Appointment

Pregnancy Depression: Anxiety during or after childbirth

On the one hand the period of pregnancy is known and recognized as a happy, exciting and full of feminine power period, but on the other hand, it is accompanied by many fears, pressures and fears, especially in the woman.

This is a sensitive period and prone to anxiety and depression, two very common conditions among pregnant women.

If the condition disables the woman or restricts her natural lifestyle and impairs her daily functioning, appropriate diagnosis and treatment should be sought. Any concern or avoidance of the participation of the attending physician may lead to aggravation of the mental condition. For those of you who want to avoid long-term mental and pharmacological treatment, there may be a solution on the horizon.

Pregnancy is accompanied by physical and hormonal changes: back pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weight gain and more. Many women do not disclose their concerns, but avoiding diagnosis and providing appropriate treatment, can lead to increased stress, decreased libido, mood swings and even depression. Depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after childbirth is usually directed at certain points in the pregnant woman’s life and she is worried about them: fetal health, fear of (existential) death, loss of relationship, fear of the birth process.

The feeling of depression during pregnancy should not be taken lightly, as this can have far-reaching consequences for the mother and the fetus. Stress, fear, anxiety and depression increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth (premature birth) or the birth of a low-weight baby with a small head circumference. Stress and anxiety can also cause a change in brain structure and future fetal behavior.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms by which you can tell if a pregnant woman is suffering from anxiety:

  • Accelerated heartbeat.
  • Breathing problems.
  • Excessive worry, leading to obsessive behavior (e.g. regarding diet).
  • restlessness.
  • Negative thoughts and imaginations concerning a fetus or a newborn baby.
  • Deep fears of the impending birth.

These may indicate the existence of anxiety or depression, but it is important to distinguish between a woman’s normative reactions, due to the changes she is going through, and extreme and persistent reactions, which cannot be restrained and controlled.

Factors

Most of the factors mentioned above and we demand to emphasize that they are mainly due to the physiological and hormonal changes that the woman goes through during pregnancy. In addition, there is a biological tendency for depression and anxiety in some women.

This tendency supports the formation of anxiety and depression and it is advisable to recognize and identify it before the woman becomes pregnant, in order to be prepared in advance for their possible development.

form background