Pregnancy and depression

Pregnancy is often described as a very happy time, but in truth, one in every ten women suffers from bouts of depression during pregnancy. For a long time, experts only considered post-partum depression, thinking that certain hormones kept depression away during pregnancy. But, they now know that rapid hormonal changes during a pregnancy can also lead to depression.

Depression during pregnancy also brings anxiety, and can increase the risk of preterm labor. The mental state of a mother is very important for the health of the baby. Unfortunately, depression and anxiety very often go undiagnosed, because the feelings are dismissed or attributed to the mood swings that come with pregnancy. So if you are feeling low do not hesitate to voice your feelings to your health care provider.

Who’s at risk?

If you, your wife or relative has or fulfill any of these risk factors, she may be at risk for depression during pregnancy.

• Personal or family history of depression or anxiety. Some people are normally prone to depression, and have struggled with it in the past.
• Relationship difficulties. If the mother is in a troubled relationship, or a victim of abuse, she should get counseling or help. The arrival of a baby will only make things harder, and an unhealthy mind will hamper the baby’s development.
• Fertility treatments. Mothers who have gone through fertility treatment may still be dealing with the side effects for months, or even years after pulling off these treatments. They are also more likely to be under stress, and it’s possible that the fear of losing the baby will be higher, since they’ve worked so hard to conceive.
• Previous pregnancy loss. A miscarriage is hard to deal with and takes its emotional and physical toll. If the loss was recent, the mother is very likely to be stressed, anxious and depressed.
• A complicated or high-risk pregnancy puts a lot of stress on the mother. Constant tests and bed rest increase this, and the inability to carry on with regular life can take its toll.
• A mother who is dealing with stress in her daily life, like financial problems, work pressure or relationship problems can get further depressed during a pregnancy.
• A past history of abuse—sexual, emotional, physical, or verbal- may cause low self esteem and other depressive feelings.
• Other prime candidates for depression are young, single mothers or those with unplanned pregnancies.

Depression and anxiety treatment during pregnancy:

Doctors can use both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication to treat depression during pregnancy. Your caregiver can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Don’t self medicate, and stay away from remedies like aromatherapy, as many products are not tested on pregnant women. Physical activity and exercise can help significantly but you need to find activities formulated specifically for pregnant women. You can join a yoga class to stay healthy and peaceful.