Posted by SchmennaLeigh

Having had the diagnosis of PPD twice now, I can tell you that what I experienced after relinquishment was NOT PPD. It was a monster of its own. PPD left me immobile, unable to function, unable to leave the house.

I am sorry you experienced this - I can't imagine the darkness.
What I was saying is that when I was going through the grief of relinquishment I wasn't sure how one could tell if it was "normal" or if it was also PPD because it was so bad. That's all I was saying....

[SchmennaLeigh]

And I was just sharing my experience back at you.

[SchmennaLeigh]

Perhaps it's best stated as such:

Unless you have experienced both, you're not going to fully understand both. And THIS fact is why expectant mothers considering relinquishment SHOULD be in counseling (not provided by a biased agency). Not only should these mothers be learning the pros and cons of relinquishment and parenting but they should be learning the physical and emotional aspects of childbirth itself and how those hormonal fluctuations may or may not come into play with grief and loss. It's even more important in the months immediately post-placement which is where so so so so so many agencies drop the ball: they simply don't provide post-placement services to birth parents. Those that do often offer three or four therapy sessions. What good is that going to do? Especially as it can take many more sessions than that to diagnose PPD on its own when it isn't further confused with added grief and loss.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

No offense to anyone.....but why are we discussing the differences in depression after reliquishment vs. post partum depression when the OP has not even stated yet whether she is parenting or has relinquished.

I think we often get so wrapped up that the thread takes on a life of its own.

Dvalentine~
I was depressed and on medication upon getting pregnant, stayed on anxiety meds during pregnancy, and had PPD after the birth of my second child. There are many varying degrees of this depression. You need to speak to your OBGYN, a therapist, and your spouse (if you have one) and family. If you are considering hurting yourself or baby, please tell someone.

Kim

[SchmennaLeigh]

The OP hasn't replied. We're simply carrying on a conversation about the topics here. Threads often take on a life of their own.

[Mommy24]

Originally Posted by xxsurroundedbyxy

No offense to anyone.....but why are we discussing the differences in depression after reliquishment vs. post partum depression when the OP has not even stated yet whether she is parenting or has relinquished.

I think we often get so wrapped up that the thread takes on a life of its own.

Dvalentine~
I was depressed and on medication upon getting pregnant, stayed on anxiety meds during pregnancy, and had PPD after the birth of my second child. There are many varying degrees of this depression. You need to speak to your OBGYN, a therapist, and your spouse (if you have one) and family. If you are considering hurting yourself or baby, please tell someone.

Kim

While we do NOT know for certain whether the OP is parenting or relinquishing or has relinquished, we do know this is in the Birthparent forum, so assumably she is feeling as if she has or is dealing with some sort of depression. I think our members with some experience with their own depression whether it is PPD or just "normal" traumatic loss have great insight that may just help the OP. I find that some of the best help I have received here at Adoption.com comes from my threads taking on a life of their own.