Depression During Pregnancy

Many people are not aware of all the emotional changes taking place during pregnancy. The experience will be less distressing if you know the common changes and understand what is normal and what may not be normal.

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and symptoms occur in 8 to 38% of pregnant women. Depression is defined as the occurrence of depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities along with symptoms that can include disturbance in appetite, weight, sleep, energy, and concentration. Presence of suicidal thoughts and feelings of worthlessness or guilt are also signs of depression.

Pregnancy is a life-altering event that can cause women to feel anxious, scared and often stressed. Prenatal depression seems to be increased in the first trimester, suggesting it is the time of maximum vulnerability. Experts believe that the rapid increase in hormone levels at the start of pregnancy can disrupt brain chemistry and lead to depression.

Depression can increase your risk of pre-term labor and lower birth rate. Counseling, as well as medication, have been shown to be effective in lessening depression and reducing the incident of postpartum depression. If you're uncertain about your state of mind, I would seek the opinion of your obstetric care provider. Don’t be shy about letting your doctor know if you feel low. Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.

If you've experienced three or more of the following symptoms for more than two weeks, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should see a therapist:

• A sense that nothing feels enjoyable or fun anymore
• Feeling blue, sad, or "empty" for most of the day, every day
• Find it's harder to concentrate
• Extreme irritability or agitation or excessive crying
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time
• Extreme or never-ending fatigue
• A desire to eat all the time or not wanting to eat at all
• Inappropriate guilt or feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness