suprised to be feeling blue

[helenbalancelife]

Went for the 20 week scan on Thursday which was hugely reassuring (someone close to me had had bad news at the 20 week scan and had to end the pregnancy as a result so I had been really nervous).

I thought I'd be so excited afterwards and it actually felt like a relief but an anti climax (partly becuase we couldn't pick out as much as we thought we'd be able to, and the room was freezing cold so I shook all the way through!).

Since then I've been feeling a bit blue and rather weepy. It's a very much wanted baby, and I feel terrible for thinking this but I feel a bit like an incuabator and that life is going to change so much I will never be me again. I've got quite a bump so haven't been able to wear my normal clothes since about 10 weeks, so I think part of me feels like I'm loosing my sense of identity in how I look.I'm also feeling a bit anxious about the future - will I be good enough? etc

Anyone else feel like this - its really caught me off guard

I felt like this earlier in pregnancy, again when it seemed to make such little sense. I cried... a lot.

It is a daunting time and I think every sensible mother-to-be wonders whether they'll be good enough. But remember that your hormones are swishing around all over the place, and that those same hormones that are making you feel wobbly now will ensure that you give your new DC 110% of your loving care.

Therefore, I'd suggest not reading too much into how you feel and just trying to be gentle with yourself. Is there anything practical which might lift your mood? A quiet walk, warm bath, new book, massage etc...?

I've been having times of getting really anxious, upset and panicky. It's big thing, having a baby! And our bodies change so much, it can be pretty distressing. Plus we can be so hormonal anyway.

Oh, I was terrible in my first pregnancy. All planned and wanted but as soon as I become pregnant I turned into a bit of a psycho! I was terrified at what we'd done, felt like everything was going to change and I wasn't ready. I used to just sob on the bed for no reason, DH found it really hard to understand.

It's a massive shock, there is loads going on in your body, your whole identity changes and you become public property, an open invite for comments on what you look like, what you wear, what you eat, what you say.

I would say what you are feeling is probably fairly normal, and as another poster said try and find practical ways to manage it. But if it persists, don't be afraid to tell your midwife, it could be antenatal depression or just anxiety. My biggest worry for you would be that it doesn't persist when you've had the baby, so just worth keeping an eye on it.

Thanks for the comments and advice. I managed to talk about it with my husband and feeling better this week. I think it was such a suprise and such an unexpected mood swing that it was quite frightening. No one really prepares you for the change in identity and even your physical image and how that shifts all the time.

Went for a really long walk on Sunday which I found relaxing. Bumperlicious you are so right when you say you become public property - I've even caught people staring and gawping at my bump before they make eye contact (as well as some comments that have verged on gloating e.g. "oh just you wait" or "hah you have no idea" followed by sniggering. Why do people do that?)

will def keep an eye on it though, thanks