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No advice, but I'm wondering the same thing myself. I'm 39.5 weeks and have been worried about PPD/Anxiety since I have a history of anxiety. Following this! Good luck!

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@SweetiePie: I did mention it to my OB last visit and she offered to put me on Zoloft as a preventative measure, but like you, I wasn't comfortable with medication. I feel as though it would have to be a last resort for me. I talked with DH about it and he said he would keep an eye on me and make sure I was okay. I plan to try to be extra aware of how I'm feeling in the weeks following delivery. What I'm worried about though is not knowing what's normal and what's not. I mean everyone has a little bit of baby blues after delivery, but where is the line when it becomes not normal? I hope I can differentiate.

@SweetiePie: I did, but probably not as much as I should have. I was in a pretty deep cycle of denial with a healthy dose of lack of motivation.

I took meds for PPD/PPA after the birth of my son. I was in terrible shape - wasn't sleeping, extremely anxious, losing weight and suicidal at the end. My parents and husband could see how poorly I was doing and (kindly) tried to help me rest, exercise, eat well and have "me time" - and it didn't help at all. I saw a psychologist first and her first suggestion was that I see a psychiatrist and start on meds. So, I saw both a psychologist and psychiatrist. I took Zoloft and went to therapy regularly. I think it took about 4 weeks on the Zoloft and then suddenly, I felt like a flip switched and I was myself again. I took Zoloft for a year. I was off meds for my second pregnancy and went back on Zoloft the day after Baby #2 was born (apparently, the chance for relapse for me was greater than 50%).

Anyway, I obviously did not overcome PPD without meds, but please feel free to PM me if you have more questions. For me, I think Zoloft saved me and I would take it again in a heartbeat. I think if you cannot get PPD under control in a reasonable amount of time without meds, it is worth looking into meds. But, obviously, it is an extremely personal decision. Good luck!

If your PPD is hormone driven, which is pretty common, I really think medication would make a huge difference. I actually had depression during my pregnancy rather than after, and medication made an immediate difference for me. It's not uncommon to see one person for therapy and someone else to have medication prescribed to you; I would strongly recommend at least seeing if it helps.

Several years ago I had something happen that was really difficult for me to deal with. I started seeing a therapist and after a few sessions she thought I was clinically depressed. She wasn't a psychiatrist so she couldn't prescribe meds, so she recommended I talk to my primary care dr. I did and she put me on Zoloft, which I took for about 6 months.

The best way I can describe what they did for me is that to me, depression was like falling down and endless well. I was so sad and crying all the time. I would be doing normal things like watching tv and just lose it. Or a song would come on the radio and I'd have a panic attack. Anyways, Zoloft made me feel like instead of continuously falling down that well, I had hit a ledge. I didn't feel great, I didn't feel numb. But I also wasn't endlessly spiraling either.

After my first, when I hit rock bottom and sobbed to my OB on the phone, she prescribed me Zoloft. I also saw a psychiatrist and my regular doctor who continue to prescribe it. I was on it for maybe a year and saw a therapist a few times. I think the combo of meds and talking to someone (and joining a Mommy & Me class led by a psychologist) helped. My one piece of advice....if you do go on meds, make sure you wean off of them w the help of your doctor. I didn't and had some pretty severe withdrawal symptoms.

I did placenta encapsulation to try and prevent PPD and we were all on watch for it. I felt like I was coping okay until the placenta pills ran out and DS went through a horrible period of about 2 weeks where he screamed constantly and didn't sleep for 8 days. I had a nervous breakdown, stopped eating, lost 20 pounds in those 2 weeks, and even when DH tried to give me a break I couldn't sleep from the anxiety. The pediatrician and OB begged me to try Zoloft and I felt SO MUCH BETTER within 2 weeks coupled with a lot more sleep (thanks to my hubby). Therapy might be helpful but I just don't have the time to go to sessions since I am the primary caretaker for DS during the day and I feel so much better on the Zoloft I don't feel super pressed to do it right now. DS' crying still gives me a PTSD-like reaction with anxiety spikes but it's manageable and I'm way more patient and loving to him and my huzz.

@Torchwood: @SweetiePie: this pretty much sums it up for my experience. I had horrible guilt, depression and anxiety for the first four months or so.
I ended up seeing a therapist for a few months and considered meds but did not use them (tried zoloft for three days and made me so sick I couldn't continue, and didn't seek an alternative). Talking to the therapist certainly helped, as did just time and getting used to my new reality.
I wonder, however, if my recovery would have been quicker and better if I had gone on meds, though. If I ever experience it again, though, I will without a doubt try a different medication.

I just wanted to pop in here and add a little something. I have suffered from anxiety and sometimes depression so I opted to see a therapist as soon as I got my BFP. I wanted to have an established relationship with someone who could really know me/ help keep an eye on me after baby, as well as do the emotional housekeeping I needed to do to create healthy boundries before baby comes. I'm 31 weeks, so I'm not there yet, but I am at risk for PPA and/or PPD. So I can't answer your question, but, I just wanted to put it out there that if you do a medication route the first one prescribed may not work for you. I had a really terrible reaction to Paxil over 7 years ago, and it was a really scary experience. I'm sure the right Dr will help you along but if I go the medication route in the future I will be sure to start taking something over the weekend with constant supervision and help with LO. Just something to keep in mind.

I also just want to tell you how awesome I think therapy will be for you. It has really helped me a lot and I feel better equipped to be the parent and wife I want to be. It can only get better for you and your family. Hugs.

My situation is similar to @sarac: in that my anxiety is generally mild and eating well and exercising can help me keep it under control. I definitely have periods where it gets out of hand (like when my son doesn't sleep for a week or two and I'm completely exhausted) but I am generally okay without meds. I would not hesitate to use meds if I/my doctor thought I needed them, but for now I'm okay without.

I think it's not impossible and it's worth a try, especially if you have a therapist who is checking in with you regularly, a good support system, and can get access to meds if you need them.

Best wishes to you, too. I'm sorry you're going through this and I'm glad you're getting help.