Just wanted to share in case it helps someone else

[AlanMoore]

A few weeks ago I posted a few times about antenatal depression. I felt bloody awful and went to the GP, who was lovely and diagnosed antenatal depression after a brief chat and signed me off work for a week.

I had thought he would do bloods etc as I was very tired (can't remember how many weeks I was but 2nd tri) but he didn't, just gave me a referral for CBT. I got some books out of the library and honestly didn't find it any use, as when I felt dreadful it was coming over me in a sort of irrational wave.

After taking it easy for a few days, trying to get more sleep and taking an iron supplement I started to feel slightly better. I had honestly thought that I would never come out of it, I have had depression before about 10 years ago and it was the same feeling, it took me months to get better back then.

Anyway, I have felt absolutely fine and totally back to normal for about a month now - this could just be 3rd tri hormonal changes but I suspect it is to do with the iron. I had not had HB checked since 16wks but found out a couple of weeks ago that despite taking supplements and careful diet my HB is still on low side - I think it was in my boots and causing much of my symptoms.

What I'm trying to say is please ask your GP to check your iron if you are having symptoms of antenatal depression, or start taking floradix/spatone - it probably wasn't the whole story but I wonder if I would have felt better had I not started with the iron.

Feeling so down is horrible especially in pregnancy, supposed to be a happy time, and if some iron supplementation can help even a tiny bit it has to be worth a try. With hindsight I neglected my physical health badly at the time I suffered with depression before, I wonder if I had looked after myself a bit better I might have recovered more easily.

Best wishes to everybody for some brighter thoughts and some lovely babies at the end of it all xxxxx

[Puffykins]

I've been suffering horribly from antenatal depression, and have literally just found out (today, after a blood test yesterday) that my iron levels have dropped significantly and are now very low. Maybe the supplement will help - hurray!