It is estimated that one-third of all pregnancies experience depression. Some could be mild and some could be severe. What is important is identifying the symptoms right away, treating the problem, and ensuring that your child goes unharmed – this issue could cause premature birth, a child underweight, or complications in delivery. Depression is nothing to dismiss.
So, what should you be looking for? Here are eight tips and tricks to manage the signs of depression in pregnancy:
1. General Anxiety Hurdles
It is natural to feel anxious when you are pregnant. Every single day, you are thinking of what could go wrong during your labour, throughout delivery, and then taking care of your child for the next 18 years. But when these anxieties metastasize and impact your daily life, then it is time to worry.
Are any of these things happening to you? If so, you could be suffering from depression. Or, at the very least, it is beginning to rear its ugly head in your pregnancy.
- Excessive worrying all the time.
- Everything makes you irritable, including your spouse and baby.
- You can’t be around other people.
- Recurrent and intrusive thoughts.
- A compulsion to relieve those thoughts that may be harmful.
Watch out for these signs of depression in pregnancy. They are not the greatest feelings to have, especially during such an important event in your life.
2. A Lingering Depression
Prior to your pregnancy, you were a happy-go-lucky person. You made everyday count by smiling, laughing, and enjoying this thing called life. Now, three or four months into your pregnancy, and you are a completely different person.
You wake up in a foul mood. Throughout the day you are irritable. Nothing makes you happy, even hobbies and interest that create joy in your life. Suffice it to say, you are in a lingering depressed mood. Unfortunately, despite social and emotional support, there is no relief for these signs of depression in pregnancy.
3. Change in Lifestyle
It is true that pregnancy changes your life, but it should not necessarily alter your lifestyle, particularly your physical and mental health.
Are you experiencing any of these adjustments to your life?
- Low energy all the time.
- Greater or decreased appetite.
- Disinterest in the world around you.
- Fatigue – lots and lots of fatigue.
- Poor concentration over the smallest tasks.
All of these are alarming signs of depression in pregnancy.
4. Disrupted Sleep Patterns
When you are pregnant, it is critical for your health and the health of your son or daughter to get plenty of rest, which is especially true in the third trimester. That said, if you are experiencing a change in your sleep patterns, then it might be a sign of worry, which is heightened if you are not getting enough sleep.
It is true that you may feel restless when you’re pregnant or nauseous, but you should still try to get plenty of sleep.
5. Thoughts of Suicide
And then, of course, here is the biggest sign of them all and should push you to seek treatment: You have thoughts of suicide. This is the largest red flag, suggesting that you may need to be medicated or engage with a professional counselor.
So, now the question comes: How do you cope? Well, there are plenty of tactics to employ that can you help weather the storm and ensure you have a tremendous birth.
6. Seek Professional Help
The first and most obvious recommendation is to seek professional assistance. This could consist of speaking with a licensed psychotherapist, a social worker, or your family doctor. These professionals will offer tips, suggestions, and remedies to your problem.
7. Eat More Omega-3
Omega-3 essentially keeps your immune system intact and healthy. Studies have found that when you are lacking omega-3, then the house of cards incrementally fall apart. Since this is a dietary factor, it could be understandable why you are not getting enough of it.
So, what has omega-3? Here are a few foods:
- Fish
- Avocado
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Eggs
But let’s face it: If you are having a pregnancy that makes you sick to your stomach over everything you eat, then you could also take omega-3 supplements.
8. Natural Treatment
If you do not want to take medication or seek support, then you also have various natural treatment options at your disposal. The positive effects of these treatments are truly remarkable.
So, what are these natural methods?
- Light Therapy: You expose yourself to artificial light using a light therapy box.
- Acupuncture: This is a medical practice that stimulates points on the body with a needle that penetrates the skin to treat health conditions.
- Yoga & Meditation: You might not believe that you could do yoga pregnant, but there are plenty of moves you can do when you’re seven months pregnant. Also, meditation cleanses the mind and will alleviate stress.
There are many side effects of suffering from depression while pregnant. Of course, the biggest consequence of your deteriorating mental health is the effect it has on your baby’s health. If you experience any of these symptoms, or you even suspect that something is beginning to happen, you need to grapple with it right away.
