Antenatal depression?

[warpig3]

Has anyone suffered from antenatal depression? When I found out I was pregnant I was delighted but now I find I am neither happy nor unhappy. Its like I don't care one way or the other. I feel really bad for feeling like this as I think I should be full of the joys of spring and instead I am a miserable cow. Feeling this way is, in itself, getting me down further. I am not scared of the future or worried or anything like that, just feel empty and devoid of emotion - any emotion!

Actually, I am not even sure if this could be termed antenatal depression, but any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Also I am 9 weeks pregnant if that is any help.

Many thanks
A miserable warpig/cow

:-o(

[redcrx]

hi warpig

Have you spoken to your GP or midwife about how you are feeling?

The first 12 weeks are exhausting and the onslaught of all those hormones can make most women experience symptoms like PMT etc but if youre feeling that its more than this then try and talk to someone.

I found it v difficult to actually believe in a baby until my first scan at 12 weeks. All you have to focus on is a blue line on a wee stick and possibly morning sickness to prove you are expecting.

Ive also been told that for couples who have tried a long time for a baby can find it difficult to believe theyve finally fallen pregnant.

I am not trying to say that what your feeling isnt AND though and so Ive found the link to this messageboard for you. Have a read through, chat to some people and share your feelings and you may get closer to finding out why you feel this way

http://messageboards.ivillage.co.uk/iv-ukpbcwa nd

I hope you find an answer and that your first scan eases things a bit too xx

[boobesque]

Hello, I suffered with Antenatal depression, i was closely monitored after my baby was born as I had previously had post natal depression. Thankfully I didn't get post natal depression this time around, but I was helped along to start labour as I was starting to suffer terribly and the depression blanketed me.
Mine literally went when Emmy was born, so hopefully the same will happen to you

[warpig3]

Thank you both. I am due to see the midwife next Thursday for my booking in appt so I will bring it up then. Perhaps you are right redcrx, until I have the scan maybe I am in some kind of limbo. Its just that I know this should be a joyous time but I cant seem to muster up any postivie feelings at all. That said, I don't have negative feelings either!

redcrx thanks for the link, have registered and will check out the section you sent, just to know that others have felt this way is some comfort.

many thanks
warpig

[redcrx]

just remember to talk about how you feel, either with your partner, family, friends, midwife or on here. There is no right or wrong way to feel when pregnant, you just have to follow your body and mind really. For every woman its a rollercoaster ride of emotions but for some the downs outnumber the ups.

have a good chat at your booking in appointment as they usually allow an hour of midwifes time so make the most of it. make a list of things to ask as your mind will go blank as soon as you arrive lol

[boobesque]

Talking was great - i got my depression around 28 weeks and kept a brave face, then at my last 2 consultant appointments just the words 'how do you feel' made me cry. I feel so embarrassed still when i think about it!

[Psychick]

warpig, I know how youre feeling...kinda.....like most owmen, Ive been on that emotional rollercoaster for a few weeks now! Most recent I keep getting the feeling to cry but dont know why......I dont even know if it is a happy or sad cry! I pretty much just ignore it and carry on as I know its just my hormones being mean to me!

I had my booking in appointment on Wednesday and feel better for it simply because it now feels like Im "officially" pregnant! lol I will feel even more better after I have been for my first scan next month! I just want/need to see and hear the baby now.

Hope you feel better soon :)

[aims1202]

I think i did have AND. i was really depressed for a long time before i became pregnant and even though i was happy about having a baby i felt very down at times especially at the beginning of pregnancy. It wasn't until he arrived that i felt overwhelmed with happiness, it was amazing and i felt like this until i stopped breastfeeding when my son was 8mths. After that i just felt normal again! I did have times when i felt really down but i was not depressed anymore. Since then i have been able to talk to people about how i feel and it helps so much. I am so happy in my life now.
I hope you feel better soon, its early days and you are probably just getting used to the idea. I did not feel i could talk to anyone about how i was feeling when i was pregnant but i think maybe i should have. If you can i would say do and dont worry too much about not being over the moon.

[bigmamma]

Hello warpig sweetie , you are not alone to feel like this in my experience and as you can read from the other posters going through it too. It is early days for your body to adapt to the state of pregnancy and the change of moods and appetite with the fluctuating hormones. You will find too that once you have the scan and see your baby and hear its heartbeat , you will be able to identify with the little character inside you.Between now and when baby is born you will go through lots of different feelings and moods , all part of pregancy love and quite normal in most cases.
Do not be afraid to talk to your midwife about anything at all that is worrying you though love . Big hug :-) xxx

[warpig3]

Thank you all for your replies, you have no idea how much they have helped! I feel a little better today (maybe it was those bl00dy hormones), still not full of the joys of spring but more comfortable with and accepting of the way I feel.

I took myself upstairs yesterday and hid under the duvet for a while but mrwarpig eventually found me and asked what was wrong, so I blurted the whole thing out then burst into tears. Poor thing, he had no idea, as I had been trying to be 'normal', whatever that is! Anyway I felt much better afterward so I guess I will have to wait and see what happens and hope that my mood changes. I should point out that I am not a hugely emotional person at the best of times so really my 'non-reaction' should not have been such a surprise to me perhaps.

Again, thank you so much for your help, advice and support, it is really appreciated.

A not so miserable warpig
xxx

[Psychick]

Ahh......I think I have my little blubs on a daily basis right now.....if I dont I just end up biting heads off! lol

Yup, those hormones really do mess with us eh?

Dont feel silly about taking yourself off upstairs every day and having a little cry........its the best thing and the best way to get it out........its good for you and baby! (I read that somewhere but cant for the life of me remember where! lol)

Hope youre feeling even better :)

[warpig3]

LOL pyschick, I know, what is it with this crying malarkey????

On the plus side, after my 'duvet protest' mrwarpig has been making the dinners, doing the washing up, cleaned out the shed (been on at him for months to do that), and has generally been a good boy, so for every cloud.........

Also, just thinking about the crying, perhaps the more we cry the less fluid retention we get and for every tear shed then we don't gain 0.0000000000001 lbs of weight! (if only).

warpig
xxx

[Psychick]

Ive decided to not worry about the weight til after! lol

Glad to see you feeling better! And well done Mr warpig! Now just stop snoring! lol

[warpig3]

Pyschick - the snoring - I have given up hope on that one.

[Psychick]

Have you tried sellotape?...........over his nose and mouth! lol

Im kidding! Dont really try it! lol

[warpig3]

Don't think I haven't considered it!

[Trinny]

hiya warpig. Hope you are OK........and feeling better. Once you have had the scan pic, you will differently about things. Early weeks of pregnancy are very tiring, and your hormones are all over the place. It will get better. take care love Trin xx

[warpig3]

'Ello Trinny, I feel a little better now, I guess I am just not sure what to expect, it changes from day to day. Yep, I think once I have the scan then the reality will sink in (and possibly the panic too!!!). Hope all is well with you, will send you an e-mail later to catch up.

warpig
xx

[Trinny]

Ok warpig, am having trouble sending emails, but getting them ok. If not I will catch you on MSG later if you want a little chat. Take care xxxx

[Psychick]

Hows it going today warpig?

[warpig3]

Morning psychick, today I feel fine, am just waiting for the realisation to hit me. I have the booking in appt on Thursday so hopefully that will help and I will be able to ask all my questions (have compiled quite a list, oops!) I think on of the reasons I feel better is that I have stopped worring about 'not feeling' anything and just accepted that this is the way I feel for now but as everyone has said, once I have the scan maybe things will be different.

How are you feeling, are you still craving the pickled onion monster munch, even the thought of them turns me! When is your booking in appt, is it today or tomorrow? Do I need to bring anything, like a wee sample? It doesn't mention anything in the literature they gave me, just not sure I can go on command.

Also, I think I read somewhere that you should advoid peanuts during pregnancy as this may give your child a nut allergy, have you heard of this, is it true? Its just that at the moment I am quite partial to peanut butter sandwiches (don't even like peanut butter?????).


Oh and what I wouldn't give for a runny egg with soldiers!!!

warpig
xx