PTSD after PE and Hellp syndrome?

[meghanjs]

You are completely right - it is Cheryl Beck. My brain just is not the same (I studied and used her stuff in school for papers and my theses from about 1994 onwards). I do want to reassure you - I was not recruiting, just offering an outlet and some information to other members.
Take care.
Meghan

Welcome, Meghan!

I've read a lot of the traumatic pregnancy work that Dr. Beck has done - but if anyone wants to go looking in pubmed or google, I'm pretty sure her name is Cheryl Beck at UCONN. I even participated in one of Cheryl Beck's studies a few years ago
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=24974&p=19210&hilit=traumatic+pregnancy+research#p19210

Please note, though, that if you do participate in any of Dr. Beck's studies that her studies are not officially endorsed by preeclampsia.org or the Preeclampsia Foundation. And in general, I should also note that we do not allow researchers to recruit study participants directly from our membership - we are very interested in helping researchers but any researcher who wishes to should contact our Director of Research at research@preeclampsia.org.

Sharing research studies you find elsewhere is fine, though, just as long as you have no personal or professional relationship with the study author and are sharing it just as a fellow participant!

Sorry to interject that in your post, Meghan! I'm glad your husband participated in that study and sorry to hear so few men had participated up to that point. Our "Dads" board has a fair number of men who were traumatized by their wives' pregnancies. It's our bodies that are under siege but in some ways they feel even more helpless because male socialization tells them they should be able to fix things for the people they love. I hope participating was as helpful for him personally as well.

[brismom]

I can relate.

[blythe]

Welcome, Meghan!

I've read a lot of the traumatic pregnancy work that Dr. Beck has done - but if anyone wants to go looking in pubmed or google, I'm pretty sure her name is Cheryl Beck at UCONN. I even participated in one of Cheryl Beck's studies a few years ago
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=24974&p=19210&hilit=traumatic+pregnancy+research#p19210

Please note, though, that if you do participate in any of Dr. Beck's studies that her studies are not officially endorsed by preeclampsia.org or the Preeclampsia Foundation. And in general, I should also note that we do not allow researchers to recruit study participants directly from our membership - we are very interested in helping researchers but any researcher who wishes to should contact our Director of Research at research@preeclampsia.org.

Sharing research studies you find elsewhere is fine, though, just as long as you have no personal or professional relationship with the study author and are sharing it just as a fellow participant!

Sorry to interject that in your post, Meghan! I'm glad your husband participated in that study and sorry to hear so few men had participated up to that point. Our "Dads" board has a fair number of men who were traumatized by their wives' pregnancies. It's our bodies that are under siege but in some ways they feel even more helpless because male socialization tells them they should be able to fix things for the people they love. I hope participating was as helpful for him personally as well.

[meghanjs]

Judith Beck, PhD, RN at UCONN (developer of the Beck Depression Inventory) has done a lot of work on PTSD and traumatic pregnancies/births. She usually has ongoing studies if you are interested. Currently I know she is doing a study for fathers' perspectives, in order to help the dads that also experience this with us. My husband wrote up the birth experience and submitted it and was only the sixth man to do so (after more than a year that the study was open). I told him I thought it would be cathartic for him - it was very hard for him though. I can say that it helped me a bit because I was sick enough that I do not remember much of the labor and delivery of our daughter and so it answered some questions that I did not even know I had (and thus had not yet peppered him with).

[hannahsmom]

Yes, I had it after my first baby was born, and then when I became unexpectedly pregnant with my second baby several years later, I was a true basketcase. I just knew I was going to die from PE and leave my husband and first child all alone. I was also terrified that my second baby would be as sick as the first one. I think my family was ready to have me committed! My OB and MFM were amazing and helped me through it. I had it pretty bad for a few months after the baby, and my husband and I almost divorced over it. I think it was a combination of PTSD and Post-partum depression. My second child will be two in November, and just this week I have finally come back to the forums. Just reading about PE made me crazy all over again. My OB put me on Prozac and Xanax right after the baby was born and it helped me a lot. Have you tried talking with your doctor about it?

[sam10]

I have/had PTSD. It is getting better, but it still kicks my butt once in a while.

[caryn]

*bump*

I didn't have PTSD so I'm very little help here - but I know a ton of our posters have had it and have useful comments.

[MatthewsLeela]

Oh my Gosh! Your stories absolutely break my heart. I know I'm on here a little late, but a friend of mine endured preeclampsia recently which in turn caused her to deliver early. Even worse is that she too developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; which rendered her almost helpless to her under developed child. It's a shame because there are so many people who truly don't understand what PTSD is all about. It's very serious! A baby needs its mommy and when mommy isn't o.k., this causes problems for baby. =(

Essentially what I'm trying to do (as a friend) is seek out advice and resources. How did or how are you folks currently managing? Are you dealing with it on your own or are you seeking the assistance of highly skilled physicians? Who watched over the little one while people were watching over you?

Thanks in advance, all. You're all such brave souls!

[jend01]

I have been diagnosed with PTSD. I suffered with the anxiety and stress for 9 months after my ds was born. I didn't get any medical help until I was taken to the ER from work due to an anxiety attack. (I thought I was having a stroke) Later the same week I had another one and didn't go to the hospital I just went home. That was when I realized that I need to get medical help. I started out with just seeing a therapist and she was great, but she suggested medication right off the bat which I didn't like and I refused for a few months. After a few months of therapy with only minimal progress I took her advice and went to a physiatrist and was prescribed xanax to handle my immediate anxiety needs and zoloft for a longer term. I have been on the zoloft for about a year now and have not had to take the xanax nearly as often as before. I feel much better and I wish that I had gone to the doctors sooner. I found this site shortly after I started seeing my therapist and it has been a great help as well.

[aundapenner]

I think in retrospect, after Henry's birth, I was experiencing more PTSD than PPD - but my PPD was severe.

After Sofia's birth, even though she was full-term, I also experienced PPD. She is 19 months old and I am still on meds. Henry is 4.5 - and I would say it has taken me this long to really begin working through my first pregancy in a healthy way.

Have you spoken with your doctor? At 10 months out, I would look into some type of medical intervention - medicine or therapy.

(((hugs)))

You are not alone. We all walk this together.