Caution: depression during pregnancy

The expectation of the child, especially the first child, is the time when the woman constantly listens to herself, watches the changes in her body and mind. But is it always a change for the better? Depression during pregnancy is not a rare and, of course, a dangerous condition requiring specialist advice and appropriate correction.

First, let's try to understand what a real depression is. Symptoms of depression as a mental disorder are apathy, loss of interest in life, tearfulness and a constant sense of anxiety or sadness. This state, obviously, harms the future mother and the fetus. Depression during pregnancy is caused by a variety of causes:

• Chronic fatigue and excessive physical activity, especially on long terms;
• Illness or unhappiness in the family;
• Financial turmoil;
• Disorder of life;
• Excessive care of relatives and friends;
• Lack of assistance from a husband and parents;
• Isolation from friends.

Against the background of any of these causes, depression may occur. During pregnancy, everything is perceived more sharply, it is associated with a different level of hormones than in everyday life. In the first months the expectant mother is exhausted with toxicosis, she loses her appetite and weight. To the idea of a future motherhood, even planned, at first it's not easy to get used to. Active life, activities and entertainments, which were taken for granted before pregnancy, are now inaccessible. At this stage, the support of family members is more important than ever, a woman needs to help accept her pregnancy as a fait accompli. Depression threatens primarily divorced women and single mothers. Feeling of uselessness, isolation from the society and a dominating responsibility that has no one to share, can lead to disastrous results.

Depression during pregnancy may occur at a later date. In the second and third trimester, anxiety associated with the condition of the fetus worsens. There may be anxiety about the presence of malformations and genetic abnormalities. A future mother may be intimidated by the threat of losing a baby, especially by reading relevant articles, stories about the unsuccessful experience of other parturient women. Fear of childbirth is one of the possible causes of depression on the "finish line".

Such specific factors as alcoholism, drug addiction in the past, smoking in the present, can also cause perinatal depression. If a woman tried to become pregnant for a long time, the cause could be hormonal disorders in the body. They, in turn, cause a depressed state in the waiting period of the baby.

Heredity, namely the presence of mental disorders and mental illness in parents and relatives, several times increase the likelihood of depression of pregnant women. Problems coming from childhood - the facts of violence and cruel treatment by parents and guardians - increase the woman's predilection for such disorders.

The presence of the above factors can not be guaranteed to lead to prenatal and postnatal depression; But, knowing about their existence, the future mother has time to prepare for such a state.

Tips for loved ones - how to get pregnant from depression:

• Listen to the woman. Her desires should not be relegated to the background while waiting for the baby and after childbirth. Often, representatives of the fair sex hide the symptoms of a depressed state for fear of not matching the role of a happy mother. The feelings of guilt prevent them from opening to their relatives . In this difficult period, close attention is required from close people.
• Appeal to a specialist. Individual counseling, fetal-safe antidepressants or group therapy will help in severe cases.
• To get rid of the anxiety associated with childbirth and the upbringing of an infant, a woman should attend special courses where future mothers are taught this. Practical training (for example, mastering breathing techniques) and explaining the changes that are taking place will allow a woman to overcome fears and not be alone with her experiences.