Depression

[Emsi00]

Has anyone experienced bad depression during pregnancy?

A lot has happened recently such as my partner leaving for good and feeling very alone but I was doing fine until tonight I really have some horrible thoughts and I know it's just in my head as I honestly can't wait to meet my little baby although I'm still early but the anxiety and everything is starting to get the better of me.

I have support from family and friends but for some reason in my head I feel so alone

Has anyone got any advice on moving forward?

Looking back I don't think I've been "fine" for a while he left about a month ago now and I'm starting to just stay in bed and was struggling to get myself ready, I just don't know what to do anymore x

Go to your GP and tell your midwife. Don't put it off until the baby arrives and you're exhausted. There are ways they can help and they've seen it all before. They will be glad you're looking for help and recognised what is happening. Support from family and friends is very value of course, but not a substitute for medical advice.

Thank you, I think I'm going to give them a call today. I just hope things start looking up xx

I’ve been referred to a special pg mental health nurse for my anxiety issues, ask your mw as she may be able to refer you to similar. I hope you feel perkier soon.

Thank you I have a appt next week so I will mention it, thank you xx @Reastie

Definitely speak to both your midwife and GP. I had a history of mental illness and was on medication for depression and anxiety when I got pregnant. I was referred to a special midwife team who dealt with all my prenatal care and I had extra appointments etc so your NHS trust may have a similar thing!

Thank you, I've had a little break and now have my midwife who is coming round next week so I've put in my notes how I was feeling and hopefully will get some help x

Well done OP. Hope you're feeling better soon

Thank you so much x @WrapAndRoll

Well done! I'm struggling too, and my partner is here but I feel very alone also. He isn't as excited about the baby and just lost his job so I didn't expect much from him ATM, not his fault but I do feel very hopeless and lonely.
We'll get there :)

Sorry to hear your struggling at the moment. it's not a nice feeling being alone 😔 I hope you feel better soon! Wishing you all the best xXx @IvyChime

Hi I'm a single mum expecting baby number 5. I dont suffer with my depression any more and came off my anti depressants about a year ago. But I was first diagnosed after my second was born, I saw a Councillor as although some was related to pregnancy some was deep set from my past but just being able to talk to someone who didn't know me and judge me really helped.
I live in the middle of no where and can goes days sometimes weeks and see no one but my children and my brother and it does get so lonely but I look at all the positives in my life and somehow it makes it ok even if just for a short time. I know longer get the really dark days where I can't get up and don't see the point anymore but there are definitely hard days. But that's OK everyone has them just don't be too hard on yourself your body and life are going through some really big changes right now.
Feel free to send me a message if you ever need to talk or ask a question. And yes being a single parent can be a challenge but its also very rewarding and when you get that first smile it will be worth it and for everything your child achieves you know that you alone have done that, so be proud and be excited for the future

Hi,

I've had depression quite severely last year and fell pregnant just as I was recovering. I've had some difficult times during my pregnancy, having suicidal thoughts at times. My midwife has been fantastic and has refered me to a specialist perinatal mental health team in our area, who have been a great support. Unfortunately I have found less support from my GP and have had to really fight to stay on my antidepressant medication, despite my midwife, mental health nurse and obstiatrician all being happy for me to continue on it and my husband and I having done a lot of research into the risks (which for this medication are very minimal compared to the risks associated with my depression)

Definately speak to your midwife and GP though as they really can help. If the thoughts are getting really scary, phone your midwife today rather than waiting until your appointment as they can signpost you to crisis services in your area too for support.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! I can't wait to meet my baby. Some days I'm happy and some days I have some really scary thoughts, I just don't know where they come from but I hope I can find some support locally, My GP was saying that if I can't cope now I won't be able to cope with a baby which knocked me down massively so I've been keeping everything in. Thank you for your support it means a lot @Exhaustedmummy1811

Thank you, I'm going to reach out to my midwife on my appointment as my GP wasn't very nice or understanding, I have good days but I have days where I can't get up and I have horrible thoughts which are scary😔 hopefully I'll get some local support x @SpottedTiger

Sounds like your GP trained with mine. Mine told me that I should stop thinking about myself and start thinking about my baby. Personally I think us keeping ourselves well enough to look after our babies when they arrive is putting our babies first, as does my midwife. I try to see a different GP now.

My midwife printed me out some very useful info from our local mental health trust about the antidepressant I'm on (Flouxetine) and the risks and benefits to help me make an informed choice about medication which made me even more certain I wanted to continue with it. BUMPs (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) website is also very useful and informative if you decide to look into the medication route. My midwife and mental health nurse have both emphasised that babies do better with well mums and they want to support me to stay as well as possible throughout my pregnancy and afterwards. My mental health nurse has offered to educate my GP on perinatal mental health too, if I have any more difficulties with him.

You are going through a really tough time at the same time as pregnancy, which seems to be pretty tough in itself from where I'm standing, so it's no wonder you need some extra support. Well done for reaching out for it, it's not easy to do especially when your GP has been so horrible. Is it possible to see a different GP next time?