When depression hits during pregnancy

THE moment a woman discovers she is pregnant, the pregnancy gets blamed for just about everything. And especially in light of spiralling hormones, it’s easy to brush off associated feelings of increased anxiety, plummeting moods and hypersensitivity as another symptom of pregnancy. But obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Ryan Halsall said that women do not have to carry this extra baggage alone because there are a number of options to explore.

“Some women, approximately 20 per cent, don’t have that joy-filled experience. Instead, they are bombarded by sad and anxious feelings for the duration of the pregnancy and after which can be quite devastating,” Dr Halsall said.

He pointed out while depression does not discriminate and therefore could affect just about any pregnant woman, a high percentage of women who suffer from depression during their pregnancy are generally from high-risk groups, including those who had infertility issues prior to becoming pregnant, previous miscarriages, a history of depression, substance abuse, and those with significant social stressors (relationships or family).

Regardless of the trigger, Dr Halsall explained that this can significantly affect bonding with the baby as well as the woman’s relationships, and the way in which the mom-to-be interacts with those both inside and outside of her home even after giving birth.

“The impact of such an illness can be quite debilitating or even devastating for some women. It affects the relationships with their spouses, children, other family members, friends and co-workers. It can also negatively impact their work environment and can even contribute to physical ailments. Of course, there is also the possibility of the mom not feeling any love or affection for her child, which can also affect the bonding process and could also lead to a desire to hurt herself or the child,” Dr Halsall explained.

But how can you tell if you are suffering from depression? Dr Halsall said that if you experience persistent symptoms of depression, generally beyond a period of two weeks, you should be evaluated. Some signs of depression are:

• Loss of interest in activities that you usually enjoy

• Persistent sadness

• Anxiety

• A sense of worthlessness

• No longer enjoying the things you used to enjoy

• Sleep disturbances

• Thoughts of suicide.

He said many pregnant women suffering from depression often respond to the symptoms by picking up unhealthy habits such as eating unhealthily or not at all, smoking and drinking, self-harming, and developing antisocial behaviour.

But all this can be avoided with first with an accurate diagnosis accompanied by exploring and choosing the right treatment option for the patient.

“There hasn’t been one antidepressant that is found to be 100 per cent suitable for pregnancy, so the general aim is to stay away from medication. This means that it is important that the woman and those around her share in detail her changes in her behaviour and actions on each visit to the doctor,” Dr Halsall advised.

Clinical psychologist Dr Pearnel Bell, in agreeing with Dr Halsall, said there are a number of non-medicinal therapeutic methods that could help women to cope when depressed.

“If medication can be avoided then it is generally advised to stay away; antidepressants should be last resort in cases that are just not progressing. What a woman should consider is meeting with a psychotherapist, for example, who will help her to manage her thoughts and emotions by way of cognitive behavioural therapy. There is yoga, meditation, the use of calming sounds, exercising, support groups and light therapy,” Dr Bell advised.

She said doing small things for herself such as taking time away from responsibilities to enjoying her own company, as well as getting adequate rest and accepting the support from family and friends should help.

Dr Halsall warned that failure to address depression may exacerbate the depression, thereby reducing the mother’s ability to properly care and nurture her newborn. In addition, the possibility of the women experiencing postpartum depression or the baby blues also increases.