depression during pregnancy and post partum question

[gypsymom]

So a bit of history on me....

I suffer from moderate depression and anxiety. I used to be on lexapro about six years ago, but was weaned off it after only a year as I seemed to level out at that point, haven't been on meds since. I was in therapy until two years ago when i couldn't afford it anymore. I've been fine for the most part since then, sliding into a depressive state only once a year and I've become adept at recognizing the signs and my DH and I work through it.

That being said, my OB wants to keep an eye on my depression due to my hormone fluctuations and lately I've started to feel that dip...I'm easily aggitated into an anxious state for no reason and I've often felt listless and unmotivated lately which is usually my first signs of a depressive cycle.

My question is do any other ladies on here suffer from depression and has it become harder to manage in pregnancy and does it make you more likely to suffer from post partum depression? And is there anything that can be done to help without going on medication?

 

[Soon2bemum]

Hi, I don't suffer with depression but didn't want to read and run. My mum has suffered bad since I was 11 years old, so I guess I have been brought up with it. Sometimes one of the hardest parts can be people that don't understand or get it. Sound like you have good support with dh. Just be honest with him and don't hold back any feeling. Sorry I can't be any more help and don't forget you have all the support you need on here to. Night & day. Take care x

 

[gypsymom]

Hi, I don't suffer with depression but didn't want to read and run. My mum has suffered bad since I was 11 years old, so I guess I have been brought up with it. Sometimes one of the hardest parts can be people that don't understand or get it. Sound like you have good support with dh. Just be honest with him and don't hold back any feeling. Sorry I can't be any more help and don't forget you have all the support you need on here to. Night & day. Take care x

very sweet thing to say thank you! And it is hard... alot of people who don't suffer from depression or haven't been around it act like I should just be able to cheer up and be happy...if only it were that simple.

 

[My4thmiracle]

My friend suffers from depression and she has recently had a baby, sadly she isn't strong enough to come off her meds so has swapped and changed them around her pregnancy and breastfeeding.

My advice is to speak to your hubby like you are doing, don't hold back. And if you feel like it's getting too much speak to your doc/midwife xx

 

[Groovychick]

very sweet thing to say thank you! And it is hard... alot of people who don't suffer from depression or haven't been around it act like I should just be able to cheer up and be happy...if only it were that simple.

I agree hun. My partner keeps having a go at me for feeling down, but I really can't help it. I want to be happy so much, but simple things seem to get me down. Its frustrating. Just to let you know your not alone.

 

[Kess]

I have depression and anxiety too. I weaned off citalopram in order to TTC, and I still feel the difference between being on them and now being off them - being on them is like having balast, the highs are less high but the lows are less low.

Having a history of depression/anxiety does, unfortunately, make you more at risk for having PND, though there are lots of other factors too and I know at least one woman who had bad depression and anxiety (complete with severe panic attacks) who actually got a lot better when she had her son - something else to focus on and someone else you HAVE to put first can help. So don't assume you'll get PND, but do be on the lookout for it. There are medications that are safe with breastfeeding too (bf-ing is supposed to help lower rates of PND too, something to do with hormones levelling out more slowly).

My midwife is referring me early (while I'm still pregnant) to a specialist in PND who works in the local children's centre for extra support, maybe your area has someone similar you could be referred to?
Ah, just realised you're in America so don't have access to the resources we do in the UK. Are there any charities over there who deal with PND? Or any way for you to access low-cost mental health care?

Non-drug ways to help with depression/anxiety include:
Exercise (30 minutes a day makes a big difference, preferrably outside in the fresh air).
Getting enough sleep.
Making tiny goals so you can acheive something each day (if you have something to do, say, sorting the nursery, break it down into tiny little pieces so it's more acheivable).
Activities like colouring mandala (google it and print them off) that focus you but don't ask too much of you.
B vitamins - check with your midwife, but I'm nearly 100% sure you can't overdose on B vits as they're water soluble so you just pee out any excess. Some people on a depression support forum I used to frequent found that high doses of the whole B vit complex (find a good supplement with ALL of them in) helped - apparently you know you've got enough when your pee turns green - that's the excess being got rid of, so you can go back down a notch then. Check with your Dr though to make sure it's safe for the baby.

 

[meow951]

I have depression and anxiety too. It's not bad enough for me to need medication though.

Since being pregnant i have found there have been times where i have felt worse but it seems to lift again. My midwife knows my history so i assume they will keep an eye on me after the baby is born.

I did read somewhere that there is a slight increased risk of pp depression. Although apparently it is normal to feel down after the baby is born, it's just whether it continues on for a long period of time and how you bond with your baby.

This is something i'm worried about but i figure if the doctors and me and my oh know then we can keep an eye on it and go to the doctors as soon as we think it might be creeping back.

 

[jellytot3]

I suffer with depression and when i got pregnant i was told to stop the medication. it was hard for the first month but now i feel better. it still creeps up on me now and again and i find it very hard to think positively. i think i definatly will have pnd after babys born. there isnt erally much advise i can give you excrpt if you ever feel things are getting too much, tell your midwife...she told me there are drugs out there suitable in pregnancy for depression.x

 

[babeygalnina]

I've been getting quite depressed and stressed recently over work, which is putting a strain on my relationship with my OH. It feels like every five minutes, I'm in tears or having a go at Martin for the silliest things.

At work, I just feel constantly down (I'm not being treated very well by two members of staff- one of them being the deputy manager- because I'm pregnant) and emotional. It's taking such a toll on me

 

[Teacake <3]

Ive been medicated for depression for the last 3 years, they initially thought it was all post-natal as I had a breakdown when my son was 3 months old but looking into it they realised that there were more underlying issues. I'd had a year in which my dad committed suicide, we moved house into a new place with my mums now husband and my husbands family were evicted from their home, all in all I was on the edge and then when I had Wilson he was early and in neonatal for 4 weeks with septicaemia and constant hypoglycaemia. It was all too much.
I came off fluoxitine last august, having doubled my dose to 40mg as I have trouble sleeping, I changed to metrazopine 20mg and it knocked me for six and I slept for almost 22hrs a day at that point- not good with a 2 yr old and a full time job! This was replaced with citalopram 20mg and I settled nicely on it felt much calmer and generally happier.
When I found out I was pregnant at the end of October the dr I saw wasn't my gp- we don't have specific gps in my practice but I have one as need continuity of care regarding depression and she wouldnt give me a repeat prescription- just stopped my medication there and then! How is it possible she knew so little about anti depressants that she didn't wean me off them?! I had a really tough time the early weeks of this pregnancy I didn't get to see the midwife when I was booked and I was trying to manage without any medication and it was awful. Thankfully the midwife I saw was brilliant and I'm back on 10mg citalopram and won't have to consider coming off them til about 28wks, she was furious with the dr!
I couldn't cope with all the pregnancy related hormones and extra stress without being on medication- as terrible as it sounds I know I couldn't and it could have been so different if I hadn't come back onto them! As much as I would love to not rely on them especially while I'm growing a baby it's for the sake of my family I'm taking them! just wish I was more settled and on an even level all the time without them but that's going to take some more time! Xxxx

 

[Evansangel]

Im currently being seen for depression. They are saying its post natal and pre natal depression because of the small age gap in the babies.

I said i dont want to take medication because im pregnant so they are sending a health visitor to come and speak to me and i apparently have vouchers for sessions.

 

[DragonMummy]

I had crippling PND (PPD) and what is now called post natal anxiety for 18 months after my son was born and have aways been prone to mild depression and anxiety. Am feeling marvellous at the moment, despite going through an awful lot of shit over the last 2 year.

As my pnd was so bad I'm not taking any chances. I am going to ask for a low dose of anti d's as soon as baby is here and I am arranging for my family and inlaws to visit every other week to help with housework etc so i don't have to worry about that - I had no help at all last time. Am also going to get DH to force me to do 20 minutes exercise a day as that REALLY helped me before. Just getting out of the house.


I have NO expectations for this child. With H I had a water birth planned and ended up having a crash section under general anaesthetic. I planned to BF until a year but my milk dried up at 5 weeks. Those contributed a LOT to a huge sense of failure and being a crap mother. This time I have to have an elective caesarian due to complications with the last, so i more or less know what to expect. And I am going to try and BF. See how I get on. Am not thinking past the first week at the moment. I am keeping my expectations as low as I can so anything else is an acheivement.

I am terrified of crashing as low as I did again but I know the signs as will you. Get to your GP as soon as you notice anything wrong.

Also, not sure how PND is gauged in the US but in the UK they use the Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale - I keep a LINK for it saved to my favourites. when I had the pnd I would do it once a week to see how I was doing. I think anything over 13 should send you straight to your doctor or health visitor for help. Is a useful tool if you can be honest with it. x

 

[MyFavSurprise]

I have battled with depression since I can remember, at 12 I attempted suicide and ended up in the hospital. I tried again a few times after but not to the extent of the first attempt. I also was a self mutilator and just recently stopped in the last 2 years with some extra bouts here and there. I never had much luck with medications, I tried so many and ended up giving them up because they all made me sleepy and none stopped my depression enough. I've learned to manage and cope with it, I am lucky to have my boyfriend because he helps me get through it.

I am sure I will have PND as I have already had a few bouts of depression here and there based on the birth father of my baby, he is a creep and not the man I have been with and love, and he is giving me problems all the time. I tried to hide from him but he finds me. I have thought about suicide once or twice thinking it might be better for the baby and me, but of course I can't do it, there has to be another way to make it through, I love my baby and I just keep thinking that I have to get through it for him. It sounds worse than it is, these thoughts have been out of fear and anger and only on rare occasion, my boyfriend talks me down from this state of mind, the lows are just SO low that this is where my mind goes first.

You're definitely not alone, many women go through it during pregnancy and after even if they never have before, as someone else stated, your are more prone to PND if you have suffered with depression.

I'm sure if you talk to your OB they can arrange some type of therapy, at least someone to talk to. I agree with the rest of the posters, exercise really helps too, taking walks and getting fresh air. Sometimes that alone and having someone to talk to can be all you need to make it through.. Remember that its for your little one!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Since having severe MS, my depression has flaired up in the worst way. I don't want to get out of bed in the morning and struggle to complete the most mundane tasks. I hate as well people saying to just go out and do things. It's not that simple really! I'm trying to find a job atm because working gives me a sense of satisfaction and purpose. I know I'm almost halfway through the pregnancy, but I need to get out and have a purpose!

I know it's strange, but I always thought I would be the mom, you know? Now that I'm pregnant, I would happily go to work and earn money while DH stays at home and cleans and takes care of LO. It's so strange....I keep feeling like it makes me a bad person....

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Double post due to lag

 

[gypsymom]

Thank you all for the support and info, I'll try all these suggestions and I'll ask my OB about what kinds of programs/docs they reccomend! Dragon, I will definately check out that link and check my symptoms accordingly! You ladies are so sweet and it's nice to know I'm not alone in this!