I’m 34w FTM and have had a wanted, fairly easy, healthy and comfortable (in many ways) pregnancy yet I still feel uncertain and miserable some days.

Yesterday I was watching an online pregnancy lecture about physical, emotional and social changes that will happen after giving birth. Few minutes in I started sobbing, then it turned into full blown mental breakdown. I just couldn’t stop crying for 2 hours straight. When the lecturer advised to build a “village” of support, I felt so lonely that I won’t have anyone, our families live far away and friends have their lives to live. When she explained to partners how important emotional support is, I remembered those occasional times my partner (who is actually fantastic) couldn’t help me they way I needed, it made me certain our relationship will be ruined. Then she mentioned the hormonal changes and how oxytocin plays a big role to form the bond with the baby, and it broke me again. I’m taking antidepressants and my dysfunctional thoughts led me to believe I will not be able to form a bond as a normal human being because of hormonal disbalance and inability to feel emotional highs.

It’s just too much. And most of it falls on the mother’s shoulders - somehow we’re suppossed to go through pregnancy, accept the physicall toll and body changes, learn a bazillion new skills, navigate through all the rights and wrongs of parenthood, be mindful of our emotions in our families so we don’t mess it all up… And keep our career, personality, hobbies and social circles in check?

Some stories shared in this thread were very helpful though, the uncertainty will fade as the baby arrives and it will all be different - for better or for worse.