Can you get PND before the birth

[Southwestwhippet]

We did a thing about PND in my ante-natal class and a lot of the symptoms rang true to me at the moment. I'm 32 + 5

don't want to go into maasive details but I have had depression all my life, can remember thinking about suicide at 11yrs old and once I came off Prozac when I got pregnant my mother and my partner both said they 'watched me go back down' so to speak.

I'm very up and down at the moment, I keep having days where I feel I can't cope, cry all the time, feel sick, have to force myself to eat etc. I'm finding work exhausting and painful as I'm walking around all day on a sandy unlevel surface (indoor riding school) and my pelvis is not happy! I have a pain in my upper back that means I can't sit or lie for long periods and in the evenings I feel too exhausted to stand but don't really know what to do with myself.

Keeping rowing with partner and I always end up in tears - usually about stupid stuff like cleaning and tidying. I end up spending every evening obsessively cleaning, partly because I can't sit down and relax due to back pain but partly because I feel so stressed I can't switch off. I also feel guilty everytime I get comfortable as am aware that baby is currently back-to-back and i need to sit in 'constructive' positions... but they kick off this upper-back pain so much I can't relax.

I feel trapped that all the things i used to use to 'cope' with depression like self-harming, have a few drinks, thinking about suicide (would never do it but having the option is comforting) all seem to have been taken away due to imminent baby. Can't face going out even if had the energy as I feel so unattractive (I've always been slim and confident about my looks) and also it is taking everything I have just to be upbeat and cheerful and 'happy' faking-it at work all day working with the disabled children.

I'm so worried that I will end up with PND after the birth and miss all the wonderful first months/year with my baby as I already feel I am not enjoying being pregnant and all the anticipation and excitement I would love to have. I have wanted a baby for years and years.

can you get PND before the birth? Or is this just the old depression coming back? I didn't find my new MW (just moved) sympathetic or nice - she didn't notice when I accidentally started crying in my first appointment with her - so I don't want to talk to her. Is there anything I can do now to help prevent PND or to take control again without resorting to Prozac again? Will be back on prozac after birth - one thing to look forward to!!!

You definately can get depresion during pregnancey..but it's not called post natal depression..(pre-natal depression maybe?)

You so need to see your GP about this.
But just becuase yuo feel dreadfull now, doesn't mean you will when your baby is born. Hormones are very wierd things. x

Hello.

Simply the answer is YES, you can get Anti Natal Depression.

I had it with both pregnancies and PND followed. I chalk it up to hormones because it wasn't there when I wasn't pregnant or breastfeeding.

There are some anti depressants you can take while pregnant and as you say you can go back on prozac after the birth.

Sorry I haven't got much advice but am just on my way out and didn't want to leave this unanswered.

Yes can definately get pre-natal depression. See your midwife/gp and tell them how your feeling. You could probably look it up on here or on internet too. I dont know much about it but I have heard of it before

Yes - it's called antenatal depression and is more common than you might think (especially if you have suffered with depression in the past). Your GP will be able to prescribe antidepressants that you can take in pregancy X

Southwestwhippet it sounds like you are having a rough time .

Ante-natal depression is fairly common - even if you have no history of earlier depression, and doesn't neccessarily lead to PND.

Your MW should be aware of this - see this website for some more info. Also, if you search on here you will probably find loads of info.

If you feel uncomfortable speaking to her then maybe see if you can change. I think you need to flag this up with them both to help you get through the rest of the pregnancy and to see what support you can have in place to try and avoid developing PND.

thank you everyone, I am going to make an appointment with my GP tomorrow and at least try to flag up to him what is going on.

I'm glad that Ante-Natal depression doesn't neccessarily lead to PND.