What to Know About Depression During Pregnancy

Feeling Sad or Blue While Pregnant Can Mean You're Depressed

Nov 9, 2008

Many women are at risk of depression during pregnancy. Find out causes, symptoms and treatments of depression while pregnant.

Whether you are pregnant or postpartum, it is important to understand the basic causes, symptoms and treatments for depression so that both you and your baby can be taken care of and healthy.

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious medical condition that, during pregnancy, can pose risks for both the woman and her unborn baby.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

The symptoms of depression can vary from woman to woman and case by case. In generally, a woman who feels sad or “blue” and has other symptoms that last for two weeks or longer is suffering depression. Other symptoms include:

While these all might be symptoms of depression, they may not necessarily mean that a woman is depressed. Conditions other than depression can be the cause of some of these symptoms, including a thyroid problem, anemia or simply being pregnant.

If you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or health care provider. He or she will check to see what might be causing your symptoms. You need to be checked for depression if symptoms continue and interfere with your daily life and if your provider rules out other medical conditions.

How is Depression Treated?

Depression in pregnancy and postpartum can be treated many different ways. Support groups, therapy or counseling, light therapy, or the use of antidepressants may be in order.

Are There Risk Factors for Depression During or After Pregnancy?

There are serious risks for both the pregnant woman and her baby, including eating poorly; use of drugs, alcohol or other dangerous substances; skipping pre-natal vitamins; and a poor diet.

In addition, depression during pregnancy has been known to increase the risk of:

What’s more, postpartum depression can cause a new mother to feel moody and unfocused, making it difficult for her to properly tend to her baby’s needs, thereby increasing her feelings of guilt and making her depression worse.

Depression during or after pregnancy is important to treat, as mothers who are depressed are often less able to care for themselves or their children, or to bond with their children. If you are suffering from depression, be sure to talk to your health care provider and get help; also talk to friends or family members to get help with taking care of yourself or your child in the meantime.

The copyright of the article What to Know About Depression During Pregnancy in Prenatal Health is owned by Teresa Shaw. Permission to republish What to Know About Depression During Pregnancy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.