Fighting Depression During Pregnancy
Pregnant women suffering from symptoms of anxiety or depression need urgent assistance. If a would-be mom doesn’t get help against depression during pregnancy, it could snowball and cause bigger problems.
Women who don’t overcome depression during pregnancy stand a higher risk of developing symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety.
But there’s good news: symptoms of depression are 100% treatable during pregnancy.
Expectant mothers must know how to overcome depression during pregnancy and the right support towards managing several symptoms.
That’s why this post presents the most effective methods to overcome depression as a pregnant woman. Other vital information in this article points out women who need help against depression and top practitioners to consult.
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With Antidepressants
Would-be moms with severe symptoms of depression require aggressive treatment. However, the right approach must be adopted to suppress all symptoms without causing any harm to the pregnancy.
Doctors may recommend antidepressant medication for pregnant women suffering from severe depression. The most common antidepressants ideal for soon-to-be moms include:
- Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medication like nortriptyline (by Pamelor or other brand)
- Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication like sertraline or citalopram
- Serotonin & norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor (SNRI) medication like venlafaxine or duloxetine
Note that these antidepressant medications described above can be quite dangerous if abused. Doctors usually recommend these drugs separately to avoid complications.
Doctors unanimously advise pregnant women against taking herbal medication or any other drug without proper consultations.
With Non-Pharmaceutical Methods
Many would-be moms don’t require drugs to bring their depression symptoms under control. Doctors could suggest lighter, non-pharmaceutical approaches to combating depression and anxiety in pregnant women. Some common methods include:
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy with a psychological care practitioner can happen virtually or in-person.
Guidance from an experienced psychotherapist could be enough to manage and overcome mental health challenges that come with pregnancy.
Psychotherapists can rely on talk therapy alone or combine their counselling with pharmaceutical recommendations from a clinical psychologist.
Phototherapy
Light therapy uses several high lumens per watt lamps to increase mood-regulating hormones in our bodies. Such therapy can help pregnant women improve their mood and combat depression after few sessions.
Exercise
Frequent exercise activity boosts endorphins that make you feel good and improve your mood. Consult your midwife, general practitioner or exercise psychologist for information on safe exercises during pregnancy.
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Basic Changes to Daily Activities
Making little changes to your daily routine could improve your mental health during pregnancy. Simple tweaks to your social interactions, diet and daily activities might produce unexpected results. The most common changes that can help pregnant women beat depression include:
Adopt a balanced diet for pregnancy – consume enriched eggs, fish, walnuts, and vegetables. Avoid sugar and processed foods.
Delegate chores or put them on hold – get someone to complete your household chores and avoid stress during pregnancy
Socialize – reclusiveness is a common trait of depression. Go out more often to reduce its effect on your mental health. Spend more time with friends and family.
Rest – sleep to combat fatigue
Join support groups – several support groups for moms with depression can help build a strong social network
Women Who Need Support against Depression during Pregnancy
Expectant moms should seek out medical or non-medical approaches to overcome depression if they:
- Currently experience common symptoms or signs of depression
- Have experienced depression or another mental health condition in the past
- Don’t have a partner
- Are expectant mothers in their teens
- Currently deal with major stress elements like unemployment, underemployment, or inadequate income
- Are victims of domestic abuse
Depression can directly affect pregnant women even if they were no risk factors before the pregnancy.
Some medical practitioners might recommend frequent screening of mothers for depression symptoms during pregnancy. Others recommend screening would-be moms at least twice for anxiety and depression symptoms after birth too.
If you ever notice any signs or symptoms of depression, it is best to consult the appropriate medical practitioner for assistance.
Top Practitioners to Consult for Support towards Overcoming Depression
It is almost impossible for soon-to-be moms to overcome depression without assistance. Professional help is vital for pregnant women keen to beat depression before and after birth. The top professionals to consult for assistance towards combating depression are:
Your Midwife
A midwife is commonly your first option for information about the entire gestation period of your pregnancy. However, midwives can offer guidance to help mothers overcome several physical and mental health challenges too.
Your midwife is in the best position to recommend a consultation with a general practitioner or psychologist during pregnancy. Advice from a midwife could prove vital, especially for mothers with inadequate knowledge of depression and anxiety.
A General Practitioner
General practitioners can offer some medical solutions to expectant mothers with symptoms of mild depression. However, a general practitioner has limited training to offer advanced support to pregnant women with multiple symptoms of depression.
A Psychologist
Psychologists provide a combination of medical and non-medical interventions to help pregnant women overcome depression. These practitioners can prescribe medication along with suitable therapy to help pregnant women overcome several symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Family/Child Services Counsellors
Many state-run Family and Child Services counsellors employ social workers to assist children and families overcome several problems.
Some issues with social interactions caused by depression can be managed by these workers. However, social workers from these facilities might collaborate with psychologists, general practitioners and midwives for optimum results.
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Conclusion
Protecting and improving your mental health during pregnancy is vital. Proper management of your mental health could set the tone of your future interactions with others.
Signs of depression could significantly affect how pregnant women relate with their environment and could affect their babies too.
Consulting an experienced medical practitioner for advice on how to overcome depression during pregnancy is essential. The advice and guidance from such experienced personnel could make a difference and improve your mental health without hassles.
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