Depression During Pregnancy - An Overview
Most women experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy and experts believe that at least one in ten pregnant women experience bouts of depression and anxiousness. For a number of years medical scientists were of the opinion that pregnancy hormones protected the woman against depression, and after the baby was born, women became more vulnerable to illness when their hormonal levels dipped considerably.
Today most experts are of the opinion that the rapid increase in hormone levels and their dramatic fluctuation at the onset of pregnancy interrupts brain chemistry and causes depression. Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy tend to make the pregnant woman more anxious than usual. Since women tend to dismiss their feelings, depression and anxiety during pregnancy are often neglected and left untreated.
Some women are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety during pregnancy due to the following risk factors:
* Family or prior personal history of depression and anxiousness: if in the past you have struggled with depression or intense anxiety you are likely to become depressed during pregnancy. Even if you have never experienced depression in the past, but you have a tendency of getting anxious during stressful situations, you might also be vulnerable to depression during pregnancy.
* Fertility treatments: most women who have trouble getting pregnant are likely to be under a lot of stress and duress. Compounded by the fact that if the pregnant woman has been through multiple fertility treatments, she might be burdened with the emotional side effects of anxiety-laden expectations. Over and above, once a woman has successfully conceived it is not uncommon for her to be panic-stricken of losing the baby especially after having worked hard through the fertility measures. All these factors are likely to make the pregnant woman inclined towards depression and anxiety.
* Former loss in pregnancy: If you may have lost a baby in the past or experienced a miscarriage; this important factor is likely to hamper your mental feelings of being positive during pregnancy. Most women who have suffered a miscarriage rarely recover emotionally and physically from it, and if there are added health restrictions, they might be highly susceptible to depression and anxiety.
It is important to note that a woman’s emotional health is as important as the physical health during pregnancy and hence feelings of depression and anxiety can greatly affect the physical health. Research has indicated that depression and anxiety can increase the pregnant woman’s risk for preterm labor and leaving these conditions untreated can greatly hamper the mother’s ability of caring for herself and for the developing baby.
In recent times depression and anxiety during pregnancy is treated through psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. It is strongly advised against taking herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wort to treat depression. This is because the safety of these remedial measures during pregnancy is unexplored and they are not viable alternatives for professional therapy.
Kevin Pederson provides information on pregnancy and baby care and has contributed many articles to Pregnancy Baby Care. The articles contain pregnancy tips and methods on dealing with the health concerns of pregnant mothers. They also provide guidance for newborn baby care with regards to diet, hygiene, and general care.
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