Depression During Pregnancy

Depression During Pregnancy

1421580470 | Kjetil Kolbjornsrud | shutterstock.com

last updated: 10.12.2024

When a Dark Veil Seems to Overshadow Everything...

  • Pregnant and unable to muster up any positive emotions? Many women struggle with feeling down for part of their pregnancy—and the cause is often purely physiological! The hormonal changes in pregnancy can lead to feelings of sadness and mood swings.
  • When dealing with pregnancy-related depression or when struggling with depression before becoming pregnant, consult your doctor. The upside is that pregnancy-related depression is treatable, leading to marked improvement or complete resolution within weeks (sometimes it can take a few months).
  • This page provides six self-care tips and additional information to help you feel more like yourself again.

You may like:
⚖️ Wondering whether to have an abortion? – Take the Abortion Test

Do you have any questions or concerns? Write your message directly here ⬇️

Signs of Prenatal Depression

Indicators of Prenatal Depression (aka, antepartum depression):

  • You are not feeling even a hint of joy right now and pursuing your usual hobbies does not make it better.
  • Upon waking up, you want to pull the covers up over your head and stay in bed all day.
  • Everything is an effort: thinking, focusing, everyday life—you simply don't have the energy for it.
  • You have a difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, tossing and turning in your bed for most of the night. Or you feel tired and exhausted all the time, longing for your bed.
  • Your mind is constantly going but never arriving at any conclusion. You feel an intense inner restlessness or emptiness.
  • Everything seems covered by a dark veil. Life feels overwhelming and exhausting.
  • You lack appetite, or you are constantly thinking about food, snacking more than usual.

If you have been experiencing these kinds of symptoms for a while, you could be going through prenatal depression.

Frequency and Causes

Depression is a very common mental illness. 15-20% of people suffer from it at some point in their lives.

The exact cause of depression cannot always be determined, because multiple factors usually play a role.

Physiological Causes (in Pregnancy)

Some people are more prone to depression simply because of their biological make-up. They either have a genetic predisposition towards depression or a chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine, in the brain.

During pregnancy, hormonal and physical changes play a prominent role in triggering emotions.

Often, it is initially difficult to recognize prenatal depression since hormonal changes often cause women to feel more sensitive. In early pregnancy, hormones also cause fatigue and lethargy, while pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness can be taxing, making joy hard to come by.

Should these symptoms be severe and persistent, without intervals of joy or rest, you are likely dealing with prenatal depression.

External Factors

An acutely stressful situation can cause a dormant pre-existing condition to take effect, allowing depression to develop. This is usually recognizable by the symptoms listed above.

A change in life circumstances due to a pregnancy can intensify this tendency.

Treatment: Reasons for Hope!

There is hope, even if your situation seems hopeless to you at the moment:

  • (Prenatal) depression is usually easily treatable.
  • With proper care, it usually subsides within a few weeks (or months), limiting or eliminating all symptoms.

Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect that you may be suffering from pregnancy-related depression. You don't need to grit your teeth and endure!

Medical Treatment

Comprehensive studies confirm that some antidepressants are safe during pregnancy. They have no adverse effects on the pregnancy or the baby.

After your doctor initially prescribes an antidepressant, it will take time for it to build up an effective concentration in your bloodstream—this will require patience. You should start feeling an improvement within two weeks.

ℹ️ Antidepressants are usually only taken temporarily and are also non-addictive (unlike sedatives). Any fear of addiction is unfounded.

Since depression usually involves a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters, antidepressants compensate for this serotonin or norepinephrine deficiency.

Counseling

You have all reason to assume that your emotional state will improve quickly after starting on medication. Pairing medication with counseling can also be beneficial.

If your symptoms are not disruptive to everyday life, you may even want to try counseling before resorting to medication.

If You Have Suffered from Depression Before

If you have experienced depression before becoming pregnant, you may have already tried antidepressants. You may now be wondering whether it is safe to continue your medication during pregnancy. Consult your doctor as soon as possible!

📍Note: Do not abruptly discontinue a drug without consulting your doctor! This could lead to a worsening of your symptoms. In all likelihood, you can safely continue taking the antidepressant.

Want to know if a specific medication is safe during pregnancy? Go to mothertobaby.org.

For more information, go to Pregnancy and Mental Health

Six Self-Care Tips

Here are some suggestions to help you regain your footing in this challenging situation. Take things at your own pace by gradually implementing some of these ideas. This will allow you to approach the light at the end of the tunnel.


1. Support 🤝

Right now, it would be beneficial to have some emotional support. Having someone you can trust and lean on, pointing you toward the light, even when you can’t see it, is priceless. Think about whom you would like to confide in! Some people may not be as helpful as they tend to bring their own issues into the mix, even if they are loyal companions. You will sense whom to confide in right now.

You don't have to do this alone!

2. Wait On Making Decisions Until Your Depression Subsides

Most medical practitioners and counselors agree that no significant decisions should be made while in a deep, dark hole. If you are currently wondering whether to keep the baby or abort it, give yourself more time!

During depression, reality is often distorted, seeming much darker than it actually is. Wait on making a decision until the dark veil has begun to lift and you feel your strength returning.

3. Relief through Medical Support 👨‍⚕️

Prenatal depression is highly treatable. Within two weeks, you should already start feeling the medication kick in.

Seek medical advice without delay in order to experience relief as quickly as possible!

4. Spend Time Outdoors 🌳☀️

Even the thought of going outside may exhaust you. Try to do it anyway! Getting some exercise and fresh air can do you a world of good.

Especially sunlight is known to brighten one's mood—light therapy is even used for treating depression.

5. Proper Nutrition 🌮

You may not feel like eating right now and can't imagine ever enjoying food again. Nonetheless, choose to eat well!

Is there anyone who would be willing to cook for you? If you are having cravings, despite depression, go for it, even if it may not be the healthiest choice.

6. Don’t Give up, Persevere! 🌥

This is probably the most important piece of advice: Hang in there and don't give up!

Dark clouds may hide the sun for a few more days or weeks. While you are waiting to see the light, remember that the sun is always shining above the clouds, even if you can't see it. You will get to enjoy the sunshine again soon.

In the meantime (and it may very well feel like “mean time”), feel free to make use of our resources:

Sources:

    Was this article helpful?