Depressed during pregnancy

[ChasingPeace]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced depression during the last weeks of pregnancy and how that impacted them post-partum. I'm 35 weeks pregnant and became very depressed about 10 days ago (maybe before that, but that's when I really noticed it). I'm feeling very non-functional, but have been trying to exercise daily and I'm taking flaxseed oil.

I saw my MW on Friday, and she gave me a prescription for Paxil, but I'm not sure if I want to start taking it. I would love to start feeling better without medication. I'm concerned, however, about post-partum, since it takes some time for Paxil to start working. Any advice? If you were depressed during pregnancy, did it get worse after birth? Thank you!!!!

[corysmilk]

thought i'd anwser

Hi there my name is elizabeth. I have been depressed during all of my preg. 3 in total- well 4 but i lost one. anyway, I think god in all his wisdom made the last weeks of pregnancy hard. so that we would beable to face delivery and parenting. I think you should take your Dr's advice. cause ppd can really set you back. this is your first child? you could just be feeling nervous and anxsouis. have you had depression in the past? i did and my postpardom was really awful not being able to bond with 1 st one. 2nd one to tell you the truth, I don't rember feeling bad untill she was about one. with #3 i feel good so far i am on prozac all throught preg, and now with nursing too. well with out meds i can become manic so i take mine. if you don't want to or you want to try to see if you will feel better. then please
talk about your feelings with a spouse or pastor or health care provider

don't let the bad feelins get worse

and rember being tired and not getting much done are all normal reactions to the last weeks of preg. and .........defenatly when your baby is born. hope this helps

have a healthy baby, good luck and god bless you and yours

[lilyka]

I suffered with depression through all three of my pregnancys. It was beyond just feeling a little blue. I was constantly paranoid about losing my baby, wouldn't go to the bathroom because I was scared there would be blood, was constantly thinking me or the baby was going to die. I never knew any of this was abnormal until after I had my third one. I am a little slow sometimes If I get pregnant again I will have to go on medication just to be functional (it has gotton worse with each pregnancy). As far as after the births, my first was in the NICU and then has problems stemming from it that made her hard to bond with (didn't want to be held, nursed etc . . wouldn't make eye contact, smile or laugh - yeah thats just depressing hormones or no) My second I don't remember being depressed and with my third I realy was but it lifed after a coupld of months. So i think it is mostly a pregnancy thing. Perhaps also a winter thing since I had a harder time post partum with my two winter babies than I did my summer baby.

[ChasingPeace]

Thank you, Elizabeth and Lilyka, for sharing your experiences with me. I'm not sure why my MW prescribed Paxil. I've since read a few studies that indicated that newborns go through withdrawal when mom's on Paxil during pregnancy. That's why I'm reluctant to take it.

Lilyka, I think you may be right about this being bad because it's winter time. Being in Michigan, it's day after day of gray, although we had a warm spell this weekend and I felt MUCH better for those couple of days.

And Elizabeth, this is my first and I'm having all kinds of thoughts like "what if I don't love or bond with my baby?" My own mom always seemed depressed when I was a child, and I really don't want to repeat that--I always felt rejected.

[alsoSarah]

I was seriously (almost suicidally) depressed for most of my pregnancy. I filled the prescription (can't remember what drug it was, but I don't think it was Paxil) from my doc, but I never took it. Having it there felt like a "safety net", I guess, which helped, but I really wanted to get through the pregnancy without exposing my baby to the meds, and I did.

On top of all of this, I was so worried that I'd have PPD, and that it'd be even worse!

Within 48 hours after his birth, my depression was completely, entirely gone.

Even my usual, mild, periodic depressive states stayed away for about two years after he was born.

(Btw, I have known two people who've had really tough times trying to *stop* taking Paxil. Maybe ask your doc about your drug options?)

Wishing you peace and joy,

alsoSarah

[Jish]

I think the doctors must get a lot of money from the Paxil people and that's why it is so frequently prescribed. My Psychiatrist personally doesn't like that particular med and doesn't prescribe it unless a patient is currently on it when referred to him and it is working well, or as a last resort. I was on it for a week and it made me much worse than when I started it. I think you are wise to be worried about the Paxil withdrawl as it does affect babies whose mothers took it during pregnancy. The makers of Paxil currently have lawsuits facing them because of the withdrawls they say don't occur.

There are many other meds out there that I personally would feel much more comfortable taking. If I need to go back on before I deliver (I'm 30 weeks now) I'll go back on Zoloft.

[gristastic]

Please forgive me for adding my 2 cents, here but I need to tell you that Paxil does have a very definate withdrawl for so MANY people who take it! My hubby had HORRIBLE withdrawl and it really only masked his problem by making him sleep through EVERYTHING. Please try to find another option if meds are necessary.

[Foobar]

I am 16 weeks pg and now on lexapro. The withdrawl for this is supposed to be easier.

I was told that my OB wanted me on lexapro during the last month of pregnancy to help with the hormone crash that happened after my last pregnancy.

There is a difference between normal fears of your first (or second) child and going overboard. I was in the overboard stage....

[sparklemum]

i had extraordinary depression and anxiety with my second daughter, ruby, who was born this last november...in retrospect, i realize that my experience 9 years ago with my first daughter was very similar, but i wasn't diagnosed or treated...i was just a "bad" pregnant woman...

several factors made the depression worse this time around - having to work out of the home, pressure to be a fantastic pregnant woman (like *everyone else* in the office), and a midwife whose philosophy was more closely aligned with the obstetrical model, rather than a midwifery model of care...

what worked for me? lower my expectations...i quit my job, and puttered around the house and generally attempted to avoid conflict and stress...it worked. I also met with a woman's issues therapist who helped me put everything in perspective...

i have a family history (a very strong one) of depression, anxiety and manic depression - with a bit of schizophrenia thrown in...i am just fine when i'm not pregnant, but pregnancy hormones affect my chemical balance and my ability to manage that balance...

hang in there...and i highly recommend a good therapist who can baby you through your pregancy...i made it without the zoloft - i was too anxious about medicine to take it - but medication can do wonders for some...

sorry to babble on

do take care