Hi Everyone! I’m new here and a first time mom. Wondering how people are doing mentally? I feel as though everything I see online/when I speak to people is all happiness and excitement. However I feel very scared and overwhelmed and overthink a lot. Any one else feel like this? Anyone have resources/articles/suggestions on mental health support during pregnancy?
Re: Mental Health Check
Our bodies are going through HUGE hormonal changes and an average woman takes two years to get back to pre-pregnancy hormone levels after giving birth. Common feelings (even before birth) are;
Sadness, stress, uncaused anger (sometimes towards our partner), worry. Our brain literally looses Grey matter while pregnant and is rewiring itself in order to be ready to care for this infant we are growing. Some mood shifts are bound to happen.
What you are feeling is not uncommon and I belive is just an unspoken shadow part of pregnancy no one acknowledges. If things get to much, never feel you have to push through. Talk to your doctor. I wish I had talked to mine my first post partum experience. I had post partum anxiety so bad, but never acknowledged it.
Another thing I have found to be very helpful is our local early childhood education system (typically put on by your public school district). Mine offered free classes and playtimes for you to show up to with you little one and be able to make connections with local moms that have babies your child’s age.
i also think it really preps you for being a mom. The long nights, sore nipples, post birth healing didn’t seem so awful after being so miserable while pregnant because all those other symptoms went away. Honestly try to give yourself some grace and find people in your life that you can be honest with and vent to. So many people go through this and you are not alone!