Ante-Natal Depression - Support Each Other

[flamesparrow]

I've seen it mentioned on a few other threads, and thought that some kind of support thread might help (sorry if there is already one going somewhere... I tried to search but am useless at it ).

Thought it went well as a "club"

Antenatal depression is much more common than people seem to realise. There are so many things going on, that it is not surprising that we get overwhelmed, and sometimes that can spiral into a real depression.

For all those who are worrying (as far as I have been able to read up) - there is no link between antenatal depression and PND, so if you are very low now, please don't panic and assume it will continue when you have your baby... a whole new set of feelings and hormones kick in then

Soooo... if you are pregnant and feeling low, come here, have a rant, a cry, and hopefully we can help eachother through it.

Oh am I glad there are others out there who feel the brain pain...

I'd just been prescribed some new anti-depressants due to the ineffectiveness of the ones tried in the past when I found out I was pregnant. I did the noble thing and stopped all medication and have been feeling like an out of control loon ever since.

I'm going through a relationship breakdown as well as dealing with being pregnant so this is really a crap time right now.

I'm too afraid to go back to see the GP, and I will not be seeing a midwife for another four weeks as they're in short supply in my area.

Every day I tell myself that I have to carry on as I have responsibilities, but all I want to do is run, hide and sleep.

Good luck to everyone battling their demons, it's a scary fight but we carry on don;t we?

Agnes

Just found this thread on my watch list and thought I'd bump it for anyone who is pg now and struggling

Thankyou - Could do with this today, is anyone still around?

Pg with number 3 but having a horrible time already x

Sorry only just seen you on this thread bit late hope you are feeling a little better today

Hope you are ok Julez.

Hi,

I wonder if anyone is still out there on this thread. I suffered depression about 5 years ago and eventually weaned myself off the drugs, now am pregnant for first time, at 6 months, and can feel myself sinking back into the depression - loss of appetite, crying (more than just hormonally!), disinterested in everything, no energy, envisaging the big black hole that is starting up again.

I realised what was happening when my bf told me I appeared to be losing my joie de vivre. Its all down to a US company that I have been working for driving up huge debts in my company's name and not realising the urgent necessity to pay these debts. Because of them I am now being put into judicial proceedings for amounts which I cannot pay. We're trying to find a way out but as the company is US / Italian based I have no legal power over them. I feel so naive for letting this happen.

So rather than enjoying my last 3 months of pregnancy and preparing for the arrival of our first baby and rather than appreciating our last 3 months together as a couple before our baby is born, I am miserable, stressing him out, and feeling like life is totally unfair. I'm finding it hard to pick myself up.

Just needed to let that out x

hi girls,

i haven't had a chance to read through the 182 posts... however, just wanted to add that i suffered severly from ante natel depression with ds (now 27 months) and as soon as he was born it passed and i felt great (other than the usual tiredness from night feeds etc)...

when pregnant i got lots of support from the hospital had a number to call and someone to see whenever to talk, it helped...

we are pregnant again and no AD however due to a mmc in december i am very anxious and nervous with this one....

i have to say that most of the new mums i met who had no probs during their pregnancy all developled a level of pnd! if given the choice i much prefered the AD to PND as PND must be awful having to look after a LO on top of everything!

please all stay positive, once your LO arrives everything will make sense and be worth it!

x

don't worry....

Has anyone else been warned about the possible links between ante-natal stress/anxiety/depression and low foetal weight during pregnancy and at birth? My consultant (who has published research in this area so isn't unbiased I s'pose) said it can have an effect in 20% cases, and wants me to have regular scans to check baby's size (i'm now 29 weeks) - tho as far as I could gather, there's nothing they can do about it anyway, so why risk extra ultrasounds...? I think you're more likely to deliver early with an underweight baby, which in turn creates risks of other problems. Anyone know anything?

Hi,

Why is this the only place I've seen any mention of ante-natal depression...here's hoping we all cope or it passes soon.

I thought it was just me who felt this and do as others have already mentioned have a fear of post-natal depression too.

Mine is pretty extreme and at 23 weeks now I've had enough. I feel utterly worthless, a failure and not worthy of this baby....please make it go away!

At times I just want to die...or more precisely I feel like I am dying. I feel so guilty for feeling this way, causing more anxiety about what it's doing to the little one.

This is my first pregnancy and I guess it doesn't help that I'm petrified of the birth....

Phew....there it is, out in the open (apart from telling my partner who is absolutely wonderful I feel like I'm hiding a big bad dirty secret as I should be overjoyed not full of doubt like I am)

Pan

x

Hi sorry to jump in but im so relieved to finally find somewhere that understands how i feel.
Panacea75 - i dont have any words of wisdom but please know u are not alone.
I have been feeling so low since i concieved, some days i wish i was dead. I lost my last baby at 20 weeks which makes me feel even worse about the fact i feel this way because im so lucky this baby is ok. I feel so utterly alone and misunderstood, also like iv lost my identity, my life has just become as sad, empty baby focused shell. It seems that no one around realy cares, their lives go on and no one wants to make time for me. Its like i jumped off the world and now its to late to go back.

I hope i'm in the right place for this.

10 weeks and feeling really low. Been feeling like this since about week 5 and feel i have no one to talk to. Can't talk to my partner as (this is his words) "i think you put a lot of this on"!! He thinks i make up all this sickness, headaches etc. He seems different since we found out i was pregnant. I got hit with postnatal depression badly with my last one but never while i was pregnant. I'm worried about everything. About my daughter feeling left out, about how i'm going to cope etc. I have no one to talk to about this at all. Don't get me wrong, i'm happy about this baby so i don't understand all this myself. I feel so alone.

hi just found this, havent read other posts as there are so many! But i am feeling depressed all the time at the mo, am 33 weeks pregnant with dc3 and have had pnd with ds (second pregnancy). Have app with my midwife soon to discuss how i am feeling with her but was wondering if anyone has ever been given ad's whilst pregnant, or do you have to wait til after the baby is born, cheers.

Hello, I've just found this too and read the first few with relief that I'm not alone. I've been feeling so down and low for the past 10 weeks - I'm 30 weeks pg now and can't wait for labour because I know I might feel a bit better afterwards. Instead of worrying about my baby (I know he's fine, he's kicking away all day long), I'm constantly paranoid about my relationship and worrying if my partner will leave. This is ridiculous as he's such a kind and gentle man and I don't think in my rational mind that he would ever do anything to hurt me. This is really getting me down so I think I'll speak to MW next week at my appointment - even if she thinks I'm being stupid, I've mentioned it before it gets any worse. Saturday I spent the whole afternoon crying my eyes out - my eyes are still swollen today! No-one tells you pregnancy would be so hard, I always thought the labour was the hardest part and the pg would be a breeze!

Hi, I just need to get this out somewhere. I am 13 weeks pregnant and have a long history of depression (32 now, had recurrent major depression since age 16). I've taken antidepressants almost constantly through my adult life. Most of the time I'm completely fine (thanks to SSRIs).

Unfortunately with this pregnancy my depression has come back with a vengence, and despite this being a very much wanted pregnancy, I was feeling so horrible a month ago I even asked the GP about a termination. He's put me back on antidepressants (I stopped them after my miscarriage in September '08), but I don't think it's working. I just don't know how I'm going to cope. Pregnancy is nothing like I expected. The nausea is all day every day, vomiting a few times a week. I know others have it way worse, so I feel like such a whinging failure for even complaining. I've been signed off work for the last 5 weeks and the GP is trying to get the psychiatric team to do something, but he made the referral two weeks ago and nothing has happened. I can't stop crying and some days I can't even get dressed. I am starting to think this was a huge mistake and I have no business having a child--except it's too late now, and I'm terrified.

We got a lovely little dog from the dogs' home last weekend, thinking it would help my mood and force me out of the house--but I just feel overwhelmed. My husband is so worried and with me off sick, money is going to be very tight. I don't know what to do anymore. If I can't even look after a dog, how can I look after a baby? Why am I such an idiot?

Hi Sarah76, I read your post on the August thread, I haven't posted there for a few days, but wanted to offer my support, I have also been suffering with antenatal depression, although it's getting a lot better, I'm terrified of PND which I've had three times.

Please don't put yourself down, you're not an idiot, you're going through a tough time right now. Be kind to yourself.

Thanks HeinzSight. I've been reading stories on here and can relate so much. I only hope that when this pregnancy is over I will be able to feel better. My friend is trying to convince me not to breastfeed so that I can go back on venlafaxine right away. I dunno.

Hi sarah, as you saw from my post on the Aug thread, I'm still waiting for my referal to come through for the CMHT, I took Prozac when my DD was about 7 weeks old and it worked brilliantly for me. I failed miserably with breastfeeding with all three of my babies, I'm going to try again. In hindsight (lol) the times I was at my calmest was when I was bfeeding my DD, but my GP wasn't sure about which treatments were safe whilst bf. I want to make sure I get everything in place before this baby arrives. All I'd say re bf is give it a go, if it makes you feel worse, don't do it, my three were ff and they're all strong thriving children!

I hope you're OK

I went to my appointment today, just an assessment. No idea what will happen now. The nurse went and asked someone and was told I'd probably get an appointment with a psychiatrist. But when it will actually happen--who knows?

I reeeeeeeeeeeeally hope it doesn't take long for your appointment to come through sarah, I wish these things didn't take as long as they did

How are you feelign today?

Same to you HeinzSight, I hope they hurry it up for you! Have you gone back to GP to check? I find sobbing uncontrollably in his/her office to be quite effective .

Yesterday was hard because I kept thinking about the dog and imagining her back in the shelter (we took her back on Sunday). I know we had to do it, but I just feel so guilty.

don't feel guilty, if you liked her, someone else is bound to snap her up. TBH I often wonder how we will cope with our dog when this LO arrive, he's LOVELY but creates SO much mess and hairs everywhere, he creates so much work for us.

DH is trying to get me to chase it too bless him. I honestly thought it was the norm to have to wait this long for the referral, in all honesty, the worst bit in terms of antenatal depression is behind me, I've been really down and just struggled through, my next even bigger hurdle is post natal depression which I've suffered with terribly after each pregnancy. BUT like others have said on this thread Sarah, don't let that worry you, apparently there's no connection between antenatal and postnatal depression. x

You know, I think I'm actually starting to feel a little bit better. I am considering going back to work on Monday. If I can get through the next few days without severe nausea/vomiting, I just might do it. DH said I said the same thing just before we got the dog--having her was a lot of stress and I was puking more that week than ever before. Now that she isn't here anymore, I'm starting to feel less sick/anxious, though I'm still quite sad.

Somewhat influenced by the fact that I will be on only half pay if I stay off any longer--things aren't great financially so I may have to force myself to go back no matter how bad I feel.

I'm really glad to hear you're feeling better, make sure you keep up with your iron, I swear by Spatone, I can't tolerate normal tablets (yuk), also Omega 3 is really good for lifting mood, also makes for a brainy baby

I'm feeling pretty good too, long may it continue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS loving your posts on Aug thread, v funny

Hi girls

Reading all your comments basically put all my feelings into words and made me feel much better cos now I know I'm not alone in feeling like this.

I don't even feel I can speak to my partner about this, I just feel so alone even though he's so supportive and thoughtful. I think I'm just worried my family/friends/partner will think I'm mental. If I still feel like this when I have my 20-week review I think I'll mention it to my midwife.

I'm also worried that I'm overreacting and being a bit dramatic, but we can't help how we feel and if we feel low every day and cry every night then I suppose something's up, even if it's not necessarily antenatal depression. Because this is my first pregnancy I don't know if it's normal to feel like this or not.

Am I overreacting?
Do I just need to pull myself together and get on with it?
I'm over the moon to be pregnant so why am I feeling so blueall the time??

I'm stronger than this, I know I am - so why can't I just pull myself out of this??

Arghhhhhhhhh...

Hi RoobieDoo22

I just found this page, too and how refreshing it is to find all these stories and to find that I'm not the only one feeling like this.

I see that your post is a recent post - I could do with someone to chat to, so if you need a chat, I'm here, too.

Take care

x