New here - feeling low is this normal?

[jellyhead188]

Hi - I am new to this site, I am pg with number 3, I have a 5 and a half year old son and 3 year old daughter. This baby is due on 1st May 2011!!

I just wondered if its normal to feel low when your pg, I am still feeling quite sick at times and fairly rough, with my other two by 14 weeks it had gone and I was back to enjoying my food and eating properly again.

I had PND/Anxiety for nearly 2 years after my DD was born and I'm worrying that this is a kind of relapse.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Em x

Firstly Welcome to mumsnet.

I have heard (although it might not be true - people occasionally lie to me) that having depression in the past can increase your chance of getting it again especially at times when your hormones are going crazy. I would say your best bet is to go to your GP so that at very least they can monitor the situation. They may decide that it is best that for now they do nothing but if it gets worse they will.

On another note, as everyone keeps telling me - every pregnancy is different. Just because you were fine from 14 weeks last time doesn't mean you will be this time. This is only my first pregnancy but I only started to feel less exhausted after about 20 weeks. (2 weeks ago) Before that although I had stopped being sick at about 15 weeks I was still suffering with pregnancy fatigue and finding it difficult to keep up with the demands of work. Fortunately for me though, when I finish my day at work I go home and relax, you are probably worked more into the ground because you have other children to look after. Try and get some me time and relax, might be just what you need.

I hope you feel better soon. x

Hi

I hope you feel better soon, I would go to your gp now though and tell them how you are feeling and see what can be done as you may have antenatal depression which is horrid and gets worse as the pg progresses.

It is much more common than you would think, and there is a lot (not just drugs) that they can do to help.

As catherine said every pg is different. good luck and I hope you start to feel better soon.

Hi

Like you I am feeling very low. Am currently 17+5 and have been suffering from crippling panic attacks which have led to depression.
This hasn't been helped by the fact that I have had bleeding on three occasions so far. I can't relax and enjoy anything and it's got to the stage where I don't want to leave the house, even though I have to as I work full time and have a 10 year old.
After a particularly bad episode this morning I knew enough was enough and I have phoned the GP. They have been really good and have made me an emergency appointment for this afternoon.
I would suggest you phone your GP immediately. Like you I had PND and I don't want to be in that situation again.
Good luck xx

Hi Jellyhead,
I agree with the other chaps, you should definitely take this seriously, and get treatment as soon as possible.

But if it is of any comfort, I have no history of depression but I have had a few bouts of it during my pregnancy (am now 22 weeks) - usually no more than a couple of days at a time. I feel like it crops up when I have a particularly high hormone surge. Not very scientific, I know, but it feels like it coincides with other symptoms. So, for example, I'm having a bout of it at the minute, and I'm also feeling exhausted and a little nausea (not had any nausea for a few weeks). One thing I find helps it is to do some exercise - i think it is a combination of the endorphins, but also having some time alone and doing something constructive. I'm off to join a gym tonight - am hoping that a swim might help me through my current malaise!

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Thanks guys for your messages, I am seeing my midwife next tue so I'll mention it to her, it does vary day to day - often depending on how sick I feel, but I def have start of the anxiety I had with the PND which is quite scary. I def don't want to go on drugs again, I've been on them twice and each time had a bad effect on me - making me feel much worse before I felt better! I'm hoping its just the hormones making me up and down - and the fact its winter isn't helping me either, I'm a def summer baby!!!

Sbeth I hope your appt goes well and you get some help, PND is one the worse thing I've ever experienced, I know how scary it is to feel like your sliding back there.

Em xx