Modern Motherhood: Everything That No One Tells You
Depression can occur at any point during pregnancy. While there’s no direct cause-and-effect relationship between pregnancy and depression, there are many reasons that pregnant women might feel less than 100%.
“Your body is going through changes,” Gray said. “You’re gaining weight. A lot of women have body image disorders that can play a huge factor. And the fears that come along with pregnancy, as far as, ‘My life is changing. What is it going to look like now? How am I going to take care of another person?'”
“There are also significant hormone changes during pregnancy,” she continued. “We think the elevation in progesterone may affect mood in someone who has a predisposition for it.”
What Should I Do If My Dog Is Depressed Or Sad
Sometimes, sadness will resolve itself with time. This is common in situations where your dog is showing signs of sadness due to the loss of a companion or a major change in the household, like a new baby. During these transition periods, its a good idea to work with your dog on finding some sense of normalcy. Its also a good idea to institute some form of routine. It may be different from your previous routine, but a daily routine can help dogs significantly during transition periods.
If youre noticing that your dog is having symptoms like inappetence, lethargy, or a loss of interest in things they typically enjoy, then a vet visit may be in order. If theres no obvious reason for these symptoms, a vet visit is definitely needed. Some symptoms that we might take as depression can actually indicate a physiological problem. For example, illnesses like cancers, kidney disease, and heart disease can all lead to discomfort for your dog and an overall sense of not feeling well. The worse your dog feels, the more likely theyll be to seem sad. Your vet will be able to rule out physiological issues and help guide you in caring for your dog through their period of sadness.
Antenatal Depression And Infant Health
Depression during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. In a review by Frazier et al., acute and chronic stress during pregnancy can diminish proper immunological activity crucial during pregnancy, and can possibly induce spontaneous abortion. There is still a debate on whether the miscarriage is due to the depressive disease state or the anti-depressant medication. A large study conducted in Denmark observed that there was a higher incidence of first trimester miscarriage in depressed women not exposed to SSRI compared to non-depressed women exposed to SSRI, indicating that the miscarriage may be associated with the psychological state of the mother rather than the anti-depressant.
An interesting and informative area of research has been done to see the role of confounding variables in relationship of maternal prenatal depression with infant health concerns. Age of mother, romantic partner, education, household income, immigrant status, and number of other children, breastfeeding, gestational age, birth weight are some of the mediating or moderating factors which are found correlated with infant health concerns. The studies of post-partum depressive symptoms are relatively more than those of prenatal depression and the studies should look into the role of various factors during pregnancy that may impact the health of infants, even continuing into adulthood.
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Are Mood Swings A Sign Of Pregnancy
If you find yourself sobbing at a sappy commercial one minute, and then absolutely enraged over an empty ice-cream container the next, you may be experiencing pregnancy-related mood swings or perhaps not.
Quickly shifting emotions can be an early sign of pregnancy. Your hormones are suddenly raging, and your inability to control your feelings may catch you off guard. If you suspect youre pregnant, nerves and anxiety can further drive this response.
If your emotions are all over the place, and you think you might be expecting, the best thing to do is take a pregnancy test. Many women experience similar mood swings before the arrival of their period, so taking a test will give you a definitive answer one way or the other.
Taking Care Of Your Mental Health During Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings a mix of feelings, and not all of them are good. If you’re feeling worried, you’re not alone. Worry is common, especially during a woman’s first pregnancy or an unplanned one. It can be even harder if you’re dealing with depression or anxiety.
For your health and your baby’s, take care of yourself as much as you can. Be sure to eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, and take your prenatal vitamins.
If you’re feeling worried, sad, or nervous, talk to someone about it and know when to reach out for help.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Depression During Pregnancy
Its often difficult to diagnose prenatal depression because some of its warning signs mirror so many “normal” pregnancy symptoms, including:
- Mood swings or general emotional instability
If youre not sure whether your feelings are within a healthy range, its best to discuss your symptoms with your doctor to be safe.
If you have five of the following more serious symptoms of depression for most of the day every day during the same two-week period, you should seek help:
- Sad, hopeless, restless, indifferent or depressed mood
- Crying a lot
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Weight loss
- Weight gain that exceeds your target pregnancy weight gain
- Wanting to eat all the time, or no appetite at all
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Having trouble thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of harming yourself, death or suicide
- Having headaches, stomach problems or other pains that dont go away
- Missing prenatal visits or not following medical instructions
- Using harmful substances like tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs
How Common Is It
Depression in pregnancy is very common. Around one in every ten pregnant women has antenatal depression.
I just started feeling snappy, not my usual self at all I shrugged it off at first and thought it was just my hormones playing up. However, it started to get worse. I knew I really wanted the baby, but I didnt feel like I wanted it.”
Clare, mum of one
You may be more likely to get antenatal depression if you:
- have had depression before
- are going through a very difficult life event, such as a bereavement or divorce
- dont have support from family or friends
- are having an unplanned pregnancy
- have experienced domestic abuse or violence.
But anyone can get depression in pregnancy, even if they have no experience of anything in this list. It can happen out of the blue and affects women from all walks of life. You are not alone.
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What Is Antenatal Depression
Antenatal depression is when you feel sad all the time for weeks or months during your pregnancy. The condition can vary from mild to severe and can affect women in different ways.
Some women have depression after having a baby. This is called postnatal depression.
Pregnancy can be a very emotional experience and it can sometimes be difficult to know whether your feelings are manageable or a sign of something more serious. Pregnancy hormones can affect your emotions, you may also have difficulty sleeping and you may be feeling sick. This can all make you feel low.
Trust yourself. You are the best judge of whether your feelings are normal for you. Talk to your midwife or GP if you think you have any symptoms of depression and they last for more than two weeks.
Depression is a mental health condition and not a sign of weakness, something that will go away on its own or that you should just snap out of. Depression can be treated with the right care and support.
Connection To Postpartum Depression And Parenting Stress
Studies have found a strong link between antenatal depression and postpartum depression in women. In other words, women who have antenatal depression are very likely to also develop postpartum depression. The cause of this is based on the continuation of the antenatal depression into postpartum. In a logistical light, it makes sense that women who are depressed during their pregnancy will also be depressed following the birth of their child. This being said there are some factors that determine exclusively the presence of postpartum depression that are not necessarily linked with antenatal depression. These examples include variables like socioeconomic class, if a pregnancy was planned or not, and the parents’ relationship prior to conception and delivery of the child.
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Can An Unplanned Pregnancy Cause Depression
Coming to terms with an unplanned pregnancy can create a great deal of stress. There are suddenly so many emotions to deal with, realities to face and decisions to make. And this type of acute stress can indeed lead to depression for some women. Depression can also occur later in pregnancy, and may go undiagnosed.
Why Am I So Angry With My Partner While Pregnant
Pregnancy can be tough on relationships. Accepting that some things are going to change can be difficult. Your social life as a couple might start to look different. You might resent your partner for not being restricted to certain foods or activities.
In addition, there are potential future concerns financial worries, childcare responsibilities and household chores, to name a few. All of these things can put a strain on a relationship.
Relationships always rely on open and effective communication. Its no different during your pregnancy. It might not feel like the stuff of great romance, but telling your partner how you feel will go a long way in working as a team and helping them support you.
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If I Am Taking Antidepressants Can I Breastfeed My Baby
Breastfeeding provides many health benefits for babies. It also helps mothers and babies bond. If you are taking antidepressants, small amounts will come out through your breast milk. But studies have shown that children exposed to these drugs through breast milk have not had problems.
Even if you are taking antidepressants, you can breastfeed your baby for as long as you wish. Stopping an antidepressant during breastfeeding may cause the depression to return.
Anorexia And Bulimia During Pregnancy
If you suffer with anorexia or bulimia during your pregnancy, extra appointments may be offered as part of your antenatal care. This will help to ensure that youre getting all of the nutrition you and your growing baby need.
Its very important that you keep all of your antenatal appointments, and talk about how youre feeling as your pregnancy progresses. Your midwife and doctors are there to support you. Dont hesitate to lean on them as and when you need to.
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How I Reached A Diagnosis
My pregnancy happened more than four years ago, and I have buried most of those memories. In 2016, though, Juli Fraga, a friend and psychologist I know, shared an article she wrote for The Washington Post about a topic I had barely heard of: prenatal depression. I had certainly heard of postpartum depression I myself had suffered from bouts of postpartum depression and anxiety with my first child. But I didn’t know there even was a thing as prenatal depression.
As soon as I read the article, a lightbulb went off in my head, and I was flooded with memories of those difficult months at the beginning of my second pregnancy. I thought to myself: That’s what I had. And I didn’t even know it was a thing.
According to Juli, prenatal depression is something a staggering number of women suffer from. “Prenatal depression is more common than women realize,” she shared. “It affects up to 20% of pregnant women, and women who have suffered from depression in the past are at an even higher risk of developing this maternal mental health concern.”
Juli added that prenatal anxiety is about as prevalent as prenatal depression, affecting about 20% of pregnant mothers. Many of these women are dealing with excessive worry like I wasand even symptoms of paranoia. Prenatal depression and anxiety can actually be quite severe in some cases. The problem is, most mothers don’t know it even exists, and don’t seek help.
Dont Forget To Look After Yourself During Pregnancy
Good health and wellbeing may help prevent and reduce mild depression and anxiety.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Stop smoking. Your GP or midwife can help you find stop smoking services.
- Find some time each week to do something that you enjoy. This improves your mood and helps you relax.
- Let family and friends help you with housework and shopping. Say yes to offers of help.
- Exercise. Even a gentle walk in the fresh air every day or two will make a difference.
- Get regular sleep.
Above all, be kind to yourself. The most important thing you can do is look after yourself and your baby.
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Whats The Difference Between Baby Blues And Postpartum Depression
The baby blues is a mild form of postpartum depression that many new moms experience. It usually starts 1 to 3 days after the birth and can last for 10 days to a few weeks. With baby blues, many women have mood swingshappy one minute and crying the next. They may feel anxious, confused, or have trouble eating or sleeping. Up to 80% of new moms have the baby blues. Its common, and it will go away on its own.
About 13% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, which is more serious and lasts longer. You are at a greater risk if you have a family history of depression or have had depression before.
Some of the symptoms include:
- feeling like you cant care for your baby,
- extreme anxiety or panic attacks,
- trouble making decisions,
- hopelessness, and
- feeling out of control.
No one knows exactly what causes postpartum depression. If you think you have the symptoms, its important to get help right away. Postpartum depression needs to be treated. Talk to your doctor or call your local public health office.
Can Depression During Pregnancy Be Prevented
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says that certain kinds of counseling can prevent perinatal depression for women at increased risk of depression. Counseling is when you talk about your feelings and concerns with a counselor or therapist. This person helps you understand your feelings, solve problems and cope with things in your everyday life.
The Task Force recommends counseling for women who have one or more of these risk factors:
- Current signs and symptoms of depression
- A history of depression or other mental health condition
- Being pregnant as a teenager or being a single mom
- Having stressful life circumstances, like low income
- Being a victim of IPV
The Task Force recommends two kinds of counseling to prevent depression for women at increased risk:
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What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms Of Depression During Or After Pregnancy
- Your baby blues don’t go away after 2 weeks
- Symptoms of depression get more and more intense
- Symptoms of depression begin any time after delivery, even many months later
- It is hard for you to perform tasks at work or at home
- You cannot care for yourself or your baby
- You have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Your doctor can ask you questions to test for depression. Your doctor can also refer you to a mental health professional who specializes in treating depression.
Some women don’t tell anyone about their symptoms. They feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed when they are supposed to be happy. They worry they will be viewed as unfit parents.
Any woman may become depressed during pregnancy or after having a baby. It doesn’t mean you are a bad or “not together” mom. You and your baby don’t have to suffer. There is help.
Here are some other helpful tips:
How To Cope With Depression While Pregnant
If youre experiencing prenatal depression, its essential to seek support. Youre not alone.
There are so many different options to help you manage how youre feeling. Why not try4:
- Physical activity. If youre up to it, exercise can help to lift your mood and help you sleep a little more soundly.
- Eating a healthy balanced diet at regular intervals.
- Breathing exercises to help you feel calmer.
- Exploring counselling or other talking therapies.
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Modern Motherhood: What Really Happens To Your Pelvic Floor
Or, women may feel more comfortable bringing up their mental health concerns with a therapist or psychologist, or with their primary care physician.
It doesnt necessarily need to be only your OB whos following you, Gray said. But certainly I think its important that you have someone to keep an eye on your mood.