3rd trimester mood swings...sign of impending PPD?

[dakotablue]

So I'm almost done (40 weeks tomorrow) and for the past two weeks or so I've been having major mood swings. Now they have settled into just my need to cry... alot.

I still logically know this is all hormonal, but I'm no longer excited about this baby. I can't imagine a world with them in it (like coming home ect...) I feel like I'm going to be pregnant forever and this baby doesn't want me. I'm a bad mom and a whole other mess of irrational thoughts that stem from there.

What doesn't help is that I can no longer sleep. I mean I can do hypnobabies for a few hours a night and I rest, I also sleep 1-2 hours with DS 1-2x a day during his naps. but at best I'm sleeping 4 hours a day with 3-4 hours of just laying very still.

This baby is very wanted. I know these feelings aren't 'real' but they are starting to get overwhelming.

Does this mean I'm going to definitely be battling PPD? Or will this generally go away once the baby is born? anyone BTDT?

Dh just keeps saying when I see the baby everything will be fine, but I really (emotionally) can't see the light.

[EnchantedMamma]

You're sleep deprived. This is no small issue. Unfortunately things aren't looking up in the near future for your sleep, but just know that it doesn't mean you are doomed to have PPD.

Also, I can tell you my hormones are fluctuating as I've hit 32+ wks. I mentioned it to my midwife and she said that there are definitely some big swings in the 3rd tri. Different hormones than the 1st.

None of this means you should *not* be on the watch for PPD, but I don't think you should worry that it means you will have it.

I think it's perfectly normal at the end of the road when you are super uncomfortable and hormones are shifting AND you're not sleeping. And you mentioned a DS, so I'd imagine you're expending quite a lot to care for him. :)

Hang in there! Just make sure to ask for all of the support that you need - I hope there's plenty of it.

You do realize that motherhood is a super-human feat, right? And sometimes we just aren't quite up to doing it alone. Nothing wrong with that :)

[Stayseeliz]

I agree that it sounds like third trimester/lack of sleep grumpiness. It's so hard when you're uncomfortable and stressed about the baby coming. Just take it one day at a time and it will be okay.

[tzs]

i literally thought i was going crazy at the end of preg #1. i had such bad anxiety that i could just lie in bed and still feel like i was shaking inside. there were times i thought i'd just have to be locked up. when i couldn;t sleep at night i did indulge in a glass of wine and that did help. i'm not so alarmist about alcohol though, especially at the very end, but that's just me. 

like you i also worried about PPD and then i worried that just the fact of me being so worried about PPD would somehow trigger it to happen as well (kind of psychosomatic)....like being hyper-aware would make any little symptom all the more worrisome. i do have panic attacks so i know how you can build things up in your mind until they become reality. 

happy to report that i came out scot-free so feelings you have before birth don;t necessarily seem to predict what happens afterwards.

now pregnant with #2 which wasn't entirely "planned" or on my ideal timeframe, i do worry about it again as well as worry about bonding since i really don;t feel it at all yet but just knowing that everything turned out a-ok last time is a big relief.

[Italiamom]

Originally Posted by EnchantedMamma 

You do realize that motherhood is a super-human feat, right? And sometimes we just aren't quite up to doing it alone. Nothing wrong with that :)

[EnchantedMamma]

I'm currently taking Passion Flower extract for anxiety issues. Wine is nice on rare occasion, but it honestly just doesn't relax me all THAT much.

There is not much information on whether or not PF might be completely safe for the baby, but I found enough anecdotal mention online by regular people who've used it through several pregnancies and by herbalists for me to be comfortable taking it in moderation.

Susan Weed approves it for pregnancy induced hypertension, so I figure it's not completely unsafe. You'd want to consult with your provider and your own common sense. My midwife said to let my body be my guide...fwiw.

You can also look into more approved methods like Calm Forte or Rescue Remedy.

Hope you find something to help mitigate the stress!

[dakotablue]

Thank you guys. This feeling persisted right through labor (though during it was kinda more on and off) There were times while pushing I felt like this is pointless why am I doing this again (like there wasn't a baby)

I don't know that PDD won't still strike, but about 2 hours after DS2 was born I felt back to being me. Its such a relief to feel normal again. I'm not a negative person and boy that was draining.

Originally Posted by tzs 

i literally thought i was going crazy at the end of preg #1. i had such bad anxiety that i could just lie in bed and still feel like i was shaking inside. there were times i thought i'd just have to be locked up. when i couldn;t sleep at night i did indulge in a glass of wine and that did help. i'm not so alarmist about alcohol though, especially at the very end, but that's just me. 

like you i also worried about PPD and then i worried that just the fact of me being so worried about PPD would somehow trigger it to happen as well (kind of psychosomatic)....like being hyper-aware would make any little symptom all the more worrisome. i do have panic attacks so i know how you can build things up in your mind until they become reality. 

happy to report that i came out scot-free so feelings you have before birth don;t necessarily seem to predict what happens afterwards.

now pregnant with #2 which wasn't entirely "planned" or on my ideal timeframe, i do worry about it again as well as worry about bonding since i really don;t feel it at all yet but just knowing that everything turned out a-ok last time is a big relief.

Hearing this helped a LOT.