I’m asking here because I don’t want to over indulge my research compulsion right now. I am not pregnant but the topic of having children has been huge for me and my partner this year. I’m recently OCD diagnosed and it just occurred to me that I could see myself having extremely difficult Postpartum Depression. I thought I’d simply ask this community to get a general idea and then try and leave it at that for now.
Yes … We are more prone to PPD and PPA since we have ocd ….. post partum ocd is a thing to with OCD. I’m 6 months postpartum . The first 8-10 weeks were where I struggled the most mentally and it has slowly gotten better . I think I was dealing with some form of mild postpartum depression in the first weeks . but for me the struggle really has been the postpartum anxiety. When she was a newborn I kept having anxiety if she was breathing when she was sleeping . I felt like I couldn’t follow the AAP guidelines perfectly . I had a huge fear of SIDS . And my ocd kicked in really high gear with contamination over fear of getting my baby sick . I was petrified of someone coming over and giving my child RSV . I also was struggling with intrusive thoughts . Like I would be holding her and I would get this vivid image of her dropping to the ground . I think around 3 months is when I started to come out of the postpartum fog . I still get intrusive thoughts and struggle with contamination ocd but I go to therapy for that . I was completely off medication the third trimester so she was not born with any type of withdrawl . I stayed med free until 1 1/2 months postpartum I decided I mentally needed to get back on my ocd meds and I stopped breastfeeding and went to formula . The thing is is everyone is different . You could be totally fine and the hormones could actually help your anxiety and then others it does the opposite. I would just continue to see a therapist throughout pregnancy and postpartum ! Also discussing with a psychiatrist about when to be on and off meds (if you are on any) especially if you feel like you will be prone to ppd .
@Anonymous This is such a good point - my doctor told me that hormones can be a cause of OCD flare ups. Just because it didn’t happen to me doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen!
@TJ2 Yes! It’s so crazy how it effects is all differently .. I’ve also heard that each pregnancy / postpartum journey is different !
I don’t know about that, I do know my ocd developed after my first alongside with ppd but with my second it wasn’t any worse than normal and I didn’t have ppd again.
I’m not sure of any sort of common co-occurance of OCD and PPD. I had two kids and no PPD. I think the best way to take care of yourself is to have lots of loving, calm support around for those recover and newborn months.
I know I'm joining this late but I'll add my experience. I've had OCD/anxiety since I was a little kid and postpartum OCD/Anxiety/depression has been ROUGH. It was hard with my first and even harder with my second. Not saying this to sound scary, just to inform for preparation. I wish I had prepared better (had more pre made meals, had therapy already lined out, had a plan for community/friends that could help me. Being around people in the early days would have helped if I had felt comfortable exposing my babies to that.
Hey everyone, I just found out I'm pregnant and I'm very worried as I have harm ocd and pocd! I'm also worried because I get insomnia really bad and my mum had post natal psychosis. Has anyone here had post natal psychosis but got through it at home without help? I'm wondering what my options are I wouldn't cope in a clinic if I got that. I had a nightmare last night that I was sectioned. Also has anybody else got such bad insomnia yet you've had a kid? Has anyone had pocd yet getting through that with a kid? This pregnancy was planned and my partner is so happy, but I'm literally so terrified
Hi! I am expecting and while I'm super excited, I'm also worried about having OCD and experiencing the post partum period that everyone makes sound like the lowest point of one's life. I'd love to hear from other mom's with OCD. Could really use some positive stories or tips! I'm pretty scared.
Hi! I have OCD and am thinking about starting a family. I have been married for a few years (through some pretty sever ROCD) and starting a family has come up more than once. Every time our “this is when we will start” time comes around I have a HUGE spike in OCD including ROCD and OCD around having sex with my husband. I have a history of sexual assault, but that’s another story. ANYWAY…I was wondering if there are any folks on here with OCD and thinking of having children, pregnant, or went through it all with OCD. Really just looking for community and any resources that might have helped you- books etc. I am in therapy and on medication so really looking for anything supplementary. Thanks for reading!
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