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From Playpen to Zen > It's my second baby ... can I still get Post Natal Depression?
By Cathy Corcoran
October 20, 2010
By Cathy Corcoran
October 20, 2010
So you’ve just had your second, maybe even third child and you feel so tearful, as though you’re not coping. You think to yourself, “I’m supposed to know what I’m doing here. I’ve had a child before. What is going on?”
Many women believe that they wouldn’t get post natal depression after their second or subsequent children, even their husbands or partners would be surprised. Though any pregnant or post natal woman is susceptible to postnatal depression after pregnancy and birth.
Yes the likelihood is higher if you may have had depression or post natal depression before but having a child previously and not experiencing post natal depression doesn’t make you immune. Every pregnancy and birth is different even within the same woman as we know.
I have had a number of women come in to see me with depression post natally when they have had their second or third child. Sometimes it is because they are not coping with an increase in children, having to juggle a toddler and a newborn, having to reorganise themselves or change their routine. Other mothers though find that they did not have the birth experience that they thought they were going to have. They have put expectations upon themselves that they have given birth before so they should know what they are doing or they should be able to deal with the process of birth as they did last time. Unfortunately each pregnancy and birth is just as different as the child you are giving birth to. Some have an unexpected cesarean even though they have had a natural birth previously, others have a son or daughter when they were expecting or wanting the opposite sex, there are many other expectations that can held and not fulfilled.
It is important as with first pregnancy post natal depression to be easy on yourself. Know that there is help and support to access.
Signs and symptoms you may be experiencing post natal depression after a second or third child are similar to those if you were to experience after your first child although can also include
- getting irritable with your first born child or other children (more than usual)
- not attending to the needs of your other children or the newborn as appropriate
- feeling overwhelmed. This does not abate at any time and is pervasive for at least a 3 week period
What is important is that you are doing the best that you know how. Ask for help and always give yourself some “me” time. There is only so much reserve we have and it has to be replenished. The more you give to you, the more you have to give.
Cathy is a psychologist with over 10 years experience in the clinical and counselling areas. Cathy takes an holistic view to understanding problems and providing treatment and truly believes our own answers are within all of us. She takes the approach of helping people find those answers. Cathy's professional experience ranges through from infants to adults. She has recently commenced a pregnancy specific website at www.answersarewithin.wordpress.com
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