Clinically depressed what do i do

[chazzi27]

hi i am 15 weeks pregnant and clinically depressed i have been discussing sertraline with my midwife. i have an appointment with my doctor to discuss further but i am scared about thc dangers to the baby but i am in need of help i cant carry on like this. i dont know what to do i have tried discussing this with my partner and i asked him what if something did happen to the baby would he blame me and he said he didnt know please can someone help me with this?

I had antenatal depression and decided not to take meds. I just hanged around and luckily the depression got better after 30 weeks. Could you ask some counselling if you do not want meds?

Hi chazzi, sorry to hear you're feeling this way. What are the risks, do you know? I started taking sertraline when I was breast feeding my ds. Obviously that is different to being pregnant though..

the risks are to the babys heart and lungs but are considered to be extremly low but my midwife feels i need them as i am really struggling as it is not just clinical depression but also anxiety problems and panic attacks x

Hi Chazzi. I'm 20 weeks and depressed with extreme anxiety. I really sympathise - it's horrendous. Mine started after the birth of my son 19 months ago. I'm going to struggle through without ADs as to be honest I'm really scared of them. Not to try and worry you but going on the is not always the answer - and it can take a lot of tweaks with different types and doses to get it right. Personally it's not a process I'd want to start during pregnancy. I do know what you mean about not being able to go on 'like this'. I feel like that every day at some point.

Can I ask more about how you feel? Have you suffered in the past?

Hi - it is the medicaiton that is safe in pregnancy, otherwise they wouldn't prescribe it. Can you ask to talk to a mental health midwife if they have one in your area to reassure you if the doctor can't. You could ask to see a peri-natal psychiatrist if you do not trust your Gp or midwife about the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy.

Yeah i have been like this before and previously took sertraline me anxiety issues are down to panic attacks due to emetophobia (a fear of being sick) which i have had since i was 12 but the depression is making this impossible to cope with and i am struggling to leave the house i have panic attacks going to see the midwife i dont want to go to my 20 week scan as it is too far away from home and i dont even want to give birth in hospital as home is where i feel safest i see the doctor again on monday the worst thing is the fear of something going wrong and my partner saying that he wouldnt know if he would blame me if something happened :(

I was afraid something going wrong as well. I discussed with ante natal psychiatrist about the ad's. I was not convinced so I did not take them even though she recommended them. I was offered councelling instead but I had a toddler as well so it would have been too much effort to go one.
It was awful but at the end I am happy that I managed without meds.

Do you have othe kids or are you working? The you maybe better take the ad's if you can't cope. But if you are just alone at home I would think it would be ok just rest at home and not try to do anything too complicated. There are many other pregnancy complications where women could be spending their whole pregnancy in bed. Like the acute pregnancy sickness. These people are just too ill to do anything or go anywhere.

i think that is why i am struggling so much this pregnancy came as quite a shock and really quickly i have an 8 year old a 2 year old and a 10 month old baby and its the panic attacks and phobia that are crippling me i find it difficult as i say to leave home im just getting worse and worse. :'(

oh dear. You better think the other kids as well. They need their mum.
The risk something go wrong because of meds is low. But there is also the risk you going totally bonkers and doing something bad. I do understand your fear. I did not get over it but i managed somehow to take care of things.
You shouild ask what else they can offer than ad's.

You won't go bonkers and do something bad - that I can assure you. It's panic and anxiety it's horrible. No worse than horrible - hellish. Every morning you wake up and think 'am I okay today?' But sadly then it hits. That's my experience anyhow!

Your partner sounds like he's being thoroughly unsupportive. At this point in your pregnancy the risk of something happening to your baby through ADS is low but I'm not sure they're the magic cure. Have you had CBT? I've been placed on the high priority list with being pregnant.

i am starting my first session of cbt on monday my partner is being supportive but hes just being honest he doesnt know how he would feel unless he was in that situation which i can understand in a way but it is putting allot more pressure on me making the decision and knowing what is best thing to do