Pregnancy Depression

Did things change after you became pregnant?  – Are things different than you expected as a new mother?

Calm down because you’re not alone!

For many mothers, the experience of pregnancy and childbirth is often accompanied by sadness, fear, anxiety, and difficulty in making decisions. Many women may have no energy to take care of themselves, their babies, and their families. In some cases, women may think about harming themselves, or their infants. These are the symptoms of depression, so if this sounds like you or someone you know, there are two important things you should know.

To begin with, we must understand what are the causes of these feelings, and how can you get the help you need?

Hormones as Triggers

There are many reasons why you may get depressed. As a woman, your body undergoes multiple hormonal fluctuations during and after pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, her body produces the female hormones, “Estrogen” and “Progesterone” in much greater amounts, but these hormones suddenly drop back to their normal level once the women give birth by only 24 hours. The sudden change in hormones leads to depression, exactly like what happens during the menstrual cycle, as we all experience mood swings during and after our periods.

For some women, another possible cause of these symptoms present after childbirth is a drop in Thyroid hormones produced by the Thyroid gland, located in the neck. Thyroid hormones help regulate energy usage in our bodies. Low Thyroid levels can cause anxiety, depression, sleep problems, concentration problems, and weight gain.

Furthermore, the stress caused by being overwhelmed with new responsibilities, pressures to be a “great” mom, a sense of loss regarding the life you had before!

Also, there are some factors that certainly may increase your risk of being depressed during and after pregnancy; For example, if there is a family history of depression or other mental illness, or if the mother herself or her partner used to be familiar with the illness. Also, if the mom has anxiety or negative feelings about pregnancy in general. More and more, if there are stressful life events such as marriage problems, financial insecurities or family violence, this could create a general tension in the house.

Talk to a Health Care Professional

Screening for depression during and after your pregnancy, it should be a routine part of yours and your baby’s health care. Also, talk to your doctor, your baby’s doctor, a nurse, or other health care providers as they are familiar with the types of depression new and expectant mothers face.

Remember…

Any woman may experience depression during pregnancy or after childbirth. It doesn’t mean you are a bad mom, it’s completely normal. In fact, getting treatment and support helps you to take better care of your baby.