There’s a lot that is said and written about postnatal depression, that is, depression after a baby is born, but not a lot is said or written about antenatal depression.
Some women will experience anxiety and depression in the months leading up to the birth of their baby, and this can stem from many areas.
Financial concerns, concerns about relationship changes, fearful of how motherhood might change your life, relationship or job, changes in lifestyle, and so on can all create the perfect environment for antenatal depression to arise. It is thought that as many as 10% of women will experience antenatal depression. Of course, this is only the number of women who are actually diagnosed, and many more will go undiagnosed.
Most care providers will screen women for signs of depression in pregnancy with a simple questionnaire that can even be self-administered. This enables midwives and obstetricians to intervene in the pregnancy so that the woman feels more supported and less depressed. This approach also helps reduce the incidence of postnatal depression. It’s known that women who are depressed in pregnancy often experience postnatal depression.
If you have antenatal depression, you might experience:
fatigue
mood swings
irritability
difficulty concentrating
difficulty falling asleep, or waking early
loss of appetite
Some women are more susceptible to depression, perhaps having a history of depression even before pregnancy. A general lack of support is also a trigger for depression in pregnancy.
The trouble with leaving antenatal depression undiagnosed is that it often matures into postnatal depression, but often in a worse form that what was experienced in pregnancy, and this can be harmful for the woman, her baby and family.
If you are feeling depressed in your pregnancy, the best thing would be to speak with your midwife or obstetrician about how you are feeling. They can refer you to a specialised program for pregnant women, or refer you privately to a psychologist.
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