https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 16:28:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-429003 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:34:51 +0000 Lozza 429003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB put me on both Ambien and Zoloft, and told me to take 2 weeks off work, around 33 weeks for depression.<br /> For me, feeling overwhelmed at work was a big part of it- I'd never really caught up from getting so behind on my work when I was sick during the first trimester, and I got into a really awful cycle where I kept trying to catch up but only got more tired and less productive.<br /> I think the other main factor was feeling so bad for so long. I don't think anyone can remain totally sane when you can't remember the last time you actually felt physically good, or the last time you slept more than 2 hours without waking up either to go to the bathroom or change positions or for no reason at all.<br /> I had pretty classic depression symptoms- didn't want to get out of bed, didnt' feel like I could face the day.... thought about how it would actually be kind of nice if I somehow broke my ankle so that at least I'd have an excuse to lie in bed all day and not have anyone expect anything of me...<br /> My DH was the one who finally said it was time to go see my doc about it, and luckily my OB took things very seriously (I think it helped that DH was there to explain to her pretty specifically what I'd been like). Without that push, I don't think I'd have had the energy/motivation to go and seek help. My OB also made me go see a therapist, who wasn't actually helpful, but that was ok. The biggest help for me was taking those 2 weeks off work and spending most of that time in bed or resting- I'd never really gotten to catch up on rest throughout my pregnancy, and spending two weeks in bed helped me feel like a person again :)<br /> I was really lucky to find that I was totally fine after having LO. I'm not sure if the Zoloft made a difference, and while I wouldn't recommend doing this, I went off cold turkey as soon as I gave birth. I was lucky enough to have tons of support from DH, my mom, and my sister after giving birth, so that helped, and I think it did wonders for me to wake up every morning and think "all I have to do today is feed the baby. I'm not responsible for anything else." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-428917 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:54:42 +0000 ladyfingers 428917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm doing OK. The past few days have been hit and miss. Last night I totally blew up at DH for something ridiculous (he got the wrong cut of meat at the grocery store) and locked myself in the bedroom. Mature. Then we made up but I burst into tears later that night. It's been a rough couple of weeks, my best friend is going through some stuff that's been impacting me and the gestational diabetes is still stressing me out, on top of all the pregnancy hormones. So I'm just trying to take everything slowly, breathe, not freak out... and hope that the s*** doesn't REALLY hit the fan once baby is here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-428853 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:00:22 +0000 aprk 428853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I am right there with you, exactly. I cried for 2 hours last night because my husband was not going to be home during the day this week. Which is totally normal for him, but because he was working from home last week I got used to him there when I needed him (I also work from home) and my brain could not handle the change. </p> <p>I'm normally very logical and self-sufficient, so this is freaking the hell out of me too. My anxiety leads to insomnia which leads to more anxiety which leads to not being able to deal with anything due to being overtired. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-428850 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:58:54 +0000 Arden 428850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bpaig: I'm ordering my Hypnobabies home study course next week. I hope it helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-428848 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:57:28 +0000 Arden 428848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm having problems with anxiety too. </p> <p>I get weird panicky moments when I'm alone sometimes during the day where my heart starts fluttering and I feel light headed and shaky and want my husband there Right.That.Second.</p> <p>I'm also dealing with a lot of over-the-top emotions where I'll start crying for no real reason, or freaking out in the store because I couldn't make a decision on a x-mas present. It's not at all like me, and it's freaking me and DH out a little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-428829 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:42:51 +0000 aprk 428829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to check in - how's everybody doing?</p> <p>I finally slept for two nights, on and off, but then last night was bad again. My midwife told me to take Benadryl to try and sleep but for some reason last night I was afraid to. I'm not opposed to medication, OTC or otherwise, but I really want to be able to calm myself naturally instead of inducing sleep. Not working so far, though, so I'm gonna hope that forcing myself to sleep will help me be able to get over this anxiety hump. If only for my poor husband who gets woken up every night to sit with me and watch me cry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-426072 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:51:01 +0000 Phillybaby2013 426072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: @JessiBee: @photojane: I'm on board with this too ladies but in a different way. I agree that it must be the timing and the hormones bc i have been feeling depressed as of late and overwhelmed at times. Mine isn't too much related to fears with Baby Boy but more so with feeling lonely and detached from everything especially DH. I feel like he doesn't get it sometimes how hard this is and I need him to be more supportive but when I ask it seems like I'm a chore. We've kind of lost the whole intimacy thing at this point and I don't know what to do. I cried myself to sleep last night. I'm sure I'm over exaggerating the situation but right now it hurts. </p> <p>Seems like us February Mommas are a mess! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425813 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:25:34 +0000 JessiBee 425813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: @photojane: Maybe it's a February moms thing? Because, yeah. Me too. The worst of my anxiety (so far?) was a couple of weeks ago, and I completely freaked out (and cried a lot) on and off for a few days. I think I scared myself and DH. And I have no idea what changed, but for the most part, I've been doing better recently. I love feeling her squirm inside, even (so far) when I'm trying to sleep, because it reassures me that everything is going fine. I freak out that something will go wrong, that I'm not up to this, that there is too much unknown. My DH is amazing at talking me off that (definitely non-literal) ledge, and I think he's paying enough attention that I know he has my back and will be watching for things going not-well with me after birth, too. In some sense, I'm glad I've been going through some of this anxiety now, because it allows us to talk about it and try to work through some of it and come up with techniques before throwing a real, live baby into the mix. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425383 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:02:47 +0000 shinystraps 425383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: We bought the hypnobabies home study course and all the scripts are included. One of my friends found scripts online and used those. I thought it was hokey-pokey at first, but I'm becoming a believer :) I'll do anything to stop worrying and get some sleep!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425381 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:00:34 +0000 ladyfingers 425381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: So interesting... and very true! We are doing HARD WORK!</p> <p>@bpaig: Thanks for the tip! Where do you get those scripts?</p> <p>@aprk: Another good idea! Yes, let me know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425298 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:28:07 +0000 aprk 425298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just talked to an acupuncturist and she explained a lot of why she thought my panic was happening - a lot to do with the heart chi being blocked by the baby causing the negative feelings. The way she described it made a lot of sense.</p> <p>I've never tried acupuncture before, but I'm going for it this time. Maybe it will work for you too, as a way to tell the anxiety and uneasiness to go away. I'll report back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425051 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:28:50 +0000 shinystraps 425051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had awful anxiety and difficulty sleeping due to "what ifs" all through this pregnancy, and this past week I started listening to hypnobabies scripts - technically they are to prepare you for childbirth, but they have gotten me to relax and I NEVER relax. I even fell asleep to the scripts last night and slept through the night with only one bathroom wake-up! Normally I wake up to use the bathroom and then am up worrying for 4 or 5 hours every night :( So sorry about the anxiety. I know it's no fun. Maybe try hypnobabies? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425036 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:20:20 +0000 aprk 425036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: Thanks for mentioning the autogenic exercises. I'm going to try those today. I talked to my midwife's nurse this morning and she recommended trying Benadryl to try and get some sleep. Not ideal, but I think the lack of sleep isn't doing me any favors.</p> <p>I'm also going to try and get out for a walk. Maybe the fresh air will be healing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425024 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:09:10 +0000 boiledpnut 425024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry you're having such a hard time right now! My doctor ended up putting me on Zoloft because I was having a hard time earlier in my pregnancy. He said if I didn't go on it then, he wanted me on it at 36 weeks to help for after the baby was born (long history of depression). I hope you're able to get some help and that you start feeling better soon. Hugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-425002 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:59:19 +0000 photojane 425002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>since we're essentially at the same place in our pregnancy, i thought i would chime in. i almost started a thread about this the other day, but decided against. about a week ago i started getting SUPER anxious for what seems like no reason. this is completely odd for me -- i have no past with depression or anxiety, and in fact, have always been prone to optimism. BUT, in the past week, i'll suddenly start feeling super anxious, overwhelmed, emotional, and on the verge of a breakdown. i've been managing it, but it's especially hard for me since i'm not used to having these sort of feelings. </p> <p>so, i wonder if maybe at this point in our pregnancy our hormones are changing or something...? i've noticed a lot of changes physically in the past couple weeks, so maybe we're experiencing some psychological and biological changes as well. </p> <p>i'm not sure if it's helpful knowing that i'm going through the same thing, but it does help me to know that i'm not just crazy, and you're feeling the same way! i guess we'll just have to have faith that our bodies are GROWING BABIES, and are doing a dang good job! these babies are going to make us anxious worry-warts for the rest of our lives, so i guess we should get used to it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424938 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:30:50 +0000 ladyfingers 424938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprk: @chrispygal: I am not glad you're feeling/you felt this way, but I am glad to hear I'm at least not alone. I was reading some old threads and funny enough the autogenic exercises mrbee had linked to are helping this morning. I don't know why it's always worse in the morning, I really want to correlate this to the stress I've felt having GD because it's really only been bad in the past week! I wake up on edge because I want my fasting blood sugar readings to be perfect because I don't want to take insulin or have a higher risk of something happening to the baby, and even once I see the number is fine I am still all panicky for a couple of hours. Ugh!</p> <p>@aprk I hope you get some relief soon :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424882 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:09:20 +0000 aprk 424882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am feeling similarly. Mine is manifesting itself in panic at night ... but because I haven't slept in four days due to the panic (shortness of breath and just constant scared feelings of freaking out) it's starting to boil over into the daytime. </p> <p>NO IDEA what to do to make this go away.</p> <p>Good luck to all of us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424803 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:33:39 +0000 chrispygal 424803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggled a lot emotionally during my pregnancy and have always been very leveled otherwise. I was just miserable, sad, and worried. Constantly worried. I was happy about the baby, but never really happy or in a good mood. My husband and I really struggled to get along too. It was tough. I did not relax until the pediatricians left the delivery room. I knew if they left, she was ok. I had a c-section, so when she and DH left and I remained in the room while they finished putting me back together and I remember that time so vividly. I had my first moment of calm since the second I found out I was pregnant. I was so relieved - on so many levels. It is honestly one of the moments that defines my delivery experience for me.</p> <p>My DH tells me that I was back to my old self by the time I hit the recovery room. He was amazed. I wasn't a nervous new mom. It was a bit overwhelming of course, but I handled in greatly. I was just happier and so much more relaxed than I'd been in ages. I did have a few days of tears after we brought the baby home, but I was back to almost 100% in 10 days and really did not deal much with post-pardum issues. </p> <p>Looking back now, I don't think I recogonized how much I struggled emotionally being pregnant. I too worried about jinxing and had irrational fears. I think it's something a lot of women experience but don't speak about. Seeking the counsel of your doctor and any other professionals is smart, but know that you are not alone with some of these thoughts and feelings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424752 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:15:28 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 424752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think what you're feeling is very normal. There's such an unknown when it comes to having your first child, and the closer you get, the more real it becomes, and the more you start to worry about what will happen. I think talking about it is the best way to handle it. Try to stay calm and keep it off your mind - go for a walk, get some fresh air to clear your mind. Your baby will be here, alive and healthy, before you know it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424745 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:11:49 +0000 ladyfingers 424745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: Isn't that such a weird specific fear?! For some reason I'm not afraid of him being deaf or anything else. Just blind!</p> <p>Thanks -- logic reigns supreme :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424722 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:02:39 +0000 yoursilverlining 424722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think what you are feeling is totally normal. I had many of those same feelings, especially near to the end of the pregnancy (especially the fear about LO being blind, oddly enough!). I think these feelings of anxiety are totally normal and understandable because your life is about to change, completely. You are about to become permanently and deeply attached for life to someone that you don’t know yet. It’s a joyful time, but that’s also scary and not something you can totally prepare for (which can create lots of anxiety on its own).</p> <p>There is stress for major life changes; whether they are positive or negative. </p> <p>Definitely talk to your doctor, but also keep reminding yourself that you cannot “jinx” things, and also that the odds are NOT in your favor to lose a baby late term or at birth. That happens extremely rarely, so the odds are not that you will be next.<br /> Hang in there mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424717 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:59:18 +0000 Bookish 424717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: Oh, I hear you. I have terrible anxiety as it is, and I think there is definitely a 'block' there preventing me from being over the moon happy because I'm just so worried! Agh! But you're right, I definitely can recognize the signs better because of my previous history of depression/anxiety, and hopefully at my appt on Tuesday I can get some suggestions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424709 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:56:54 +0000 ladyfingers 424709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: Yes, do! Last time I saw my psychiatrist I told her I was really scared of PPD and she mentioned that I have it a bit easier because I'm already plugged in and know who to call and what to do, as opposed to somebody experiencing those feelings for the first time. Which is true I supposed and I'm grateful for that.</p> <p>Also I guess I shouldn't say *nothing* works, which is what makes me think perhaps this is just hormonal/emotional and not necessary requiring medication. When I get really edgy, I can close my eyes, put my hands on my belly, breathe, maybe listen to some good music, even look at my belly and it will calm me down. So I'm not sure what's really going on I guess. Just prone to excessive fear? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424695 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:51:03 +0000 Bookish 424695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry you're having a rough time :( Definitely discuss your options with your doctor- no need for you to suffer!</p> <p>I'm only 8 weeks and I've been battling some really awful feelings of depression. I'm hoping they get better with time, but your post reminded me that I really should talk to my doctor before they become unmanageable. Like you said, this should be a joyful time and it sucks that we don't get to enjoy it fully! Hugs to you, and hope you feel better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/antepartum-anxietydepression#post-424665 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:43:14 +0000 ladyfingers 424665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warning, this could be potentially triggering for pregnant ladies. I don't mean to freak anybody out but I've been having some really morbid fears and I just need to hear some experience or encouragement.</p> <p>I think I may be having some antepartum anxiety/depression. I plan to talk to my doctor about it on Tuesday and if necessary move up my psychiatrist appointment from the 20th of December to earlier so I can discuss options, but did anybody else have this in the third trimester (or really anytime, I guess).</p> <p>I have been on and off of meds my whole life and was on small doses of Wellbutrin and Effexor for about a year before getting pregnant. I've been fine so far, but I'm 31 weeks tomorrow and for the past week, I have been a shaky mess. </p> <p>I was diagnosed with GD last Tuesday so I don't know if it's because of that -- I've been doing too much reading about it and reading about the higher incidence of stillbirth and assuming that will happen to me. I've been trying to picture myself as the mother of an older kid and I can't so I assume that means something bad is going to happen. I'm afraid something will happen to him in labor, that he'll be blind (wtf?), that we'll get up to the last moment and something will go horribly wrong. It doesn't help that we had a friend who lost her baby at 39 weeks a few years back. It's the only person I've ever known that that's happened to, and I keep thinking, odds are the next one will be me. </p> <p>I also feel this urgency to rush, a panic, a sense of dread and a sense of unease. My heart feels fast. This happens mostly in the morning. Baby keeps bopping around in there, but then my abdomen starts to ache from the stress and I start then freaking out that every minute I feel this way, I'm hurting the baby. It's a vicious cycle, I guess. I don't feel traditionally depressed at all -- sad, listless, lacking energy, unable to find joy -- but I do feel very distracted and highly emotional. </p> <p>SO. Sorta normal? Totally not? Either way I will definitely mention it to the docs, but it always helps me to not feel so alone. This should be the most joyful time ever, and all I'm feeling is stuff like, "I shouldn't set up the Rock n Play yet because what if I jinx this?"</p> <p>ETA I have done therapy many times in the past with many therapists, and it has never been effective for me by itself. I've also been trying to breathe and meditate and even drink chamomile tea and it's not really helping me calm down. It's not a 24/7 thing, but when it does happen, these little basic techniques don't really work for me. </p>