Antenatal depression

[Eek3under3]

Anyone been here?

I’m booked in for a c section in 10 days time and still don’t feel any better/ happier/ excited. I’m sick of people telling me when the baby arrives I will feel fine. I’ve been here before and spent nearly a year putting on a brave face.

The ridiculous thing is I can’t articulate this in real life, so seemingly easy ‘talk to your midwife’ etc just isn’t going to happen.

I am out now supposed to be sorting a hospital bag and buying stuff for this baby and have spent the last 2 hours walking around in a state.

Hi OP, is this your first baby? I'm pretty sure I was depressed with my first, but I didn't realize it. I wasn't excited (dreaded it in fact) and saw the birth as more of a deadline than something to be excited for.
I developed really bad PND, so I'd really recommend you talk to your midwife or gp as soon as you can. No one will judge you, they've heard it all before. It will really help if you are able to be referred to your perinatal mental health team who are used to dealing with this, and who will be able to support you after the birth if you need it.
Maybe just say to your midwife what you wrote here. That you are feeling depressed, and not excited and think you need some specialist help. Really do press for a referral- the PMH team are so so good and will help you to feel better x

Not my first, I had pnd first time and I knew months ago it was happening again. I don’t have any more midwife appts now and I can’t bring myself to phone them :(

Sorry for sounding negative, I appreciate you trying to help. It helps being able to talk about it. I’m heading home from my unsuccessful shopping trip now…going to forget about it and enjoy time with other DC on this nice sunny day.

I am at 35 weeks and I am having a lot of anxiety to at the moment, I’ve been overthinking too.

Could you tell why are you feeling negative for this pregnancy? Are you worrying or you just don’t feel happy?

OP, please try to tell the staff at the hospital when you give birth if you don’t feel you can call your midwife. They can make sure you have the right support postnatally. I would also have a consultation with your GP so they are aware to monitor your mental health.

Dear Eek, yes, I've been there but earlier in pregnancy. Reaching out here is good - for me the turning point was when I felt able to ask another group on the internet whether this was normal. Do talk to people, please. Once the baby arrived I found things got better, and I could love him (despite the fact he wouldn't feed for 3 weeks ...). But I really needed the people around me who were great (not the midwife, for me the saviours were the peer breast-feeding counsellors). Do keep talking here is it helps. I hope you're still having a lovely day with your other DCs.