r/Postpartum_Anxiety

I’m ~5 months postpartum after emergency C-section and my husband and I just started having sex again.

During our dry spell (when I was dealing with postpartum and feeling that he was basically completely checked out), he started masturbating more often. Now it seems like it’s almost daily, which wasn’t the case before.

I don’t think he’s doing anything “wrong,” but it does make me feel disconnected and alone. When I asked him to take a break while we focus on our own sex life, he reacted angrily and defensively and basically said it’s a compulsion he cannot control, which made me double down and much more upset. I also found porn on his computer history as well as emails of specific girls’ Instagram accounts which he sent to himself. Weirdly, I believe him that the Instagram accounts were shady but harmless and that he never even referred back to them, based on a lot of facts about him that are too hard to explain in one post.

Is all this normal after a dry spell? How do couples handle this without it affecting intimacy?

I’ve noticed that postpartum anxiety isn’t talked about much, and not many people know about it. Most of us are familiar with postpartum depression, so if anyone has had experience with this, I’d really appreciate you sharing it here—it might help someone who goes through the same thing, including me.

I gave birth about 5 and a half months ago. When my baby turned 4 months old, the first symptoms started. It began with sweaty palms, pressure in my head, slightly elevated blood pressure (around 130/90—which didn’t feel “slight” to me at the time), and my heart rate would jump to 110–120 due to fear. Then I would fall into a cycle of panic attacks. I’d take a Bensedin, and everything would go away.

This went on for a few days until I realized that when I’m anxious, my blood pressure and heart rate go up because of that. I was okay for a few days, and then one time while I was out walking with my baby, I felt it all again—plus a feeling like I was going to faint and an overwhelming fear. After that, I started constantly monitoring my body, and every symptom would trigger panic and fear that something bad would happen to me.

I developed a fear of being alone with my baby and of going outside. Going to the store became a NIGHTMARE—the lights and crowded shelves make me dizzy, and then everything starts again. The fear is the strongest feeling, and I just can’t wait to get back home.

About two weeks ago, a new symptom appeared: after feeding the baby around 5–6 a.m., I become completely awake. I lie there with my eyes closed, but I just can’t fall asleep again.

I went to an internist, and everything is fine—they just diagnosed me with occasional tachycardia (when I’m anxious or panicking).

She prescribed Concor 1.25 mg, but I’m not taking it because I read about the side effects, and honestly I’m a bit scared to start it.

I’ve started drinking chamomile tea, and I’ll try lemon balm as well, along with Alora Ultra tablets prescribed by my general practitioner since they are herbal.

Today is a bit better—I managed to stop a few of those incoming panic/anxiety attacks by distracting myself, naming things I can see, and focusing on my breathing.

I’m still dealing with postpartum depression symptoms at 22 months postpartum. I’ve started taking 12.5mg progesterone troches each night to ensure I get decent sleep and to reduce my anxiety. So far, it’s been a positive experience. Curious if others have tried this. If so, how long did you do it for?

4 months postpartum and this is driving me crazy! I'm always tired and my whole body aches but I cannot sleep. Even in the few hours that I do get to sleep, I always randomly wake up. There are days when I only sleep 2 hours for the whole day. It is now 3 in the morning and I'm wide awake. I'm easily agitated and quick to snap on orher people. I need help

I am currently almost 4 months postpartum with my second baby and for the last month I have been really going through it. It started with me feeling a little off out of nowhere. I had physical and mental symptoms (anxious, brain fog, extreme fatigue, off balance, tingly legs, very weak body, dulled vision). I went to my OB and she put me on Zoloft. For the two weeks that I took it I could not handle the side effects and it made me feel like I couldn’t think straight. I have since been off of it for two weeks and feel like I can think a little clearer, but through all of this I have had no sense of time/schedule and it’s like I have short term memory loss. The days feel like years and I can’t remember having breakfast in the morning or when I had conversations or any sense of schedule. I have had bloodwork done a couple weeks ago and everything looked good. Seems pretty extreme to be postpartum brain fog, but that’s what I’m being told. I also have health anxiety so of course I am worrying about worst case scenarios. Has anyone else experienced this?

Okay straight to the point...since I have started dropping feeds I have to run to the toilette multiple times a day. This has been going on for two weeks now. Anyone else experience this? I have so many other weaning symptoms...anxiety, heart flutters, sweats, digestive issues, aches and pains. But the diahorreah...wow. okay...please tell me I'm not alone? The worst part is after a massive load of bloodwork done recently (all good) asides from my ferritin was 29...so anemic. All the bathrooms trips can't be helping me absorb my iron supplements so not hopefull I'll feel better in that department, if the bathroom trips continue much longer.

How was your postpartum recovery process? If you are currently going through it or have been through it before, what was it really like and what advice would you give others who are about to go through it?

I just had a baby two months ago and have been fighting my feelings of depression by blaming them on hormones. My relationship with my partner quickly shifted and I found myself more deep in depression because of the way he would speak to me. Fast forward two months later and call women’s intuition or whatever but I went through his things and found that he met a woman and went out of his was to look for her social media accounts and then messaged her. My heart sank and even though she didn’t respond, eventually she did and I had him delete it and deny her request. But now I just feel very insecure on top of feeling depressed. I’ve been working hard on trying to not act out because of my hormones but it’s gotten really difficult since the and I’ve been spiraling. I feel like I can’t be with him anymore and he took it too far, I can’t trust him and I’m just heartbroken. Am I overreacting?

I was desperately searching for a discord group where moms who are up can message each other. Right when the sun goes down, I start feeling the dread. Especially when I’m the only one that’s up.

If any one is interested! I’ll be up in the AMs the rest of who knows when

Currently have a 7 week old

https://discord.gg/PMYgwBttj

Hey mamas! Life after birth can be intimidating, and that's why we are here☀️. This article covers the emotional and physical support that you need and deserve during this period, and what you can do to get it.❤️‍🩹