Depressed, sad, angry, hurt.....is this normal?

Question

I am six months pregnant with my 3rd child. My first 2 pregnancies were wonderful. I felt great, and everything was normal. There is a little more stress involved with this pregnancy (which I won't go in to). But I am constantly in a bad mood. I feel like I am PMS'n 24/7. I get so irritated at the littlest things, and I always have a real hateful look on my face. I know this, though, and I acknowledge it when I feel this way, but I can't do anything about it. My doctor's won't listen to me because they think as long as they can hear the hearbeat, and I'm still gaining weight that nothing could possibly be wrong with me. I think I am headed for depression. How do I know what's normal and what's not?

Answer 1

Post Partum Depression and depression during pregnancy is VERY common. Each pregnancy is different...with one birth/pregnancy your hormone levels will be one way and the other can be entirely different. Which would explain why your other ones were easier, or atleast not the same as this one. Unless it is causing you to want to harm yourself or others especially your other children or the baby you're carrying I wouldn't worry too much about it. After your pregnancy you may experience post-partum depression; it's pretty likely you will, but it is hard to tell until you get to that point. If you do your doctor can prescribe medication that you can take to help with the problem. In the meanwhile unless it is extremely bad just try to stay on the possitive and hang in there. These are questions you should ask your doctor. Tell them exactly how you feel and if you have any thoughts of harming anyone. This way they will know the severity of the problem and hopefully be able to help you with it. In extreme cases a doctor may even prescribe medication during pregnancy. Your doctor will know if there are medications that can be prescribed during pregnancy. Some medications do not go through the placenta and will not effect your baby. Also, after child birth there are medications that will not go through your breast milk either. Remember...if you don't like what your doctor is telling you always GET A SECOND and even third OPINION if needed. Take care and good luck!

Answer 2

Its so sad - my experience is that OB's are really pretty clueless when it comes to depression, especially the men. I had a midwife and 2 male OB's, the midwife recognized the depression right away, the men were all about taking me off my antidepressants while pregnant. Now my midwife is retired and I really had to stick to my guns with these guys. I made a decision to stay on the antidepressants and will never ever regret it.

You can't really switch docs like some people suggest, not this far along. Not only is it about impossible to find a OB that will take any new patient, but to take a patient that is in their 7 month...ha, good luck.

So, at this point and time you can try to get in with the ladies who work for your doc. Call them, be honest and open, tell them exactly what you wrote here...let them know you need to start some medication now or you may not make it through this pregnancy in a healthy mindset. That is worse for the baby than most of the medicines out there. Zoloft, Prozac, Welbutrin are all safe antidepressants during pregnancy and breastfeeding ...one of them could be right for you. It does take a few weeks to kick in so the sooner the better.

If your doc still won't listen to you, call your family physician. Let them know you are indeed going around your OB due to your intense concern about your mental and physical well being. When it comes to depression, there is no modesty (just like pregnancy!). You tell it like it is, don't hold back, okay?

Trust me, there is no reason to put yourself through this in todays day and age. It is not something to be ashamed about, you can't control it any more than you can control a headache. You will be so happy you did in a few weeks, I promise!

Answer 3

All of this is normal, your hormones are in a race, and none of them can find the finish line. I have been there done that with my 2nd child. I felt that I could just look at someone and I could have killed them. Lack of sleep adds to this problem, and since you already have 2 kids, I beat you aren't getting my sleep and rest during the day. Relax, tell your hubby you need a break and take a trip away from everyone, even if its just to a hotel to stay a few days so you can get some rest. Any type of rest and relaxation will help improve your mood.

Answer 4

I was like that with my second son I think it's the stress that makes this happen right after ok not right after but by the time of my 1 month check up I was back to my old self. Good luck if you still feel like this after the baby comes you may want to look into a differant kind of doctor to help you get back to the happy place.

Answer 5

See a therapist. If you think you need to talk to someone, then by all means, you must. Trust that you know yourself better than anyone else... and please get some help. It may very well be hormonal... it may be your situation... or maybe a bit of both. No pregnancy is ever the same. Just take care of yourself... take time for treating yourself right. Take time to treat your family right. Balance it all out and try to enjoy your pregnancy. But by all means, get some help. Best wishes for you!

Answer 6

Go get a book called " what to expect when you are expecting". It's the pregnancy bible and will help with all these questions. It's excellent in describing all of these little things that worry moms and help distinguish when something is "normal" or not.
Good Luck!

Answer 7

Go see a differant doctor. Or add another one to the ones you see for the baby one for you.

Answer 8

psychiatry help needed