people need to be made more aware of prenatal depression

[leahjade]

Hello....
I am currently an art student in Somerset, England and doing my art foundation degree.
Having done much research I am concerned that prenatal depression is such a hard thing to cope with however that it is not well known about. Mothers seem to be frequently suffering alone with out much help. Through my art, I am trying to understand the feelings of mothers going through this to try and make this type of depression better known and understood and therefore help other mothers in the long run.
I am aware that this is a very personal thing, but was wondering if there is anyone who would be willing to talk to me about there feelings, maybe writing a journal for a period of time about their feelings etc or just answer a few questions for me. Obviously you wouldn't need to give any names or other details.

Please let me no if anyone would be happy to do any of this.
Best wishes
Leah x
xx

[Jen3910]

absolutely.
ask any questions here and i'll reply.

most people know about Postnatal depression, but prenatal depression is also common.

[Amstine]

Hi Leah jade,

I would be happy to help as I have just gone through a really rough patch at 30 weeks pregnant.

I have had a few meltdowns in the past but that was many years ago and I was surprised to suddenly feel so alone, hopeless and out of control. Familiar stress related depression I had experienced in the past was hitting me hard.

I was feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities I currently have in my life ( work, church involvement and other projects and organisations i was associated with).

I suddenly felt that everything was too much and am having a really hard time getting this into perspective. I really hate 'dropping the ball' but as I need to work for money ( I am casual and have no maternity leave forthcoming) I have had to drop all the other things.

I think facing up to the responsibility that I am about to have a child - coupled with feeling physically uncomfortable - then loss of control because of weight gain/hormones etc have compounded on me and I couldn't stop crying.

I think research would really help in this area as I tend to turn to my 'what to expect when you're expecting" for most things and it was disturbing to not be able to turn to a chapter and find out why I was feeling so rotten!

Keep me posted.

AmStine.:ecomcity:

[DiscoBlob]

Hi, I'm not sure that this is what I have but what I'm experiencing sounds similar to others who have talked about it here. I'm usually a pragmatic, down to earth and easy going person but just recently I feel very much alone in this pregnancy. I know my partner cares deeply about it but I'm so all over the place with raging emotions that he probably doesn't know how to cope with me other than back off which is exacly what I DON"T want. I have cried everyday for the last couple of months and I'm worried that this is also effecting my unborn baby. I'm 23 weeks this week and everything else is going well as far as the bub is concerned. I am also suffering from hip and groin pain which I didn't have in my previous pregnancy and being a runner, gym, dance fanatic, this has been frustrating as I can't do half the things I want to to keep fit for this pregnancy. There has been a lot of peripheral stress in my life recently so maybe my feelings are related to this in some way? I don't like the way I react to things at the moment..very negative and fearful..not like me at all. At the same time as this I also have very rational moments when I know this will get better, that things aren't that bad and that I need to just change my outlook, but I'm struggling with this. Hope some of this helps? Did I mention I sound like a whingeing pom....which I'm only really half qualified for!

[wildflowers]

If you are still in need of volunteers I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

I am the very happy mother of a 9 month old boy at the moment but my pregnancy was another story. After so much excitement leading up to and beginning the pregnancy I began having problems towards the end of my first trimester. I had months of the most terrible torment with depression and OCD. We tried doctors and psychologists and one very unhelpful psychiatrist to no avail. I cried every day and was terrified to move. I remember I was actually terrified every time I cried in case there were bacteria on my face and the tears washed the bacteria down into my mouth and hurt or killed my baby. It seems insane now but back then I felt it was valid. In the end I found a wonderful psychiatrist who matched me up with a psychologist who was equally helpful. I got a handle on things for the final couple of months of my pregnancy and once my son was born things were immediately less stressful.

It was so difficult for me to find the help that could have made a difference earlier so anyone trying to make a difference is doing a wonderful service in my opinion. Good luck.