Overdue blues

[liquoriceandtomatoes]

I'm overdue by 8 days and was wondering how common it is for your mood to dip at this point, before due date I was all geared up and mentally prepared, now I just feel very teary and low all the time and completely lacking in energy. I really worry that it will affect my relationship to my baby even though it's a joint thing between my body and them - it's affecting relationship to dp as I don't like being around him this last week.

It really is a mental strain not helped by various emails/calls. I also wanted a natural drug free birth but now I'm mentally gearing myself up for an induction in hospital, which saddens me a lot. I also hated having a sweep and feeling sore/bruised all day and think that affected my mood.

Anyhow, how common is this low mood? Does it shift once labour starts/baby born or am I now more likely to get pnd? I haven't felt this low for a long time.

The emails and calls are the bloody worst. Why can't people understand that their excited enquiries can make a woman feel like she is literally not delivering?!

I opted for DVD box sets and phone/email off the hook - answerphone, Facebook and out of office all set to say "No news on the baby yet!" :)

Well this is my first pregnancy so I don't feel very qualified to comment, but I'm only 3 days over and feeling tearful and fed up... so I would say it's pretty normal!! I've been told I'll be induced on the 11th if I haven't popped before then and I am really not looking forward to that. Also, I am the only one from my little circle of new mum friends not to have delivered yet, so I (stupidly) feel left behind!
Hope you start to feel better soon.

It is depressing when you think you shouldnt legally be preggers anymore :-) I don't think that adds to your mood. On the day I went into labour I was in a proper foul mood all morning, mum and dad came to see me and went home I was so awful - not realising any of us that things were going to get started! The texts and emails etc are incredibly annoying, I agree with WYDTDF, set your facebook status, and ignore all texts!! It won't be long.... I think they tend to arrive when threatened with induction Try not to get worked up about birth plans, or how it will happen, and no, I dont think it will affect your bonding with your baby. My little boy was in SCBU for a week following his birth, and we bonded just fine.....

All the best, hope it happens soon for you.

Hi Liquorice, I'm 9 days over today (was due 23rd) and feel very odd too. My first was on time, so I'd been mentally prepared for an earlier one this time, and I think it's the experience of going to bed every night for nearly a month wondering whether this is the night which is emotionally exhausting for me. Especially as I'm pretty scared of giving birth again.

I'm glad I'm not the only one finding the constant enquiries irritating. There's one girl who is not a close friend at all, who has texted me three times in the last two weeks just saying "any news?!". Each time I have said "I'll let you know!" but it's got blunter each time

I've got an induction booked for +14 and saw a consultant on Thursday who said that many, many women he sees wait until after that with monitoring to avoid induction. I had a scan for fluid which was reassuring, so I don't know whether you feel more strongly about avoiding induction or not staying in this predicament too long, but maybe you can discuss that.

Lastly, I don't know about for everyone, but there is a theory that finding your pregnancy and pre-birth emotions very tough can actually help prevent PND because you are so relieved not to be pregnant anymore, and to have your baby. I hope that's how it works for you. It worked like that for my first one, thankfully.

Sorry that was a bit of an essay Hope it goes well for you.

Thanks everyone for their messages and feedback, it does help to hear that others are feeling similar - not that it helps them I know. Being Blonde - I know what you mean about being the last one in your circle of friends, it's tough watching the others move on and they can't grasp what it's like for you if they went into labour at 38 - 40 wks.

Ooosabeata - much as I don't want to be pregnant anymore I equally don't want to be induced, it's a tricky one, I presume that I'll be bullied into it. I agree, it is that thinking 'is it today/tonight?' that does drain you, I'm sorry to hear that you're worried about birth again. And, thank you for your theory on pnd, made me feel immediately better!!!!

Fingers crossed for myself and the others waiting - please let it be soon x

Nothing much to add, apart from that I'm with you all!!

41 weeks today and getting quite fed up with waiting, but not half as fed up as I am with everybody asking. My facebook status is set to "yep... still waiting" but, despite that, if I don't update it every day I get texts/calls to see whether my lack of updates means that something has happened. NO IT F** DOESN'T!! WE WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU!!

Rant over :)

AliKatt - am the same as you, 41 weeks today. I have told all family members that I am NO LONGER going to speak to them every day because I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY. I have sent a couple of group texts to friends who are already mums with an update on the condition of my cervix (closed!) because they were all asking for news and I couldn't be bothered with individual texts and calls.

Going to update facebook shortly with "Induction booked for 7th October".

I AM grouchy after being told by midwife that being stressed could stop my cervix from dilating (nice!), but overall I feel a bit better now I have a plan - sweep on Monday, induction Thursday - and am not just letting things drift. I think powerlessness and feeling out of control really affects your mood...