To be finding second trimester worse than first?

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Hi everyone, I really need some support and advice right now. This has honestly been my worst week of pregnancy so far (currently 16 weeks) and I'm really struggling to cope.

I feel like everything has hit me at once - the extreme hunger is insane, I'm constantly dizzy, and the exhaustion has reached new levels. To top it off, I've got a sore throat which isn't helping anything!

The thing is, I came off both steroids and antidepressants about a week ago (with tapering), and I'm wondering if this is making everything worse? Everyone kept telling me the second trimester would be this amazing energy boost, but right now I feel worse than ever 😞

My hormones are all over the place too. I've been snapping at everyone, crying over nothing, and just feel so angry and aggressive one minute then down the next. I honestly don't feel like myself at all.

Has anyone else been through something similar? Did it get better? I really need some hope right now as I'm finding it really hard to cope with everything. Any tips or advice would be so appreciated.

Side note: Yes, I'm under medical care, just looking for others who might understand x

Oh and to top it off, excruciating upper back pain! I also had spotting yesterday but they said just monitor and only come in if it happens again

I felt fucking terrible during my second trimester too, I had crippling pelvic pain and exhaustion and just cried all the time. It was made infinitely worse by people telling me I should feel better by now.

For me around 30 weeks I finally bloomed. I felt amazing, I glowed and looked radiant and I didnt feel like I was dying anymore. Hang in there it will get better eventually x

It's possible that coming off the antidepressants and steroids is what's making you feel so awful 🙁 but if you have a sore throat and upper back pain, you might have picked up a virus or bacterial infection? You should probably see your GP and get checked out.

I felt worse in the second trimester with tiredness and emotionally, it turned out I was anaemic so might be worth exploring

Sounds like coming off the antidepressants to me. What's the reason for coming off them now as I've always been told I could go back on them after 12 weeks?

Op, is there a reason you've come off the anti depressants? I'm 33weeks pregnant, I've been on mitazipane (quiet a high dose) since the start which was of course discussed with both my GP and midwife, nether encouraged me to stop taking or decrease dosage. Infact, they noted the importance of me staying on them and maintaining my mental health while navigating something that is hugely impactful on both our bodies and minds, and of course navigating becoming a FTM.
The only side effect I was made aware of was that baby may be a little bit drowsy when born but the effects would wear off very quickly. I have a perfectly healthy little boy growing inside me, very active, growing perfectly. I only ask because it seems a risky thing to stop now, and could possibly indicate the huge drop in emotional state. Of course, pregnancy hormones can also be to blame, they affect everyone differently of course but I've had no episodes of tearfulness etc.

The tiredness, hunger and dizziness is an effect of pregnancy. Rest when you can, eat when you feel you need to and drink plently (for the dizziness).
I can sympathise with the feeling ill, since being pregnant I think I've caught every cold going.. aswell as layringitus and covid. Our immune systems can be a little awall during pregnancy. Be kind to yourself, I'm sure you're doing great. But unless there was a very important reason for coming off your medication, I'd consider looking into it again, you've got enough to contend with coming up xxx

Also, speak to your midwife about getting support from the prenatal mental health team. There is no shame around it, it's what they deal with professionally daily.
You'll be under no scrutiny ether, they'll just help support you professionally. X

I personally felt much better in 2nd trimester. It could be that stopping the regular medication that you’ve been on is having an effect. I would monitor the symptoms and speak to your midwife if you’re concerned

I was the same!! The difference from 30 weeks on was incredible!

It took me until 20 weeks to feel better. Our 20 week scan was actually the last day I vomited in the morning! So hang in there, it might still come x

I felt the same in the second trimester as the first, except slightly more run down and emotional. Third trimester was better each time.
Having said that, it might be worth looking at a low dose of maintenance antidepressants to support you during the pregnancy, especially something to continue when the baby is born as the hormones and tiredness then has a huge impact on mood.

I stopped taking antidepressants because I was concerned about their effects on my baby. Although I understand everyone's advice about possibly needing them, I wanted to keep my pregnancy as natural as possible. However, I'm now dealing with several challenges, including an unsupportive partner.

I know many women face similar situations, but I'm struggling to determine if his behavior is normal. We usually split duties - he does more cleaning while I handle cooking. I admit I'm not the best at housekeeping, but I've explained to him that I earn a significant income, and we could easily afford domestic help and still be much better off, if I was domesticated wide of the year he'd be much worse off and he hates being a sole breadwinner so I explain to him he can't have it all. He doesn't seem to understand this concept and often holds my housekeeping against me.

Since the pregnancy began, his behavior has become more frustrating. Even when I'm feeling particularly down, he won't offer to cook if it's "my turn." I'll leave small things like cups around and say, "I'm not here to clean up after you." He won't even offer to make me a cup of tea, the only thing he offers is coffee when he's making one for himself anyway, I have a really bad back I begged him once to massage he did so for three minutes then got obviously fed up so I just said forget it. When I told him how unsupportive he's being, his response was to buy a car seat without consulting me about style or preferences. I acted grateful because I figured that was his way of trying to help, but all of this combined isn't helping my situation.

While I appreciate and respect your decisions as to why you've stopped them, I'd strongly advise you consider restarting. Pregnancy is such a hard time, deciding to now come off medication such as anti depressants isn't the wisest of choices (not to sound patronising) I'd maybe have talks with your midwife about this and what effects it would potentially have on your baby to be taking them vs not taking them and have your mental health spiral. How long had you previously been on them for prior to stopping?

This may also be playing apart in how you're viewing your OH. You maybe being overly critical or overthinking things. (Also hormonal)
It can be really hard for men to understand the effects pregnancy and hormones play on us. As of course, nothing really changes for them while we are growing life. In my circumstance, I've had pregnancy sciatic since 16 weeks pregnant, my DH has picked up a share of the housework but mainly hoovering, picking up dog poo, bins and general tidy ups. I'm still cooking 90% of dinners, changing bedding, doing bathrooms, mopping, food shopping, washing aswell as working full time. But, he does work longer hours than I do and is often up and out the house just as I'm surfacing and home a few hours later than I am. Hes been supportive in other ways of course. Would I of liked him to step up a little bit more? Yes. But, if I do ask, he will do it.
Maybe there is a break down of communication between you both currently, try speaking to him about how you're feeling and see if that yields any changes.
Also, if you're earning really well as stated, maybe it might be nice for you to look into booking some pregnancy massages for yourself. Gets you some pamper time to yourself done by a professional. Win, win. X

Thank you all @Lunamoon23 I've purchased a back massager and electric one and it's done wonders.

I also booked a massage today but there's not availability for over a week ☺️

Anti depressants I'm going to give it another three weeks so that it's been a month and then reassess. If I mentally am unstable and still feeling this way towards my partner, I will resume them

Ok, well good luck. Hope it all starts improving for you x