Addressing Prenatal Depression

[mamarabolli]

I feel like I have Prenatal Depression that's spiraling out of control. I'm away from home, but will consult with my midwife. In the mean time I'm looking for alternative ways to deal with this. This is my list so far. If anyone has any other advice, please share.

prenatal massages
acupuncture
regular exercise
meditation
deep breathing exercises
eating well
prenatal vitamins
fish oil

[GoGoGirl]

All those ideas sound good to me. And how about support from family and friends? Just someone to listen to you talk?

Big hugs, mama!

[kfillmore]

Flower essences!

journal writing (free writing-write without thinking)

[lotus.blossom]

I've been having this off and on this pregnancy. Some days I feel so incredibly low. But for some reason I can't seem to let anyone around me know. I have retreated from most of my family and friends. There doesn't seem to be a good spot on these boards for it either since there is just a specific post pardum depression board.

Well, I'm hoping its just hormonal and will go away on its own. I plan to encapsulate my placenta and take that after my birth. I don't want to take any chances on this developing into PPD.

[mamarabolli]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl

All those ideas sound good to me. And how about support from family and friends? Just someone to listen to you talk?

Big hugs, mama!

Like lotus.blossom, I also have no friends or family I feel comfortable going to for support. DH tries really hard, but I wind up getting frustrated trying to explain to him how I feel. He's the complete opposite of depression, and can never understand. I feel so alone. I might try the free writing kfillmore suggested.

[j_p_i]

I've been in this boat as well. Lately it has been slightly better, but I still have days where I feel quite low and LONELY. I am alone right now, until DH comes home from deployment. I am 3000 miles from my family, and I have a really hard time letting others know that I am struggling. I've worked in mental health for years, but it's still hard to admit when I am having a hard time. Like lotus.blossom, I hope that this is hormonal and will pass. I am thankful to be moving closer to my family so that I will have the support once the baby comes.

I hope you all find some peace and something uplifting.

[falafala]

I'm all for doing whatever you can naturally and I think it is great to try to get some relief, however, if you are feeling out of control or really having a hard time it is better to be on medication. I was on Zoloft for all 3 of my pregnancies and I would rather not have been, but found I couldn't function with out it.
I have had 3 healthy boys with no apparent damage from the anti-depressants.
Best of luck, I hope you feel better soon.
Alicia

[jmo]

Originally Posted by kfillmore

Flower essences!

journal writing (free writing-write without thinking)

I second the flower essences. I had horrible pg depression with dd and was worried it was going to come back w/ this pg. But, I started using rescue remedy and mustard bach flower essences and I feel a lot better this pg.

[JennTheMomma]

I had PN depression. Prenatal Yoga helped me, also being outside. All the other suggestions are really good. I wish you well.

[prairiechild]

The other thing that is great for depression is magnesium. Most people do not get enough in their diets today. I take Natural Calm at bedtime. It helps me sleep, prevents constipation and also really helps with anxiety and depression. I buy mine online as it costs $40 at the health food store and about $21 online. I take this one...

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....&pid=5121&at=0

I add to hot water to disolve then mix with juice. It is very important to get a good magnesium that absorbs well. This one does.

[Punchy Kaby]

I second the magnesium supplement, you can also take a bath with epsom salts. Very nice in cold weather!

Also, you may want to try more vit D3. I find I get very weepy and 'hormonal' when I don't take enough. Some days I take 1000IU and some days I need 3 times that. There is no more sun here...

I got very depressed with DS during and cried everyday for the last couple months of pregnancy. It can be very lonely being pregnant and away from your family. Can you set up your computer so you can have video conferences with your family? There is nothing like seeing and talking often.

Take care of yourselves!

[eko_mom]

Just bumping this up to see if anyone else has ideas.

[littlemomma]

Originally Posted by prairiechild

The other thing that is great for depression is magnesium. Most people do not get enough in their diets today. I take Natural Calm at bedtime. It helps me sleep, prevents constipation and also really helps with anxiety and depression. I buy mine online as it costs $40 at the health food store and about $21 online. I take this one...

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....&pid=5121&at=0

I add to hot water to disolve then mix with juice. It is very important to get a good magnesium that absorbs well. This one does.

Your link didn't go through. Try again? THanks!

[superflippy]

I had prenatal depression, untreated, last time. This time around I'm taking Zoloft for it, because I know in my case it will get bad enough that I needed to start medication as soon as things started going downhill. It hasn't completely erased my mood swings, but it's taken the edge off. (I'm taking the generic form, which doesn't work as well for me, but the name brand is way too expensive and insurance doesn't cover it.)

What helps me deal is knowing what my triggers are and avoiding them. DH and I have an agreement that when I say I need him to step in and help with DS for a few minutes so I can pull myself together, he does it no questions asked. Also, another trigger is being surrounded by mess and clutter, so I try to keep at least one room in the house picked up and clean so I can retreat there if I get overwhelmed.

[jmcqabigler]

find something that you can do every week that gets you out and active I had major pregnancy depression with my second pregnancy, we moved out of state away from any family, I was isolated in an aprtment with few families and did not want to drive because I got lost all the time in the new city. I found a prenatal swim class and that saved me. I found if I went at least once a week I could deal with everything else but if I missed a week I was a wreck. So that and calling my family alot (some member of my family about every day or so) kept me from being a crazy person at my little 2 yr old at home during my pregnancy. I learned very first hand about this and never new it was even a problem post pardum depression is talked about alot but not pregnancy it helps to have someone to talk to about it so you know you are not alone.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by mamarabolli

I feel like I have Prenatal Depression that's spiraling out of control. I'm away from home, but will consult with my midwife. In the mean time I'm looking for alternative ways to deal with this. This is my list so far. If anyone has any other advice, please share.

prenatal massages
acupuncture
regular exercise
meditation
deep breathing exercises
eating well
prenatal vitamins
fish oil

You're not alone. Hopefully you've gotten in touch with your midwife by now. The only things I can add are:

DO NOT be hard on yourself right now. Putting unnecessary pressure on yourself or feeling guilty for not being on top of everything will only make it worse.

Get some sunshine. If you live up north and you have access to one of those lamps that mimic sunshine, use it.

Take care of yourself and PM me if you need to vent.