Antenatal depression?

[MeredithGrey1]

I feel like all my posts on here are just me complaining but I just feel like I’m really struggling.

After today I’ve got 7 weeks of work left and I just feel like I cant do it. My hips/pelvis are agony, I drive to work and just sit in the car trying to force myself into the office, and now I’m sitting at my desk in awful pain, so exhausted and I honestly feel like I could burst into tears at any minute. Yesterday I didn’t even manage to get to work, I just drove in, sat in the car close to tears for about 20 minutes, then just drove home. I know I’m being pathetic but I just feel so dreadful, all I want to do is lie in bed all day and I’m so scared that this is the start of antenatal depression which might then lead to postnatal depression. I’ve had an anxiety disorder for years but not depression, and have never felt like this before. Is this normal third trimester hormones? I just don’t know what to do, the effort it takes to force myself into work every day (just to sit here in agony with nothing to do in a job I hate) is so overwhelming and 7 more weeks of it makes me want to sob into a pillow.

You're not pathetic!!! This sounds a bit like me (I'm 39 weeks now). I was due to finish work at 34 weeks but I got signed off at 29 weeks because my SPD was agony and affecting my work to the point I too didn't want to go in and I was getting very bad anxiety.

I went to the GP, felt like a right drama queen but the doctor was amazing and explained that I was clearly struggling and there was no shame in that. So, I got signed off and as much as I'm still in a lot of pain with the SPD, I managed to enjoy the last part of my pregnancy (prior to this I felt guilty for moaning and struggling at work etc).

I'm not suggesting you get signed off as your circumstances may be different to mine, but certainly go and see your GP and do whatever you think is best for you and your baby. You deserve to enjoy your pregnancy as much as possible (it's hard isn't it!).

I insist you stop giving yourself a hard time, you're growing a baby, you're amazing!!

Please update us how you get on xxx

Yeah I agree with the previous post. Your not being pathetic, struggling and acknowledging you need help. Most women do as they enter later in the pregnancy. It’s a way of rallying the support before baby comes.

Definitely go to the gp, pain causes anxiety and low mood but it doesn’t mean you’ll get depressed. And also exhaustion and feeling the need to rest is perfectly normal for the third trimester too.

I had to take my third trimester off for all three of my boys because of my mood. I found it really difficult but you have look forward to life as a mummy and bonding with them. look after yourself and take it easy, your not a failure for not making it to your “official” start of maternity

I hope this helps.

Ohh I do feel for you. I got this the other way round I felt so low & emotional in the first few months due to sickness. How far gone are you OP? Is it possible to finish a little early or use holidays? Have you spoken to your midwife to see if they can suggest anything to help you? Some pregnancies are just miserable, a lot of mine has been miserable due to sickness & exhaustion. You have my sympathy it’s really not nice