Page 2 | Does pregnancy give people mental helath issues?

TomorrowToday · 2023-07-09T21:44:52+00:00

I've always been unable to deal with life but it's been fairly stable. However I'm currently not in a great place. Im wondering if being pregnant can give people issues with their mental health that never had mental health issues before?

NotABeliever · 10/07/2023 03:32

When are you being seen by the perinatal team OP? It sounds like you're really struggling. Can you go back and speak to your GP in the mean time?

I experienced a worsening in my mental health during and after the birth of all my children.
Having a sorry network is key and so is access to mental health care. Please seem hello again.

NotABeliever · 10/07/2023 03:34

Sorry for all the typos
What I meant is please seek help sooner

itendswithus · 10/07/2023 03:43

Ah Christ OP, this resonates. I had the most awful pregnancy MH wise. I was all over the place, suicidal at one point. I hated everyone and pushed them away. I was also under perinatal MH team. When DS arrives if was like mssive weight flew away and the terror that I felt failed rapidly.

💐 xx

Tooyoungtofeelthisold · 10/07/2023 04:12

To be honest, I think it cam be quite normal. So many mums I know have had depression at one stage, and I think that it's unhelpful that so many mothers are not open- but then there's a huge guilt we carry for poor MH, a lot of people tend to think its proof that they're incapable or unfit.

Once I'd had my youngest, my mood was really good for 6 months and then it plummeted.
Even with the depression and anxiety, I'm a good mum. I love my kids and their needs come first.
With my eldest, I had no support but we were a little team, she was the only happiness I had in life for a long time. I think she saved me, and we have a really lovely bond. When covid affected her mentally, I think that having a history of poor MH allowed me to empathise and know how to help her practically.

Please try to not be down on yourself. Speak to everyone and anyone, take all the help that's offered- they will offer lots of help because of the pregnancy and the initial few months of babies life.

Once baby is born, if you can, join lots of groups, the children's centre offer lots of free groups to join and the support is amazing, especially can be from other mums

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 13:45

Tooyoungtofeelthisold · 10/07/2023 04:12

To be honest, I think it cam be quite normal. So many mums I know have had depression at one stage, and I think that it's unhelpful that so many mothers are not open- but then there's a huge guilt we carry for poor MH, a lot of people tend to think its proof that they're incapable or unfit.

Once I'd had my youngest, my mood was really good for 6 months and then it plummeted.
Even with the depression and anxiety, I'm a good mum. I love my kids and their needs come first.
With my eldest, I had no support but we were a little team, she was the only happiness I had in life for a long time. I think she saved me, and we have a really lovely bond. When covid affected her mentally, I think that having a history of poor MH allowed me to empathise and know how to help her practically.

Please try to not be down on yourself. Speak to everyone and anyone, take all the help that's offered- they will offer lots of help because of the pregnancy and the initial few months of babies life.

Once baby is born, if you can, join lots of groups, the children's centre offer lots of free groups to join and the support is amazing, especially can be from other mums

I'm worried I won't be a good mum because im depressed

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soakinboakin · 10/07/2023 13:56

Hi op. I have always had anxiety and ocd but in my last pregnancy I was a complete mess. I couldn't cope any longer so at about 25 weeks I went onto sertraline and started therapy. It really really helped. Could this be an option?

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 14:59

soakinboakin · 10/07/2023 13:56

Hi op. I have always had anxiety and ocd but in my last pregnancy I was a complete mess. I couldn't cope any longer so at about 25 weeks I went onto sertraline and started therapy. It really really helped. Could this be an option?

I don't know what they will offer me.

I don't take medication no. I've had too many bad experience.

OP posts:

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 20:05

Spoke to perinatal today and they are seeing me tomorrow

OP posts:

drpet49 · 10/07/2023 20:18

FannyFifer · 09/07/2023 23:11

Pregnancy is a very common trigger for mental health problems.
It absolutely does not mean you are not fit for motherhood.

I disagree with this.

Jammything8 · 10/07/2023 20:27

Do you cope day to day OP? I noticed you said you don't take medication... I'm sorry to sound negative but I personally found motherhood extremely hard. DS was a terrible sleeper, lots of milk issues but he was dream during the daytime. I did however have a support network when DS was little more so.

If you have no support network to help I would really ask yourself would you manage?

MrsTwiggy · 10/07/2023 20:33

My mum has had depression for all of my life, she's been on antidepressants on and off for as long as I can remember. She has really struggled with her mental health. I obviously very much wish that she didn't have these problems, for her own sake.

But she's always been an excellent mum. She did a great job of raising me, and now I'm a mum myself I find myself constantly referring back to what I remember my mum did with me and learning from her. She really is fab.

Being depressed doesn't mean you won't be a brilliant mum ❤️

I have suffered with perinatal OCD in both of my pregnancies that I definitely didn't suffer with before I got pregnant. I didn't even know what OCD really was! I thought it was just the stereotypical "got to turn the light on and off three times" type of thing. So that was an eye opener for me. It got heaps better as soon as the baby was born, and as the hormones settle it all goes back to normal for me. So don't assume that you will feel the same way forever now.

I am glad you've reached out for support. Fight for all the support you can, can you speak to your GP perhaps? They might be able to signpost you to other avenues for support that you've not found yet?

Bigcat25 · 10/07/2023 20:34

Jammything,

I don't think that kind of thinking is helpful for op. Not every baby is a terrible sleeper. So she'll likely be tired as the mom of a newborn. Sleep when the baby sleeps was the advice I got. Don't feel bad about napping in the middle of the day.

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 20:36

Jammything8 · 10/07/2023 20:27

Do you cope day to day OP? I noticed you said you don't take medication... I'm sorry to sound negative but I personally found motherhood extremely hard. DS was a terrible sleeper, lots of milk issues but he was dream during the daytime. I did however have a support network when DS was little more so.

If you have no support network to help I would really ask yourself would you manage?

Yes.
Medication doesn't work for me and a lot of people.

Not sure why people think it does.....

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Original poster

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 20:39

MrsTwiggy · 10/07/2023 20:33

My mum has had depression for all of my life, she's been on antidepressants on and off for as long as I can remember. She has really struggled with her mental health. I obviously very much wish that she didn't have these problems, for her own sake.

But she's always been an excellent mum. She did a great job of raising me, and now I'm a mum myself I find myself constantly referring back to what I remember my mum did with me and learning from her. She really is fab.

Being depressed doesn't mean you won't be a brilliant mum ❤️

I have suffered with perinatal OCD in both of my pregnancies that I definitely didn't suffer with before I got pregnant. I didn't even know what OCD really was! I thought it was just the stereotypical "got to turn the light on and off three times" type of thing. So that was an eye opener for me. It got heaps better as soon as the baby was born, and as the hormones settle it all goes back to normal for me. So don't assume that you will feel the same way forever now.

I am glad you've reached out for support. Fight for all the support you can, can you speak to your GP perhaps? They might be able to signpost you to other avenues for support that you've not found yet?

Thank you.

OP posts:

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 20:41

MrsTwiggy · 10/07/2023 20:33

My mum has had depression for all of my life, she's been on antidepressants on and off for as long as I can remember. She has really struggled with her mental health. I obviously very much wish that she didn't have these problems, for her own sake.

But she's always been an excellent mum. She did a great job of raising me, and now I'm a mum myself I find myself constantly referring back to what I remember my mum did with me and learning from her. She really is fab.

Being depressed doesn't mean you won't be a brilliant mum ❤️

I have suffered with perinatal OCD in both of my pregnancies that I definitely didn't suffer with before I got pregnant. I didn't even know what OCD really was! I thought it was just the stereotypical "got to turn the light on and off three times" type of thing. So that was an eye opener for me. It got heaps better as soon as the baby was born, and as the hormones settle it all goes back to normal for me. So don't assume that you will feel the same way forever now.

I am glad you've reached out for support. Fight for all the support you can, can you speak to your GP perhaps? They might be able to signpost you to other avenues for support that you've not found yet?

I've spoken to perinatal today

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Jammything8 · 10/07/2023 20:42

@TomorrowToday well that's a completely different debate OP I just mentioned because you had in your posts that's all. I'm not the type to take tablets too if I'm honest, I think there does come a point where medication can only help so much and after years of taking the same thing.. it has no effect. However this is just my own personal belief but giving your scenario....

I forgot to add everyone's baby is different and journey in motherhood. Those who have no support network or very little will tell you its not easy that is the reality. If you post on the lone parent board you will get many different responses compared to here. Anyway I hope you make the right decision OP.

Bringonthepitchforks · 10/07/2023 20:43

Yes. It nearly killed me. The hormones in pregnancy are so serious there are special laws surrounding maternal infanticide if commited in the first year post partum.

If you aren't feeling right talk to your midwife, there are specialised ante natal mental health midwives and teams.

Bringonthepitchforks · 10/07/2023 20:44

TomorrowToday · 10/07/2023 20:05

Spoke to perinatal today and they are seeing me tomorrow

Good luck!

Newroundhere56 · 10/07/2023 21:46

My mum has had depression my whole life. But she’s been the most fantastic mum I could ever have asked for.

I wish she didn’t have it so she didn’t have to go through what she does. But not because it’s made any difference to her being my mum.

I hope you get some help from the perinatal team tomorrow.

thecatsthecats · 10/07/2023 21:53

Yes, but it covers a broad spectrum.

For example I have been signed off with anxiety before, and one of the serious changes I made to my life was to drastically improve my nutrition and gut health.

But that's been fucked with a broomstick by pregnancy. Weeks of eating depression food, sickness and lethargy from the leaching of nutrients.

I really enjoy cooking from scratch - or should I say enjoyed. Hard work being around food now, even at six months.

And that's just a given consequence of pregnancy. I talk to professionals who nod along, then in the first breath tell me "keep eating the bland food", in the second say "but absolutely get all the nutrients from fresh cooked meals and stay well hydrated" and in the third say that I should stop the nausea meds, and in the fourth comment on the importance of my mental health.

Well, which is it? Because it can't be all of them at once.

That's before you even get to anything really serious.

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 11/07/2023 13:58

thecatsthecats · 10/07/2023 21:53

Yes, but it covers a broad spectrum.

For example I have been signed off with anxiety before, and one of the serious changes I made to my life was to drastically improve my nutrition and gut health.

But that's been fucked with a broomstick by pregnancy. Weeks of eating depression food, sickness and lethargy from the leaching of nutrients.

I really enjoy cooking from scratch - or should I say enjoyed. Hard work being around food now, even at six months.

And that's just a given consequence of pregnancy. I talk to professionals who nod along, then in the first breath tell me "keep eating the bland food", in the second say "but absolutely get all the nutrients from fresh cooked meals and stay well hydrated" and in the third say that I should stop the nausea meds, and in the fourth comment on the importance of my mental health.

Well, which is it? Because it can't be all of them at once.

That's before you even get to anything really serious.

That is spot on!

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Original poster

TomorrowToday · 11/07/2023 13:58

Newroundhere56 · 10/07/2023 21:46

My mum has had depression my whole life. But she’s been the most fantastic mum I could ever have asked for.

I wish she didn’t have it so she didn’t have to go through what she does. But not because it’s made any difference to her being my mum.

I hope you get some help from the perinatal team tomorrow.

That is so lovely to hear....

OP posts:

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 11/07/2023 13:59

Jammything8 · 10/07/2023 20:42

@TomorrowToday well that's a completely different debate OP I just mentioned because you had in your posts that's all. I'm not the type to take tablets too if I'm honest, I think there does come a point where medication can only help so much and after years of taking the same thing.. it has no effect. However this is just my own personal belief but giving your scenario....

I forgot to add everyone's baby is different and journey in motherhood. Those who have no support network or very little will tell you its not easy that is the reality. If you post on the lone parent board you will get many different responses compared to here. Anyway I hope you make the right decision OP.

Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

TomorrowToday · 12/07/2023 18:41

I've got an appointment with a specialist perinatal psychiatrist.

OP posts: