antenatal depression - anyone have it?

[marzipananimal]

I've only just discovered that antenatal depression exists (nhs website) but think it might explain why i'm miserable/grumpy all the time and can't stop crying today (VERY unlike me). Can anyone sympathise? I feel i should just pull myself together but somehow i can't

Hi marzi - I'm not sure I have what you have because I've always suffered from depression, and now that I'm pregnant, I still do but I've been on medication for a while. I've decreased my medicine dose but still take it and doing just fine!

If this is something that is really bothering you, you can get medicine that is okay to take during pregnancy.

Hello.

Sorry I don't have experience of AND (but do have depression generally plus PND) but didn't want this to go unanswered.

I can certainly sympathise with feeling exhausted, weepy and miserable but in my case I don't think this is AND, just pg hormones and having been ill over last few mths plus life generally being exhausting and hard work.

It can be hard to tell the difference but for me the "line" between "normal" amounts of tiredness/anxiety/miserableness etc and depression is when your feelings are way out of proportion compared to your actual situation / life etc, if that makes any sense.

I would see your GP asap if you think you have symptoms of AND. Write down how you are feeling and coping/not coping and show your GP if you think it will be too difficult to talk about.

Hope things improve for you and you get the help you need.

(do have EXPERIENCE OF depression generally)

marzipananimal - I had AND in my first pregnancy, but it was only diagnosed retrospectively when I developed PND.

It's worth checking and (and dealing with) now, as it could stop you going on to have PND.

Here's a general questionnaire to give you more of a clue as to whether you're just feeling low (which is miserable enough) or are actually depressed.

I think AND is particularly hard as people are generally unsympathetic and disbelieving. You must be happy because you're having a baby.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Thanks for the replies
I am feeling more cheerful today - I think I'll just put yesterday down to hormones. But I'll mention it to my midwife when i see her next in case it comes back/continues

I had been enduring constant bullying and harassment at work by my 2 superiors for 18 months and I was in a state of denial as to my mental health, as I thought it may be deemed as weak.

When I fell pregnant, the hormones plus my state of mind, was just too much to bear, which resulted in me not being able to work for over 2 months. I could easily sit and stare at a wall all day, not noticing the hours ticking by. My DH and my Dr were very very supportive.

You cannot go through this alone as you need to monitor yourself for the sake of your baby.

It does get better but you cannot do it alone.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

Hi, Ive just seen this thread as today Ive tested + for my 3rd child.
I have full experience of PND, I had it for 3years and only in the last 2years have I been on the right medication and getting the physiatric help I need ( I had a very traumatic childhood not helped that I then went on to marry a very abusive man , I found the strength to leave him when I was 2 months pregnant with my youngest daughter, there is a 18month age gap between my two girls. I moved country to ensure that he could never get near me or my children.)

I thought I was a terrible terrible person as I felt nothing for my second daughter when she born I looked after her but never loved her , I became more and more depressed I had no family or friends that I could turn to for help. Then one day I pushed my oldest daughter away from me and she banged her head on the coffee table I knew there and then that I couldnt carry on like this I was having suicidal thoughts ect ect ,I took myself to my Dr who gave me antidepressents there was a slight improvment,if I had only just been honest with them and told them about my WHOLE life story rather than trying to put on a brave face my life would have been what it is like now.

My advice to all people who have depression is Talk To The People who can help. Dont think if you tell them this or that they are going to think Im a bad mother or Im mad.

Depression is a illness same as having a heart problem the Dr doesnt judge you.
I have gotten better Im married to a Wonderful man , Thankfully Ive been able to build very strong bounds with my two girls , My oldest remembers the darker times but Ive spoken to her in great detail about what happened , and she is OK. I know she will never forget it , but I know she has forgiven me , and all of our lives have moved on to bigger and better things.

good luck to you all