Post natal depression or just sleep deprivation?

Monday, 19th September 2011

Booboo has slept from 10.30 to 5.30pm. Yippee!!! I hope it’s not a fluke and she has actually started a new routine. I can only be hopeful, right? Spike goes to day care and I have Booboo to myself for the day. I’m coming out of the darkness so to speak. I had forgotten how hard the first 8 weeks could be. Now I feel like I can enjoy my baby. I cuddle her tightly and enjoy the beautiful smiles and laughs I am getting from her.  The sleepless nights are worth it. Four weeks ago I wasn’t so sure. Sleep deprivation can really mess with your head.  I can understand why some mothers develop post natal depression during this time.  At one stage I did think I had it. My GP made me realised, I wasn’t suffering from post natal depression but just serious sleep deprivation.  For the husbands out there, sleep deprivation combined with raging hormones can turn your partner into a maniac.

I never experienced the baby blues with Spike so when Day 4 came and I cried, sobbed, weeped really, almost in foetal position, for 10 hours, I was shocked and my husband was wondering where is normal (I like to think I am!) happy wife had gone. My wonderful Scotsman became extremely concerned and did the best thing he could, called one of my best friends.  She came and saved the day only the way a woman can and made me a cup of tea, let me cry some more and told me it would all be okay.  Every mother needs one of these friends.

When I visited my Obstetrician last week, I told him my experience and he explained that post natal depression has really hit when you hide under the covers and never want to come out. I never felt like this.

I don’t need to think about dinner tonight as The Scotsman is in Melbourne. The girls and I are in bed by 7,30pm.