What is depression in pregnancy? Know causes, symptoms, and treatment

Depression is a problem that anyone can be a victim of. This problem can also be seen during pregnancy. The risk of developing depression in pregnancy is about 4 to 20 percent. This problem can be due to many reasons, which the pregnant and unborn baby can be harmed. Therefore, you must know the important things related to depression in pregnancy. In this article, we are explaining in detail the causes, symptoms, and treatment of depression in pregnancy. Apart from this, other important information related to this will also be shared with you.

Let us first understand what is depression during pregnancy.

What is depression in pregnancy?

Depression is a serious mood disorder that can affect a person mentally and physically for weeks or months. This problem also starts affecting the daily routine of the victim. At the same time, this problem can also be seen during pregnancy. In this, the woman becomes sad, worried, and disappointed, or feels guilty for no reason or no reason. Depression in pregnancy can occur for a variety of reasons, and depression during pregnancy is not the same for all women. The reasons for this are explained in detail below.

Learn more about the causes of depression during pregnancy.

causes of depression in pregnancy

Some of the risk factors mentioned below can cause depression in pregnancy –

Women who have previously been a patient of depression or bipolar disorder.

Women who have suffered from postpartum depression after a previous pregnancy.

Those who have a family history of mental disorders.

Women who have the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (more than usual mood swings and physical pain before periods)

Women who have gone through child abuse.

early pregnancy.

Unplanned pregnancy.

Having three or more children.

Lack of social support.

Women who are or have been victims of domestic violence.

smoking or drinking alcohol.

Lack of education and unemployment.

Know more about the symptoms of depression during pregnancy in this article.

Symptoms of depression in pregnancy

Below are some such symptoms, with the help of which depression during pregnancy can be detected –

Be sad

lack of confidence.

Eating too little or more than usual.

Sleeping more than usual or falling asleep at all.

Fatigue or lack of energy.

a feeling of being sad or hopeless.

Crying for no reason

Lack of interest in the things in which he used to live before.

Learn more about how depression affects pregnancy.

How can depression affect pregnancy?

Depression can affect pregnancy in many ways, in research published by NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), it has been made clear that it is important to pay attention to this stage of the woman in time. If this is not done, it can cause the woman to eat less, get less rest and become more upset. This can lead to several serious conditions, such as miscarriage or postpartum depression after pregnancy. In the future, it can affect the woman in the following ways –

Feeling as if unable to care for a child.

Extreme anxiety and panic.

Difficulty making decisions.

To be sad

be disappointed

Having trouble staying in control.

Depression can also affect the health of the unborn baby. Know how

Can depression harm the baby?

This condition of a woman can affect her unborn baby in many ways. The irregular lifestyle of the pregnant due to depression can lead to premature birth (preterm birth) and low birth weight (low birth weight). If a woman's depression is not treated in time, it can continue even after the birth of the baby. In such cases, the mother's sense of love or care for her baby may get affected. During this period, the development of the baby depends on the behavior of the mother and if this depression lasts for a long time, then according to the age of the child and his thinking ability, it can have a deep impact on him or her mentally.

The following situations can also arise in the life of children who are not emotionally attached to their mothers, such as –

Hesitation to openly talk to his mother.

Difficulty being around mother.

Be unnecessarily angry with them.

get angrier

Mental development is late in comparison to other children.

Not wanting to talk to others.

Don't be disciplined.

Not performing well in school.

Behavior not right

lack of concentration.

Risk of having anxiety and depression in the future.

In the next part of the article, know-how depression in pregnancy can be treated.

treatment for depression in pregnancy

Depression during pregnancy can be treated in the following ways:

Medications – Doctors may prescribe anti-depressant medications to a pregnant woman to treat depression, or SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) to treat severe depression.

Individual therapy – talking to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Family therapy – Seeking therapy from a psychiatrist along with your family members such as spouse or children.

Social Support – Joining such social groups, in which many people suffering from the same problem are present and share their problems with everyone.

Know further which medicines can be consumed during this time.

Are there any safe medications to treat depression in pregnancy?

The following medicines can be taken during the depression in pregnancy –

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and citalopram.

Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs) such as venlafaxine.

Antidepressants such as mirtazapine and bupropion.

Note: Do not consume any of these medicines without consulting a doctor.

Know more about how this problem can be treated apart from medicines.

Other ways to reduce depression in pregnancy

Essential Nutrients – As we mentioned that depression can affect a woman even after pregnancy, one of the reasons may be the lack of essential nutrients in the body. It contains folate, vitamin-D, iron, selenium, zinc, and essential fats. In such a situation, by consuming foods containing these nutrients, comfort can be found during pregnancy and after pregnancy. For now, further research is needed on this topic. At the same time, for information related to food items, the concerned doctor and dietician can be contacted.

Exercise – In research published by NCBI, it has been proven that doing physical activity at least once a week can prove beneficial in reducing and protecting the symptoms of depression.

Plenty of rest – Lack of rest or sleep during pregnancy can make depression worse. In such a situation, it is important that pregnant women take rest as per the need and do not take too much stress.

Acupuncture – Acupuncture has been reported to be an effective option to treat depression during pregnancy. Acupuncture is believed to be more helpful in reducing depression and its symptoms than other treatments. Keep in mind that acupuncture in pregnancy should be done on medical advice and only by an acupuncturist.

Learn more about how depression can be avoided during pregnancy.

How to avoid depression during pregnancy?

Depression during pregnancy can be avoided by taking care of some common things, such as –

Do not smoke and consume alcohol.

Exercise regularly.

Do things that you enjoy doing, like reading your favorite book, watching a movie, painting, etc.

Do not think too much about any situation or possible difficulties in the future.

If something is bothering you, talk to your partner, friend, or another family member about it.

Eat a balanced and healthy diet.

Walk for a while in the morning and evening and spend time with yourself.

Avoid talking to people who disturb your peace of mind.

Get enough sleep as per your need.

If you are taking depression medication, do not stop without asking your doctor. ,

Know more about when to seek medical advice.

when to go to the doctor

If a pregnant woman feels the above-mentioned symptoms, she should immediately consult a doctor. Looking at the symptoms, the doctor can do the necessary treatment or advice to go to a therapist.

Friends, as much as physical health is important during pregnancy, it is equally important for a woman to be mentally healthy. We hope that you have understood this very well through this article. At the same time, it must also have been understood that during this time the consequences of not paying attention to mental health can be serious. Note here that pregnancy is a very beautiful time for any woman and if you are also pregnant, then enjoy this time to the fullest, eat well, get enough sleep and take good care of yourself.