Good morning all, I’m looking for some advice please.
I’ve been diagnosed with prenatal depression and the dr suggested I start taking antidepressants (citalopram - a type of SSRI if that means anything to anyone). There are some risks though they aren’t properly known due to the lack of research on pregnant women and antidepressants. I’m really wary about taking them as I’d never forgive myself if they had any negative effects on my baby. Has anyone taken antidepressants when pregnant...?
I’m currently 21 weeks pregnant and have barely slept since getting pregnant - I probably get about 3-4 hours sleep a night, sometimes none at all. I work 4 days a week and have a 2 year old DS. My DP is really supportive but works long hours and is studying for a degree. I don’t know if it’s the lack of sleep getting me down or if that is a side effect in itself but I feel useless and exhausted and guilty - like I’m letting down my little boy as I don’t have the energy or motivation to do the things I should be doing (I don’t neglect him in anyway, I mean I don’t take him out like to the park etc, or play with him as much) and I’m letting my DP down as even when I’m home all day I don’t have the energy or motivation to do anything around the home, and I’m letting my unborn baby down as I’m not looking aftermyself- I’m eating terribly and putting a lot of weight on, and I’m really inactive.
Some days I feel fine and I can take my son out and do the food shopping (though I’m still so tired I don’t do much else), but the bad days have gotten more frequent and on Monday I shut the curtains and only moved from the sofa to feed or change my little boy. He napped for 2 hours and I spent that time crying in bed at how much of crap mum I am. I felt anxious about my messy house and all the chores that needed doing but not enough to actually do anything. My DP came home and did a small food shop and cleaned up and put little one to bed do it didn’t even matter I hadn’t done anything but I’d gotten very worked up about how much of a failure I am. Though because I do have good days this is making me think I shouldn’t take the tablets?
Sorry for rambling so much but I’m just trying to weigh up whether to take the tablets so I can hopefully feel better and go back to my usual self, and be the good mum and partner I want to be. I felt fantastic all through my first pregnancy - I ate well and did lots of light exercise and looked after myself. I feel like if I was doing the same this time I wouldfeel much better mentally and not need the tablets but I just don’t have the energy and can’t bring myself to actually do anything that might help.
Any advice or experience on how to deal with this, using antidepressants or anything that has helped anyone else in similar circumstances in the past would just be massively appreciated! Thank you for reading 