Depression in pregnancy

[TheVampireEmpusa]

Struggling a bit, looking for people in the same situation so we don't feel so alone/unusual.

How are you all doing?

[Poeteats4gals]

Hey there Vampire Empusa .You ice breaker.Well, my story : My kids are well on now the youngest eleven. I had Depression after my second baby and was totally unaware that I was depressed at all!! I finally had a breakdown when the second babe was ten months which came after the drip drip I really am fine. It went from mild to medium to severe and I was isolating from going out without knowing!

It turned out I had a flat Thyroid and needed quiet a high dose of replacment plus the wine to relax became a problem and made me more depressed.. I also was not getting enough sleep/rest and excercise. It's hard when one does not have enough help too.If you have money, get help or shout for it but to start all that we have to be honest with ...ourselves..yikes!

Looking back there was so much perfectionism in my head. If you spot it in yourself and get as much support/G.P. early intervention, Health Visitor.Diet gets missed and places like H and B for good vits and tonic.
In San Francisco women expecting baby number two get advised to book in some counselling to support their "core relationship"!Their ante natal groups are so clued into signs of depression and harmony at home around the rising stress of a second baby landing.
We have a long way to go Vampire. Honesty is the best policy.Be kind to you ..little treats like baths and foot soaks/massage. Treat stress like an enemy as it makes us more depressed. I hope this helps?

[TheVampireEmpusa]

That does help, thankyou!

It's tough feeling depressed when pregnant, because so many people expect you to be excited. And of course they want to talk about the baby, which is proving tough for me to do.

[hepcat]

Hi just to say you are not alone. I've struggled with depression during my current pregnancy with DC2- my midwife has been great as had my GP. It helped a lot just to admit I wasn't skipping through the roses about the prospect of having another baby at age 41.

[PaigeTurner]

Not sure if you will read this, but you are not alone! My DS is 10 mo now but my pregnancy was tough due to depression. I used to look in the mirror and not recognise myself, everyone asked 'you must be so excited?' and I just wanted to cry because I wasn't at all.

I self-referred to the mental health midwife at my hospital (rang supervisor of midwives there and told her how I was feeling). Midwife was great, I had suicidal thoughts at 32 weeks and obs wanted to admit me to psych ward, but midwife arranged home visits with the mental health team.

The day my son was born was the best ever, as I was no longer pregnant. I felt better with each day afterwards. It was like coming out of a long, dark tunnel!

I hope you have managed to find some support. If your usual midwife is not much help, ask to be referred.

[mrsdamselfly]

Hey everyone. I am pregnant with my second baby after eight looooong years and even though the baby was planned I can't shake feeling so down. My midwife said there is a big wave of pregesterone going on at the moment (am only nine weeks) and that may attribute but I am so scared that I will disappear as I did with my first born. It was PND that time, but lasted for a long time and was very severe. Vampire, you are not alone at all xxxx

[Sparkydo]

Hi - I'm glad I found this thread. I'll try and keep my story brief!

I'm 29 and 19+5 with my 1st, planned and very much wanted baby. I've had depression on and off for years, well controlled with antidepressants, but came off them when ttc.

Unfortunately I'm now feeling really low. I've been to see my GP and she's referred me the my Community Mental Health Team, I now have a CPN who's supporting me and I have an appointment next week with a psychiatrist to discuss possibly restarting meds.

I'm struggling to enjoy this pregnancy and I've been really anxious about every little thing. Not helped by the fact that we have financial issues at the moment and I really don't know how we're going to cope when I go on mat leave. On top of that I hate my job and it's starting to show - I've been snapppish and irritable at work and on the last 2 mornings burst into tears on several occasions. I also have my 20 week scan next Friday and I'm so so anxious about it.

I've taken some time off work (they've been good about it) but I now feel so angry at myself for not being able to cope with things and feel like I've let people down at work - I'm already dreading to go back for fear of what people think. I just feel awful.

I have a wonderful husband but he doesn't know how to help and I know I'm frustrating him.

I just feel so wretched. I know I will get through this but I just don't know how yet.

[WeekendsAreTooShort]

Hi all. I don't post much but read a lot. My ds is nearly 4 and dd 2. I had really awful pregnancies and was suicidal at 36 weeks. Unfortunately the support I got from the health services was awful but my dh was amazing. I eventually got a section at 39 weeks and only then did anyone sit up and take notice as when asked if I was excited I just told them I wanted the bloody thing out of me! It took a few days but the relief at not being Pregnant and sick was immense. I had hyperemesis from 6 weeks to delivery... Not fun. I love them both so much but will never go through it again. It took nearly a year to get back to normal but have found running really helped. It is hard as everyone expects you to be happy as so many others would live to be prevent etc and that adds to the guilt. Just take a day at a time and even half a day. Speak to trusted friends and speak to your gp. If they don't listen find another one. Take care of you!

[bansku]

Nice to find this discussion. I got depressed probably at the moment I got pregnant with my second baby. My first one is 17 months old and slept very bad. I went to GPto discuss my child's problems and she sent a HV to check me out. I said I am fine. After some weeks my depression went away for a week. But returned again. I went to GP and told about my depression. She sent me to CHRT. I was 9 weeks pregnant
I got appointment in two weeks but the visit was a disaster. A mental health worker just told me I am not going to get any meds and she will refer me to CMHT and I have to wait 4-6 weeks for appointment. I have a history of serious mental health problems although I have fine for some years. I was really scared that I have a relapse. But I have not got any support what so ever.
Luckily this monday my mood suddenly changed. I was really depressed at 3 pm but at 6 pm I felt fine. Maybe a little bit hyper but by next day I was fine. Now I just hope I stay ok, because there seems to be no support from anywhere.

[bannon]

Hi,
I wanted to join in the conversation as I'm having really bad bouts of depression and i'm well into my third trimester. like most people have mentioned, it's quite difficult to talk about as everyone is so excited and expects you to be too. the thing is i am really excited about the baby coming but i'm being VERY weird about everything else in my life. We moved house and are renting which was quite stressful but the stress hasn't really left..Like how will we manage financially and what's going to happen in the future. I realise writing this that that sounds quite normal but i've noticed unusual behaviour recently like i can't stop eating, don't want to see anyone, can't get out of bed or do anything etc.. I'm not normally like this and usually feel quite positive. I think I'm used to working and being the main breadwinner and now that i can't do that i'm sort of freaking out. Anyone else feeling this way?

[bansku]

Finally I met a psychiatrist. I went to antenatal clinic to meet a specialised midwife but I was seen by psychiatrist. She was nice and told that I can get some medications if needed. I am feeling fine now and the next appointment is in January, but I got a number where to call if my depression retuns and if I feel I need soem meds etc.