Pregnancy and MH struggles

LeighTTC2021 · 2025-08-02T16:16:57+00:00

Hi all, I am an anxious person in general but since around month 3 of my pregnancy my anxiety has been through the roof. I am now 21 weeks pregnant and struggling so much, I sleep poorly, barely have an appetite and cannot focus on anything but my racing thoughts that don't seem to stop ever. I also have a 3.5 year old as well as working full time and trying to keep on top of everything else life involves. I've been trying to soldier on but I spend most days in tears at my desk and my anxiety and lack of focus is affecting my performance at work. On top of this, I had pelvic girdle pain in my last pregnancy and that ever so familiar pain is starting to kick in. My job is an office job but is high pressure and understaffed meaning workload is always mental. I need a break as I feel broken inside, I'm not excited about my pregnancy and that fills me with guilt.. I'm not fully present for my daughter which kills me. I'm going to speak to my GP on Monday morning and ask to bw signed off but I'm scared this will go down as regular sickness and be used against me if it ends up being until I go on maternity leave.. Just looking for advice from others who may have been through similar. Thanks

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DogsandDungarees · 02/08/2025 17:50

Hey, just wanted to check in and say you one hundred percent should get signed off sick pregnancy anxiety is a real thing. I’m starting to get a little better now but I was struggling up until now and are slowly taking steps to bond ect. I just wanted to reach out and let you know your not alone xxx

Original poster

LeighTTC2021 · 02/08/2025 17:54

DogsandDungarees · 02/08/2025 17:50

Hey, just wanted to check in and say you one hundred percent should get signed off sick pregnancy anxiety is a real thing. I’m starting to get a little better now but I was struggling up until now and are slowly taking steps to bond ect. I just wanted to reach out and let you know your not alone xxx

Thank you so much, I'm so afraid it won't be taken seriously and I know 21 weeks is early to be signed off but I cant take anymore...

OP posts:

DogsandDungarees · 02/08/2025 18:01

Of course not ! I know multiple people who have been signed off throughout their pregnancy. The most important thing is looking after yourself right now, take each day as it comes, maybe even reach out to your midwife for additional mental health support?
Try and find a few things you enjoy and take time for yourself. Sending you love and hoping you start to feel a little better soon too xx

Elz1406 · 02/08/2025 19:10

Hi lovely,

Make sure your GP puts the reason down as pregnancy related on the sick note. I and plenty of others have had serious mental health problems in pregnancy and have been signed off. If your sicknote references that the illness is related to pregnancy, your employer can't count it as regular sickness or use it to put you on any kind of absence monitoring.

Hopefully someone will correct me if wrong but I'm fairly sure if you're off with pregnancy sickness within 4 weeks before your due date your mat leave will automatically start which is just something to bear in mind that you might start mat leave a month before due date. Lots of people start their mat leave a good while before due date anyway though so maybe not too much of a big deal.

Best of luck to you and just look after yourself. 🥰xxx

Original poster

LeighTTC2021 · 02/08/2025 19:54

Elz1406 · 02/08/2025 19:10

Hi lovely,

Make sure your GP puts the reason down as pregnancy related on the sick note. I and plenty of others have had serious mental health problems in pregnancy and have been signed off. If your sicknote references that the illness is related to pregnancy, your employer can't count it as regular sickness or use it to put you on any kind of absence monitoring.

Hopefully someone will correct me if wrong but I'm fairly sure if you're off with pregnancy sickness within 4 weeks before your due date your mat leave will automatically start which is just something to bear in mind that you might start mat leave a month before due date. Lots of people start their mat leave a good while before due date anyway though so maybe not too much of a big deal.

Best of luck to you and just look after yourself. 🥰xxx

Am I able to request that this be specified by my GP on the sick note?
I hope they're supportive I'm feeling so anxious anticipating that they may not be which I know may be irrational..
I've requested to speak to my midwife but haven't heard from her yet so I'm hoping she pops up Monday too and will back me on this..
Thanks for your kind words 🙏

OP posts:

Elz1406 · 02/08/2025 20:29

Yes, you can be very clear that the problems are pregnancy related. Stress that your anxiety has worsened significantly during pregnancy and that you're seeking mental health support from your midwife.
You can definitely ask the GP to be sure to state that the illness is related to pregnancy. I found GPs to be sympathetic but if you find otherwise I would ask to see a different GP. I think most GPs will be aware that the sicknote needs to explicitly mention pregnancy.
Hopefully your midwife can refer you for perinatal mental health support - I've found it so helpful during both my pregnancies. I totally understand your nerves, I had one bad experience with a GP early on in my first pregnancy which made me feel nervy but all my other interactions were really positive. Just be clear and honest and remember you're doing nothing wrong by trying to care for your mental health during pregnancy. Let me know how it goes if you remember! 😊xxx

Original poster

LeighTTC2021 · 02/08/2025 20:39

Elz1406 · 02/08/2025 20:29

Yes, you can be very clear that the problems are pregnancy related. Stress that your anxiety has worsened significantly during pregnancy and that you're seeking mental health support from your midwife.
You can definitely ask the GP to be sure to state that the illness is related to pregnancy. I found GPs to be sympathetic but if you find otherwise I would ask to see a different GP. I think most GPs will be aware that the sicknote needs to explicitly mention pregnancy.
Hopefully your midwife can refer you for perinatal mental health support - I've found it so helpful during both my pregnancies. I totally understand your nerves, I had one bad experience with a GP early on in my first pregnancy which made me feel nervy but all my other interactions were really positive. Just be clear and honest and remember you're doing nothing wrong by trying to care for your mental health during pregnancy. Let me know how it goes if you remember! 😊xxx

I'll update you on Monday, thanks again x

OP posts:

Original poster

LeighTTC2021 · 08/08/2025 18:49

Elz1406 · 02/08/2025 20:29

Yes, you can be very clear that the problems are pregnancy related. Stress that your anxiety has worsened significantly during pregnancy and that you're seeking mental health support from your midwife.
You can definitely ask the GP to be sure to state that the illness is related to pregnancy. I found GPs to be sympathetic but if you find otherwise I would ask to see a different GP. I think most GPs will be aware that the sicknote needs to explicitly mention pregnancy.
Hopefully your midwife can refer you for perinatal mental health support - I've found it so helpful during both my pregnancies. I totally understand your nerves, I had one bad experience with a GP early on in my first pregnancy which made me feel nervy but all my other interactions were really positive. Just be clear and honest and remember you're doing nothing wrong by trying to care for your mental health during pregnancy. Let me know how it goes if you remember! 😊xxx

I did get signed off for 2 weeks..
Half of that has passed and to be honest the fact it's so short is just causing me more anxiety around them potentially not extending it for me...😔

OP posts: