DIL stayed on her antidepressants too. Mom’s need to stay healthy, whether that’s physical health or mental health.
My older sis also had post partum depression but is a wonderful mom and now grandma. She kept telling me to expect it but I was fortunate and haven’t had it.
I basically fell in love with D1 on the day after I got home from the hospital and actually had some alone time with her. The whole “I can’t believe we did this-made this little human” wonderment turned into ferocious love very very soon after those first emotions of awe.
With D2 it took just a bit longer. She looked EXACTLY like her sister had at that point in time. I couldn’t get my mind to accept her as her own separate person. I felt like I had just had D1 again. It was weird, very weird.
Soon enough though, it happened.
I think it’s fascinating that you can feel differently with different children. It took longer with my first child - maybe it was shock on my part, lol. With my second, it was an instant feeling of familiarity & closeness.
I THINK I might have had those feelings sooner with D2 if she didn’t look identical to newborn D1. I really felt I’d had the same baby twice. I couldn’t shake the weirdness of that feeling for a few days.
Ironically, D1 is 5’ 10" tall and brunette with hazel eyes.
D2 is barely 5’2" with blonde hair and blue eyes.
And their personalities could not be more different. That’s the most extraordinary thing about them. Night and day with regard to personality.
My D went off her meds during pregnancy, but had to go on an antidepressant that is safe for breastfeeding afterwards, because she had PPD that kicked her butt.
I loved my babies right away, but I didn’t love having babies, if that makes sense. I didn’t love the lack of sleep, the lack of knowing what was bothering them, the overall sense of loss of control, with little feedback. I just don’t find newborns to be that rewarding. Once they got to about six months, I enjoyed it a thousand times more–they were starting to be people then. I was never one of those parents who mourned the loss of babies they could cradle. I always felt that each new age was better than the last one.
That must have been very distressing for all of you! Did the antidepressants work?
I love newborns. Best stage for me with all four (and now GD) is 0 to 3 months. I suspect it’s rare.
I dunno—I loved all stages of my kids from in utero to now at 30/32. My sis is still waiting for me to come off the euphoria but I love being a parent.
I’ve never been a baby person. I love my niblings but I find infancy and babyhood incredibly tedious and boring.
We’ll see if having my own changes things.
^ditto Out with 17 months old g’son and D today and mentioned that he will be 3! in X number of months.
I wasn’t a baby fan until I had my own. I’m with @HImom that I loved every single stage.
I love all the stages for all their various differences - the infant sleeping on my chest, the smiler, the cooing and on up. Toddler GS is now associating certain folks with certain games - so much fun.
If I had to pick a favorite age it would be 5 months when babies are typically happy and share their delight at seeing you with their entire bodies. Always said I wish I had a magic wand to keep them at that stage.
Hoping appointment goes well today, Romani.
The baby stage was pretty horrible. But I didn’t have sweet cuddly babies. They didn’t want to be held. They wanted to look at the world out of our arms and if not that scream for hours. Super fun!
I found staying at home for the first four months after my first was born to be very boring. I was used to working full-time and before that going to school full-time. I remember receiving a call (landline, no caller ID) one day from someone doing a survey. I cooperated enthusiastically. He thanked me for talking to him and I told him I was thrilled to have an adult to talk to!
I’ve always said the older they got, the more I enjoyed them. But with my 10-month old grandson, I already miss the little baby stage.
This uncertainty is one reason it was more typical for new moms to have someone helping with infants, even living with you. Nowadays, for many, our female friends are often back in the workplace while we’re alone with a baby. Rom is lucky her SILs will be help.
When we adopted, they weren’t infants. But all our friends’ kids were considerably older, no trading daily or near daily observations or tips. No sharing cooking a meal or chatting while they napped. Those moms were done with our stage.
Bff had twins 6 months later (out of state.) But by about another year, we could trade talk, give advice, etc. A long time.
Great news all around today. Ultrasound of baby looked good, waiting on liver ultrasound results still.
My MFM said as long as everything stays stable, we’ll plan an induction at my 36 week appointment. I start twice weekly non stress tests this week and assuming those stay good, we’ll induce no later than week 39 and she’s hoping I can wait until 38.
Whew.
How far along are you now? Exciting!!!
32 weeks today