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

Comments 1 to 24 of about 418.
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kristyt - 5 hours ago.
how can life be so perfect, im 7wks pregnant, i have everythin i want but im so sad and depressed just waiting for things to go wrong, im pushin every1 away and cry all the time i feel awful i cant eat cause iv no appetite and i just feel drained, when will this feelin go away?

xXxJamieleighxXx - 3 days ago.
OH MY GOD!! i feel so depressed its unreal, i dont know whats wrong with me all i want to do is cry and i dont know why! i dont know what to do anymore!! HELP!!!

aniyahsmom2008 - 5 days ago.
PLEASE READ!! Im not sure if im depressed or just overly emotional. Lately, I have just been feeling like my life is going right. I completed 2 years of college, transfered to another school and during the first semester, found out I was pregnant. I was happy at first, and still am but lately, I get really sad when I think about all my friends who will be graduating next year, and I wont because I have to raise my daughter. I always had a life plan, go to college, get a job, get married, then have kids....but my life isnt going the way I planned. I finished that semester of school, but when I started the second, I just couldnt handle it so I withdrew from all my classes, now they say I owe them like 1200 dollars, which I dont have! School is my life and I can't go back until I repay that money and that just makes me feel even worse. I dont have a job right now, so I sit at home all day, waiting for my boyfriend to come home, and Im just tired of it. I only have 7 1/2 more weeks until she's due to arrive, but I feel like I have nothing. I dont know what to do. I know my boyfriend loves me, but I just feel like he doesnt understand what Im going through. We are always arguing over the dumbest things, and Im so sick of it. At times I just wish my life was back to the way it was months ago but, I've already fell in love with my baby that, it still wouldnt be right. Hopefully everything works out for me because I have to find a way to get back in school. Please leave a comment because I could really use some advice.

birthmothernikkole - 8 days ago.
/o: I've been so stressed lately because of problems with my parents not filling out forms I need for school--I've been living on my own for 2 years now and the government doesn't care, they say I'm still 'dependent'. It got very bad this week--since the papers were due by midnight last night. I thought so much about suicide. I always struggled with in previous years, and this week it was bad. The only thing that kept me was that I couldn't end my baby's life. Yeah, things suck for me... but I want him to be born... to have a chance at life... a good life. (I'm doing an open adoption since I am in college and mentally/physically/financially can't provide almost anything for him since I, myself am in a bad place now.) I keep thinking of his adoptive family, how amazing they are and how I could not do this to them either. Today is a good day for me, so I am thinking more about how he'd feel growing up knowing his birth mom did this after he was born... I know he'll wanna know about me and all, so I wanna be here for him when that happens. It's just hard on other days. /o: The problem I have is that when I am depressed, I know i need to talk to counselors. I tell myself tomorrow I am going to... then the next day is a good day and I don't go to talk to anyone because I feel I'm 'better' and all. We'll see, I think this summer after Ryllie is with his adoptive family I will go to see someone just to make sure I am okay.

billbo - 8 days ago.
sensative question but im worried: do any of you have thoughts of suicide or fantasise about doing it? i go through phases where i think its a good idea n then i tell myself it snot n then i convicne myself no one would miss me if i did it anyway im MENT to be seeint therpists but iv not seen them for a while now which is unacceptable as why offer me help and then take it away etc? im getting worried coz i am beginning to really n truely beleive that it wud be for the best if i was to kill myslf after baby is born and im worried about it im also a little worried if i tell jsut my gp or andy (babys dad, my ex boyfriend) that sum1 might take the baby off me etc

peanutsmommy1 - 11 days ago.
I need some feedback. I am now only 23 weeks with my first pregnancy and while sometimes I have overjoyed with being pregnant, other times I am frustrated with it and dont want to be pregnant anymore. I am overly cautious about hurting the baby, so I don't participate in any activities in which any harm could come (exp. sports, strenous activity, drinking (even wine)and even being able to go to night outings with friends (although I wouldnt drink, I still dont want to be around the smoke) I basically feel like I am living in a bubble and cannot have my freedom. Not to mention I am over the nausea/vomiting/heartburn/cramps/polyuria/and discomforts in general. Its so bad that although most of the time I love feeling my daughter kick- sometimes it agitates me- I almost feel like a prisoner in my own body. I have never felt like that. Do any of you all feel this way at times or do I need to consult my doctor? I dont know if this is normal. I am not feeling like that 100% of the time, but there are definately moments (like now) that I am like how on earth and I going to do this, and it makes me very anxious. How do you all feel? Any feedback is great... thanks! :-)

Amy Pengelly - 12 days ago.
hi im 19 and 22 weeks pregnant i have had depression for a while now but have been havin counciling but since i startd councilin i have had 3 attacks of gallstones so my counciler has pursponed them untrill fter the baby i get veryupset over nothing jealous n paranoid that my partner is with someone else is there anything i can do ??

abby07-18-08 - 13 days ago.
oldie-you are smart when you suggest going to the dr. it cant hurt and can only help you make things better. even if its just to talk things through seek the support you need for your baby and yourself! You can do it.

oldie44 - 13 days ago.
Hi, everyone, I am almost 30 weeks now and I have started feeling panicky. I have had post-partum depression with panic attacks after my last child 6 years ago, but at that time they were triggered by breastfeeding issues and made me debilitated - I could not be alone at home, I cried, could not eat, etc Finally I went to a psychiatrist, stopped breastfeedings, went back to work, was on Zoloft a couple of months, went to see my friends for a weeks in another state and all that seemed to help. However, I feel that made me a lot more volnurable to relapses. With this pregnancy I was doing very well, being positive, worrying less as my PG was progressing healthy. What triggered this new panic attack episode is actually something that should have been very happy event - purchasing a house. We found a house that partially satisfies our criteria, as in the past 9 months we were unable to find exactly what we are looking for. The house is very beautiful, but it is expensive, and big, and all of a sudden I woke up a couple of days ago with panic and shaking hands feeling almost sick to my stomack with fear that we are making a wrong decision. Both me and my husband talked and I convinced myself that it just my hormones, but I still cannot get myself back together. The option period ended, we cannot back out from contract and not needing to do so, but I feel sinking into old paniclky state again, just over a different cause. I have harder time focusing and constantly leading silent conversation with myself trying to bring positives and so far I am failing. I want to curl in the fetal position and cry. I went to my OB yesterday, but I never told him, it kind of felt silly, and I am not even sure if he would be attentive to these kind of things that go beyond PG. Usually my visits are about 30 sec long and we really did not developed close raltionship. I trust him as OB, but that is about it. I do not know if there is any medication that is safe to take during 3rd trimester, I feel that going to psychiatrist is to admit that I am oficially back into that horrible state. I do not wnat to burden my husband with all those emotions right now, I kind of told him in a subtle way, but telling him more would be stressing him too much. He is already overwhelmed with getting prepared for a very important professional certification exam that only offered once a year and he can hardly find time to study anything. We will have to move right before his exam, we have to do a lot of work to prepare our current house for sale, and the baby will be born in the beginning of July. I should be a great help to him, not burden, especially that my depression was what he was scared when he found out I was pregnant. I am looking for some advise and support from you, guys. Has anybody went to Dr and taking any meds that are safe? I am scared to let these emotions go for long until they become completely unmanageable.

Carmione - 14 days ago.
depression can be a very crippling thing...I've dealt with it, suffered from it and had relapses- and it sucks. Especially when you're pregnant. Sometimes it's just that much easier to find yourself feeling lost, sad and weepy when you're dealing with all of these extra emotional roller coasters. The last handful of days have been hard for me- the tears, the sobbing and plain old irritability have really started to take root and I don't like it. I stopped taking my antidepressants weeks ago so the baby would not develop a dependancy and right now I'm not even sure if that was a good idea. I know I did the right thing for Nyah, but it's incredibly hard to do battle alone. I have resources that I can reach out to- so I guess this forum would be considered one of them. I just needed to vent a bit. It's also been a long trying week. Hubby isn't being too kind lately.

stephaniem - 15 days ago.
I am having ups and downs with depression at the moment. I just passed my driving test and am off on vacation next week so I should be over the moon right now!! But I just feel so down...I think once everything starts going right for me I get scared that something will go wrong!x

gladek - 16 days ago.
Don't ever be afraid to talk to your doctor about depression, it can be a horrible thing to go through. I am ten weeks pregnant, and still on depression meds, but weaning off them slowly. I was doing pretty good until my father passed away last week, and my doctor and I decided I should continue for a while more.

abby07-18-08 - 18 days ago.
brittany- you do need to tell someone. Now its about your baby and its health, not just about you. Sometimes talking to someone is all it takes to get out of a funk- call your ob and ask for a social worker/councelor etc..

MOMMYBRITTANY - 18 days ago.
I THINK IM GOING THROUGH DEPRESSION I DNT WANNA TELL NE ONE CUZ I DNT WANNA BE ON NEDICATION OR ANYTHING ME AND MY BOYFRIEND (BABYS DADDY) DECIDED HE DOESNT WANT TO BE WITH ME AND THAT HES STILL THERE FOR SUPPORT AND ITS KILLIN ME I LOVE HIM MORE THEN ANYTHING AND NOW I CANT STOP CRYING I HAVENT ATE I JUST SIT HERE AND CRY I NEED HELP

Tori(a.k.a. Tinkerbell) - 20 days ago.
ok so now i know i'm depressed again..i keep cutting n crying

MsBeenee - 23 days ago.
So I think I have cried everyday for the last 3 weeks I swear! I am so sick of being an emotional wreck! I feel so bad for my husband. I try to be in a good mood all day but then when he comes home I don't know what comes over me but I just get really irritable and it all goes down hill from there. Are marriage is great, in fact I couldn't ask for a better one, but I hate taking it out on him unintentionally. I hope so badly that this will go away after delivery. If it doesn't I am so getting on something! Another thing is that I feel like a huge whale! I can barely even stand to look at myself in the mirror because I hate the weight that I have gained. I know that pregnancy is suppose to be beautiful but common, really?.....at this point in your pregnancy everyone looks at you when you walk by and it makes you wonder if it is because you look like a whale! And I am so sick of people saying 'you don't have that much longer!', I think when your this close to the end its even worse to hear that. I dunno...I just feel like slapping someone! lol

katie jo - 27 days ago.
i'm only working 3 shits a week and any less, we couldn't pay the mortgage!! luckily, i'll get full maternity pay for 6 months so that should ease some worries. i just hope this baby is a girl or he'll be wearing his big sisters hand downs anyhow! one thing i've found that is helping though is having some days off with my husband and using my mum for some extra childcare (which she loves). i've been finding it hard looking after my daughter on my days off alone cos we work opposite shifts. its so much nicer spending time togather as a family and easing the childcare, especially with the usual aches and pains with pregnancy and my headaches.

Mz Bruno - 28 days ago.
morgs2256 - If I were you I would really consider a way to start taking some time off of work. If there is a way that you can cut back on hours?? You really should. After your baby is born you are going to not be working and that is going to be a hit in the checkbook BUT you WILL pull it off. So why not start now?

katie jo - 31 days ago.
hi everyone. this is my first time visiting a site like this but i'm so glad i found it. i'm 31 with a little girl who is 2 in june and i'm 17 weeks pregnant.although my husband and i are happy about this, we're both really stressed with family life ( both ex rockers!!) we love our family but it's such hard work. on top of this, i can't stop crying. i'm a psychiatric nurse in the uk and can see myself sinking lower and lower. i had post natal depression after my daughter and took fluoxetine but stopped when i got pregnant.i'm gonna go see my doctor to discuss re commencing this though. i've also had to stop anti migraine medication which i've been on since my teens so have been having regular migraines and headaches. i just feel like an awful mother and wife and after reading what some of you are going through i feel ungrateful for feeling like this considering what i've got. i like helping people and would love to be there if anyone needs a chat or limited advice. sometimes it feels better just communicating, well, it's helping me at this very moment. just remember that none of us are totally alone and looking at this site is the start of getting better.chins up ladies (i know its hard but it's possible) and force that smile on, we can do it!

morgs2256 - 32 days ago.
hello everyone. im having a really tough time lately. ive stopped taking my deperession medication since i have been pregnant and i have been completely fine up until about now (25 weeks). I am so overly exhausted, but im not sleeping well. i think that it is mostly my job that is stressing me out. i work two hours away and it makes for such a long day. two hours to get there, 8 hours of work, 2 hours to get home, makes a long 12 hour day when all you want to do is sleep. i work with basically all men who dont understand/sympathize what its like to be pregnant. i feel like i cry all the time, and just want to relax and enjoy my self for once. i didnt mind my job at all until now. i just hate it and feel like its way too much for me. i really dont want to go back on my antidepressants, but i may need to. anyone have any advice? thanks

PRiNCESSsm - 33 days ago.
hey mamas.. hope everyone is doing well.. just an update for those that have read my past comments.. tomorrow i have a meeting w/ the scumbag father and his mother to try and mediate the situation.. 5 weeks from my due date, this stress should be lovely, considering my dr strongly advised against such a meeting given my high stress and anxiety, and the fact she had to put me on a low dosage of an anti anxiety medication so i could get thru the night without a panic attack.. but keep ur fingers crossed for a good outcome, this is going to be the longest 90 mins EVER :o(

MeghanH - 35 days ago.
Wondering if anyone that is taking anti-depressents with this pregnancy is going to stay on them through delivery. I started taking Zoloft again at 5 months & it has made a world of difference. I can function again. I'm just conflicted on if I should wean myself off closer to my due date or if I should just lower my dosage or not do anything & stay on them. Anyone with information I'd appreciate their feed back.

cherylh - 36 days ago.
hi i went to the doctor about 2 weeks ago cause my mood is really down and i am not eating alot and not sleeping very good ,i cry for no reason , he said i will see u in a week to see if i was any better he signed me off work for 1 week , on the wednesday of the same week me and my husband sat down and had a talk we both said that we were not what we use to be we was more like good riends than husband and wife , he was a bit shocked that i had the same feels he was worried to talk to me as i felt down as it was , we said that we were both going to make it work and try harder and do things like couples , it was hard for the first few days cause all i could think about was what if i loss him we both said that we love each other still but i did not feel close to him lately he has been a bit down him self so he has not wanted to be close and we was nbot having sex and had not for about a month i know sex is not everything but that is how i feel really close to him . i went back to the doctor and and he did not say much atall so i went back to work and i was there for 2 hours and got sent home cause i was crying , i went back to the doctor that afternoon and she said i was depressed and has told me i can go on pills or talk to someone in privte i don,t want to go on pills cause i have not taken and pills though the pregnanty and don,t want to start now she has given me 2 more weeks off work i am going to c if i can get over it on my own with out pills , i want to get better before my baby girl is born in 13weeks

cloudie - 36 days ago.
My mom passed when I was 9 wks. pregnant I am currently 17wks. I keep feeling like I am suffering from depression but I am trying to work it out without taking any drugs. I feel alone, my moods have defiantly changed and don't want to be around anyone other than my husband and daughter. She was sick for 4 mos. with cirrohosis and we keep thinking she would get better. I keep having these vivid dreams that she is still alive and better. When I wake up I keep having to relive the reality that she is gone. I can't stop thinking about her it effects my whole life. Last night I had a dream and in it I was telling her that I had to let her go for the sack of my baby. But it felt as if she was telling me this not me telling her this. So bizarre. I have been thinking about it all day. One of her last wishes was to live to see her grandbaby. I will miss her for the rest of my life. I just hope the pain of missing her passes soon not only for me but for my baby.

momofboys - 36 days ago.
I am so sad. My husband works really long hours and lately has not had his regular weekday off. We do not spend any alone time together. I tell him this is bothering me and he does nothing. I feel like he doesn't want to spend any time with me. I have 3 other kids so I don't really have much of a life with other adults. I am so tired of being pregnant (almost 36 weeks). I am worried I will get severly depressed after my daughter is born.


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