Depression during pregnancy: symptoms, causes, treatment

Prenatal depression is something every woman needs to know. Pregnancy is an exciting period for every woman. It is characterized by the emergence of a wide palette of sensations. Of course, the expectant mother is happy about the imminent appearance of the child, but not in all cases it can be said that this happiness is absolute. Sometimes there are situations when a woman feels completely unhappy. She blames herself for not feeling the happiness she deserves, and as a result, she sinks even more into depression...

Why does prenatal depression develop?

There are many factors that trigger the development of prenatal depression. These include illness during pregnancy, stressful life circumstances (for example, relocation), previous lost or complicated pregnancies, past or present violence, financial difficulties and social instability. According to statistics, about eighty percent of prenatal depression is provoked by troubles in the family and discord in relations with the husband. A common cause of the development of prenatal depression is the personal characteristics of women. Young mothers are often afraid of their emotions and get lost in conflicting feelings. This is especially true at the moment when they are faced with the idealized concept of motherhood accepted in society. “Motherhood is a responsibility...”, “a good mother should...”, “a loving mother must...”, etc.

Sometimes prenatal depression is caused by a pregnant woman's worries about her sex life. The husband, concerned about the well-being of the mother and child, tries to disturb them as little as possible and restrains his sexual impulses. As a result, having sex becomes less frequent than before. The woman feels that she has fallen out of love, that her partner has lost interest in her. This leads to signs of depression.

Self-assessment test for stress resistance (authors S. Couchen, G. Williansona)

1. Unexpected troubles throw you off balance:

never – 0
almost never – 1
sometimes – 2
quite often – 3
very often – 4

2. You feel like the most important things in your life are out of your control:

never – 0
almost never – 1
sometimes – 2
quite often – 3
very often – 4

3. You feel “nervous”, depressed:

never – 0
almost never – 1
sometimes – 2
quite often – 3
very often – 4

4. You are confident in your ability to cope with your personal problems:

never – 4
almost never – 3
sometimes – 2
quite often – 1
very often – 0

5. You think that everything is going exactly the way you want:

never – 4
almost never – 3
sometimes – 2
quite often – 1
very often – 0

6. You can control irritation:

never – 4
almost never – 3
sometimes – 2
quite often – 1
very often – 0

7. You feel like you can't handle what's being asked of you:

never – 0
almost never – 1
sometimes – 2
quite often – 3
very often – 4

8. You feel like you are successful:

never – 4
almost never – 3
sometimes – 2
quite often – 1
very often – 0

9. You get angry about things you can't control:

never – 0
almost never – 1
sometimes – 2
quite often – 3
very often – 4

10. You think that so many difficulties have accumulated that they cannot be overcome:

never – 0
almost never – 1
sometimes – 2
quite often – 3
very often – 4

Features of sexual life during pregnancy

During pregnancy, there are periods of decline and rise in sexual activity. So, for example, in the first three months, sexual desire often decreases somewhat. The reason for this is the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy and the presence of such signs of toxicosis as nausea, vomiting, intolerance to certain foods and odors. The changeable mood of a pregnant woman can lead to conflicts in the family. The woman has the feeling that things will only get worse.

However, this is not so, because already in the second trimester your health improves. Fears pass. The child begins to push and this lets you know that everything is fine with him. A rounded tummy looks very beautiful. Sex life “blooms” during pregnancy. In the third trimester, the belly increases significantly in size and sex becomes difficult. In addition, worries come again, but they are already associated with an imminent birth.

Interpretation of the stress resistance self-assessment test:

a score from 0 to 5 indicates a high level of stress resistance
from 6 to 10 – good stress resistance
from 11 to 20 – a slight decrease in stress resistance, psychotherapy is required to prevent the development of neurotic disorders
from 21 to 30 – low resistance to stress, consultation with a psychotherapist is indicated
31 and above – a state of stress, you need to see a psychotherapist and undergo a course of treatment

The truth about prenatal depression

According to statistics, every fourth pregnant woman experiences prenatal depression. This violation is dangerous not only for the woman herself, but also for her child. Pregnant women who have experienced prenatal depression have an increased risk of preterm pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that women who experienced depressive disorders during pregnancy have a significant increase in the level of stress hormone in their blood. This hormone is known to be capable of triggering premature onset of labor. That is why early detection of prenatal depression and its timely correction is very important. Especially because half of the women who experience it continue to suffer from depression after they give birth.

Signs of prenatal depression:

- reduced ability to work; - decreased attention, inability to concentrate on any specific task; — certain difficulties in decision making; - increased anxiety and irritability; - tearfulness; - insomnia, sleep disorders not related to pregnancy; - increased appetite, or vice versa, its absence; - rapid weight gain or loss not related to pregnancy; - constant sadness or guilt; - decreased interest in sexual relations; - fear of being parents; - thoughts of death and suicide.

It is too difficult for a pregnant woman to determine the presence or absence of these symptoms. Her loved ones nearby (husband, parents, brothers, sisters, girlfriends) play an important role in this.