When my partner and I decided to start a family, I believed I had to stop taking my medication. So, in preparation for conception, I did just that, and it turned into a challenging experience.
Throughout my pregnancy, I grappled with overwhelming panic, intense anxiety, and persistent obsessive thoughts. This wasn’t just your typical worry. I found myself waking up at the crack of dawn, unable to drift back to sleep due to racing thoughts and anxiety. There were days when getting out of bed felt impossible because I dreaded facing another day with my tumultuous mind. This was a significant struggle, one that felt insurmountable at times.
In my search for relief from my symptoms while prioritizing my baby’s health, I felt like a failure—broken and ashamed. It wasn’t until I reached the beginning of my second trimester that I cautiously returned to medication. I started with a minuscule dose that barely touched my anxiety. Fear held me back from increasing it at first. But eventually, I did, and then I continued to raise the dosage.
By the end of my pregnancy, I finally felt a sense of calm, a hint of happiness, and a little more like myself. If given the choice, I would have preferred a life free from anxiety and a history of depression. I wish I didn’t have to consider medication or feel torn between my mental health and the well-being of my child.
However, this is my reality. If there were any other natural remedies—herbs, oils, yoga, or therapy—that could have worked for me, I would have pursued them. Unfortunately, nothing else was effective.
This experience reinforced for me that pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution; we must weigh the risks and benefits individually. Ultimately, the decisions about what is best for my family and me are mine to make.
I wholeheartedly support you, no matter what choices you make. Whether you opt for an epidural, a cesarean section, or follow your birth plan to the letter—or not at all—I trust that you know what is right for you and your baby.
I stand by you, whether you prefer cloth diapers, formula feeding, or any other parenting approach. I recognize that I can’t fully comprehend your journey and the experiences that have shaped you. And yes, if you find yourself needing medication during pregnancy, that’s perfectly okay (just be sure to consult your healthcare provider about it).
For more insights on home insemination and various fertility journeys, check out this blog post and explore resources like this one for valuable information. Additionally, Make a Mom is a fantastic authority on this topic.
In summary, my pregnancy journey has been unique and challenging, but it has taught me the importance of supporting one another in our choices, no matter how different they may be.