Prenatal depression: causes, symptoms and treatment

Prenatal depression is one of the reasons for the poor state of health of a pregnant woman. And it would seem that it can darken such a magical time for any woman? I'm sure each of the future mothers will find an excuse, without becoming aware of the real causes of this unpleasant phenomenon. And yet where does depression from pregnancy come from and how does it manifest itself?

General characteristic of the state

There is a misconception that depression in pregnant women occurs only immediately before childbirth. But this is not so. She can accompany a woman throughout pregnancy, and each stage of bearing a child has its own characteristics.

Some signs of melancholy are associated only with hormonal changes in the body of a woman, and therefore they are considered as a temporary and passing phenomenon, while others may have a more complex nature. Therefore, depression during pregnancy is treated differently depending on the period of bearing of the child.

First trimester

This period of pregnancy psychologists refer to as the "period of negation." Especially it is peculiar to women who do not have an unpleasant symptom - toxicosis. The period of denial is characterized by a woman's unwillingness to take into account her interesting situation and change her daily way of life.

Emotional background of a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy

Mood swings, nervousness and aggressiveness are quite normal phenomena for this stage. Many men notice that their pregnant wife becomes cold towards them. Not taking into account the fact that the body of a woman during this period is experiencing tremendous stress. This can lead to disagreements in the family, which, in turn, can provoke the emergence of a depressed state in a woman.

Pay close attention to the emotional state of a pregnant woman is when the general symptoms of spleen are lingering. If a man smooths out all the acute moments in the relationship with his wife and adjusts it to a positive mood, the first trimester of pregnancy will pass without incident.

Second trimester

At this stage of pregnancy, the stomach is already actively growing, so every day a woman becomes more aware of her situation. And, as a rule, this awareness is connected with thoughts about how she will have to change her usual life, which she will have to give up and what she will have to sacrifice for the sake of the child.

Many begin during this period of pregnancy to look for themselves new hobbies and change their lifestyle. Some begin to knit, others draw, others are enrolled in culinary skills. In this trimester of pregnancy, the risk of falling into a depressed state is the lowest.

However, those women who are acutely experiencing physical changes in the body (growing abdomen, back pain, joints, etc.) may experience certain mental abnormalities. The physical and psychological state of a person is very closely related. Therefore, those women who experience certain inconveniences in connection with their new position, should pay more attention to sleep and rest.

Third trimester: prenatal depression

The third trimester is the most dangerous period in terms of emotional and psychological disorders. Women in the last months of pregnancy are fully aware of their situation and imagine their future life style in colors. And, as a rule, he does not seem to them too rosy.

Depression before childbirth can arise because of the internal fear of a woman becoming a housewife. Many people put into this concept eternal cooking, washing diapers, mountains of dirty dishes and all the other delights of caring for the house.

This condition is so frequent that it is already "recorded" in prenatal symptoms. At the end of the term the woman is already tired both physically and emotionally. She is hard at giving daily business, so most of the time she spends lying or sitting on the couch. Such fatigue affects the behavior of women even more, so most often she tries to retire and think about the correctness of her decision to become a mother. Without serious support from relatives, this condition can drag on, which is very dangerous. After all, it is the birth of a child ahead of her, and prenatal depression can prevent a woman from adjusting to the upcoming difficulties. Let us dwell in more detail on the characterization of this state.

Causes

The first, with what it is necessary to understand - from where the prenatal depression of pregnant women is taken. Causes can be very diverse. The fact is that during pregnancy the hormonal background of a woman changes radically, so she reacts more sharply to everyday life difficulties than before. But among the most common causes, which lead to the development of prenatal depression, we can distinguish the following:

• Conflicts in the family. Close relatives need to clearly understand that a pregnant woman reacts very sharply to all conflict situations, especially if they are somehow connected with her situation. Prolonged quarrels can cause the development of prenatal depression.
• Financial difficulties. Before the important event in life, all women have a so-called nesting effect. If the future mother, by virtue of her financial capabilities, can not acquire all the things necessary for her in her opinion, she falls into a depressed state.
• Unhealthy Lifestyle. It is noticed that women who lead an active life, eat regularly and fully and observe the regime of sleep and rest, are less prone to such a condition as prenatal depression.
• Bad habits. Nicotinic, alcoholic and narcotic addiction is the direct path to the onset of a painful condition before childbirth.
• Fear of the upcoming status. Even if the appearance of a child in a family is a planned activity, this does not guarantee that the woman will not begin to doubt the correctness of her decision. Especially acute these doubts begin to torment her in the last days before giving birth. Therefore, in such a situation, a man needs to understand that his pregnant wife needs special attention.
• Complicated pregnancy. When the pregnancy is unfavorable and the woman periodically has to go to the hospital under the supervision of doctors, she experiences a lot of negative emotions, such as fear, despair, weakness and so on. Ultimately, all these negative emotions can degenerate into prenatal depression.

Knowing the reason, it is much easier to deal with it. As a rule, cases in which one can not do without the help of a qualified specialist are extremely rare.

Symptoms

Like any other disease, prenatal depression has its own symptomatology. Many lightly refer to very important signs and write off them for a bad mood, but this is fundamentally wrong. With the neglected form of psychological disorder, it is much more difficult to fight than at its first manifestations.

The general symptoms of prenatal depression include:

• Increased irritability;
• Tearfulness;
• Long-term anxiety;
• Diffuse attention;
• Loss of concentration;
• Constant hunger or, conversely, lack of appetite;
• Feeling of sluggishness, fatigue, detachment;
• drowsiness;
• Feelings of guilt, fear, despair;
• Lack of sleep;
• Panic fear of childbirth;
• Self-doubt and self-reliance.

Many of these symptoms are considered absolutely normal during pregnancy. For example, a constant feeling of hunger is experienced by a huge number of pregnant women, while not suffering from this disorder. It should be noted that one symptom can not be cause for concern, but a combination of several signs of the disease can be a reason to call a specialist.

How can one cope with prenatal depression?

If the symptoms of a painful condition are not so pronounced and have a non-permanent character, then you can try to cope with it yourself. Here are a few ways that will help drive away the negative attitude:

1. You can get rid of bad thoughts with the help of your favorite business. It can be cooking, drawing, reading - anything, if only it would bring positive emotions to a woman.
2. Make a clear schedule of the day and adhere to it unswervingly. If you follow a clear schedule of the day, then the pregnant woman simply will not have time to be distracted by their own experiences.
3. Exercises for pregnant women are able not only to prepare the future mother for the upcoming birth, but also to raise her spirits.
4. The main enemy of a woman with symptoms of prenatal depression is loneliness. Therefore, she must avoid it by any means. You should spend more time with friends, family, colleagues, and not wait patiently from work in four walls.

Many pregnant women for some reason are afraid to share their experiences with their loved ones. But this is fundamentally wrong. If a woman is overwhelmed with negative emotions, she must necessarily seek the help and support of people close to her.

When should I go to a specialist?

When the prenatal state of a woman causes fears not only for herself, but also for others, it is worthwhile to think about qualified help. Close people of a pregnant woman should alert the following symptoms:

• Panic fear of motherhood;
• Apathy to everything that is happening;
• A feeling of guilt and despair;
• Indifference to intimate life with her husband;
• A sharp decrease or increase in body weight;
• Talk about death or suicide.

The treatment of prenatal depression is handled by family psychologists. Depending on the complexity of the psychological disorder, different methods of therapy are used, including pharmacological methods. To date, many drugs have been developed that are safe for both the mother and the baby. But a speedy recovery can only be achieved with the help of reliable and strong support from relatives.