Can You Get Depression While Pregnant

What Can Cause Autism During Pregnancy

How can I deal with depression during pregnancy?

There is a summary of it. Its an ongoing area of research to determine whether or not a pregnant woman is more likely to have a child with the condition. There is more evidence of an association for certain risk factors. Being older parents, taking certain antiepileptic drugs, and having a preterm birth are some of the risk factors.

How Do I Know If Its Depression

The big question is, are the feelings Im having those of a perfectly understandable hormonal cocktail, or is there more to it?

Ive broken down some key fundamental differences between the average emotion of anxiousness pending a babys arrival and depression while pregnant.

Take a look at this chart or read just below.

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.

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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.

What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression

Depression during pregnancy ....3
  • 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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Stress Depression During Pregnancy Can Harm Child

Oct. 26, 2021 — New evidence points to the importance of helping mothers with their mental health during pregnancy.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, have found that feelings of stress or depression while pregnant are linked to changes in the placenta where the child is growing. The findings, , show these changes could alter gene activity.

Stress and depression are not uncommon among expectant women, with depression affecting an estimated 1 in 10 pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

And current evidence already suggests that depression during pregnancy can negatively affect a child later in life. For instance, one study found that depression during pregnancy was linked to behavioral and emotional disorders during childhood, and another found that it raised the risk of depression at age 18.

To investigate stress and depression during pregnancy, the NIH investigators evaluated 301 pregnant women from 12 clinics in the United States who had taken part in an earlier clinical study. The group was ethnically diverse, with 34% identifying as Hispanic, 26% as non-Hispanic white, 24% as non-Hispanic Black, and 17% as Asian or Pacific Islander.

The purpose of studying the placenta, according to lead researcher Markos Tesfaye, MD, a post-doctoral fellow at the NIH, is that chemical changes can regulate whether a nearby gene can be activated.

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What Should I Do

Tell your midwife or doctor how you feel. Some women feel very distressed or guilty at feeling low at a time when everyone expects them to be happy. Remember that healthcare professionals wont judge you. They understand that depression is a mental health condition. It is not your fault, or something that you just need to get over or move on from. They will focus on helping you find the right treatment and support so you can take care of yourself and your baby.

If you find it difficult to talk about your thoughts and feelings, you could write down what you want to say first, or you may want to have someone with you. The important thing is to let someone know so that you can get the right help as soon as possible.

Its important to tell the midwife or doctor if you have had depression in the past because you may be more likely to get depression in this pregnancy or after you give birth. They can then give you the best support to reduce the chances of you getting depression again.

“I felt very tired, every time I sat down Id just doze off to sleep. I never seemed to feel that glowing period that everybody talks about.”

Emily, mum of three.

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What Do You Need To Know About St Johns Wort To Treat Depression

St. John’s wort is an herb that some people use to treat depression. We dont know for sure how well it works in pregnant women or if it can cause problems during pregnancy. Herbal products arent regulated by the Food and Drug Administration , so there isnt much information about how safe it is for pregnant women or rules about how much you can take.

If youre thinking about taking St. Johns wort or any other herbal product during pregnancy, talk to your provider first. Theres very little information on how herbal products may affect your pregnancy.

How Is Postpartum Depression Treated

Postpartum Depression after Pregnancy

The common types of treatment for postpartum depression are:

  • Therapy. During therapy, you talk to a therapist, psychologist, or social worker to learn strategies to change how depression makes you think, feel, and act.
  • Medicine. There are different types of medicines for postpartum depression. All of them must be prescribed by your doctor or nurse. The most common type is antidepressants. Antidepressants can help relieve symptoms of depression and some can be taken while youre breastfeeding. Antidepressants may take several weeks to start working.

    The Food and Drug Administration has also approved a medicine called brexanolone to treat postpartum depression in adult women. Brexanolone is given by a doctor or nurse through an IV for 2½ days . Because of the risk of side effects, this medicine can only be given in a clinic or office while you are under the care of a doctor or nurse. Brexanolone may not be safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding.

    Another type of medicine called esketamine can treat depression and is given as a nasal spray in a doctors office or clinic. Esketamine can hurt an unborn baby. You should not take esketamine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

  • Electroconvulsive therapy . This can be used in extreme cases to treat postpartum depression.

These treatments can be used alone or together. Talk with your doctor or nurse about the benefits and risks of taking medicine to treat depression when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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How To Tell The Difference Between Mood Swings And Depression

Symptoms of depression can include changes in sleep, energy, and appetite. But these symptoms could also be normal, pregnancy-related changes. Thats why its important to discuss any symptoms with your doctor. Theyll look for additional clues to see if what you are experiencing is normal or something more.

How Does The Time Before Menopause Affect My Mental Health

As you approach menopause, certain levels of hormones in your body begin to change. This initial transition to menopause when you still get a period is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, some women begin to feel symptoms such as intense heat and sweating , trouble sleeping, and changing moods.

As you get closer to menopause, you may notice other symptoms, such as pain during sex, urinary problems, and irregular periods. These changes can be stressful on you and your relationships and cause you to feel more extreme emotions.

Women with mental health conditions may experience more symptoms of menopause or go through perimenopause differently than women who do not have mental health conditions.

  • Women with depression are more likely to go through perimenopause earlier than other women. Studies show that women with depression have lower levels of estrogen.10

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What To Do If Im Feeling Depressed During Pregnancy

Following ACOG guidelines, all OB-GYNs and midwives should be screening their pregnant patients for perinatal depression. But if you dont feel like your mental health is being taken care of, speak up or find a new provider.

For Mysore, finding a new doctor around the end of her first trimester was the answer.

I found a very lovely OB who is amazing and supportive and she has been very cautious and asks me about my mood and makes sure that doesnt fall under the rug, said Mysore, who started to feel better in her second trimester. , there was a lot of, Oh, youre a health care provider, so you already know about this. And no, I think these experiences are so individual, and its not something you can logically think about on your own. Making sure youre feeling supported and making sure youre heard is the most important thing.

If you feel like you cant talk to your doctor, or dont have enough time during your prenatal appointments, Clark suggests bringing up how youre feeling to the nurse who takes your vitals.

Whatever is told to a nurse during the check-in will make it to the doctor, said Clark, who added that she gets lots of important information about her patients from her nurses. And then once the doctor comes in, she might already be expecting to address that.

Treatment Of Depression While Pregnant

18 Tried

There is a saying: When a baby is born, so is a mother. Becoming a parent can be an incredible experience and usually brings about great joy, but it can also be a time of extraordinary physical and emotional transitions that can be intense at times. Sometimes the expectations of positive emotions can further the confusion for new moms during this critical period.

When an expectant, or new mother is faced with a diagnosis of depression, treatment is needed to prevent worsening of symptoms. Below are some treatment options and alternative modalities to address symptoms of depression in pregnancy.

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Can Ppd 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 with 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 PPD for women at increased risk:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy . CBT helps you manage negative thoughts by changing the way you think and act. Common kinds of CBT include working with a therapist to help you set goals and identify negative thoughts and behaviors so you can begin to think and act differently.
  • Interpersonal therapy . IPT helps you identify and deal with conditions and problems in your personal life, like relationships with your partner and family, situations at work or in your neighborhood, having a medical condition or losing a loved one. Common kinds of IPT include working with a therapist in role-playing, answering open-ended questions and looking closely at how you make decisions and communicate with others.
  • Does Pregnancy Cause Depression

    Pregnancy can cause you to experience depression. Your body goes through a lot of change and the stresses of pregnancy can trigger depression in some women. Not everyone who becomes pregnant will also be depressed.

    If you have experienced depression in the past, your symptoms could return or if you were living with depression before your pregnancy, it may get worse once youre pregnant.

    Its important to talk to your healthcare provider about depression during pregnancy because it can extend after delivery. Women who experience depression during pregnancy are at a higher risk of postpartum depression .

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    How Does Depression Affect Pregnant Women

    If you have depression while youre pregnant, you may have trouble caring for yourself.

    Depression during pregnancy can also lead to:

    • delivering before the due date ,
    • giving birth to a small baby .

    If depression during pregnancy isnt treated, it can lead to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that can last for months after giving birth. It can affect your health and how well you bond with your baby.

    Loneliness And Depression During Pregnancy

    Is it normal to feel depressed during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy?

    While many people are aware of postpartum depression, a condition that occurs shortly after the birth of a baby, less talked about is depression occurring during pregnancy, which is called prenatal depression.

    Although estimates vary, one study found that around 25% of women experienced prenatal depression. However, it also isnt uncommon for women to experience some depressive symptoms even though they may not be severe enough for a diagnosis of depression.

    Experiencing depressive symptoms during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing postpartum depression. Experts recommend that all women should be screened for depression both during and after pregnancy.

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    Domestic Violence Or A History Of Abuse

    It’s very common for domestic violence and emotional abuse to get worse when you’re pregnant. If this happens to you, it’s crucial that you speak to someone to make sure you and your baby stay safe. Talk to your provider about how to change your situation. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788.

    Women who have a history of physical or sexual abuse are also more likely to experience depression during pregnancy. If you’ve struggled with abuse in the past, it’s important to seek help from a mental healthcare professional. If you aren’t already seeing a therapist, ask your primary care doctor or OB-GYN for a referral.

    What Is Perinatal Depression

    Perinatal depression is a mood disorder that can affect women during pregnancy and after childbirth. The word perinatal refers to the time before and after the birth of a child. Perinatal depression includes depression that begins during pregnancy and depression that begins after the baby is born . Mothers with perinatal depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult for them to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or others.

    How is postpartum depression different from the baby blues? The baby blues is a term used to describe mild mood changes and feelings of worry, unhappiness, and exhaustion that many women sometimes experience in the first 2 weeks after having a baby. Babies require around-the-clock care, so its normal for mothers to feel tired or overwhelmed sometimes. If mood changes and feelings of anxiety or unhappiness are severe, or if they last longer than 2 weeks, a woman may have postpartum depression. Women with postpartum depression generally will not feel better unless they receive treatment.

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    How Often Does Depression During Pregnancy Happen

    Between 14 and 23 percent of women will struggle with symptoms of depression during their pregnancy. About 1 in 4 women have depression at some point in their lifetime. About 1 in 7 women are treated for depression within the year before pregnancy and the year after pregnancy.

    However, these numbers could be even higher, as many people who struggle with depression are reluctant to admit it or reach out for help.

    My Prenatal Depression Symptoms

    Pregnancy Depression

    On top of the shock I felt from my sudden pregnancy, I suffered from debilitating morning sickness. I was never the type to vomit, but I felt ill most of the time, had trouble eating much, and lost a bunch of weight. The weight loss made me very concerned for my baby. My midwives assured me that I could eat nothing but Wonder Bread for those first few months and my baby would be fine, but I still worried.

    I worried about everything. When I caught my son’s fever, I worried that my unborn baby would be harmed in some way. When I lay down next to my son at bedtime, I worried that I was destroying our tight bond by letting another child into it. I doubted whether we should have gotten pregnant with this baby at all.

    If I felt cramps or twinges, I almost wished I would miscarry. I wanted a way outnot just from the pregnancy itself, but from my tortured, obsessive thoughts. It hurts to even type those words, because now that my second child is here, I can’t imagine not having him. But those were some of the kind of dark thoughts that raced through my mind in the first trimester.

    One of the worst things about it was that I began worrying about the thoughts themselves, wondering if there was something severely wrong with me for having them. The wash of pregnancy hormones weren’t helping either. It felt like three months of PMS tinged with daily anxiety attacks.

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