Depression? Or is this normal?

[binky94]

I've suffered from depression for the last 4 years and was advised to stop taking my antidepressants (citalopram) when I found out I was pregnant. I had only been on the citalopram for 2 months.
While I feel nowhere near as down as I used to, I still cannot stop feeling down during the evenings. I dread days off and weekends as I know I will have nothing to do to distract me from feeling low.

OH and I have a great relationship and I love spending time with him, but we both live with our parents as we are both at uni. He is very supportive of me when I talk to him about my depression, as is my mum. We have had a few problems recently regarding his mother, and I did feel as though he was taking her side a bit which upset me, but definitely hasn't contributed to my feeling low.

So my question is, is it normal to feel down to the point of crying every evening? Or does this sound like depression returning? I feel excited about this pregnancy and cannot wait for my little boy to arrive, but I can't help feeling so low.

Thanks for reading.

 

[pebbie1]

Hi there.
Sorry to hear you are feeling low
Hormones can make you feel a bit more teary but I think yours is part of the depression as well. It's great your feeling better than you did before, but I'd go and see the GP or your midwife.
If its an antenatal depression it can move over to a postnatal depression which is not nice as you want to enjoy time being happy with your new baby.
So if I were you I'd tackle it now.
Good luck hun
X

 

[CatherineK]

Hun, talk to your doc. Going off meds during pregnancy isn't always the best choice, a lower dose or different med may be called for. Some mood swings are very normal in pregnancy, (and at your age in general &#128521 but it should not be every night. Also finding hobbies and activities to full your time might help. Hugs.

 

[MustBeMummy]

Sertraline and fluoxetine are both safer in pregnancy. I'm having to still take my fluoxetine as my depression was really bad. Although I'm feeling better. I would like to breast feed but bit worried about coming off them to do it

 

[fashionlover]

It is nice to hear that someone else is going through similar feelings. I am normally not a very depressed person but I come from a history of family members that suffer from it. I have heard that it is normal but I asked my doctor for a referral to group therapy and a counselor. I want to prevent as much post pardum depression as possible as I am a housewife and need to be on the ball.

 

[MImom2be]

Oh my gosh...I can't believe someone had FINALLY said what I'd been thinking.

Hell no this can't be "normal" to feel THIS down or THIS depressed, right?

I actually started seeing a therapist and was actually put on Prozac (Fluoxetine, 10mg) for it. Do I feel better? Not yet, but I hope to soon.

In my opinion, others may disagree, but I believe the person carrying the baby should be of the same importance if not MORE SO than what she's carrying. Granted yes, Prozac has a rating of C, but I waited till I was WAY into my 2nd tri before taking it.

Most doctors will want to wait til you're in your 2nd tri, because you are past the crucial feature development phase.

I tried to privately message you, but I'm kinda new myself and didn't know how. :/

 

[nickynora]

I've suffered from depression for the last 4 years and was advised to stop taking my antidepressants (citalopram) when I found out I was pregnant. I had only been on the citalopram for 2 months.
While I feel nowhere near as down as I used to, I still cannot stop feeling down during the evenings. I dread days off and weekends as I know I will have nothing to do to distract me from feeling low.

OH and I have a great relationship and I love spending time with him, but we both live with our parents as we are both at uni. He is very supportive of me when I talk to him about my depression, as is my mum. We have had a few problems recently regarding his mother, and I did feel as though he was taking her side a bit which upset me, but definitely hasn't contributed to my feeling low.

So my question is, is it normal to feel down to the point of crying every evening? Or does this sound like depression returning? I feel excited about this pregnancy and cannot wait for my little boy to arrive, but I can't help feeling so low.

Thanks for reading.

I would defo speak to your midwife or gp hun, as antenatal depression (if thats what you have, im by no means saying yoh do!) can lead to post natal depression.

I suffered with post natal depression and I felt very much like your describing so I would defo get it checked out.

I was put on citalopram for my pnd, and had been on it for 4 years before I got pregnant (with my angel) My gp recommended I came off them but when I told him I didnt think I was ready he reffered me to a mental health specialist. The specialist said that you CAN take citalopram during pregnancy. The risks to your mental health (and to baby because if this) out weigh the risks of the medication on baby. I even have the backing of my midwife should I feel I need to start taking them again.

I was told that they will monitor baby after birth for any signs of withdrawal or adverse reactions but only as a precaution, as chances are slim that there will be issues.

I would defo get checked out and if needs be ask for a refferal to local mental health, they will know a lot more than gps do (that's why mine reffered me! He even said so himself!)

I don't take them now but I wouldn't hesitate to start them again if I felt the need to. x
Feel free to message me if you have any more questions about it, don't suffer in silence x

 

[sophie22]

I think it's hormones. I get like this on quite a few evenings, but I think it's though hormones and boredom! Once Jesse has gone to bed I sit and think, what now? His dad dosnt get home until 9pm so I'm on my own most of the time and I have too much time to dwell on negative thoughts and emotions

 

[MImom2be]

Not trying to start an argument by any means, but there is a VAST difference between boredom, as you describe, and crying constantly, not wanting to get out of bed, forcing yourself to eat, avoiding family and friends and resenting your baby and getting pregnant.

A HUGE difference.

I don't know if that is what Binky is going through, but for me, and my doctors, Prozac was a no brainer.

There's days when you may feel "down" or slightly depressed, but when you fail to function like a human being and it goes on for months? I chose to seek help.

 

[binky94]

Sorry for the late reply, not been on in a while. Thank you so so much for all your responses. I haven't yet been to the doctor as I was waiting to see if it passed. I feel much, much better than I did when I posted this. I go through stages or being up and down so I knew it was bound to pass. I have decided to take up water aerobics and I'm concentrating on working hard at uni to fill my time so that I don't have the chance to have time to dwell on these feelings. I won't hesitate to return to the GP/MW if I start to feel low again as I know it's not good for bubs to have an unhappy mum. But I feel a lot more positive. I think part of my problem is that I feel like i've been pregnant forever and that just makes me feel really down, coupled with the recurring episodes of depression I feel like i'm stuck in a cycle. But I think that as I get further along in pregnancy, the end is in sight so I have something to look forward to and it helps me a lot.

 

[babyhopes2010]

aww hun i came off sertaline wen found out i was pregnant. its getting worse n worse so i need to go see dr. ask ur dr about diff med. its far better to feel ok then to feel awful all the time. aparently these tablets are ok during pregnancy altho im against it i think i have no choice

its rubbish weather im tired n sick, i have 15month old who is stroppier then ever and im stuck in a cold house all day with no family within 600miles

 

[purple_rain]

I was on citalopram but came off when pregnant. I too am feelin really low at moment and so emotional. I think its a mixture of both.

Saw the doctor last week he wouldn't give me anythin due to risks but signed me off work for 2 weeks to rest as I kept breakin down at work.

Hope you feel better soon hun, you're not on your own. If you can, get some exercise. I'm stuck with bad back now so I'm strugglin but it would help.

 

[pandaspot]

When I saw this post I thought is that my post I posted a couple of weeks ago?

Anyway, I was feeling really really down, suffered with bad depression in the past, not on anything recently. But I began feeling withdrawn, down, crying all the time. Chatted to my dr, he thinks hormones to blame, tbh the last two weeks I have felt great. Yeah I have the odd crying spell, you know if something silly upsets me, and when I cry I cry hard. But it's purely my hormones, I recognise that. It was also frustration as well of being asked the same crap all the time by mil, really really doing my head in lol

Have a chat with your dr that's what they are there for. I am going back to mine in a couple of weeks, he just wants to make sure I am not going backwards and am coping ok

Good luck x

 

[nickynora]

I was on citalopram but came off when pregnant. I too am feelin really low at moment and so emotional. I think its a mixture of both.

Saw the doctor last week he wouldn't give me anythin due to risks but signed me off work for 2 weeks to rest as I kept breakin down at work.

Hope you feel better soon hun, you're not on your own. If you can, get some exercise. I'm stuck with bad back now so I'm strugglin but it would help.

If you're struggling hun then you CAN take citalopram during pregnancy. I dont know if you saw my other post in the thread but I was on citalopram and was referred to a mental health specialist when I found out I was pregnant last time. They told me that the risks to myself and baby of not taking it if needed were greater than the risks associated with taking it.

I have been told by my gp and midwife that if I need to go back on them then I can. My midwife said that she has had women on citalopram during pregnancy in the past!!

Dont suffer hun, if needs be ask for a second opinion from someone more specialised in that area!! My gp reffered me as he didn't know much about the risks etc himself (he admitted thid to me when I told him I was pregnant!!)


xx