Depression during pregnancy

It is important to get the help you need if you suffer from depression!

Depression During Pregnancy

Some women experience periods of sadness during their pregnancy and some women will experience depression. The depression may be slight, moderate or quite severe for some expectant mothers. Women that are most likely to have depression during pregnancy already have a history of depression. If you have symptoms of depression while you are pregnant, it is important to seek treatment. If depression is left untreated it can worsen and may be harmful for both mother or baby.

Causes of depression are different for different people. Some women may be more prone to develop depression and others may experience life changing events that trigger the condition. Some expectant mothers do not feel good during pregnancy and this can lead to further complications. Death, job changes, family changes, relationship issues and other factors can all lead to depression.

Symptoms of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. However, some of the most common signs of depression are changes in appetite, decreased interest in activities that are normally pleasurable, changes in sleeping habits, fatigue, sad mood, lack of concentration, feelings of guilt, suicidal thoughts, restlessness and irritability with friends and family. Occasionally, some of the symptoms that women experience can be overlooked because they may be normal during pregnancy. Women that feel alone and do not seek help for their depression are more likely to not eat properly, rest properly and often lack prenatal care. This can be harmful to the developing baby's health and growth.

Depression can be dealt with in different ways and the condition is treatable with proper medical care. Often times depression can make you feel like there is nothing that can be done. This is simply not true and the feeling will get better with treatment. If women do not treat depression during pregnancy, they may be more likely to suffer from postpartum depression as well.

If you suffer from the symptoms of depression, you should contact your doctor to talk about treatment options. There are a variety of options available that are safe during pregnancy. Your caregiver may recommend medications that are safe during pregnancy. You should also consider what medications are safe to take after pregnancy if you choose to breastfeed. You might also be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist that will talk with you and help to relieve some of the depressed feelings. You should not take any herbs or dietary supplements designed for depression without receiving consent from your healthcare provider. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate these supplements and they might not be safe for pregnancy women or their growing babies.

Often times, women that experience minimal feelings of depression can overcome their thoughts by talking to friends and family. Having a strong support system can sometimes be all that is needed for some women. Ask for help around the house with chores, food preparations and other tasks that need taken care of. Eating a healthy diet and exercising during pregnancy has been shown to help relieve the symptoms of depression. If you decide to exercise, talk to your doctor about a routine that is safe during pregnancy. You should aim to do something physical for 30 minutes a day, three times a week. Exercising a little will give you more energy and a sense of accomplishment. Because stress triggers depression, you should try to minimize the stress in your life or at least learn to deal with it. Make sure that you allow yourself plenty of rest time. Getting a good night's sleep is important for a healthy pregnancy and can prevent the feelings of depression. Finally, make sure that you leave time for yourself. Take time to do things that you enjoy, even if you do not feel like it. More than likely, once you begin the activity it will become fun again. Be realistic in your expectations about pregnancy and new motherhood. Changes can be hard to adapt to but with time and support, most changes can be overcome.

More than anything, enjoy your pregnancy. This is an important time in your life. Write down your feelings in a journal and try to focus on happy thoughts, memories and feelings. Finding out what sex the baby is, feeling your baby move for the first time and hearing its' heartbeat are all exciting parts of pregnancy. Document your feelings and look back on them when you are feeling down.

Comments: Depression during pregnancy

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promisedbygod - 18 hours ago.
Me too.

xNatiex - 1 days ago.
:(

dlaverty - 10 days ago.
hi everyone, ive suffered from depression for years, suffered quite badly with post natal depression and im now struggling in this pregnancy. I am not on my anti depressents anymore (didnt want to take them while pregnant) I am having a lot of relationship problems which doesnt help but i have found some things that help. I just want to give some advice to some.....i know it seems like nothing will ever get better and sometimes you feel that people would be better off without you but please dont believe that. You are a beautiful person, loved and surrounded by family and friends (plus some from this site!) I find that conselling helps, it saved my life and i still continue to go to this day. Please dont bottle up your feelings so you are not 'bothering' anyone....it is so important that you talk to someone. Sometimes even writing things down help, you should see my profile lol! There is a light at the end of the tunnel, i promise. Feel free to talk to me xxxx

sparky - 11 days ago.
I have been taking Lexapro for the last year. My doctor said it would hurt my changes of TTC but now I'm wondering. It's been 3 1/2 years and still no luck.

kebler98 - 11 days ago.
Randy I wish i could give you some good advice but I don't know what to say. I was horrible to my hubby while I was pregnant, thankfully he stuck with me. (He knew that my pregnancy would only last 10 months and I would be normal again.) I guess that I could say... it will be over eventually.... Sorry and just try to be as understanding as possible.

Randy 123 - 11 days ago.
I am struggling with my girlfriend im trying to keep her happy but I think she is suffering from depression She doesnt really want anything to do with me right now she still tells me she loves me everyday but I cant understand why she doesnt want me around or me to help with anything. I need help on how to talk to her without upsetting her I love her very much and want to make this work

youngmama - 16 days ago.
omg....you cannot let him get away with that. I know this is a really hard time in your life and you need him but it is best for you and your baby to get out fast. Maybe once the baby is born he will come to his sense but until then you can't let him think that you're a doormat. If you start letting him get away with things like cheating now, it will only get worse. When you give them an inch they they take a mile. Although it will be hard you have to put your foot down now or you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of hurt. Once the baby is born he may want to smarten up and you can decide then whether or not you think he deserves another chance, but for now, unacceptable.

jenakatessa - 16 days ago.
ok heres my story....i have been with my partner for 4 years....i love him so much, hes always been pretty good to me, we have been through alot togehter. The one thing i always trusted in him was to be faithfull......well....im not sure what has possessed him to make such horrible choices lately but i found out a couple weeks ago that he cheated on me with a teenage girl, I am 25, and he is 21. He was drunk, and denys the whole thing. I heard it from her, and from others, so i know that it is true and im very sadd about this. She told me that they ALSO didnt use protection. I Found all of this out AFTER i was already intimiate with him from his night out on the town. Im afraid i may have an std. I went to my doctors today, and i asked for a pap but they just told me to watch closer for side affects and then they will check me out. This is really stressing me out. NOT TO MENTOIN last thursday we went to our home town again to visit mutual friends, only for him to TAKE OFF on me with his besty drinking buddy and SLEEP and the SAME GIRLS HOUSE 4 nights in a row...she is dating his drinking buddy..but his drinking buddy is a huge loser that could care less who has sex with his gf cuz hes using her....and hes a drunken crazy person.....so...im just wondering...should i just say see you later to the love of my life who has NEVER ACTED LIKE THIS...or should i just forget all this is happening and hope he changes when this baby come into this world....???? help..

ymmstartingover - 19 days ago.
I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (I was shot a coule years ago by a mugger). The PTSD causes severe depression and makes me suicidal. I went off all my meds when I found out I was pregnant and it has been REALLY hard. I have some days that are realy really hard, but I read that even taking medication that is safe while pregnant can cause they baby to be born addicted. My BF is NOT supportive at all, he wanted me to have an abortion, so he is not happy that I didn't. I told him I won't go after him for child support, but I could really use some emotional support right now. I just don't have any. That really makes the depression worse and not having anyone to talk to makes it harder. I have 4 other kids, aged 22, 19, 16, and 12. They don't know I get suicidal. Any advise? No, I don't want to tell my doctor because I don't want her to try to make me take the meds.

hannah8686 - 30 days ago.
HI, Im a Bi-polar sufferer and am on the following medications Carbomazepine 1200mg, Venlafaxine 225mg and Sequercol 400mg a day. I now have to cut down to the minimum of all my medications whilst pregnant as they are classed as risk c and d?? whatever that means. im worried about becoming more depresed, this pregnancy was not planned and my b/f left me 4 weeks ago so i am by myself.x

*AMANDA* - 46 days ago.
hey girls, my hubby and i are ttc. growin up i had problems with depression and after i had my daughter it came back. now that we are ttc, i have been taking celexa for about a year and i want to continue to take it during this pregnancy, however, i am scared if it will hurt the baby..... i googled it and everything was mixed. what do you guys think???

apple3 - 50 days ago.
well at least i am not the only one...... i am Bi Polar but i try to hide it from everyone and don't like taking the medication because it makes me feel like a zombie. i dont think i am servely depressed i dont have thoughts of suicide or anything but i feel sad and lonely even though i have my daughter and my sister and brother in law and dad and son and boyfirend with ADD!!! i just feel like bummed... and i hate it.

annarelle - 109 days ago.
thank you bethies2nd baby iam realy happy to hear your daughters healthy and happy . am sory to hear that you dont have much support from your husband, they could help us soo much ,i dont think they realise that. wish you all the best t.c :)

Bethies2ndBaby - 109 days ago.
Annarelle, I can understand your concern. I took Wellbutrin with my daughter for the majority of the pregnancy and now they are saying it is bad. But she is 4 years old and bright as can be. She did not have any birth defects or anything. I have been trying to make it through this pregnancy without any ADs at all and am having a really tough time. I am considering going on Prozac but my husband doesnt want me to. He however is not very supportive when I am sad, so I dont know what to do..

annarelle - 115 days ago.
hi im 19weeks with my 4th child 1st son!! i had a hospital visit yesterday were i was told that i need to stop taking 'mirtazapine' as they dont know how it affects human pregnancy but in rats the babys were of low weight or died shortly after birth!! im a bit P.O as i have always told drs that i was on it and they said it was fine. I now ofcorse will stop taking it but am scared of what i may have done. Please if anyone has any information on this sneaky antidepressant during pregnancy.. please share with me xo

moma123like this - 115 days ago.
oh i just left a message on the 7 week,im soo moody it isnt cool.i dont want every one to hate me cus im so mean i have 2 babies and my youngest is 6 mths old and i got soo angry this morning when she cried i feel bad good thinng i have my mom to help!!!i sthe re any thing i can do?maybe get meds?

flutterflybaby1999 - 118 days ago.
How does anyone do it when they preg and find out their husband is cheating with their friend of 9 years? i feel like i could die.....

notsmithers - 124 days ago.
yes i agree therepy did more for me than any pills. i did counselling for bout 3 years and it changed my life. it was quite pricey but it saved me.i would recommend it to everyone. xxx

Mommyof2Kidos - 124 days ago.
I experienced depression after the loss of my 1st baby so I understand the issues. Besides taking meds is anyone going to counseling? My sessions actually helped me more than my medication in the long term. I'm not big on taking pills, and I felt my real feelings were being surpressed but that I might explode any minute. I would recommend therapy in addition to your current treatments. I wish you all the best!

notsmithers - 125 days ago.
i totally understand msfox. i have suffered fro depression for years and have been on meds. my doc told me to stay on them durin my pregnancy last year. i actually felt really good during the whole pregnancy and afterwards. now im pregnant again and dont feel the same. i get real bad days but its hard to be positive all the time. my situation has changed (loss of job, husband on 3 day week, no money etc) since. so ive tryed to turn it around by saying i have a right to be down at the moment and go through the motions by talking about it & not bottling it up, (like i usually do) and trying to keep active.

msfox53704 - 125 days ago.
I have had depression for twenty years and now that I'm pregnant I thought it would be different. I have been on Prozac for several years but now I'm on Zoloft. I just started a few days ago. Hopefully it helps!! I have so many things keeping me down. I been trying to stay positive but sometimes get lost in the mix!! :)

nicnmicsmom - 130 days ago.
sondramarie, from 7 weeks to about 11 weeks is the most difficult time. You have SO much progesterone in your system that you just won't be yourself for awhile. working, having kids, being a wife....are all very difficult while pregnant. give yourself a break. Put yourself first. Ask for help and be specific. If that doesn't work, make an appointment to see your doctor sooner than the normal 10 week visit and ask about antidepressant medication. I hate meds but it may help.

nicnmicsmom - 130 days ago.
sondramarie, from 7 weeks to about 11 weeks is the most difficult time. You have SO much progesterone in your system that you just won't be yourself for awhile. working, having kids, being a wife....are all very difficult while pregnant. give yourself a break. Put yourself first. Ask for help and be specific. If that doesn't work, make an appointment to see your doctor sooner than the normal 10 week visit and ask about antidepressant medication. I hate meds but it may help.

flutterflybaby1999 - 136 days ago.
What can the doc give me for this pain? I cant take it no more. It hurts. Im like a time bomb that wants to go off.

flutterflybaby1999 - 138 days ago.
sorry to hear that. I kind of felt the same way as you in aug when i lost my baby. i was in a rocky relationship but he said he wanted the baby. i didnt know how i was gonna raise the baby when me and my bf couldnt go a day without arguing. i guess i didnt regret the baby but i did regret being preg. after i lost the baby due to a mc, i regretted everything i thought. just try to surround yourself by loving people. you can get help by the state. i dont know what to say about your bf not wanting the baby b/c my husband left me 1 month preg. i hope for the best. and if not, you can do this. im doing it alone now, i dont have a job yet, i lost my insurance, i got kicked out of my own apart by my husband. you can get thru this. when you have your baby you'll realize nothing else matters. thats why i cant cry or grieve b/c i dont want my baby feeling pain. good luck hun