Prenatal Depression - My Vent

[Wednesday]

I have had both pre and post natal depression it's horrible. You poor thing I wish I could give you a great big hug. My advice is to concentrate on you and your baby, forget about your family and worry about yourself, your kids and your partner. Trust me when your depressed you need to get rid of anything that is making you more depressed eg. family. Keep only the positive around you and deal with the negative later. If you can talk to a councellor, even though you may feel weird speaking to a stranger it helps. Concentate on you as much as possible and eliminate things that are upsetting you. Hope this advice has helped. Take care.

[satya]

Give your family some time to accept the pregnancy. It's probably come as a huge shock to them. They probably didn't know you were TTCing and just weren't expecting your big announcement. Due to your history they may not have expected you to go through another pregnancy and are very likely to be extremely worried about you right now and are struggling to find words that wont upset you. Nothing excuses their comments about your ex though.

Please don't take this the wrong way but depressed people often push people away and don't realise they are doing it - they feel they are being pushed away. If this is happening to you, you will not be able to see it, but those around you will. I watched this happen with my ex husband who suffered from depression, it was really hard to witness it and I felt completely unable to help him and it got increasingly difficult to communicate with him. Perhaps this is what is happening with your family right now.

My dad was not exactly over the moon when I announced my pregnancy. He just wasn't expecting the announcement and was very worried about my future (things were rocky with my DF and I) and my finances. He was worried about his little girl (I was 41 at the time, but I'm still his little girl). We just kept spending time with my family and little by little he warmed to the idea and by the third tri he was excited about it and now he's delighted to have a grandson. He also thinks the world of my partner yet I can assure you he didn't at the time of the pregnancy announcement. Sometimes things just take time.

[BellyBelly]

Can you make it along to the pre & post-natal support group? I know it's far, just suggesting

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/emotional-support-groups

I found simmering at home until I exploded to be the worst thing to do, getting out and talking to others so I knew I was not alone was the thing that helped.

[chris]

Babidevil
I know what you mean, I have family problems also.

I have gotten support by going to my GP who refered me to one service who then refered me on .....and so on.

I was already on anti dep when I fel preg but had to reduce my medications.
Up here in NSW the hospital that I go to have "Family Care midwives" and "ACE" workers who are helping me.
I have been through alot in the last month and they are keeping a very close eye on me at the moment.
I hope you have some good close friends who can help you through this time.
Stand up for yourself and let the family know that your not a child that they can control anymore.
My family the problem is that I am not the "fave". Plus I live too far away (30 min drive).

Take care
Chris