Embracing motherhood is a thrilling experience. Every step beholds surprises for new mothers. However, it is extremely challenging too. Since women experience innumerable hormonal activities, sometimes it becomes difficult to comprehend, and that can lead to depression during pregnancy.
It is recommended to check with a professional. Since pregnancy is a very delicate condition, taking any wrong steps can cause extreme severity.
Prenatal depression happens during the term of pregnancy or in the first year after having a baby. As discussed already, women are likely to experience depression during pregnancy, as they go through rapid mood swings and emotional roller coasters. At least one out of seven pregnant women goes through depression, which makes it around 15% of them.
Depression is not just feeling sad or blue once in a while. It is more than that. Mentioned below are some of the symptoms of pregnancy depression.
If any of them continues for more than two weeks, you must consult a doctor.
Chances of depression in pregnant women are fairly common because of hormonal changes. Since it is a life-changing moment, women can sometimes get submerged in emotions and break down.
A link between depression and pregnancy is the rapid mood shifts and swings. While women might feel positive and energetic at times, low feelings are also quite common. It is therefore important to have friends and family during this time, and take their support to avoid depressive thoughts.
Some common causes of depression are listed below.
One of the experts, Sheila Marcus, stated depression during this phase gets triggered by a number of physiologic or stress instigators.
These risk factors can be extremely harmful if not treated at the right time. This can result in various health conditions for both the mother and child.
Risk factors that can worsen the situation are:
Whatever a mother goes through, the unborn child also faces its consequences. Hence, suffering from chronic depression due to pregnancy can negatively impact your baby in many ways.
Here are some of the common conditions;
If you have read the entire piece, you have gained some idea of how to deal with prenatal depression. The key to recovering from this condition is constant communication. You must never succumb to any feeling by yourself and keep stressing yourself about that.
Whenever some unbearable emotion attacks you, ensure to either write it down or share it with your close ones. Depression during pregnancy can be restricted if you are cautious about the symptoms, identify them at an early stage and take the necessary help.
Treating depression and anxiety with the right medicines is the most effective way. If a doctor feels your condition needs certain drugs, they will prescribe a mild antidepressant to aid the underlying causes. However, some may feel sceptical regarding medicinal assistance as there can be some side effects.
Ignoring symptoms of depression is not a wise decision, as it can impact the health of both mother and the child. Treating depression during pregnancy not only includes drugs and medicinal aids, but doctors also suggest self-care and therapy to help you overcome the situation.
Other ways to deal with depression are:
Talking to someone when you are feeling down is a great start for dealing with depression. You must understand that you are not alone in this journey. People who care for you are always there to support you. So, if you ever feel not worthy or guilty, share your thoughts with someone you trust.
Music is known as an excellent medium to calm your nerves. However, not many are aware of its benefits, as it is not that popular in India. Music therapy cannot just help change your mood and recover from depression but also help your child enhance his senses.
A common myth is that exercising and working during pregnancy can harm your child. However, the opposite is true. Doctors prescribe low-impact physical movements so that the muscles do not get hard and develop strain.
Another effective method doctors suggest for those who undergo depression during pregnancy is self-care. It includes proper diet, REM sleep, developing new habits, taking care of yourself, and doing what makes you happy.
Patients are exposed to artificial sunlight at specific times of the day; this helps them get relief from depression symptoms.
This is a process where a skilled therapist explains how one can try new approaches to manage thoughts and emotions. Learning these skills has shown remarkable results in curing depression.
Including natural mood-booster food in your regular diet can also help fight depression. Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and walnuts are some examples.
Sitting idle causes overthinking, which leads to anxiety and depression. So, channelling your thoughts in the right direction is highly recommended. The best way to do this is by staying involved in activities of your choice like reading, gardening, organising the nursery etc.
This old Chinese practice is done by placing tiny needles into different areas of your body. The purpose of doing this therapy is to influence mood.
It is understandable that women going through pregnancy constantly worry about things that may go wrong. There is a trick you can use to get rid of this habit. You can schedule a time for these thoughts so that they do not haunt you all day.
Please try one more time!
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Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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