Is there anything you can do during pregnancy to reduce your chances of postpartum depression, or is that something that is just completely beyond your control?

Good question and a hard one to answer without tons of research.
I say a lot depends on the woman as all women are different. I never experienced it or if I did I wasn't aware of it.

My mom said she thought that's what she had. But I don't think it was really bad. She never had the urge to kill me or anything. It does make you worry that it might be hereditary though. I guess I'll try to research it a little more.

Brooke Shields wrote a book about her struggle with Post Partum Depression. It was called "Down Came The Rain". I haven't read it, but I know someone who has and she swears it's a wonderful book. It might give you a little insight from someone who's actually gone through it.

I was reading an article talking about exercise reducing post partum depression. They even mentioned Brooke Shields in the article. After her last baby, she was doing yoga, taking spinning classes and hiking. The article did mention pre and post partum exercise, so it sounds like you should develop some sort of routine at the very beginning and follow through with it.

PPD can affect you in so many different ways as someone here has already said. I know that I bonded with my first baby right away. I guess that I didn't have time to be depressed. There were times when it just seemed all so overwhelming that I didn't know if I could do it. But two children and 22 years later I'm still here.

Having family support in place before the baby is born would seem to be the way to try and avoid it, if not, at least it helps lessen the load.

DCMerkle

I was reading an article talking about exercise reducing post partum depression. They even mentioned Brooke Shields in the article. After her last baby, she was doing yoga, taking spinning classes and hiking. The article did mention pre and post partum exercise, so it sounds like you should develop some sort of routine at the very beginning and follow through with it.

Ive also heard exercise helps decrease the risk of having post partum depression. Im no expert but thats what are doctor said. people should exercise anyway.

Ever tried excersing when you're sleep deprived and depressed? Not as easy as it sounds.

seeker

Ever tried excersing when you're sleep deprived and depressed? Not as easy as it sounds.

seeker

Exercise?!?! Don't we get enough exercise taking care of a new baby? Up, down, lift the baby, carry the baby, bend over, squat down, walk with the baby, bounce the baby... most personal trainers couldn't keep up.

Thankfully, this is not anything that I'll ever have to deal with. I just hope it's not a problem for our surrogate. I would hate to think someone that loving and giving was forced to go through an ordeal like postpartum depression.

It depends on each person. Just like a drug will affect each person a tad different, is the same as PPD. I know - right now I am on Prozac.

I'm on Paxil! I had it very bad. Then it never went away. But honestly I've been depressed my whole life, just something in the hormones tripped the balance a little further the other way than I could cope with alone anymore. So drugs to the rescue, but I didn't start taking them til my son weaned. I may be lucky he weaned when he did because I was near the end of my rope.

It will get some people regardless of what they do. And Seeker is spot on, when depression hits, it isn't as easy as just doing something that seems so easy to say when you aren't under that weight.

Wow! Right now I am doing much better than what I was about a month ago. It helps since I have some family to lean on, but I still get depressed, esp. since my brother is off to the "war". He and I grew up never getting along, then we both went over 18 and were finally able to appreciate one another, now he is off and this is something that affects me a ton. Not as much as the first month with being a new mom, but sometimes the tears don't stop when they should - I have felt like my eyes were faucets for a couple of days there. It is slowly getting better with each day that passes.

My daughter is on paxil, she was HORRIBLE after my grandbaby was born. She gained a hundred pounds, literally, and even though she's being treated now she is just not the same person she was before. My grandson is 4 now and she is just changed. I wish she had lived closer to me when he was born so someone could have helped her before it had a couple years to fester.

I started Cymbalta in Nov. (girl born in Oct.), was on this for 2 months, then in Jan. I switched to Prozac. Even with insurance, Cym was 100 dollars a month, 8USD is a ton better. :)

Also, anyone taking Cym, please be aware - for myself, I was unable to "cry" no matter how hard I needed to. Odd side affect my doctors were not aware of.

I'm just spitting out words told by my daughter now, but she is on Paxil which I had a friend on who couldn't "cry" either. It totally killed their personality. It's a completely different story for my daughter. She said what's good for one person will not work for another, so often they have to try 2 or more drugs before they find one that works right with a persons chemistry.

My doctor ended up telling me (since I had never taken anything before) it could be 1-3 drugs, 1-3 Rx strength, 1-6 months. I was like :eek: what did I get myself into? ;) I'm happy its all working out. Most of it, is that I work too hard even though I need to, and I forget to take breaks when I know I should. Anxiety sucks sometimes. :mad:

It is very important to remember to give yourself breaks and care for yourself. Anxiety can be exacerbated by improper personal care. Nice little catch-22 there. Drives you to do things, gets worse if you don't stop...