Comments on: Is Postpartum Depression Worse After Having Boy?

By: Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:42:21 +0000

I’ve got two girls and a boy. I only got the baby blues with the boy, but there were some health issues going on as he was getting dehydrated. Interstingly, I also got PND with the boy, and not with the girls.

My kids are each 16months apart, which meant I had 3 kids in less than 3 years. I definitely found it easier going from 2 children to 3, rather than from 1 child to 2. I found the boy a more difficult baby.

By: kelly

kelly — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:59:07 +0000

I totally had anger issues with my kids after my 3rd was born. I actually started to wonder if it had something to do with PPD. I never went to get diagnosed (duh, I was living in southern Mexico!), but I did talk to some friends and prayed A LOT. All of my kiddo’s are girls, so I can’t comment on the gender issue, but I do believe that feeling overwhelmed, alone, or unsupported, even if it’s an unconscious thing, causes the anger/agression. It’s strange because I mainly experienced those feelings toward my oldest daughter (who had just turned 4), and not so much with my middle daughter (who was 1.5 yrs old, and was actually the cause of most of my stress). I had alot of venting sessions with my sister-in-law, and learned to accept help when it was offered to me; and even to ASK for help when I felt like it was all too much.

By: Smalltowngirl

Smalltowngirl — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:51:58 +0000

I did not notice a difference between between girl and boy — but that is an interesting theory!! One thing to note is you may be more tired with 2, and when more tired it is possible to be more sad?!? (Just a thought!)

I have heard that it is harder on your body to carry boys so that does make sense– very interesting!

By: Rae Ann

Rae Ann — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:12:37 +0000

When my daughter, Z, was born, I totally had PPD. I was irrationally angry with my hubs ALL THE TIME. Never at the baby though. When things were going well, I was all good. But if I hit the slightest glitch, I totally lost my sh!t. Finally after a three hour crying jag over a missed pedicure, I got some relief with Zoloft.

I got off the Zoloft when Z was about 9 months old. It seemed like it was time, so I tapered off like the doc told me to. It was rough. But after a month, I was back to my pre-pregnancy self.

Then I got pregnant with my son. About halfway through my pregnancy, I started getting really angry again. I went to my doc, and it turns out that pregnancy depression is a thing. Something like 10% of women get it. Back on to the Zoloft and everything was fine. After Q was born, the Zoloft just didn’t seem to be cutting it any more. Finally, I was referred to a shrink and Wellbutrin was added to the mix.

I am two years post-partum now with no plans to get off the meds. (Three depression episodes make it unlikely that I would cope well.) So I guess that would indicate that it was worse with my son than my daughter. Hmm. I never thought of it that way before.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:22:49 +0000

I don’t recall any PPD with my first two (but with every baby but my 3rd we’ve had major life changes happen). After my 3rd child, a son, I recall having pretty serious anger issues. I never attributed it to PPD because he was 6 months old. After my 4th things were fine until she was about 4 months old and my cycle returned. She’s now 10 months old and I still struggle with the ups and downs. It seems for me that it was more severe with my son, but didn’t last as long. Hmmmm…I never really thought about it in terms of gender before. But I think too, that the more kids you have the more stress you have. I can’t wait until my hormones return to normal!!