Perinatal depression

leomom27

Hi, I’ve been pregnant for what seems to be 9 weeks. I haven’t told a soul as my first ultrasound is scheduled for week 12 (I tried to get an earlier appointment, but it is not available because my ob-gyn clinic is popular where I live). Once people know, I feel like friends and family rally around you with support, but these days I feel isolated and very indifferent to everything. I’ve considered telling close family and friends, but I feel like the news is more exciting when it’s been confirmed by a doctor visit. Has anyone else experienced the low that comes with the change in your body combined while having to keep the reason behind it a secret?

AlexisJoy92

@leomom27 I’m so sorry your feeling this way but it’s totally understandable and not at all unheard of we have so many raging hormones wreaking havoc on our emotions and if your feeling alone they will only increase that feeling if you don’t want to reach out to friends and family before a visual confirmation maybe look for a just for fun ultrasound facility during my first pregnancy that what I did since I went the midwife route and otherwise wouldn’t have gotten one in till the anatomy scan usually they say you can’t go in until 9 weeks so if there is one near you perhaps that’s an option if not it might not be a bad idea to confine in your close circle without the confirmation that way they could still support no matter what the future holds❤️

ki1244

@leomom27 first of all -- antepartum (or perinatal, whatever you want to call it) depression sucks. I had it my first pregnancy, and got help from a counselor after my husband practically begged me to because I was spiraling pretty badly. I started Zoloft right after my daughter was born, because antepartum is a marker for PPD as well, and have actually been on it ever since, so this round of pregnancy hasn't been quite as much of a rollercoaster, although there are still ups and downs. If you have a counselor or therapist you can talk to, it's very much worth it.

All that said: we actually have some further conversation about this topic over in the Symptoms thread. I think the prevailing hope here is to keep one-off threads to a minimum so we can keep the board organized. So it might be worth checking that thread out!

lmn823

leomom27 said:

Hi, I’ve been pregnant for what seems to be 9 weeks. I haven’t told a soul as my first ultrasound is scheduled for week 12 (I tried to get an earlier appointment, but it is not available because my ob-gyn clinic is popular where I live). Once people know, I feel like friends and family rally around you with support, but these days I feel isolated and very indifferent to everything. I’ve considered telling close family and friends, but I feel like the news is more exciting when it’s been confirmed by a doctor visit. Has anyone else experienced the low that comes with the change in your body combined while having to keep the reason behind it a secret?

Hi there,

I’m in the same boat as you. I hit my 9 week mark tomorrow and I lost my job when I was 2 weeks pregnant. My partner is at work all day. I’m grateful that I can stay home and recuperate but it can be super lonely and when you’re feeling all sorts of emotions and physical changes and no one to vent to, times can be hard. I’m extremely close to my sisters and friends and so hard to talk to them daily and no be able to bitch about my symptoms!!

my drs appt is scheduled in a few weeks as well since it was a pain in the butt losing my job and the insurance provided and applying for government insurance.  Being that I am a first time mom, I’m left with confusion, anxiety, don’t know if it’s real yet, since I have the symptoms but no ultrasound just yet. I’ve also found it hard to have that motivation to do things so I kind of take it easy and lay on the couch for most of the day. 

Hope you know you have the support and have to say that these discussion boards have helped me along the way. I’m going to wait until I get my first ultrasound which is around the 2nd trimester anyways to tell everyone. Stay strong! 

leomom27

Thank you, everyone. It’s been very challenging, especially experiencing it during the holiday season. My work has been suffering because of it and now I’m dreading going back to work without being able to garner sympathy for my situation. As it is, I already have to work very hard to keep my job and it’s getting more demanding as I’m getting less focused. I also tear up every day about the possibility that this pregnancy may not be real, despite all this mental and physical demand on me.

In a way, I miss my pre-pregnant, more energetic self who had a love for life. I genuinely hope I see my old self again after the first trimester passes.

gingermama29

@leomom27 i can’t recommend a counselor or therapist enough. I started seeing one over the summer after my 4th loss and it is so helpful to have someone you can talk to about all of the complicated emotions and fears you’re going through. I am so grateful to have a therapist throughout this pregnancy and beyond, especially as someone with a history of anxiety and depression (hello daily Zoloft!).
 I’m sorry you’re struggling and hope things improve soon!

msjaay

I had anetnatal anxiety during my first pregnancy (it ended in a loss) but during that experience I realized how very common it is. I ended up seeing a counselor and on medication and it helped tremendously. Pregnancy is very similar to post partum in that you have a swirl of hormones and a huge impending life change. It's totally understandable that people can be more likely to have depression or anxiety. Thinking of you!