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Antenatal/postnatal depression

Our Antenatal and Postnatal Depression forum is a supportive space where you can share your postnatal depression experiences.

1st trimester, 3rd pregnancy/child, full of negative thoughts (possible trigger warning)

2 replies

ApparentlyGeriatric · 04/07/2023 10:01

Hi guys,

Am not sure what I'm really looking for here. I'm 7+4 with my third child. My youngest is 5.

It wasn't exactly an accident, as in we were silly, but it was a "safe" time of moth etc and we've gotten away with it in the past. We're happily married, employed, etc but aren't flush for cash and have more debt than we'd like but not crippling amounts.

I know it's our fault, but I feel totally blindsided by this pregnancy. We were talking about it before hand, but I was aware that my hormones etc wanted another baby but everything else - logistics, space, money, wellbeing of DCs, my mental state, etc - meant it was a terrible idea.

I'm feeling utterly exhausted and nauseous and I had antenatal depression with both previous pregnancies. But those two were both planned and I can't stop thinking about terminations, or almost hoping for a miscarriage - which is entirely alien to me. And I'm not sure that is the right route either.

I feel like I've lost all control of my body - like things are happening that I didn't choose. I have untreated ADHD which makes day to day life challenging, my house is a mess, I'm regularly overwhelmed and have chronic anxiety. So all of this is becoming a bit of a toxic mess of resentment. Thinking if I'm semi overwhelmed with two, I'm going to be even worse with 3.

We can't afford a new car/new house. So life will be a squeeze once baby arrives. And I'm worried of taking my limited spoons away from my two DC.

I've told my partner about the negative thoughts and asked if we can discuss them later tonight. I do have a therapist already - but she's not trained to help with these very specific issues.

I'm already showing a lot - it's bloat, not a bump - but the result is the same! So I'm having to try and hide things a bit already and I'm telling the odd person in a really negative away and then feeling that my thoughts are being confirmed by their mirrored responses.

Wow... such a long ramble. Thank you if anyone reads! I'm not sure what I'm after, but just came across this board and figured it might be a good place to vent and seek some solidarity, thoughts, reassurance, etc!

OP posts:
maddiebaddie · 04/07/2023 12:23

Hi @ApparentlyGeriatric just read your post and it really resonated. I'm at a similar stage of pregnancy and also have untreated ADHD. I have also found myself feeling low and consumed with worry since finding out I'm pregnant (this is our second). I had antenatal depression with my first but have been fine since and have done a lot of therapy so wasn't expecting to feel this way again. I also feel very tired and sick and am not great at handling change plus think the ADHD is making me hyper focus on all the negatives. I'm wondering it there's a link between ADHD and antenatal depression?
Have you tried calling a helpline like PANDAS or speaking to your perinatal mental health team?

maddiebaddie · 04/07/2023 12:25

I would also say definitely speak to your therapist as any decent therapist will be able to support you with this.

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