40 Weeks of Prayer - Week 4

(Originally Written June 28, 2007)

This week, pray for:
Your emotional health
This is an area that I am passionate about! I suffered from postpartum depression after Joseph was born. It was a very dark and sad time in my life...I pray that I never have to experience anything like that again. When I found out I was pregnant this time, I was so upset because I feared slipping into the same type of depression. My doctor has been great and we already have a plan of action, just in case....though he has told me that just because I had PPD the first time does NOT mean I will definitely have it this time. Please, please be aware of the signs....I thought I had the "baby blues," but some very dear friends insisted that I call my doctor because they knew it was more than just the blues. I cried constantly, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep (even when Joseph slept, which was rare during those first few weeks!) I never had feelings of suicide or hurting my baby...I just felt like I would never be happy again...I felt like I was mourning someone's death. I can only describe it as mourning the loss of my "pre-baby" life. I felt LOTS of guilt over this because I had gone through 4 years of infertility treatments and had PRAYED and PRAYED for this baby! It just didn't make sense that I would be feeling such despair! I should be overjoyed, like the women in the Johnson & Johnson commercials! I am not writing this to scare any of you moms-to-be, I am just sharing my experience! Once I learned more about what was happening, I was able to receive the treatment that I needed. I felt MUCH better within a short period of time. I am always available for anyone who wants to talk more about this subject...I don't want to write a book tonight and bore all of you!! This week I will pray for my emotional health as I prepare to give birth to Elijah (SOON) and I will pray for the Lord to help me deal with the challenges of taking care of 2 boys (plus Jarrod and 4 dogs!) :) I will also pray for all of you pregnant ladies who will soon be riding the "hormone roller-coaster!"
I hope you all have a blessed week!!
Dana