Antenatal depression, has anybody been through it?

[Allthingsmagenta]

I have been depressed before but it has returned with a vengeance this pregnancy.

I'm 28 weeks now and my mobility is affected. I have pretty bad SPD so I'm on crutches. I can't get out much because I can't use the crutches and push my other DC's pram. I also have TMD which hurts so much on a daily basis.

I'm estranged from my family because they were toxic for me, mum's an alcoholic, so whilst it's a good thing in one sense I'm also incredibly lonely. I don't have any friends. I made a few connections on peanut (parenting app) but I'm so unmotivated in general I just can't keep up the contact.

My OH and DSC are getting on my nerves but I know that's the hormones and depression talking.

I find myself sitting on the sofa much of the day feeling wiped out, no motivation to get dressed or do anything other than do what needs to be done for my existing DC.

I have let myself go.

Has anybody else been through this and could share some words of encouragement or suggestions as to what I can do to feel better?

Ask to refered to the perinatal mental health team. I have bipolar and am unmedicated and work very closely with them. They can trial therapies and medications etc.

I forgot to add, I have self referred to IAPT and have a telephone assessment coming up in a couple of weeks.

@SheABitSpicyToday

Ask to refered to the perinatal mental health team. I have bipolar and am unmedicated and work very closely with them. They can trial therapies and medications etc.

Is the perinatal mental health team quite different to IAPT? Thank you for the reply btw

Hi OP. Yes, I went through this in my first pregnancy but sadly it wasn’t diagnosed until late in my pregnancy. Feel free to PM me if you want support.

Im not sure what iapt is I’ve never heard of it.

Perinatal nurses work exclusively with pregnant women. They will also provide more aftercare for when you’ve given birth. I also have a socialist team of mental health midwives.

I had this terribly with ds2. We lived abroad and I remember a friend visiting and telling him I just wanted to die., because that's how I felt. My ds2 was born 6 weeks early and the minute he was out my mood felt so much better even despite him being poorly and very hard work. looking back I wish I had told a health care professional how bad I felt. I have had four kids and only felt this was with Ds2 which is odd.

Thank you all for replying.

I've had PND after previous pregnancy but prenatal is new territory for me.

Fluctuating hormones really seem to disagree with me. For the past 18 months before falling pregnant I've had awful PMS where I've felt physically and emotionally crap for a week every month leading up to my period. I was hoping this pregnancy would provide some respite from that, but instead I have an all consuming never ending depression. It sucks.