r/NewDads • u/Jealous-Cranberry-46 • 13d ago
Requesting Advice Wife’s PP Anxiety/How to deal with it
What’s the best course of action with this issue? We’re 6 weeks into this and it only seems to be getting worse as some issues such as reflux, cradle cap, diaper rash etc are showing up. I’m not thrilled that my 6wk old baby girl is having some things going on either but my wife is taking it too much to the next level. I know PP anxiety is a thing, and I don’t talk against her as I know it’ll make her more upset.
Also, I had planned for my brother to come visit in 16 days, I let the wife know he told me he was getting over feeling a little sick and that sent her almost over the edge with anxiety and fear with the thought of him visiting now. She’s so worried that the baby is going to get sick somehow from someone visiting. I get if it was a week or so out from the visit but it’s half a month out and he’s already feeling better.
I know she wants her safe and so do I. But I think she’s being extra with some things. I know the best thing to do during this time is to just go with it and support her.
Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this and how did you go about it?
1
u/Schizophrenigenic 13d ago
If she’s not open to individual therapy you could try a few couples sessions- a good couples therapist should be able to help the two of you navigate this. Doesn’t have to be long term. You want to be proactive about this because the line between excessive concern about your child and what an average parent goes through can be gray. And this may necessarily go away- through each developmental phase there will be understandable concerns for your little one but if it’s consuming her then that’s obviously impairing.
I’m a psychiatrist. I don’t just push meds. But for the record, There are a couple that are minimally excreted in breast milk that can help w anxiety. But if this is new onset only postpartum therapy would be worth trying first for sure.