Depression During And After Pregnancy Is Common And Treatable
Recent CDC research shows that about 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Additionally, a recent analysis by CDC found the rate of depression diagnoses at delivery is increasing and it was seven times higher in 2015 than in 2000.
Having a baby is challenging and every woman deserves support. If you are experiencing emotional changes or think that you may be depressed, make an appointment to talk to your health care provider as soon as possible. Most people get better with treatment and getting help is the best thing you can do for you and your baby.
Effective depression treatment can include a combination of medication therapy, counseling, and referrals. is talking to your health care provider. After your visit, make sure to follow-up on all referrals and treatment that he or she suggests. When discussing medications with your provider, let her or him know if you are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding. You and your provider can decide if taking medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding is right for you. Read Medicine and Pregnancy for more information.
Effect Of Independent Variables
Prior to the multivariate analyses we examined the statistical relationships between all explanatory variables. In total, three correlations exceeded 0.40, those between living with “other persons” and living in an extended family , being single and living in a nuclear family , and mother’s and father’s education . Twelve other correlations reached values higher than 0.30. Of special interest were possible confounding between relationship satisfaction and the remaining variables. Four variables, number of supportive persons , dissatisfaction at work, maternal alcohol problems, and living in a nuclear family, correlated with absolute values ranging from 0.10 – 0.15. All other associations between the relationship satisfaction and the other explanatory variables were weaker than 0.10.
37 of the risk factors in the analyses were associated with maternal emotional distress . Analyses revealed that most of the risk factors were uniquely associated with maternal emotional distress . Table Table22 shows the 26 risk factors that had a significant unique effect on maternal emotional distress. Only significant results are included in the table, whereas those variables not reaching significance are listed below the table. The table also shows unadjusted regression coefficients. SCL-5 was standardized therefore the non-standardized regression coefficients indicate the expected difference in the standard deviation in SCL-5, per unit of difference in the predictor.
From Couple To Parents
Its quite normal for couples to argue, even if youre in a healthy relationship. Sometimes this has nothing to do with pregnancy. But there are some common reasons why you may argue when youre pregnant. These include:
- you feel your partner is less interested in the pregnancy than you are
- the baby doesnt seem real to you or your partner
- you feel your partner is being too protective of you
- you are both stressed about money
- one of you wants to have sex but the other doesnt
- you are feeling sick, tired and moody
- you are both anxious about being parents
- you are worried your partner wont find your changing body attractive.
I felt sick all day, every day during my pregnancy, which didnt really get better until I was about 6 months along. I didnt feel good physically and was also really upset that I wasnt enjoying my pregnancy. This made me really stressed and irritable, which affected my relationship with my husband for a while.
Alison
Making the change from being a couple to being parents isnt easy. Youre probably thinking about how it will change your life and your relationship with each other.
Its a good idea to talk to each other about your feelings and any anxieties you have about the future, including:
- your expectations about life with your baby
- what kind of parents you want to be
- how you can support each other.
You may also find it helpful to:
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Why Is Maintaining A Healthy Relationship Vital During Pregnancy
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As you may have seen in the previous section, you and your partner will have to put in a lot of work to create a healthy, loving, and supportive environment while starting a family. But, is it really necessary? Let us examine the importance of mitigating relationship stress during pregnancy by nurturing a healthy relationship:
- A healthy relationship can leave the partners feeling loved and supported, which will equip them to deal with all sorts of unprecedented events.
- It can dispel any negative emotions that you may have, such as ending the relationship during pregnancy.
- As child-rearing can also get as stressful as pregnancy, it will help you transition smoothly from a couple to parents.
- A poor relationship can cause undue stress to the pregnant woman, which may impede the healthy development of the baby and even cause other complications such as premature labor and miscarriage , .
You now know the link between a relationship and pregnancy, how one affects the other, and the other way round. But, do planned or unplanned pregnancies elicit different responses? Could they play a role in determining the relationship stress during pregnancy? We will review it in the next section.
Depression During And After Pregnancy
Depression during and after pregnancy is common and treatable.
Moms and moms-to-be deserve the best, including the very best mental health, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression during and after pregnancy is common and treatable. If you think you have depression, seek treatment from your health care provider as soon as possible.
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Husband Concerned About Wifes Depression During Pregnancy
before
Theres nothing abnormal about feeling low during a pregnancy. As you may know, a womans hormones take a roller coaster ride both during pregnancy and after delivery. Its these hormonal changes that can cause a temporary emotional slump popularly known as baby blues as well as a more severe disturbance known as postpartum depression. It only stands to reason that the same hormonal shifts should have the potential to cause similar mood swings before the baby arrives.
Naturally, we cant make any definite statements about your case without knowing a great deal more about you, your wife and your marriage. But we are a bit concerned about the negative impact her condition seems to be having on your relationship. We cant help wondering whether her feelings of sadness might have a non-hormonal origin. Its possible that they could be more situational in nature.
Wed encourage you to sit down with her and initiate a frank and open discussion of your current circumstances. Is there something besides the pregnancy going on in your lives that may be causing the dip in your wifes emotions? Has your relationship been strong and healthy up to this point, or have you had a history of chronic conflict? Are you supportive and available when she needs your help? Is she under stress from some other source? If shes currently working, is she feeling sad about quitting and losing close relationships with co-workers after the baby is born?
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Do I Need Health Insurance To Receive This Service
The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
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Are There Any Natural Treatments
With the controversy regarding the use of some antidepressants during pregnancy, many women are interested in other ways to help treat depression. As mentioned above, support groups, psychotherapy, and light therapy are alternatives to using medication when treating mild to moderate depression.In addition to these, you may want to talk with your health care providers about some of the other natural ways to help relieve the symptoms of depression.
If you do not feel comfortable talking with your health care provider about your feelings of depression, find someone else to talk with. It is important that someone knows what you are dealing with and can try to help you. Never try to face depression alone. Your baby needs you to seek help and get treatment.
Want to Know More?
Having A Baby If You’re On Your Own
If youre on your own, ask your midwife if there are antenatal classes in your area that are especially for single people.
After birth, it can be encouraging to meet other single parents who also went through pregnancy on their own.
Gingerbread is a self-help organisation for single-parent families. It has a network of local groups and can give you information and advice. The charity can also put you in touch with other parents in a similar situation to you.
Visit the Gingerbread online forum.
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Are You At Risk For Depression
Some things make you more likely than others to have depression. These are called risk factors. Having a risk factor doesnt mean for sure that youll have depression. But it may increase your chances. Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to help reduce your risk.
Your health care provider screens you for depression at your prenatal care checkups. Screening means that your provider asks you questions about your risks, feelings and mood. If the screening shows that you may be depressed or that youre at risk for depression, your provider can help you get treatment.
Risk factors for depression during pregnancy include:
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What Factors Increase My Risk Of Being Depressed During Pregnancy
There are many different factors that can add to your risk of developing depression during your pregnancy. These risks can include:
- Having a history of depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder .
- Your age at time of your pregnancy the younger you are, the higher the risk.
- Feeling ambivalent about your pregnancy.
Each Partners Experience May Differ
A woman becomes a mom the moment she realizes that she is pregnant. The partner, on the other hand, experiences parenthood only when they hold the child for the first time. As such, the excitement and involvement that a pregnant woman feels vary vastly from that of the partners, especially if it is an unplanned pregnancy in a new relationship.
As a result of these variables, the partner may appear somewhat alienated on this journey, which can be frustrating for a pregnant woman. For instance, you may be excited about designing the nursery, but your partner may prioritize something else. This difference in experiences could cause some amount of friction in the relationship.
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How To Support Your Partner
Relationship issues while pregnant can be solved easily depending on how well you support and communicate with each other. Both spouses should take the pregnancy as a reason to strengthen their bond with each other and not as a reason for separation. In fact pregnancy should be a reason to bring joy to your marriage.
What Is Depression In Pregnancy
Depression during pregnancy, or antepartum depression, is a mood disorder just like clinical depression. Mood disorders are biological illnesses that involve changes in brain chemistry.During pregnancy, hormone changes can affect the chemicals in your brain, which are directly related to depression and anxiety. These can be exacerbated by difficult life situations, which can result in depression during pregnancy.
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Focus On Your Relationship During Pregnancy
During pregnancy âthe man is thinking about financial pressures and how he will have to share his wife or lover with the baby, so he withdraws, and then the women interprets the withdrawal as a sign he doesnât want this and that makes her more anxious,â says Mary Jo Rapini, a psychotherapist in Houston specializing in relationship issues.
The thought that a baby will bring a couple together or save a crumbling marriage is a total fallacy, she says. âIf a baby does anything, it will cause the stress that tears a marriage apart.â
âIt makes sense that women would have less anxiety when they are having a baby with someone who is committed and looking forward to being a parent,â she says.
Getting your partner engaged in the pregnancy by taking him to birthing classes and doctorâs appointments can help, she says.
âTry to focus more on the relationship by talking to your partner about how you can keep the relationship tight after the baby is born,â Rapini says. âKeep date night and discuss issues that you can foresee happening.â
While a little anxiety during pregnancy is par for the course, feeling depressed and filled with doom and gloom for more than two weeks is a sign that you may need help, she says.
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Preparing For Being A Parent
It can be helpful for both expectant mums and dads to learn about ways to help themselves and others through this time of change.
Read parenting books, talk to family members and friends about their experiences as new parents and take some time to think about who might be able to provide support if you need it. It can help to develop a network with others who are also pregnant or who have children of a similar age.
While preparation is important, it is also good to remember that you can’t prepare for everything.
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How Do I Deal With An Unsupportive Partner During Pregnancy
What can you do if you find yourself with an unsupportive partner during pregnancy?
The good news is theres plenty of support out there.
Relationship troubles during pregnancy are more common than youd think.
There are plenty of places where you can find the support you need.
Heres where you can go if youre experiencing struggles of this kind:
- Mental health professionals
- Your doctor, midwife, or health care professional
Pregnant And Unhappy In Relationship
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Are you pregnant and unhappy in relationship and do not know what to do to alleviate the situation?
Like some individuals, you could be feeling drained and unhappy in your relationship while still pregnant. But shouldnt pregnancy be a happy moment in a relationship?
Yes, it should. Unfortunately, it is the opposite in some relationships.
Before pregnancy, you and your partner were probably all over each other, always doing stuff together and having the best time while at it.
And now that you are expecting your little bundle of joy, things seem to have turned upside down.
But, believe us, this happens quite often, which is why we have some answers to help you deal with this and proclaim your happiness.
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How Can I Cope With Depression
involved with your partner’s pregnancyantenatal classeslife with a new babyrole as a parentDo something activeWalkingEat healthilyeat healthily
- carbohydrates, that is, starchy foods such as bread and potatoes
- proteins, such as meat, fish and pulses
- fruit and vegetables
Stick to regular sleep patternsKeep talkingThink positivelyAvoid alcohol and street drugsJoin a self-help group
What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression
- Your baby blues dont go away after 2 weeks
- Symptoms of depression get more and more intense
- Symptoms of depression begin within 1 year of delivery and last more than 2 weeks
- It is difficult to work or get things done at home
- You cannot care for yourself or your baby
- You have thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby
Ask your partner or a loved one to call for you if necessary. Your doctor, nurse, or midwife can ask you questions to test for depression. They can also refer you to a mental health professional for help and treatment.
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