Antenatal depression....I'm at rock bottom

[Depressedmumtobe]

Im so tired of feeling this way, physically pregnancy is fine, but mentally pregnancy doesn't agree with me. I suffer from bipolar and anxiety, which seems to be much worse in pregnancy. I thought everything would be ok this time, as I was finally on medication that was working before I fell pregnant. This is not my 1st pg and I'm nearly 35 weeks last time I was induced at 36+4 due to my mental health. I feel like such a failure I'm being a useless mum to my other kids and just want this pregnancy over. Once the baby is here my condition improves drastically It seems the hormones make me mad/depressed. I just can't go another day feeling like this. Sorry for rambling but I can't talk to anyone about this.

I've had antenatal depression and was on AD's till DD was nearly two months old. Your're not a failure it's just a chemical imbalance that some of us have, apparently at around 32 weeks of pregnancy your body goes through a serotonin dip or so I read on the internet.

Remember if you were diabetic you wouldn't feel a failure for taking insulin or if you took statins for high cholestrol. I was in that dark place, wishing for the end of my pregnancy and even regretting getting pregnant with DD in the first place because the anxiety and depression was so acute but thankfully it did pass

That sounds a difficult situation. Do you have a sympathetic MW or GP you could chat to, or perhaps another HCP due to your anxiety generally? Afraid I'm not v knowledgeable in this area but just wanted to say you're nearly there!! Sure there are lots of others who don't have anxiety or other children and they find it rough at 35 wks so well done you :). Don't be hard on yourself. Remember as well, you feel better once LO is here and not long now so focus on that :)

Could you have a few hours chill for yourself somehow? Nice walk or lock yourself in bathroom with some candles or whatever you like.

Best of luck :)

Hi, I just wanted to let you know how brave you're being. I suffered antenatal depression throughout my pregnancy, and can't imagine how hard it must be to be dealing with it while also looking after another child - I couldn't do anything, ended up signed off work for a lot of my pregnancy, and couldn't even get out of bed on many days. You have done so well, for such a long time. You are on the home stretch now, are you being induced again?

If you were suffering a debilitating physical condition you wouldn't be feeling guilty, so please remember this is just as serious as if you had something physically affecting you during pregnancy. Just a few more weeks and you will feel so much better!

I have 4dc. Have the hospital on Wednesday it just seems so far away right now. The thought of even 2 more weeks of feeling like this has me sobbing. I can't do it anymore :(

Don't think in terms of weeks, just take each day one at a time. I found it helpful to challenge myself to something each day, even as small as "today I will Hoover up" or "today I will brush my hair" just little, achievable tasks but I felt a real sense of accomplishment when I had done them. Feel free to PM me if you want to.

I totally get it. I have been on low dose of my citalopram for most of this preg. DC2.
But my doc upped my medication 6weeks ago as he said it was prob that my system needed more to make it effective now i was more heavily preg.
Is this an option?

Im so sorry, it sucks and I only have one other child to deal with. for you.

Are you ok OP? X

Hi still struggling got the hospital tomorrow so hopefully get some help. My tablets don't seem o be helping at all anymore, feel like I'm not even taking anything at all. Had my medication increased twice now to no effect. The only thing that's worked in the past is birth. Once the hormones leave my body the change is unbelievable. Hopefully get a date tomorrow, just knowing when, would help iykwim. Thank you for letting me get it out x

Best of luck. Feeling that low is horrid. Hormones do horrible things to us; pregnancy doesn't agree with me either. I really hope things improve very soon for you.