#postpartum progress

Weekend Pick :Postpartum Depression and the Holiday Season

Postpartum Depression and the Holiday Season

Pregnancy left me with a body that felt as foreign as a French film. I had an angry C-section incision that was stubborn to heal, a stone of anxiety clanging around in my chest, and hips packed with extra weight like a fanny pack I couldn’t remove. Then postpartum depression settled in and nearly shattered me.

Source: Reel Love: How Films Helped Me…

#PPD: Women who overcome #infertility are not immune

Most people don’t think of postpartum mood issues (in short, PPD) in relation to infertility. I sure didn’t. I’ve written numerous times (here, here, and here) over the years about my struggle with infertility. It was a struggle of 4+ years and I dreamed that once I had my child, all would be right with the world. The dream I had desired for so long would come true and I would get to hold my baby…

A few words about the possibility of post natal depression

Every health professional I have seen during my pregnancy has told me my chances of having post natal depression are high because I already suffer from some sort of mental illness. Even my mother (who meant well and was only looking out for me) kept pointing out that myself and Henry (my partner) had to be on the lookout for the signs and that I might not recognise it in myself, however clued up I might think I am.  Henry's mother told me horror stories of her own struggle with post natal depression after an extremely traumatic birth and a very 'high maintenance' (hate that expression) baby in Henry's older brother.  

What about the possibility that maybe I WOULDN'T have post natal depression?  It got me thinking that despite the well-meaning of everyone in letting me know before I gave birth what to look out for and to be AWARE of it, it was also making me feel more nervous about the whole thing.  I AM aware of post natal depression and I AM aware that I MIGHT be more susceptible to it because I have a history of depression and personality disorder BUT it doesn't necessarily mean ANYTHING. I guess every woman about to bring a child into the world has the fear that she might not love her child, or might not be a good mother, or might need help, but I think I knew that already, without a million and one people telling me I'll PROBABLY be depressed once I have a baby.  How about a little positivity before it's even happened? I'm already on medication that is prescribed for depression so maybe i'll just sail on through. Here's hoping! And if not, then I know I have a brilliant support network in place if I need it, and I won't be afraid to ask for help.

I am at 20 miles for the month, so only half way there on my goal of 40! 10 days to go so I need to average about 2 miles a day! I've got this :)

How have I been doing on my other goals?: 

(OCTOBER’S FITNESS GOALS:

Work out at least 3x per week

Run 40 miles in the month of October (did approx. 28 in September)

At least 1 race (ran in 3 in September!)

Score a 230+ on my PT test next week

Work on Push-ups/upper body strength (definitely was my weak link at the Spartan Race)

Well, I have been meeting my goal of working out at least 3x per week, I scored over a 230 on my PT test (242), and I have been working quite a bit on my upper body strength and my push-ups.  The only goal I have not gotten close to is running a race this month... considering this weekend is the last weekend in October I should probably get on that and start searching on Active.com for a local race lol

OH! An amazing confidence booster: 

So, last night at the gym a man stopped me on my way to the locker room and asked me

Guy at Gym: "Aren't you the lady that used to be in here all the time with her husband?" Me: "Yea that's me." (my husband and I, prebabies, used to practically live at the gym) Guy at Gym: "Weren't you pregnant not that long ago?" Me: (I was honestly surprised anyone noticed at the gym, I was only allowed to work out until I was about 18-20weeks. Granted I was showing quite a bit by then already), but I answered again "Yes, that was me. I actually had twins about 8 months ago." Guy at Gym doing a quick once over: "I thought that was you! Whatever you are doing you should keep it up! You look good for just having twins!" 

What an amazing feeling to have someone recognize how much hard work I've had to put in to get to where I am already :)

So, since I am feeling confident(ish), here is how my belly is looking!

Picture time! My belly seems to look the best in the morning and I felt like it was looking a bit better than usual today so I decided to take & share some pictures, but first I wanted to share a pre-pregnancy picture and full-term with high risk twins pregnancy picture:

This is me approximately 1 month before finding out I was pregnant:

And here is me at 37 weeks after 17 weeks of bedrest - the day before my scheduled c-section:

That morning I measured the equivalent to 57 weeks pregnant!! No wonder my body doesn't look the same!!

Here is me this morning (tomorrow is 7 months postpartum) in this picture I have my belly relaxed:

And here is one of me flexing and holding/pulling up some of the top extra skin with my hand:

And I changed the contrast on this one a bit to accentuate my gradually reemerging abdominal muscles :) :

I feel that you can definitely see a difference from relaxed to flexed and how much the simple placement, and slight pull, of the hand can do to help the look of the excess skin...