What Is Antepartum Depression?

When you hear of someone depressed, what may most likely come to your mind is a feeling of concern for that person and how they are surviving because most people see depression as something that could lead to suicide.

Well, depression is a mental health disorder characterized by loss of interest in activities, leading to impairment in one’s daily life. This possibly could be caused by the combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Possible suggestions by research say that these factors may cause changes in brain function and also alter the activities of certain neural circuits in the brain. Depression could also be feelings of severe hopelessness, misery, and self-doubt. It is often accompanied by a lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep.

Antepartum depression is a mental condition mainly characterized by feelings of depression before childbirth. It`s also called maternal depression, prenatal depression, and perinatal depression.

Actually, pregnant women are depressed before and after birth, contrary to popular belief that women only experience postpartum depression after birth. The common symptoms of antepartum depression are

• changes in sleep pattern
• lower energy levels
• changes in libido
• fatigue
• changes in appetite

Pregnant women who have antepartum depression may also find themselves in one or more of these situations:

• Feeling dreadful
• Having suicidal thoughts
• Feel unmotivated to follow a pregnancy health plan or visit the hospital when need be
• Eat poorly, which is unhealthy to them and their baby or babies
• Having low self-esteem and not wanting to be around people sometimes
• They are either sleeping too much or not getting enough sleep.
• Feeling prepared most of the time
• Losing weight excessively
• Feeling overly anxious
• Smoking, drinking alcohol and also taking drugs
• Feeling unmotivated to take care of themselves
• Losing interest in activities that would usually interest them

7 Symptoms of Antepartum Depression

Mood Swings

Mood swings are common in the first trimester. This is usually a result of hormones causing unusual emotions in the early months of pregnancy. These hormonal changes usually bring about increased blood circulation that causes headaches and a couple of other symptoms.

Missed Period

This is the most common and usually one of the early symptoms of pregnancy. Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual, not a total stop.

Headaches

Hormonal changes that occur as a result of blood circulation may trigger frequent, mild headaches.

Constipation

Constipation is a common early symptom that most pregnant women experience. The rise in progesterone causes food to pass more slowly through the intestines, thereby leading to constipation.

Fatigue

Weariness and exhaustion are some of the major symptoms of pregnancy.

Slight Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding or a small spotting is sometimes one of the first symptoms of pregnancy.

Faintness and Dizziness

This is generated by low blood sugar. As blood vessels dilate, blood pressure reduces, causing feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness.

4 Risk Factors that Cause Antepartum Depression

As much as there might not be a certain cause for some health conditions, it is the same way the cause of antepartum depression is not known and why it does not happen to all pregnant women.

But we have found out some certain health conditions or risk factors that make some pregnant women pass through antepartum depression.

Sleep Quality

Sleep quality in pregnant people might help improve some antepartum symptoms because there’s a link between inadequate sleep and antepartum depression symptoms like suicidal thoughts. Pregnant women should avoid overthinking, so their minds can be at peace and have restful moments. Quality sleep is more important during this stage of pregnancy.

Non-Social Care

Not having people close to you during pregnancy can increase the risk of antepartum depression. Spend time with family and friends. Go out if you can, join a baby nutrition group or a pregnancy support club to help prevent antepartum depression.

Don’t go through the journey of pregnancy alone as it comes with a rollercoaster of hormones. You should have the social support needed so you don’t go through this thrilling time by yourself.

Nutrition

Some kinds of depression in pregnant women and new mothers have been linked to not getting enough vitamin D. Studies show that low levels of vitamin B and minerals like iron and zinc might also play a role.

Low nutrient levels and depression have some sort of connection. Exercising and eating a nutritious diet during pregnancy can also help.

Stress and Anxiety

If you often have mood disorders like being in despair or having anxiety, snap out of it or seek help, to avoid antepartum depression when they’re pregnant.

How to Treat Antepartum Depression

To treat antepartum depression, your doctor will ask for symptoms, as most women`s symptoms differ. This will enable them to know if you might need counseling or therapy. Your doctor may prescribe certain antidepressant medications that are safe for you to take while you’re pregnant. Some of the common antidepressants are:

• Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

Effects of Antepartum Depression on Pregnancy

Antepartum depression can have some effects on your mental or emotional health. It can affect the physical health of you and your unborn baby. Some of the symptoms are:

• Postpartum depression
• C-section delivery
• Low birth weight
• Preeclampsia
• Early (preterm) delivery
• Baby’s brain development

Here`s What to Know About Depression

Women are more vulnerable to anxiety disorders, as it can be as devastating as depression. A number of women have lived on with it some of these disorders for so long that they dismiss them and don`t realize that they actually have anxiety.

• Depression pulls up different triggers. Often time, depression just springs up without any obvious cause. Other times, it could be caused by a not too recent worrying way of life or event.
• People suffering from depression may not actually look depressed. They might seem cheerful, upbeat, and always smiling, however, they are struggling with depression.
• Depression distresses the body, causes general aches and pains without a clear physical cause, stomach issues, light or heavy headache, and other conditions.
• Depression increases the risk of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions such as diabetes, irritable bowel disease, heart disease, and arthritis.
• Depression is the leading cause of disability all over the world, affecting more than 300 million people.

Did you know that exercise and therapy can help manage depression?

• Exercise improves mood state
• Exercise helps develop a healthy diet, and go to bed at a regular time
• Exercise makes antidepressant give the needed relief
• Therapy provides therapeutic strategies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation
• Therapy alleviates depression
• Therapy brings a change in lifestyle

Some Pregnancy Facts

• Nine in ten pregnant women experience a change in skin tone.
• The heart works harder and pumps more blood during pregnancy.
• Some pregnant women lactate when they hear babies cry.
• Pregnant women have a heightened sense of smell.
• Babies have all their fingerprints by 9-12 weeks in the womb.
• Three out of four women develop a linea nigra during pregnancy. The linea nigra is a dark, vertical line that runs down the abdomen. It may or may not vanish after birth.
• Pregnant women have less oxygen in their blood, which makes them more likely to be forgetful.
• Humans are the only mammals who do not ingest their placenta after birth.