A plea to anyone with Antenatal Depression

TheFool · 2009-06-20T12:40:28+00:00

If you are not taking medication for it/avoiding it... *please* rethink. I avoided it for my first two pregnancies. This time I gave in and I am now on the ADs. I have never experienced pregnancy like this. I am ^happy^. I am ^enjoying^ being pregnant. You honestly do not know what pregnancy can be like if you have only ever known it through a cloud of despair.

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TrillianAstra · 20/06/2009 15:43

Random bump cos it sounds like good advice.

The drugs do work. Sometimes.

(no exerience of AND but DP had plain old D and the drugs worked very well)

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 20/06/2009 15:47

I had AND and my then GP wouldn't give me any medication. I had no choice in the matter though he did sign DH off work for 2 weeks to be with me.

LovelyTinOfSpam · 20/06/2009 16:05

Thank you thefool.

I have really struggled this pg and have been referred to the psychiatrist/peri natal people etc. They offered me the drugs but by then I was 35 weeks and was starting to feel the end was in sight, so said no, with the option on changing my mind if things get worse/don't improve once I've had the baby.

I jokingly said to DH "I'm never doing another pregnancy - but if I do I want drugs from day 1"... Your post has made me realise that actually with the right medication maybe i could do it again.

Thank you and really happy for you

LovelyTinOfSpam · 20/06/2009 16:06

If it's appropriate to be happy for someone on ADs

heron22 · 20/06/2009 17:40

hi all, i had bad PND after birth of DS1, so when i got pregnant with DS2, i started taking AD at around 35 weeks. after birth, i was a bit low and had cognitive behavioural therapy. all is good. a week ago, i started feeling down. it is really strange as nothing has changed. it is just my view of it all. in fact, things are good.

i been up and down today and losing interest in DS2 who is 5 months old.

i am still on my AD.

Original poster

TheFool · 20/06/2009 19:08

Lol Spam - yes, very appropriate to be happy for me

Grrr FBG's Dr.

OP posts:

LovelyTinOfSpam · 20/06/2009 20:33

heron I'm sorry to hear that things aren't so good.

Can you talk to your doctor or anyone? A week isn't that long (though i know it feels like a year) maybe it's a blip...

Sorry I don't really have any experience of ADS or PND hopefully someone will be able to help more

Whitetara · 20/06/2009 20:41

I had it in my last pg but was reluctant to take anything, although was offered. Very glad to hear that they are working well for you.

Jackaroo · 21/06/2009 11:36

completely agree.

With DS1 I came off Ads at 6 weeks or so, very fast... and it was a very difficult few months.... followed by ADs afterwards, for 3 years.

This time, i've been on them til about 30 weeks and it's been a very different experience.

So I agree -

also, from a "danger" point of view, it's worth seeing up to date information, many gps still think that every AD will give you addled children - and they don't!

J

cornichons · 22/06/2009 16:09

Hey,

Not on any drugs and haven't been officially diagnosed as having AD but think there's a chance... Both my mother and my mother in law were diagnosed with cancer when I was 21 weeks (I?m 31 weeks now). It?s my first pregnancy and I?m not sure my mum will see her first grand child. I talked to the GP about it who told me to talk to the MW who told me to talk to the GP... She said she?d refer me to someone when I started crying but it?s been weeks and I haven?t heard from anyone so I guess it?s not happening.

I have good days and bad days, sometimes I even think that I?m being overtly chirpy to compensate. I never know when I?m going to have a bad day or when things are suddenly going to be too much which makes it a bit hard on my DH.

I feel bad for being happy when my mum is dying but then I fear that my being sad and down could affect the baby. Some nights I can't sleep because my mind is racing and then I crash because I'm surviving on so little sleep. I'm worried all of this might make the baby come earlier than it should, then I worry that nothing is ready for him, then I feel guilty for worrying so much and sending him bad vibes...

Sorry, I?m no help to anyone, just wanted to respond as I don?t really have anyone to talk to about this.

Original poster

TheFool · 22/06/2009 21:07

Oh sweetheart that is terrible

I wish there was something constructive I could say or do to help. More than happy to listen though. I would say that everything you are feeling is normal (oh and the worrying about baby coming early and nothing being ready happens with all pregnancies as far as I know, so you don't need to be thinking you are creating extra worries iyswim, you would have had that one anyway )

OP posts:

cornichons · 24/06/2009 10:40

Thanks TheFool. I had some rough days at the weekend but I'm ok now. I'm busy with work and studies so I don't really have time to think, which really helps.

I'm a bit scared of getting PND. I guess it really depends on the future of my mum but I don't know how I'm going to cope all day at home looking after a newborn and grieving at the same time.

Irish29 · 24/06/2009 17:03

Just want to throw in my moneys worth! Am now 31 weeks with my second. Was on AD when I found out about DD1 and came off them straightaway without consulting anyone. Was very up and down throughout and suffered from PND. Didn't go back on them until I stopped breastfeeding DD. This pregnancy wasn't planned but definitely wanted but my GP didn't want me to come off the AD and I've had a session with a psychiatrist as a matter of precaution. Have felt better this time round, although having very up and down days at the minute, but think that's because it's getting closer. So would definitely say it helps.

Irish29 · 24/06/2009 17:05

Just want to throw in my moneys worth! Am now 31 weeks with my second. Was on AD when I found out about DD1 and came off them straightaway without consulting anyone. Was very up and down throughout and suffered from PND. Didn't go back on them until I stopped breastfeeding DD. This pregnancy wasn't planned but definitely wanted but my GP didn't want me to come off the AD and I've had a session with a psychiatrist as a matter of precaution. Have felt better this time round, although having very up and down days at the minute, but think that's because it's getting closer. So would definitely say it helps.

Irish29 · 24/06/2009 17:05

Just want to throw in my moneys worth! Am now 31 weeks with my second. Was on AD when I found out about DD1 and came off them straightaway without consulting anyone. Was very up and down throughout and suffered from PND. Didn't go back on them until I stopped breastfeeding DD. This pregnancy wasn't planned but definitely wanted but my GP didn't want me to come off the AD and I've had a session with a psychiatrist as a matter of precaution. Have felt better this time round, although having very up and down days at the minute, but think that's because it's getting closer. So would definitely say it helps.

madmissy · 24/06/2009 20:41

ive had ante natal and post with both my dd's im now pg with dc3 im on AD's but so far so good....

ready2pop · 27/06/2009 22:57

My Dr told me yesterday that I have AD which didn't really come as a surprise. I'm 29 weeks and have a 16 month old DS already.

My GP said the ADs weren't safe and basically that I would just have to wait it out until after the birth then start them so it is a big relief to hear this might not be right as I can't really see how I'll get through another 10 weeks of feeling this low.

He also told me that I would almost definitely get PND if I was depressed already. Is this right? I was really hoping that the change in hormones aftter birth might sort me out.

The only thing my GP could suggest was that I get more help and rest but none of my family are near and DH works too long hours to be of much use. To be honest I've felt much worse ever since I saw him because before that I could at least hope there might be some help I could get.