Will depression really affect the baby?

Question

I am 19 weeks pregnant and severly depressed. My fiance left me shortly after we found out I was pregnant... even though he had earlier expressed that he wanted children. Someone mentioned anti-depressants but arent they for chemical imbalance? Being single again... pregnant.. and having to move back home seems like it could cause depression on its own. People keep telling me that my depression will have negative effects on this baby... I have disconnected from all my friends, barely leave the house, cry constantly, mood swings, no motivation, and constantly feel there is something wrong with the baby. (I still havent felt any movement) Is this normal depression for my situation + pregnancy hormones, or should I look into anti-depressents?

Answer 1

Yes, yes, and yes and maybe.
There is a social, mental (thoughts), and biological aspect to depression.
What you should do is this - get someone to talk to about your depression - a therapist or conselor - and talk to a doctor about your depression as well.

Answer 2

If you're willing to go the route of anti-depressants, you're going to have to convince the doctor that you REALLY need them. Most doctors don't want to prescribe them unless they clearly feel that the benefits WAY outweigh the risks. In some cases, they do, and in others, they don't.

To me, it sounds like you have a little more than circumstancial depression, although your circumstances are good enough reason to be depressed. Your rapidly changing hormones will make you sad, too. I'm nineteen weeks, and I have been dealing with intermittent feelings of depression and anxiety.

I raised my son by myself. I was nineteen when I got pregnant, and I threw his father out (he liked to beat up pregnant women, so, I shot him). I was horrified to do it alone, but I wouldn't take back a moment of the decision I made. The point is, if your fiance walked out on you, smile. He really did do you a favor.

Depression can have a negative effect on the baby, which is why I want you to go to the doctor. You deserve to live your life happily, and your baby deserves to have a happy life, also.

You have some anxiety issues, too, from the sounds of things. Relax, okay? I'm 19 weeks with my second pregnancy, and I've only felt a couple of things down there, and nothing that's really strong. You're normal, okay? Some women don't feel baby until week 26.

I'm sorry you're going through this. If you ever need to talk, I'll listen.

Answer 3

Well everything affects the baby, and yet it doesn't .... Just make sure you are taking care of yourself and baby. Take your vitamins and try to cheer up.
Maybe it is for the best.
After all do you think it would have worked out even if he stayed with you after "baby" was born. Most of those relationships I am sorry to say never work out...
And he sounds like a loser to me anyway for what he did and not stepping up and being a man.
Best wishes from the heart.
I want a baby really badly but can't seem to get pregnant.
I have an open heart to any child that I can raise and shape into a succesful human...
I would love to have one to love and cherish and spoil of course too.
Sincerly,
Stacy M.

Answer 4

I am so sorry you are going through all of this. You are not alone in your situation and I really do hope that you will seek a support group to help you through this.

Depression alone will not harm your baby. The dangers of depression and pregnancy come into play when mom does not take care of herself as she should. You need to make sure you keep eating well and listening to your body. Plenty of people with depression have healthy pregnancies.

That said, you need to seek help for you! You need to be well enough to care about yourself and your wellbeing to be able to care for someone else's. Your doctor will be able to help a bit, and you may really want to look into talking to a counselor. Medication can only help so much, and in your case will not cure the problems you are having. (That does not mean you should not take anything that your doctor thinks will help and not harm your pregnancy!)

Please talk with your doctor or a crisis pregnancy center. There are people who want to help you and you can get through this! Good luck!

Answer 5

Count your blessings !!! You say you are going back home or moving back home. You are so lucky. Some pregnant girls get kicked out of the house by their own parents. And then they have to deal with things on their own. You are so lucky to have loving parents that are willing to support you through this difficult time. You are hurt because your fiance left you after he found out you were pregnant. What kind of a man is he ? In my opinion he isn't a man. He is a cowered who is selfish enough to leave you and his precious being you are carrying inside of you. That is so wrong and I asure you he will pay for it sooner or later. In the mean time this little preciouse baby inside you is depending on you to take care of him or her. He loves you already. This little piece of you. How could you not love him. Its a little piece of you. Listen...You being deppressed is only allowing your fiance to make you a victom over and over. As long as you feel deppressed, you will be giving him your power. Is he worth it? NO!!!!!! You are lucky you found out the truth about him now and not later. His actions towards you and your baby shows that he's a looser and that he didn't realy love you. why would you want to be with someone who doesn't love you. The hell with him. This is a sign that there is someone out there that will love you and is waiting for you. Your ex is not worth your tears. Take your power back from him. Pick yourself up and fight for your precious angel. You are not a cowered like him. You will fight for your child and move on ahead. I'm a mother of three children under five. They are my world. I love them so much. Close your eyes and imagine those little fingers and legs and eyes that are probobly already formed. by now you would be able to know the babies sex. The first time you see your baby...That little nose, mouth and eyes and little body you will fall in love and nothing else in the world will matter. The only thing that will matter is the well being of your baby. You ask about anti depressants. To be honest I don't think you need them. Because your right like you mention you don't have a chemical imbalance. You are experienceing a rough patch in your life which is only temporary until you decide to take back your power and move on. Just think...here I am crying my eyes out while he's out there laughing and living his life. Crying and being depressed is not going to make him a man and come back. You are only hurting your self and the baby. Just think that when you cry your baby is hearing you cry. Believe it or not he can hear you. He can feel what you are feeling. Is this jerk (ex-fiance) worth your baby's well being? NO!!!!! They say that life can get messy sometimes and thats ok...Embrace the messyness because at the end of every mess is a blessing... Staying in the mess and refusing to accept it will only keep you from getting to the blessing. Think about this...God bless you and your little Jelly bean. God is with you put your self in his hands, your sadness, your tears, and your depression. He will comfort you. Trust in him. Put your life in his hands and let him do with it what he needs to do. He will take care of you. Again take care

Answer 6

well part of that depression is bc of all the hormones excalating from the pregancy, u will have the symoptoms quit often, but yes taking depressants will affect your baby so i wouldnt pull towards that, just keep on going and soon things will get better sometimes later rather than sooner but they will. I hope i helped in any way, and if u need to talk email me anytime

Jenn

Answer 7

you poor thing. i'm no doctor but i wouldnt suggest getting on any pills esp. not anti depressants only because i've heard back side effects coming from them with people who are not pregnant. you don't want to do anything that could possibly put the baby at risk of course. also, a lot of people develop a high dependency on anti depressants once they are on them and you won't want your baby to grow up knowing that camoflauge of yourself on pills for the rest of your years. just talk to someone who you can trust...your parents..friends..a counselor, get back into the world and open up and let out all your pain while you can. once the baby is born,and everything is off your chest, you can see what a blessing your child is and you'll have a new outlook and hopefully that can be what brings you out of that rut you are in now because once you see that baby is dependent on you you'll have to snap out of it. best of luck to you and your baby.

Answer 8

yes, it will effect the baby.
also, the baby will probably become a depressed individul as it grows old, because as a embryo it went through severe depression with you. But before taking any anti-depressents talk to your doctor, make sure they won't hurt the baby.

your doctor will probably tell you not to take them as often as normal, because you don't want to increase your situation, since your already going through a changing of hormones.

(meaning)
Your doctor will probably tell you that it might not be safe, since your hormones are already changing.

Just talk to your doctor before deciding anything, good luck hun!

*♥ - kay - ♥*

Answer 9

Hormones while pregnant in themselves can cause depression, but given your situation, things could get alot worse. It may affect the baby, but the chemicals in these anti depressants , in my opinion could have a worse affect on an unborn child.

Answer 10

i'm sorry to hear about your situation. when i talked to my doctor about feeling depressed, she told me that my depression can have an effect on my baby. that the chances are higher that the baby will develop depression and be more prone to it when they get older. so she prescribed me some meds, and they worked real well. you need to talk to your doctor. good luck w/all that.

Answer 11

YES! What ever you do it going to affect you baby. if drink and smoke, it going to affect your baby health. If you are angry or depress, your child will be learning them from you. He/she is like a big memory chip, record everything you did into his/her brain.
So, if you are keeping the baby, just keep cool and be happy forget about the heartless creature. Be your normal self. Go mix around your friends. your child are going to healthy and happy and intelligent too. Read too him/her loudly, you can feel that he/she is enjoying it. So just be happy and Put your hope on your child.