Mom to be, your mental and emotional health matters.

Mom-to-be, Your Mental and Emotional Health Matters.
By Samantha C Sinclair

In pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through countless changes. Physically she may feel tired, and not well in general. But the physical health of Mom and Baby is the top concern, people sometimes forget about the mental and emotional well-being of the Mom.

If you have, or are, suffering depression in pregnancy you are not alone. According to Mayo Clinic, many women suffer depression in this life-changing time. In general, depression is more common in women than men, and peaks in pregnancy. Due to depression symptoms being similar to pregnancy symptoms, depression is often overlooked in a mom-to-be. It could also be missed because of some women’s reluctance to talk with their healthcare provider due to the stigma surrounding depression.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it is important to get depression addressed in pregnancy. A mother of three who we will refer to as Ms. B agrees with this. Ms. B has battled postpartum depression and anxiety. If depression is not addressed during pregnancy it could lead to postpartum. This could make it hard to bond with your baby.

Risk factors of depression in pregnancy include the following:
History of depression
History of anxiety
Life stress
Poor social support
Unplanned pregnancy
Intimate partner violence

Mayo Clinic says signs and symptoms are the same with pregnancy depression as in general. However, there could be excessive anxiety about the baby. Another added stress could be low self-esteem or inadequacy about parenthood. Inability to enjoy activities usually enjoyed, also could include poor response to assurance. The next risk is poor seeking of prenatal care, which could bring danger to both mother and baby. Smoking, drinking, and using drugs also bring mental and emotional risks along with a host of physical for mom and baby. As in any case of depression, poor or excessive eating could lead to a host of its own issues. Thoughts of suicide are a major life-threatening risk of depression, in general as well as in pregnancy. Take any of these seriously, and try your best to be open with your healthcare provider. This does not make you a weak person. Some research does show episodes of depression occur more often in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Treatment is decided based on the severity of depression during pregnancy. The American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening for depression at least once during each pregnancy. If you feel you are battling depression anytime, do not wait for a screening. Talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. A screening may also help you have self-awareness of the risk of anxiety as well as depression.