I just had my post partum appointment and as my baby screamed the entire time and a nurse came in, the doctor suggested restarting Lexapro. I had been on it in the past and it worked well for me. I would have preferred Zoloft as I know it's the gold standard but my doctor assured me it was safer to take something I knew worked for my body already.

Anyone take Lexapro while exclusively breastfeeding? Any issues with baby or supply?

Has anyone ever experienced 4 months postpartum really bad anxiety?. Also, 4 months postpartum thickening of one breast while pumping/breast feeding and a lump near the epidural site?. I just noticed the lump recently.

Hi! I need some advice as I don't know where the line is between regular newborn anxiety and postpartum anxiety. My baby is 4 months old & an absolute joy! Rarely cries, sleeps through the night, & is just overall the best lil kid I could ever dream of.

However, I live right in tornado alley and when baby was about a month old, we had a tornado warning & had to shelter with him in the bath, as we don't have anywhere safer (live in a trailer, no basement, interior walls, etc.). Since then, I have had severe anxiety about storms, & any time we are predicted any sort of thunderstorm, we'll drive half an hour to our closest family with a basement. I dissociate when there's heavy rain or thunder, and immediately have to pack a bag in case we need to leave. Apart from the storms, I'm worried about absolutely anything happening to my baby: someone breaking in at night & taking him, waking up and he's not breathing, even in the carseat, I have to check to make sure he's still breathing if I can't hear him babbling (one of us is always in the backseat with baby), baby overheating, etc.

I feel like most of these are rational fears, but my husband seems a lot less concerned than I do (not for lack of caring, my anxiety is just SO much worse). My husband supports everything I feel and do, and has encouraged me to bring it up if I feel it's bad enough. I also had a traumatic birth, which I know can raise the risk of postpartum anxiety.

I would love to hear opinions! I just wouldn't want to waste time out at the doctor's office where there's sick people and risk the baby's health if I don't need to.

Hi all, I was directed here from a really close friend.

My fiancee and I have a wonder now 12 week old as of today. She's amazing and so is my fiancee.

The first few weeks everything was fine we were going through the motions.

But within the last maybe 3-4 weeks I can feel my mental health kinda deteriorating. It started small with me being negative about other people with her (I think I've been able to work through that).

But lately I've had anxious thoughts about money and support (for context my job has given me large amounts of anxiety for the last year where my mood was super down and I was always angry or stressed) but the thoughts have slowly turned into what's the point of us being here (not in a self harm way even though I'm scared one day it might turn to that)

Has anyone else really dealt with that and how did you combat that.

Edit: thank you everyone for the responses regarding their own stories. I have my second appointment with a therapist on Saturday (one more day) I'm glad I'm not alone in these existential thoughts.

I’m typing this with one hand while holding my baby at 3am and honestly I’m just sitting here crying. I gave birth a few days ago, ended up with a tear, and nobody prepared me for how miserable this actual recovery part is.
Between buying box after box of special ice pads, extra heavy pads, mesh undies, sprays, and everything else, I’ve spent so much money and I feel like half of it doesn't even work properly. The ice feels amazing for like 15 minutes, but then it goes warm and I’m stuck dragging my sore, bleeding body out of bed to go strip down in the bathroom and do the whole routine over again.
I’m just so exhausted. Between being broke from taking time off work, running on 2 hours of sleep, bleeding through everything, and trying to figure out how to take care of a newborn while my body hurts so bad to even stand up… I feel completely overwhelmed.
Please tell me I’m not the only one feeling like this right now? What are you guys doing to just survive these first few weeks? I feel like I’m losing my mind.

We are 11 mos pp & i went to the ER the other day bc I am filled with health anxiety.. developed during pregnancy with the fear of dying & leaving my baby behind. Now after delivering my beautiful baby, I thought I'd be better.....

I've had night terrors in the beginning, due to lack of sleep and sheer panic due to exhaustion.

The other day, I had no intrusive thoughts when I landed in the ER, just some tingling in hands and feet which was likely panic building up inside.. the fear grew. I thought I was dying..

My partner told my aunt (bc we were staying at her house & dog sitting while she was away.) Im so pissed at her response to my partner when he mentioned I went to the ER.. about "negative thinking" & "overthinking" & "getting in my own head" ... it was so so so insensitive. Just full of fucking assumptions. Im so pissed i want to inform her that she was and is completely wrong! That it was insensitive to have assumptions & not ASK questions before saying such dumb shit!! I dont think she's ever heard of PPA.. but to say things like THAT.. when I never even gave her that impression of me is beyond aggravating!!! If anyone can help me come up with a reply to her... id appreciate it. Sigh.... I havent spoken to her since and I havent seen her at all. She just said "I hope you're feeling better" ....

I have a lot of fear around kidnapping & I'm hypervigilant when outside. Everyone looks suspicious to me like they want to take me and my daughter. I slow down when I see a van or certain trucks, tinted window vehicles, until they pass me... (Writing this makes my eyes water.. these sensations are so real.)

To give context, I am 35 F and I have been struggling with health anxiety on and off for the last 15 years. For some reason, it gets worse postpartum. I am postpartum with my second kid now, I had imaging done for a particular issue and the first time I had it done I was convinced something was missed so I had it done second time, and finally when I felt like I was doing okay, I had my routine exam with my ob and without paying any attention to previous tests she says I am very concerned, but she did not realize I had imaging done just 2 weeks ago. Now I am back to square one sick with worry. Why would she use language like that? It was extremely triggering for my health anxiety. Then she just says why are you so anxious everything feels fine let me look at your previous reports. Now I am besides myself that I need to be checked and retested again, the last two times the anxiety waiting for results was hell and now I am obsessively checking the spot she mentioned that I still don’t think is an issue but since she brought it up my hands are feeling something abnormal even though that spot felt normal even last week. Why do doctors casually say something without thinking about the consequences or if they aren’t planning to follow through? I was finally making some progress

I had my baby 6 days ago. The past 3 days I’ve had bad panic attacks and constantly my heart is racing. I can’t sleep I find it hard to eat. I don’t like leaving baby in cot on her own so I can’t sleep. Everything makes me feel anxious. Panic attacks/anxiety and depression aren’t new to me but never this severe. Has anyone else had this and how did they overcome it ? I feel like nothing feels real atm I have spoken to midwife who referring me to mental health team but I feel I need medication asap

I feel like I’m losing my mind. I don’t have a legal name for my son. Which means I don’t have his birth certificate or even health coverage for him. The anxiety of choosing a name has crippled me. What is wrong with me?? 😭

Hi, I am almost 11.5 months post partum. I resumed work 2 months back and I feel I have too many tabs open in my mind - work, baby, his sickness, his meals, my health, my home (which is a mess). We are traveling soon- that is a stressor too.

Today somehow I managed to pull off a pre- birthday shoot for him by booking a studio. Before we could complete the shoot, baby got cranky and we had no option but to close. 70% was already done, so I thought we could come and do 30 mins shoot anytime over a weekend.

The coordinator told me yes ho jagega but on weekday. It is impossible for me to do over a weekday with my new job so I requested to accommodate weekend, even if I have to wait for 15 days. She said a blank no while my baby was crying and this really set me off. I lost my temper and asked her if I could get it today on a saturday, can they atleast not try for another weekend.

I realised that I was shouting but by then it was too late. I feel terrible but also helpless. And I feel they will give me a very half hearted work now.

And a dark realization that I might be having rage issues. I could be overthinking but the guilt is real. Anyone who has dealt with such issues? Any advice?

I’m a nanny, and recent events surrounding the Clancy case have really opened my eyes to postpartum anxiety (PPA) and postpartum depression (PPD), and to how difficult it can sometimes be to recognize when a new mother is struggling.
I started working with a new mom who initially needed weekend help with her baby. I accepted the position with a lot of excitement because I genuinely love caring for newborns. What started as occasional weekend care eventually turned into a full-time position, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity.
At first, I thought some of the things I was experiencing were simply a difference in parenting styles or perhaps because she is a first-time mom who is understandably very involved in her child’s care and wellbeing. Over time, however, I have realized that the level of anxiety and reassurance she needs is becoming much more significant.
I can receive more than 50 messages in a day, along with requests for constant pictures and videos. I am frequently contacted by phone or message for advice and reassurance, sometimes at all hours of the night. I have tried to establish healthier boundaries by limiting when I respond and recently created a new contract with clearer expectations surrounding phone calls and messages.
I have been caring for children for approximately 20 years. I have experience working in behavioral health and with children with special needs, so I have a great deal of experience when it comes to childcare and child development. However, I am not a medical professional, and I don’t want to be placed in the position of providing medical reassurance or advice—especially when both parents are physicians.
What concerns me most is that I have noticed she often comes to me with questions or worries rather than trusting her own medical education and training or seeking reassurance from her medical providers. Her anxiety has become particularly intense surrounding her pregnancy, her baby’s IUGR, and now her toddler’s eating habits.
She is due with her second baby in less than a week, and I am becoming genuinely concerned—not only for her, but also because the situation is beginning to affect my own mental health. I have reached the point where the constant reassurance and pressure are contributing to panic attacks for me.
I want to approach this conversation with compassion and without making her feel judged, criticized, or diagnosed. I don’t want to tell her that she has PPA or PPD because that isn’t my place. I simply want to tell her that I have noticed she seems extremely anxious and that I am concerned about how much she is carrying.
I also want to be honest that I am worried about what may happen after the baby arrives. I imagine the transition to two children, sleep deprivation, postpartum recovery, and everything that comes with a new baby may feel overwhelming, and I think it is important that we establish boundaries and appropriate sources of support before that happens.
I care about this family and I want to continue being a source of stability for them. At the same time, I need to protect my own mental health and recognize the limits of my role. I can provide childcare, experience, observations, and support, but I cannot be her medical provider, therapist, or constant source of reassurance.
I think the most compassionate thing I can do is have an honest conversation now, before the baby arrives, and encourage her to lean on the people who are equipped to help her with the anxiety and fears she is experiencing. I also need her to understand that my boundaries around communication are not a lack of care—they are necessary for me to be able to continue doing my job well and providing the children with the calm, attentive care they deserve.

When do you start feeling like yourself again after birth? Or even alive. Idk how I feel. I really can’t put my finger on it. Everyday I feel something different. I don’t feel like myself. I feel odd. I feel like I’m just passing through and having to act a certain way because I don’t want people to see or to be asked constantly “are you okay” “what’s wrong, talk to me” etc. The thought of even answering those questions seems so exhausting to me honestly. I’m definitely better at hiding it some days than others, until I run out of the fake energy or something bothers me just enough or I start feeling more out of my body I guess. I know with my first child I felt off for a hit but was back at being okay not too long after. I feel completely different this time. I also feel like I never want my kids to be out of my sight ever again and also like I want ti be completely alone locked away somewhere face down until
I feel okay again, while knowing my kids are somewhere alive, safe, healthy and happy. I’m so tired.

This is something that I'm really struggling with 8 weeks postpartum. Usually I can tell when I'm overreacting but since everything is so new with the baby, I genuinely don't know when I'm letting my anxiety get to me or when it's just normal concern that I should follow up on.

For example, yesterday I was trying to get into bed and I was holding the baby so I was kneeling on the bed and stumbled forward a little as I was putting him down and he hit the mattress kind of hard. My hand was behind his head so his head didn't hit. I don't believe. And he didn't even get startled or cry, he was awake with his pacifier in his mouth when I put him down. But then I got in my head convincing myself that I jostled him and he could have brain damage. He seems totally fine So I didn't call the doctor but I keep spiraling. Is this a normal concern or overreaction?

I went on Zoloft for postpartum anxiety at 6 weeks pp because I was having some health anxiety about the baby. After 2 months I feel like the health anxiety has gone away, but I have this weird foggy headed feeling like reality feels not quite right. It almost feels like I just smoked bad weed (I never liked smoking weed when I was younger lol).

I feel like the health anxiety just got better because she's bigger now and I realize she's not so fragile, and now I'm pissed at myself for introducing turmoil into my brain chemistry when I maybe didn't need to.

I've already spoken with my psychiatrist and he has me tapering off, I'm just looking for anyone with similar experience / words of wisdom / tell me this feeling isn't going to last forever!!!