Concerned...

[hammond1234]

I have been depressed, I was dealing with it very well.

Recently, I have found out that I am pregnant which initially I was thrilled about. However, I think that my depression has been deteriorating since then.

I have found myself worrying about the usual things, money, all the things we need to get, a bit of anxiety about looking after a baby, etc.

And then I've begun feeling very tired and withdrawn, I'm upset constantly, I get paranoid about people at work talking behind my back and I just feel alone all the time.

Some of this could be hormones I'm sure but I don't really want to speak to my doctor as I worry that if they find that I am depressed, this could have repercussions on me after I have the baby, they might think I'm not fit to look after it or put some other kind of special sanctions on me.

I just want to know if how I feel is normal? If there is such a thing!

[Hidden]

Hi,

Being depressed we blow everything out of proportion, we think we have got over it and then another worry turns up.

How wonderful you are going to be a Mum, I think it's natural for you to be worried.

The What if's, never happen. and of course they wont take your baby off you, your brain is playing tricks.

Speak to your G.P./midwife and explain how you feel.

Good luck for the future. xx

[Hidden]

Hello

For the last fifty years I have always wondered what is normal, over most of my life I have suffered from Reactive Depression and now my feelings are this. What is normal for one is manic or so for another.

When discussing this problem they say if the brain is dealing with five or more problems together with one of the problems being health related, this can cause negative feelings and some form of anxiety or depression. We are all different some depression can be caused by a chemical lacking in the brain. This can be treated with anti-depressants and people can recover.

All I can say you are expecting a child you are bound to be worried for the child future and also how you are going to manage.

There are also many other things to worry about and I only know that you are having problems at work, what could that be about.

Personally you need to see your GP and discuss there, regards your feelings

BOB

[Gambit62]

Like Bob I'm not sure that there really is a normal.

I suffered depression and anxiety for years that turned out to be down to a B12 deficiency. The way you mention some of your symptoms having gone recently I just wanted to mention B12 deficiency as some women do experience B12 deficiency during pregnancy because you need more B12 because of the part it plays in cell reproduction, so your baby may be taking B12 from you. Doctors are quite well aware of the need for extra folate during pregnancy but not so aware of the need for extra B12.

You can't overdose on B12 and it won't harm your baby - B12 awareness (a US charity) recommend supplementation of 1mg a day during pregnancy and breast feeding.

Low levels of folate, B6 and B12 can cause homocysteine levels to build up - one factor in occurence of some problems (eg pre-eclampsia) during pregnancy.

Please do mention how you are feeling to your doctor and midwife, though I suspect that they won't be very B12 aware.

You can find a list of symptoms of b12 - which are various - covering many different aspects of the metabolism - and occur in different people in different orders - here just in case other things ring bells

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[jue1]

Hi, great news (it will all be over in 40 weeks time and you will have a wonderful baby think of that!! count the weeks - I first started with depression at 38/39 years of age during pregnancy --at the time my gp said it was not treatable during pregnancy but I could have treatment after the child was born I have suffered with depression ever since controlled by medication. So see your GP and see what advice they can give --

you need to try and enjoy your pregnancy calculator experience (I did not full of anxiety) so try and relax

girl - great news just take it day by day and join a relaxation group I went to the antenatal swim group it was the most fantastic thing I did I really enjoyed taking to the midwife who ran the group and other very pregnant women - we had a good laugh and great banter plus great pelvic floor exercises. jul1xx

[Michelle1974 in reply to jue1]

Jue1 wrote a really kind and knowledgeable message.

Congratulations on your great news, you have the most fantastic years of your life ahead of you. Obviously there will be hurdles to get over and some trying times. Once that baby is born look at it as almost starting again.

Obviously don't let yourself suffer and it's good for baby and you to be emotionally and physically well here is the but if you suddenly did feel worse or you thought your coping skills were failing you at any time of your exciting time ahead you know what to do. Please don't ever think your baby will be taken away you are the mummy to this little precious bundle and with you and where baby will you will be especially at 3 am in the morning!!

I first began getting depressed at the beginning of 1996. I never told a soul maybe I would remark I felt fed up and I did learn to cope with it although I could always see the worst side of things,became paranoid and not a very patience mummy!

I carried on along that path trying to hide my bad days and blame it on something else.

When I had my twins in 2002 I could never possibly hide my depression then and the doctors told me they would be more concerned if I was not depressed .

The Ceaserean section was done by a unknown locum doctor and he caused me to a major injury which I will never recover from it would just deteriorate.

Needless to say it encouraged the depression on even more.

When my babies were five weeks old I couldn't hold them for three weeks as I had major surgery.

When they was two I was in and out of hospital as I am still.

I stand my ground though and that is the delivery of the twins alone did not start my depression.

My biggest worry as I was in and out of hospital all the times and also having treatment for depression and having 6 children of ten and under. They were all planned,we are happily married and scrape by to help earn our living as you can probably tell from the last sentence that I was and am paranoid all these seedy ideas are thoughts get put towards me and I am judged.

Anyway years later with depression I am here to tell the tale.

You have your beautiful baby to be and put yourself and the baby first,you go with how you feel but they will not take baby away you just need to believe in yourself.

Hope to speak again but if not before please try and enjoy some of the pregnancy it's so special

Hope you don't mind my long message I just need to let you know you are not alone as you have bump in your tummy.

Michelle x x