Many changes occur in women during pregnancy, and many symptoms are likely to be felt, one of which is depression. Depression that happens during pregnancy is called prenatal depression. It is a common condition in women during pregnancy that can have serious consequences. Prenatal depression can impact you at any time during pregnancy. If you are experiencing this situation, you can contact a Gynecologist in Lahore.
Depression causes anxiety, fatigue, extreme sadness, and difficulty sleeping. In case of serious illness, women may think of harming themselves or their baby. If a mother’s prenatal depression is not treated, it can result in a low- birth weight baby. A child’s social, intellectual, and emotional development may be impaired. Perinatal depression can last more than 14 days and harms a woman’s quality of life.
Causes of prenatal depression
Many factors contribute to depression during pregnancy. One of the most important of these factors is a history of mood disorders. Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy can affect a woman’s mood.
Many people worry about the physical changes that occur during pregnancy. They may experience pregnancy miseries. They may have economic problems and concerns about taking on new duties. Pregnant women who are at high risk of depression may have more of these changes.
Symptoms of prenatal depression
In severe cases, various doubts start emerging in women’s minds about their unborn babies. The process of depression makes everyone anxious, worried, and sad. It is not surprising to feel this way during pregnancy. The duration of depression is not for a few days but it continues to show its effect for weeks and even months. This situation progresses to more serious stages over time.
Depression during pregnancy is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Anxiety, worry, and wandering thoughts.
- Appetite problems or weight loss or gain.
- Avoid sitting near friends and family.
- Feeling more tiredness than usual
- Loss of interest in activities that used to entertain you.
- Fatigue and difficulty sleeping.
- Feelings of despair, distress, numbness, etc.
- Irritability or crying over trivial things.
- Lack of interest in sexual moments with a partner.
- Absence of physical symptoms such as headache. muscles ache problems etc.
- The habit of forgetting things and difficulty in making any decision.
Diagnosis of prenatal depression
If you are facing symptoms of postpartum depression, get yourself checked out instantly. Your specialist will question your symptoms. He will try to find out how long you have had depression. In this regard, you may need an experienced psychologist and therapist. If someone in your family has ever had depression, do not hesitate to tell your doctor.
Treatments
The following treatments may be useful for prenatal depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy:
This is a type of therapy that helps you master fears and behaviors in different ways. Over time, you create new feeling patterns. You’ll learn how to respond to specific situations more positively.
Interpersonal therapy:
This type of therapy improves your mood and the way you talk with others. It also supports you in creating relationships and acquiring help from social groups.
Medications:
Medications have a distinct importance in the case of prenatal depression. Confirm which types of medications may benefit you during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Psychotherapy:
This therapy enables you to learn how to control your emotions and develop a calm tone. An experienced therapist can help you manage mood changes and feel better. An experienced therapist can help brighten your mood.
Impact of prenatal depression on the baby:
If prenatal depression is not treated on time, it can be dangerous for an unborn baby. Depression makes it difficult to care for during pregnancy. Most women do not consider it necessary to avoid alcohol and smoking. All of these choices influence the baby’s health.
In severe cases, people with prenatal depression may hurt themselves or their newborns. It’s important to get help right away if you have symptoms of depression during pregnancy.
Who suffers from prenatal depression?
Depression can happen to anyone. If someone in your family has a history of depression, you may also develop the following problems.
- Stress disorders
- Panic disturbance
- Mental sickness
- Mood disorders
People who are more prone to prenatal depression are:
- People face stress in life
- Divorce or financial problems during pregnancy
- Experiencing severe strain at work
- The indifference of life partner and family during pregnancy
- Impaired pregnancy due to infertility
If you want to get rid of prenatal depression, you can take an appointment with a gynecologist in Rawalpindi.