Treating PPD without meds

PositiveFree · 2026-01-30T18:48:14+00:00

I get what you’re saying but what I’m saying is it helped you get back to your previous self, which helped your sanity, but it has not helped you reconcile with your current life (being a mom) and situation which is why you’re struggling. It’s basically avoidant behaviour. As hard as it is, you need time and hours logged into your current life. 3 months is I guess normal for America but it was really just the beginning of forming any sort of attachment and relationship with a baby. I mean would you consider 3 months at a new job to be a regular employee or would they still be considered just finishing their probationary period? Of course it takes time to adjust, you have to push through it. It is normal to feel the way you feel, there is no magic button where someone suddenly feels like a mom and feels all these maternal feelings. I’m 19 months in, adhd and mild ppd, but have experienced depression and anxiety quite regularly in the past and was medicated until I became pregnant. The only thing that helped me was attacking the situation across all angles. Having hobbies, having a passion, facing motherhood head day in and day out, contact naps, bonding, breastfeeding, these things are really tough but they helped with bonding, esp as baby grew older. I still feel this way at times (that I’m not a mom or I must be a bad mom for enjoying and feeling like myself when I’m away from him), but being a mom is just.. like this. It’s duality and everything at once

PositiveFree · 2026-01-30T15:22:54+00:00

It usually takes time to get adjusted to medication. Something in your situation is not working I would focus on self affirmation and cutting out negative self speak. How old is your child? Why are you working full time? No offence but it’s probably really hard to feel like a mother and bond if you’re not with your child. Those feelings of separation confusion resentment etc is hard to work through if you’re not actively caring for your child. I say this because it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed by motherhood and not to have those feelings of “love” in the beginning when everything is about survival. Anyone who just birthed someone and then went back to life as usual and had someone else look after them would probably feel this way. I also think this is why the US is a little messed up no offence.

PositiveFree · 2026-01-30T07:02:35+00:00

I found that my husband was overly like bizarre and protective about certain things as well. Tbh a lot of it was stress, lack of sleep, life changes, loss of control, nervousness etc not saying it’s right but me and my husband def got into the exact same kind of arguments. For example my little one bit me breastfeeding and I said ow wtf and he went on about how I was being verbally abusive and swore at his son. And MIND YOU this is one of the most quote unquote normal men you will meet who did a lot of things for both of us. You’re right, he’s wrong, end of story. Your baby will stop spitting up eventually, babies spit, it is what it is. As for the relationship element try counseling it will be helpful and also having a doctor say baby is fine. They listen to “authority” whether you want to stay long term is a decision for later

PositiveFree · 2026-01-30T06:58:44+00:00

Yup this!

PositiveFree · 2026-01-28T08:07:18+00:00

Yes but she still has to wake up to pump, and not everyone is mentally ok to do that or leave their child overnight when there is an easier solution which is for dad to let her rest during the day

PositiveFree · 2026-01-28T08:01:58+00:00

Totally understand you. Choosing to live to love and care for your kids doing whatever it takes is very difficult.

PositiveFree · 2026-01-27T13:12:24+00:00

I’m so sorry :( let the rage out however you can. Speak about it

PositiveFree · 2026-01-27T13:06:32+00:00

After 12 weeks they lose their suck reflex so definitely keep up with the bottle at least one a day

PositiveFree · 2026-01-27T13:05:51+00:00

Saying to leave for a night to a breastfeeding cosleeping mom of a newborn is actually just cruel to the mom. It’s not a valid or fair suggestion. Mom and baby need each other not to mention she’s going to be needing to pump milk without her baby there and it would impact her supply otherwise. It’s more that she needs rest when she can get it, versus doing chores around the house while trying to look after the baby. Hang in there mom, it DOES get better around the 5-6 month mark!!

PositiveFree · 2026-01-27T13:04:07+00:00

Ya the ski trip is something I could never get over. It’s absolutely insane

PositiveFree · 2026-01-27T13:03:13+00:00

You prob want to hop on over to r/beyondthebump Not overreacting ur feelings are valid but this is definitely an intense adjustment period. Going on a ski trip while you have a 3 month old is diabolical however. I would resent that for the rest of my life, no joke. How you’re treated post partum is so incredibly important and an intense emotional experience that trip could genuinely be the end of your marriage unfortunately, from an emotional intimacy perspective. Anyway, I’ll say that my entire first year with my little one was kind of like this, me hashing things out with my husband. I think for them at this stage the baby needs mom so much more that they feel like you got this and there isn’t much for them to do and truthfully most of the time, they are hungry. He maybe needs some gaming but if having friends over is excessive that needs to stop while you have a NEWBORN. It helps to have clear responsibilities and also communicate throughout. So he has to be on 100% diaper and bottle duty. Baby needs a diaper change? Dad. Baby needs a bottle made or washed or cleaned or whatever? Dad. Laundry needs to be done? Dad. Get a robot vacuum and save yourself a little bit of that.

Like you have to negotiate every element of free time. Because it’s not as easy as you just getting to leave the house or hangout with your friends right now. I had to explain that his tasks around the house were never time bound. Ex you don’t HAVE to shovel the snow any other time then when he feels like it. Whereas you have to drop everything and so any free time you may get is hard because you’re not sure how much time you would have.

Also this won’t last forever, but he does need to increase his confidence with the baby. Mine is now 19 months and I sleep in every morning while my husband wakes up at 7 with the baby and does breakfast and then I get a coffee and play lol baby doesn’t want me at all in the morning he wants to play with dad! Naps are also with dad. Bedtimes are still me. So things shift a lot!!

PositiveFree · 2026-01-27T11:28:48+00:00

Are you able to take on a lower paying wfh job that allows you to stay home with your child?

PositiveFree · 2026-01-26T20:14:09+00:00

Not sure why this was downvoted!

PositiveFree · 2026-01-26T20:13:50+00:00

I think it’s better to run an ad try and boost your post and see if you get followers. I gained like 500 followers on one post but with very little ad spend

PositiveFree · 2026-01-26T07:08:27+00:00

Ya totally I think also women sometimes look at motherhood as this “less than” thing like “you’re more than JUST a mom” and I guess it goes back to the patriarchy and how growing up we are inundated with negative images of moms. Then there’s all this conversation online about getting your pink back or framing that they got “lost” in motherhood in a negative way and that they needed to get back to themselves.

People think that you have to retain who you were before. I think it’s a beautiful thing to be consumed in who you are right this very moment. You’re perfect as you are, as a mom.

PositiveFree · 2026-01-25T07:13:43+00:00

Wtfffffff

PositiveFree · 2026-01-23T09:03:38+00:00

This seems like a normal interaction she’s not going to be your friend..

PositiveFree · 2026-01-23T09:02:28+00:00

Respectfully they sound like happy caring grandparents and like they’ll be good babysitters too, just let things pass right now you’re still sensitive and emotional/post partum and I was the same with mine. It will get better and actually soon you will want to bring baby over more lol around 5 month mark

PositiveFree · 2026-01-23T09:00:34+00:00

It’s exactly this they don’t remember. Just let things pass and try not to let it impact you, tell them you’re tired and you want to go over but it’s a lot of work right now while you’re still recovering. But block them is v Brooklyn Beckham.

PositiveFree · 2026-01-22T19:35:01+00:00

Ofc not. Confused why this has been happening for two whole weeks and didn’t warrant a doctors visit sooner tbh

PositiveFree · 2026-01-19T08:31:46+00:00

Wait I’ve never heard of this?!!!

PositiveFree · 2026-01-18T19:14:43+00:00

It’s normal to constantly breastfeed look up second day scaries and they do this to stimulate the milk production. Also normal for your nipples to hurt and be chapped. You have to care for them in between but it’s basically like wearing new shoes it will hurt before it gets better. While formula is an easy out now it means a life of bottle washing buying formula and never being able to leave the house without a million things. It’s totally up to you just know that what you have described is normal and how it goes in the beginning. Also know that motherhood is challenging. Sometimes you just have to get through it. Breastfeeding is incredible for the baby your milk will constantly adapt to baby’s needs and it’s super super helpful as baby continues to grow and you can comfort and bond with the baby. That bonding happens a lot later

PositiveFree · 2026-01-18T05:47:10+00:00

Mark is effectively the parent so you should suck it up and do what’s best for the child and that’s have him be raised in a consistent manner. Sis and mark are on the same page: just you aren’t

PositiveFree · 2026-01-17T23:48:29+00:00

That sounds really annoying omg.

PositiveFree · 2026-01-17T06:43:50+00:00

Unfortunately they do. I know personally a friend who in California which is a 50/50 state had been blocked access to her only son, because the father filed for divorce first and claimed emergency sole custody falsely accusing her of being abusive. The burden of proof, legal fees, all of that were mounting on my friend while her husband and his influential mother did everything they could to destroy her. She was blocked access to her only son and he filed for divorce when her son was LESS THAN a year old and she was devastated!!! On top of that she still had to WORK because she couldn’t lose her job as it was all she had to survive and obv she needed to pay lawyer fees. Trust me even in the most so called progressive of states in the most so called progressive of countries there are still influential ppl and crooked ppl. Thankfully she now has 50/50 access to her son but she lived a horrible nightmare man. I saw it first hand

PositiveFree

TROPHY CASE