Did anyone with mental health issues during pregnancy improve after the birth?

[Lochina186]

Hi there, I'm 40 yo (yes, geriatric mama!) and 35 weeks pregnant with my first. Physically, this pregnancy has been so easy (literally zero symptoms), but emotionally and mentally I've changed a lot. It's like pregnancy doesn't agree with my brain and I've become very anxious with OCD tendencies and struggle with extreme insomnia. Never imagined this for myself and I don't typically struggle with anxiety.

Naturally I'm quite worried about PPD, PPA after having the baby but part of me also wonders if having my baby here to take care of and focus on will take spotlight off my own issues and what's going on in my brain, giving me space to breath because it's no longer about me. Does anyone have some positive stories to share about struggling with mental health during pregnancy, but feeling better after the baby was here? Of course if your story doesn't fit that narrative it's ok to share, but mainly looking for stories of hope. Thank you!

Sorry but no. I did hope the same as you and unfortunately the post partum hormones and the severe sleep deprivation made everything 100 times worse. DH went back to work after 4 weeks at home and on his 3rd day I had to call him home as I really, really wanted to kill myself and I had planned it all out and I was steps away from doing it. Luckily I had a half of second of clarity and texted for help.

My newborn was actually a good sleeper when compared with other newborns but I couldn't cope with it. The insomnia (whcih started in pregnancy) meant I couldn't sleep when the baby slept. So I just didn't sleep for days.

My life's one and only regret is not seeking help before the baby got here. I would urge you to seek help now.

Thank you for your message, what type of help do you mean? I did see a perinatal psych recently and last Tuesday I took a tiny dose of Lexapro which made my panic and anxiety a million times worse so I never took more. In general I don't react well to medications.

I had a bit of a massive mental struggle during pregnancy, mainly anxiety but a good amount of false memory OCD and paranoia to really make me quite crazy. I was seeing a therapist while I was pregnant to stop me completely losing the plot. Glad to say as soon as baby was born I went back to normal.

Oh that's great! what do you think made you feel better after having the baby? Hormonal changes or having the baby to focus on or...?

Tell you midwife pronto if you haven’t already done so and get on the books for perinatal mental health
Ir might be as soon as the placenta is delivered the awful thoughts go away, your hormones do a shoogle, but it might not, and best to be in the system before things get proper wobbly

I was very anxious and also had OCD during my first pregnancy. Most of my issues related to ideas of the baby coming to harm inside me so eating the wrong thing, breathing harmful fumes, using a product with unsafe ingredients, overheating etc.

I'm happy to say that the OCD went away the second my son was born, I could eat freely again and just enjoy my life again. A lot of people get baby blues but I was absolutely euphoric as I was no longer struggling with my mental health. I would say I've been quite anxious about my sons health/safety but it's been far more manageable (he's 4 now).

I'm pregnant again and dealing with the OCD again, for me I think it's hormonal as it was literally a symptom of a previous unsuccessful pregnancy, I knew I was pregnant as I was worrying about everything! Just hoping it lifts in the same way that it did the first time once this baby is born. My midwife has offered support but I feel like I'm managing ok this time around and it's not having as much impact on my life.

I had terrible OCD and depression during pregnancy and it started to lift the moment I went into labour! My experience was very similar to what @ThatMintMember describes. I was so worried about the safety of the baby inside me, food tasted all wrong. Once baby was born I was over the moon.

Morning @Lochina186. Sorry to gatecrash your thread. We just thought it might be helpful to post some links to help and support here. We imagine there are lots of others reading in a similar situation so just thought it might be useful. APNI https://apni.org/ is particularly good but our general Mental Health Webguide has lots more links that might help https://www.mumsnet.com/i/mental-health-webguide.

We hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well, Lochina, and that everything gets easier once your baby arrives.

Sorry but it made it ten times worse with sleep deprivation.