3 Months Pregnant and Sad

I am so sorry you are feeling this way. Know that it will pass and give yourself as much of a break as you can. Just do the minimum. You should probably seek counseling also. I have battled depression and anxiety for many years and know what you are feeling. I finally went on medication to help me but I am pretty sure that is not an option when you are pregnant. Get help from friends and family as much as you can.

Sending hugs and warm thoughts yor way! Depression is soo real,& being pregnant makes your hormones run wild. Your going through a tough time right now, but it will pass. Keep your friends close through this, and know were all here for you!
Hope you feel better soon!
L.

C.,

It sounds like you are depressed, and that is bad for you and your unborn baby. I would seek therapy and counseling immediately. I have suffered from depression before and had to take meds through my first pregnancy but my son is healthy and wonderful. Just keep your OB in the loop as well. You will be in my prayers.

PLEASE call your doctor today and talk to them or get an appointment to see them ASAP. If they don't help you, ask for a referral to a specialist. Make them take it seriously. I do not know what can be done when you're pregnant, but I have SAD, meaning depression when there is not enough light, especially in winter, but it has lasted MUCH longer this year due to all the rain and clouds. Exercise and a light box do wonders for me, and I started taking Vitamin B6, which improved my life SO MUCH this year. I only found it in like 2500 times the RDA at Walmart, so I crunch it up with a rolling pin and take a tiny bit every day, but my brain needs that to make seratonin. I stopped taking it in May and had a relapse. Went back on it and will likely take it the rest of my life, sun or no sun. It cost $2 for a bottle that will last me ten years. Again, I do not know if this is safe during pregnancy, but if a Dr. can ID something your body needs that it is not getting, it can change your life. Please email if I can be further help! D.
p.s. SAD is an adult onset disease that I would NEVER have guessed I would develop, so if you think that's it there are ways to abate it like diet, exercise, light that do not involve drugs.

Glad you made an appointment to speak with yout OB/Midwife!! As a Social Worker, I know how beneficial counseling can be....but as a mother of TWO, I also know that sometimes anti-depressants are necessary. I was on Prozac during and after BOTH of my pregnancies. My kids are BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, and HAPPY. I have a 5 year old and a 6 month old.

Keep an open mind to it. THere is no reason you should be suffering when a safe option is out there. Prozac has been on the market for over 20 years, and has been researched and studied. You are better off being on it and NOT depressed, than not taking it and feeling sad and down (because that DOES get through to your baby). Take a deep breath, and keep an open mind :)

Ok, go to webmd and do a search for depression. You have the classic signs for depression. I went through all of that not long ago. It is easy to do when circumstances aren't ideal and you are having hormonal fluctuations. Please, see someone about it. I highly recommend therapy. HIGHLY. Your general physician will want to prescribe antidepressents, and they are not even effective as placebo. Believe me, I know. So, please see a therapist for a little bit. They will give you good reading material and some health and lifestyle tips. It ends up being a combination of several factors.

I've been depressed, had gestational diabetes, been pregnant, and been utterly alone in the home with complete silence. How wonderful you have reached out with Mommasource. Make an appointment to see your obstetrician immediately - today - yes, it is an emergency, no- not for the hospital. The obstetrician should be able to refer you to a specialist to prescribe some medicines that are okay for pregnancy and take the gloom from your thoughts. Then, you can source a councelor and a mentor (in addition to your husband - let's not have him -or you- do it alone), to support you through and out of the tunnel you are creating for your safety. Good Luck! YOU ARE NOT ALONE. By the way, "Alone" breaks down to "all one" which in my spiritual understanding means we are ALL part of ONE. Hope this helps.

C., this is very normal. First of all your at the end of your 1 trimester, hormones are peaking!! Your melancholy could be 100% triggered from this. Treat yourself out, go outside, walk or get some ice cream see a movie. When you get your mind off of how you are feeling you will notice you will get re-inspired again.

Nobody likes housework, so taking a break is normal. Not liking your job? You need to look at what is it that you really enjoy doing and then research what can you do to start working in what you love to do. I have a workshop coming up if you are interested, or I might be coming out to your neck of the woods.

You will be fine, this is passing... and there is not a woman (or man!) that has not gone through this!

Dear C., How can we help? You certainly do have A LOT going on! No wonder you're depressed! Can you force yourself to take a walk each day? Getting outside might help. (Not sure where you live; if you are near Baltimore - good luck - I hope it stops raining!!!) Also, try listening to and/or reading inspirational material. Listen to upbeat music and sing along! Do you have a girlfriend who would let you vent to her every day, until you start feeling better? I'll keep you in my prayers. Be well! N.

C.,
What is making you so sad? P.

I agree that you should call your OB or family doctor and simply tell them tha tyou are feeling unusually blue and are worried about how you feel. They see this a lot, it is not so unusual, especially with raging hormones.

For now, don't beat yourself up for the way you feel or for avoiding work or other chores. It's okay to focus on yourself, as long as you are trying to get some support and help.

The other reason to speak to your OB, other than so you can feel better now, is you don't want to face this when the new baby comes, right? You'll be more susceptible to these feelings post partum and you need help to avoid that.

Please call your ob/gyn and explain how you are feeling. Your doctor will be able to help. Also, talk with your husband, he sounds supportive best of luck (stay strong), J.

Hugs and kisses your way honey ... I hope someone here can give you some advice that will help. Call me if you need anything - I'm always here for you!! Abigirl

I wanted to know if you exercise. Ive noticed that when I feel that way exercise really helps and drinking plenty of water. Get out of the house and jogg or walk in the park. I am not sure if you are a women of faith but if you are I would try praying. Heres are few encouraging verses.

YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things ( Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive my self' God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs ( Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

I am a clinical psychologist and recently went to a seminar on women experiencing depression during the perinatal period. If you would like more information on counseling referrals, feel free to send me a personal message.

I am so sorry you are depressed. Some of that is hormones, of course. I have been a diabetic since I was 7, so about 29 years. I am also hypothyroid, which, when I need a higher dose of my meds sometimes leaves me feeling the blues and unmotivated. I'm not a doc, but I have been pregnant 6x with diabetes,and hypothyroidism and it is NOT the same as a regular pregnancy. The endocrinologist and the OB-Gyn need to communicate. The OB should not assume that the endo is testing for all of the right stuff. It's amazing what balancing your hormones can do for....well, everything. I don't know if you are a woman of faith, if you are, or were, or have thought about it, you might get some encouragement from that. My hubby is serving in Afghanistan for another 5 months, and I have 6 boys, diabetes, hypothyroidism, a son with autism diagnosis, and an aunt with special needs moving in soon. I can get really overwhelmed just facing my day, sometimes. My church family and friends have been a great support system for me. Even if you don't attend, some of the friendships found with other women there will help pull you through this trying time.

Big hugs to you. I think it is great that you are reaching out to the community - you are motivated to get out of this and that's a good sign. I would call your doctor and ask them for professional advice. Pregnancy takes an incredible toll on your body. During pregnancy and afterwards I had crazy sad dreams about my parents who are deceased. I finally talked to my doctor because I thought I was working through a case of the baby blues and was bummed because I figured I'd have to go on some prescription. She recommended getting fish oil or flaxseed oil to increase the amount of Omega-3s which research suggests can ease depression. It really, really helped me - and eased feelings of anxiety that I thought were just a natural part of becoming a parent (but now I realize were a little bit out there). Working from home is tough, I do hope that someone more experience with that will respond with advice. I do play music through my computer using www.pandora.com to keep me feeling like I'm not all alone when I work from home.
You aren't running away from everything if you made the effort to post here. Good luck.

See your OB or midwife! PPD can start in pregnancy & hormones make us so whacky. Your doc can prescribe you medication and refer you to counseling. This is more common than you think. Do it for yourself, your husband, and daughter!

C.,

You are going through a lot! You need to talk to someone ASAP. Call you primary care dr and make an appt, tell the nurse you think you are depressed and need to speak to him this week. Meanwhile throw open the curtains in the morning get sunlight, exercise, journal your thoughts and worries, and tell you husband how you are feeling. Don't judge your feelings just acknowledge them, you need someone to talk to like a counselor. hang in there!

Rochelle

C.. I hope you are feeling better with all this great advice. I only have one thing to ad. MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC. It sets the tone in my house everyday.It can really lift my moods. I put on the radio or favorite CD's or go online to (free) www.Pandora.com and create my own radio station. It's is free and just like a radio station of your own making. When I have to do computer chores I open up 2 web pages and do my work on one and listen to Pandora on the other. Sometimes it's sad country songs that help me cry it out and get over it. Or really up dance Pop that I dance with my 3 yr old to. I hope you feel better soon, Blessings - S.

You already named it...you are depressed. Get help NOW! With all that you have going on and being pregnant and newly diagnosed diabetic you are going to need help. Don't try to do it on your own. You have to be the best you can for your daughter, your baby and YOURSELF! Talk to your OB/GYN now. Good luck.

C.:

I am SOOOO sorry you are going through this.

Right now - TAKE A DEEP BREATH!

Now I want you to go take a walk outside - rain or not - take a walk - you MUST get fresh air.

When you get back from this walk - pick up the phone and call your Primary Care Physician and let the advice nurse what is going on - tell her just what you told us.

You have a lot on your plate. Divide up your days - make lists and stick to them - this will give you a sense of accomplishments.

Being recently diagnosed with diabetes is a shocker especially with a court case coming up and your daughter gone. Since you weren't specific about the court case with her father - I can only assume the worst. This diagnosis means a life change for you and possibly your family - but you need to know it's a disease that you CAN live with but you MUST take care of yourself.

If you can afford it - hire a cleaning company to come in and clean your home once a week so that will take something off your plate. I can recommend one- Champagne Services - ###-###-####. Let Kelsie know that Cheryl sent you - she will take good care of you!

If you feel isolated - make lunch dates with your friends. I understand working from home and how you can feel that way - I don't know what you do that you would need complete silence to do - however, the feeling of isolation can be overcome - you don't want your daughter to come home to a mom who is like this - you have time to get yourself together. Don't burden your daughter with this - you have a life outside of her - I understand missing her and how that could cause depression - but you really need to take a deep breath and get help.

Please feel free to contact me directly through mommasource. I live in Reston - I'd be happy to take a walk around the block with you!

Take care!

Cheryl