Mental health

[isitthehormones]

I’m 8 weeks pregnant with DC3, I think even though I am really suffering with nausea and exhaustion, I am still in shock as it was definitely not planned.

Even writing this down is tough, I don’t know how I would ever say this out loud. I feel really unhappy, I’ve never felt this way before. I know the hormones and feeling awful won’t help but I just don’t feel happy at all.

I know how fortunate I am, but I feel so stuck. I really don’t know what to even say anymore, my DP keeps asking if I am ok and I can barely answer.

I’m hoping posting this gets this off my chest and may help. I’m not a bad person but feel so guilty for feeling this way.

It could be pre-natal depression - talk to your midwife about it. There's medications and counselling services available - as you've got all these hormones changing your brain chemistry that can very easily trigger depression. I had it towards the end of my pregnancy and was diagnosed when DD was a month old and got started on antidepressants - she's now 6 months and I've never felt better, as the hormones in my body decrease I'm very very slowly weaning off the antidepressants. I only wish I had gotten on medication sooner as I would have hopefully enjoyed my pregnancy more.

Thank you for replying @and for not judging. I’m really glad to hear things are improving all the time for you.

I had briefly wondered that but thought maybe it was too early. I feel so overwhelmed. I’ll get a doctors appointment this week. I have seen a counsellor previously and had a session with her last week, I hope to be able to book in again soon.

Just take it a day at a time, my pregnancy was unplanned too and it can feel awful especially if you're not in the position you'd like to be in to have kids (e.g. married, stable job, good income, family support or whatever else you personally feel a baby needs). The exhaustion you feel in the first trimester can be very overwhelming - you'll get a boost of energy in the second trimester so don't worry this is how you're going to feel for the next 9 months if you decide to carry it through. Thinking that other people have it worse is just a self torture method - some 16 year olds get pregnant and take it all in their stride. Other times 35 year olds with big paycheques, loving husbands, paid off houses and previous kids fall pregnant unexpectedly and feel like their entire world's collapsing around them.