What to Know About Prenatal Depression
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
Postpartum depression is widely researched and discussed, but depression during pregnancy – known as prenatal depression – isn’t talked about as much.
Roughly 7% to 9% of pregnant women in high-income countries like the United States have depression during pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic, which says rates might be higher in low- and middle-income countries.
Depression is a serious mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness. It can disrupt a person’s ability to carry on everyday activities. Some women have depression and anxiety for the first time in their lives during pregnancy or after delivery, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
It can be tough to identify prenatal depression – which can occur at any stage of pregnancy – because some women may chalk up signs of depression to the normal ups and downs of pregnancy, making prenatal depression an often-overlooked condition. Learning more about risk factors, symptoms and causes can help you pinpoint the condition and seek necessary treatment.
What causes prenatal depression?
There can be many causes of prenatal depression. Fluctuating hormone levels during pregnancy can affect mood, and depression can result from an imbalance in the chemical levels in the brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Many women experience these fluctuations in the final weeks of pregnancy, according to Web MD, when estrogen and progesterone levels increase before rapidly decreasing after childbirth. This process can cause mood swings.
Additionally, a personal or family history of depression and other mood disorders is a major cause and risk factor of prenatal depression. Other causes can include:
- Financial and parenting concerns
- Sad or anxious feelings about changes to the body
- Worries about taking on new responsibilities
What are the risk factors for prenatal depression?
A personal or family history of depression can exacerbate these other risk factors:
- Health conditions during pregnancy
- Preterm labor
- Issues with past pregnancies
- Stopping use of prescribed depression medicine
What are signs and symptoms of depression during pregnancy?
It’s normal for anyone to feel sad occasionally, and the same goes for women during pregnancy. But you should talk with your obstetrician–gynecologist (OB-GYN) if any of the following signs persist for two weeks or longer, per the ACOG:
- Being restless or slowed down in a way that others notice
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
- Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
- Feeling very tired or without energy
- Having trouble paying attention, concentrating or making decisions
- Loss of appetite, losing weight or eating much more than normal and gaining weight
- Loss of interest in work or other activities
- Sleeping more than normal or having trouble sleeping
In severe cases, women with prenatal depression may have suicidal thoughts or ideology. If you have self-harm thoughts or thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for 24/7 free and confidential emotional support.
Prenatal depression screening recommendations and treatment methods
The ACOG recommends health care professionals screen for depression and anxiety at least once per pregnancy. Your OB-GYN or other health care professional will ask about symptoms to know when they started and how often they occur. Screening often happens during a woman’s initial prenatal care visit and again near or in the third trimester, per the Mayo Clinic.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, prenatal depression is treated with:
- Psychotherapy: Also known as talk therapy, this treatment method empowers you to talk through the emotions you experience during pregnancy and develop coping mechanisms. A therapist can help you manage mood changes and recommend coping strategies. The two main types of psychotherapy include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is considered the gold standard of psychotherapy. It can give you a different perspective on your concerns and behaviors. Over time, you develop new thinking patterns. You’ll discover how to react to certain situations in a more positive way.
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT): IPT allows you to improve the way you interact with others and helps you develop relationships and gain support from social groups.
- Medication: Ask your provider which medications for depression are safe to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
If you are currently on medication for depression and find out you are pregnant, it’s important to continue taking it until you speak with your health care provider, who may switch you to a different medication if needed.
It’s important not to discount your mental health during pregnancy. Be transparent about symptoms of prenatal depression with your primary care provider and/or OB-GYN. Additionally, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network members can benefit from resources created to support a healthy pregnancy. Visit bcbsm.com/familybuilding/pregnancy to learn more.
More from AHM:
- How to Help Your Child Build Confidence
- Signs of Depression in People Over 50
- Does Protein Promote Healthy Aging?
Photo credit: Getty Images
