depressed during 1st trimester?

1

1stimemum

Registered User
hi all,
hoping for advice. Been trying for 1 yr now and finally 7 wks pregnant but instead of being happy / ecstatic. I"m very unhappy. I have thoughts I shouldnt be having. am crying all the time and resenting everything thats happening.

few girlfriends i spoke to say it passes but i dont see any end in sight. I've always been happy, driven and fulfilled but now I'm just angry and upset.

i oscillate between taking charge/ making plans and just wanting to give up completely.

when does this end?
 
Usually around 10-12 weeks...there is such a huge immediate surge of hormones that for some it results in just crying ALL the time, others get sick ALL the time, some are ecstatic, some are a mix of both...some like me, sick, happy, freaked out...it does pass I promise. Things start to settle, you start to get used to the idea more, then you feel the baby move, you have your big scan when you can find out the sex and generally you will just feel really good then too. Give yourself some time to readjust - its a HUGE change, not just hormonally, but when you don't feel like you thought you would, it just adds to your misery! I thought I would be soooo happy and over the moon instead I was so ill I thought I would have to terminate - not exactly what you want to be thinking! And that can lead to pregnancy depression. You are not alone, most women go through these feelings in one way or another. There is light. I would try to just get on with life, if you're not too morning sick, if you know what I mean. There is such a tendancy, I do it too, to ONLY think of being pregnant 24 hours a day and when you feel crappy about it, its even worse. Hire out fun dvd's, have some girlfriends over and not talk about pregnancy (!), get out to the movies, go shopping, buy makeup...

Taking fish oil supplements are safe during pregnancy also and have been proven to decrease post-natal depresssion, they are good brain food for you and your baby - why not give it a go to see if it can help improve your mood too? Speak to your doctor about it as well, I'm sure they've heard it so many times.

You sound completely normal to me but I hope you get back to your old self in a few weeks time! Best of luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.
 
I definately noticed a change in mood when I first got pregnant. I got a lot of anxiety and worried a lot. It does go away and I wish someone would have told me that when I was going through it because I thought there was something wrong with me. Try to do things despite the feelings and take your mind off of it. Hang in there and remember it will go away.
 
I was SUCH a moody cow during my first trimester with one of my kids. It was REALLY bad - especially given I didn't now I was pregnant and DH and I were really having bad fights. By the second trimester it was all gone!

It will pass and then something else will come up for the next trimester (for me it was exhaustion). By the third it was heartburn!

As PP said, try to do things and keep yourself busy. It will be worth it all in the end (so they say!).
 
thank you all. Its true what you've said after trying for a while, i had all these expectations about pregnancy heralding great triumph instead of keeled over due to morning sickness.
i feel alot better after a good cry and told husband too. he's trying to be more supportive. I will try everything - whatever it takes. I"ve gone to get those nausea wristbands today, hope it helps.
 
oh if its sickness that is getting you down, I'm an expert...unfortunately. If you think its really bad or worse than normal or would like to PM me, please feel free, I have alot of remedies and advice that might help.
 
Hi 1stimemum. I'm in my 13th week now and the last 6 weeks were really bad for me with the morning sickness and pregnancy hormones. I've never felt so sick and down in all my entire life and have sworn never to get pregnant again after this one (it's my second by the way).

I just wanted to lie down all the time, but I think this feeling sorry for myself may have actually made things worse. Try to get out for fresh air and meet up with friends to keep your mind occupied.

There is light at the end of the tunnel now and the constant nausea is starting to ease so I'm really starting to feel 'alive' again and hopefully can start to enjoy the pregnancy.

All the best and hope you'll start to feel better soon.
 
first of all, thanks to mumto2, sucking on lemons ease the morning sickness. so far the only thing that works. ginger, nausea wristbands all fail.

and thank you to all for all your advice, it really helps to know I'm not such a failure.

i still get a bit depressed with the hormones, causing crazy reactions like crying in the lift yesterday just cause it smelt horrible. what the hell???? and some of the resentment is still here but at least now that I've acknowledged it , i feel less likely to do anything too stupid.
 
I know this sounds lame, but really the first step to overcoming your depression is acknowledging it and where it's coming from. Hormones really suck, I know. Mix in the nausea and it's not fun at all. I didn't even realise how hormonal I was until I gave birth. I never realised how much I had been crying until I stopped!
Just take it day by day, week by week and try to get on with things the best you can. Soon you will have other pregnancy issues and hopefully your nausea will be in the past. Right now just eat what you can, what you want, when you want. Remember the baby is just feeding off of you - it doesn't really matter what you're eating right now actually.
(congratulations by the way~)
 
My husband quickly learned how to identify when I was feeling "fragile". (which frankly lasted around a month, to be replaced with feeling Giant!)
avoid sad books and traumatic TV shows, don't feel bad if you burst into tears at the drop of a hat (there was a TV commercial that would send me into convulsive sobs), and if you're really feeling terrible- like more than just a bit sad, tell your doctor and your partner.
Congratulations- this too will pass!
 
is it normal for something to work for morning sickness to not work anymore. lemons worked on friday but it seems to be getting less effective?

yes the battle with hormones is ongoing for me but all of you are right, saying it outloud is a huge relief in itself!
 
yes quite normal, you have to try and arm yourself with several remedies because one day might work with one remedy and the next day not! Burning spearmint oils are meant to work (NOT essential oils on skin - this is dangerous whilst pregnant). There's acupressure wrist bands, acupuncture, saltine crackers, green apples, warm sweet tea, sour candies, vitamin B6, keeping yourself colder rather than warm, orange or lemon icy-poles, some people really like fatty foods like french fries...try everything and then rotate all the remedies that work.
 
yes saltines are a good standby for me.

for anyone out there who has used acupuncture, how long does the relief last? I've called a few places, Vitality and Troy Sing and frankly $900 per session is just too much to pay for me.

I've found one place, QCMC quality chinese medical in central thats about half the price. Has anyone tried them?
 
wanted to share my experience. i went to quality medical today, was so desperate, couldnt wait for any recommendations/refrerals.
www.qcmchk.com and am so glad i did.

Its eased alot of my nausea and I do feel much better even though I wont say I'm back to my old self. Would definitely recommend it to anyone suffering out there, at least its one more option.

only catch is they only speak cantonese/ mandarin bring someone along.

Everyone here has been so forthcoming with their advice, thank u again!
 
Glad to hear the accupuncture helped you. A good day really lifts yours spirits so I hope it continues.

Possibly another option. Has anyone tried the MorningWell CD? I don't know if you can buy it in HK but you can probably order it online or if you have a relative in the UK to mail it to you. It claims to be effective in 90% of morning sickness cases.

Had I known about it 6 weeks ago, I would have definitely bought it. It costs equivalent to about HK$200-250 so not too expensive.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top