Anyone else with Ante-Natal Depression/Anxiety?

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

I suffered really badly with my first 2 pregnancies - depression, panic attacks, insomnia and finally OCD. With the first two I wasn't on any anti-depressants but did end up having to take diazepam regularly which I hated as it made the baby so sleepy as well. This time I was on Sertraline (AD's) before getting pregnant and so far have been much better than I usually would be. However, last night I had a panic attack out of the blue - went to be about 11.30, woke at 12.30 with a panic and realised I hadn't taken my sertraline before bed so went down and took it but by then my heart was racing, head going fuzzy etc. It took me till about 2.30am to be able to settle down and sleep again and so I was really grumpy when the dd's got me up at the usual 6.30am .

I now feel terrified that it's all starting up and am already pre-empting tonights attack. Last time I ended up being referred to the psychiatrist but only at 34 weeks after months of suffering. I'm seeing the midwife tomorrow and I'm going to see if she can refer me or get me some help now before it gets out of control. I also want to find out if I can increase my dose of Sertraline to 100mg (from 50mg) - I just want to do anything I can to stop it before it takes over me. .

I had OCD/Depression when I was PG - and didn't get referred until 30 weeks (I kept a lid on it till 20 weeks, then GP was useless when I asked for referral at 20 weeks). I ended up on 20mg Prozac at 30 weeks, which did the trick. At the moment it sounds like you are panicking about the panic - which of course makes things worse - take positive rather than negative steps to pre-empt - do whatever breathing/relaxation/distractions worked best for you in the past.

In terms of the meds - meds when PG are never a clearcut decision - in that it's always a case of them balancing all the individual risk factors and benefits to you.

If you have any spare cash- may be worth going down the private clin psych CBT route - I did that as well when I was PG - it was helpful, but not until the Prozac started kicking in. Otherwise - counselling may help with the panic attacks, but my experience of counselling for OCD was very negative (some twat trying to do inner child therapy on me).

btw - you are wise to keep an eye on things - but we all (mentally well or not) have bad days - don't assume it's inevitably the start of a downward path...

I've been depressive since I was about 25 (I'm 40 now). And I've remained depressive all through my pregnancy.

I am struggling through with no meds, other than Trazodone, which helps me sleep, but am probably getting put back on Xanax as soon as I give birth. I'm 26 weeks.

I actually am signed off work at the moment due to this, although hoping to go back on Monday.

My GP also referred me to Pysch when I saw her last week, so I am on their radar for watching for PND.

Good luck to us all!

thank you for the messages. You're right I am now panicking about panicking which is just pants. It's a hard time of year for me as well as dd2 is 3 next week. Birthdays are always hard as she has cerebral palsy and it's like I can forget her age and just see her most of the time but at birthdays, your eyes are suddenly forced wide open and you have the face the fact that at 3 she can do much less than most children her age. I've decided I'm going to double my dose of sertraline and then see my GP in the next few days to confirm it's ok. Have also warned DH of how my head feels and reminded him that it's not my choice and I will do everything in my power to keep my head above water. I feel I have to say it him now as it might soon be too late and I'll be lost again until the baby is born.

I'm completely with you on the birthday/comparison issue, DS has relatively mild language related SN, and sometimes the differences do hit you like a ten ton truck, however positive you try to be.

How are things this morning? Is there anything DH can do - more around house, time to yourself that will help?

I actually had a much better night, dd was up at 11pm and then in our bed all night. Normally I find it annoying but last night it was strangly comforting! I've also made a list of the all the people I need to phone and things to get done as I have been lying in bed at night worrying about stuff but then in the daytime feeling totally unable to do any of it.

glad last night was better. bear in mind that you have the meds in your system to start with for this PG, so that should take the edge off the anxiety etc compared with your previous PGs, and stop the slump.

I saw the doctor today and he was really good, agreed that I could increase my dose of the sertraline and also said it's far better to treat it now before it gets out of control. So hopefully things will get back on track for me now