Is it normal to get depressed during pregnancy?

Question

I'm 10 weeks pregnant and have never been so depressed. I feel like everything i've worked for in these last 21 years has gone up in smoke. I feel like my body has been completely taken over. Morning sickness is killing me. I'm just not happy or excited about anything anymore. Is it normal to feel this way?

Answer 1

i'm thinking its the morning sickness that is the icing on the cake for you. when i had it bad, it was everyday. it was so bad that all i could muster up to do was work. other than that i was in bed. my poor husband had to get me food. i hated that i had to eat something every 2 hours or i felt sick to the core. the one thing alot of people suggest is eating something before you get out of bed. well that never worked for me. i knew it would always come up within a couple of minutes. sometimes my vomiting fits were so bad that i would get spots on my face from blood vessels bursting. my eating habits changed drastically which made me even more depressed. and work alone didn't help. whenever i wanted to take my legal 10 minute break i was always made to feel quilty. which made me go without food longer becuz of how i felt. and by the time i got home made me feel even worse at night.

i wanted to be excited but it was hard. with being miserable 24/7 just left me drained. i am keeping a monthly log of how i feel and in my 3rd month i wrote this and hopefully it won't make you feel alone. "i need to feel that this pregnancy is worth it and right now i don't feel that." around my 15th week morning sickness decided to hide its head. and i gradually started to feel much better and realized what joy i have for this parasite inside of me.

if you feel that its more of a chemical imbalance then you should bring it up to your doctor. depressents are mainly used as a last resort during pregnancy since they are not generaly safe. but hopefully its just the morning sickness that is causing you to not be happy during this time. goodluck, the morning sickness will pass so just look forward to that.

Answer 2

Yes. Most people feel some sort of depression while they are pregnant and after they have the baby (post partum). It is normal. I felt the same way for a while. Not only is it your hormones, but your life is getting ready to change in a drastic way. Wait until the second trimester comes around. You feel better, get more energy, the baby bump starts to show, and more exciting... you can feel the baby move and find out if it's a boy or a girl.

You'll probably start to feel better after you have your first ultrasound and you get to see the precious little thing and show the pictures to family and friends. It's a very exciting time. Start thinking about all the fun stuff your going to get to buy for the baby. Watching baby shows can be fun too and help you get into the pregnancy. TLC's Bringing Home Baby is one of my favorites.

Start reading books about pregnancy such as "What to expect when you're expecting" or Jenny McCarthy's hilarious "Belly Laughs." And, of course, it's never too early to start thinking of baby names. Remember that you are going to have a precious little baby that you are going to love more than anything. More than you ever even thought you could love another person. Yes your life is going to change, but in a good way. And one day you'll come home from work and pick up your baby and think to yourself "there's nothing else in the world I'd rather be doing" because you've waited all day long to see your baby. It may not seem that way to you now, but you will feel differently once you are able to start connecting with your baby later in the pregnancy. Good luck.

Answer 3

Yes!
I know that pregnant women think they are supposed to feel radiant and amazingly fantastic, but the truth is far from this...
Hormones make you feel awful, sickness can make you feel even worse...how on earth are pregnant women supposed to be the happy, glowing people we see portrayed everywhere?

Allow yourself to feel each emotion, and don't feel bad for not being 100% truly excited. Those feelings will come back later and you will be okay soon, but until then, have a chat with your doctor so they can tell you exactly how normal it is to feel sad.

Answer 4

How common is depression during and after pregnancy?
Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called perinatal depression. The exact number of women with depression during this time is unknown. But researchers believe that depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. Often, the depression is not recognized or treated, because some normal pregnancy changes cause similar symptoms and are happening at the same time. Tiredness, problems sleeping, stronger emotional reactions, and changes in body weight may occur during pregnancy and after pregnancy. But these symptoms may also be signs of depression.

for detail read this link: http://www.4woman.gov/pregnancy/pregnancy/depressed.cfm
or

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/prenatalhealth/9179.html

Answer 5

yes-you are going to be okay-very normal in pregnancy some just get it worse then others-hang in there sweety your life is not over -really it seems kind of crappy right now but it's just beginning!This does eventually go away and there are things you can do talk to your doctor about the depression.Congrats and good luck-really i know theses days are no fun but it gets better! A mommy at 21.

Answer 6

Yes, I was with my second pregnancy and morning sickness made it worse, along with all the hormone changes taking place. I felt so bad that I actually thought about checking into a treatment center. Hang it there it gets better. Talk to your doc to see what treatment options are available. Mine once said something about bright light therapy. Here's a link about the light therapy http://www.moodrelief.com/lighttherapy.html
Hope you feel better soon. Best wishes

Answer 7

No it is not normal to feel like that during pregnancy. Talk to you ob and make sure he or she understands just how badly you are feeling. Most people are aware of post partum depression but are not aware that sometimes depression strikes during pregnancy. Hope for the best.

Answer 8

Yes because us women are emotional rollercoasters, especially when pregnant, your hormones are rising. Once u see that little one you'll be in joy and say it was worth it- I'm nt a mother yet, but from every mother I know, they say that it was worth it. So be positive and get excited about your lil one. Take a nice walk outside if the temps good, relax

Answer 9

It's totally normal! With your hormones going crazy, you can become depressed easily. Tell your doctor how you're feeling. You should get some kind of treatment for it now, either medication or counseling. Otherwise you could have postpartum depression.

Answer 10

it is normal to feel this way yes.....but if it has lasted more then a few weeks you should talk to your doctor about it he or she might be able to help you feel better and reduce the risk of you having post pardum depression good luck i hope you feel better soon