Hi
Bella, I really do get a feel of your mental and emotional isolation from your post. Pre natal Depression (not post natal) is a lot more common than what you may think. I found the following website and copied the first couple of paragraphs for you to read:
Unfortunately, prenatal depression is the health problem that nobody’s discussing. “There’s a real stigma surrounding it. Our culture supports the idea that pregnancy should be one of the best times of a woman’s life — and when that doesn’t happen, she may feel guilty and ashamed, and even doubt why she decided to get pregnant in the first place,” says Sharon Phelan, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center School of Medicine in Albuquerque. “In many cases, she may feel pressured to hide her feelings and act like nothing’s wrong, because everyone’s expecting her to be happy.”
How do you know if you’re truly depressed?
Feeling a bit blue on and off during pregnancy is normal, say experts. But if you’re sad, anxious or depressed on a fairly regular basis for more than two weeks, see your physician right away, urges Dr. Phelan. So, don’t ignore it. There are numerous risks for both mother and child if this depression goes untreated. For starters, infants born to depressed mothers are more likely to have a low birth weight and suffer motor delays, cognitive impairment and behavioral problems. Experts aren’t sure why, although one theory is that depressed women don’t care for themselves as well (they might skip prenatal screenings, eat poorly, etc.), which increases the probability of these problems.
Plus, “a woman who’s depressed is less likely to take care of her health — she may not eat or sleep as well as she should, and may even engage in risky behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs. And in doing so, she can harm both her fetus and herself,” says Dr. Phelan. She adds, “It’s a quality of life issue, too. When you’re depressed, it can be hard to do what you need to around the house or at work.” On top of that, studies show that pregnant women who don’t receive treatment are at an increased of committing suicide.
Please do go and see your doctor Bella. There is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting how you are feeling. It will help you and your baby.
Is there a mothers group nearby that you could join?? Please post here as often as you can too. xx
Breaking Through the Baby Blues | myLifetime.com
Bella, I really do get a feel of your mental and emotional isolation from your post. Pre natal Depression (not post natal) is a lot more common than what you may think. I found the following website and copied the first couple of paragraphs for you to read:
Unfortunately, prenatal depression is the health problem that nobody’s discussing. “There’s a real stigma surrounding it. Our culture supports the idea that pregnancy should be one of the best times of a woman’s life — and when that doesn’t happen, she may feel guilty and ashamed, and even doubt why she decided to get pregnant in the first place,” says Sharon Phelan, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center School of Medicine in Albuquerque. “In many cases, she may feel pressured to hide her feelings and act like nothing’s wrong, because everyone’s expecting her to be happy.”
How do you know if you’re truly depressed?
Feeling a bit blue on and off during pregnancy is normal, say experts. But if you’re sad, anxious or depressed on a fairly regular basis for more than two weeks, see your physician right away, urges Dr. Phelan. So, don’t ignore it. There are numerous risks for both mother and child if this depression goes untreated. For starters, infants born to depressed mothers are more likely to have a low birth weight and suffer motor delays, cognitive impairment and behavioral problems. Experts aren’t sure why, although one theory is that depressed women don’t care for themselves as well (they might skip prenatal screenings, eat poorly, etc.), which increases the probability of these problems.
Plus, “a woman who’s depressed is less likely to take care of her health — she may not eat or sleep as well as she should, and may even engage in risky behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs. And in doing so, she can harm both her fetus and herself,” says Dr. Phelan. She adds, “It’s a quality of life issue, too. When you’re depressed, it can be hard to do what you need to around the house or at work.” On top of that, studies show that pregnant women who don’t receive treatment are at an increased of committing suicide.
Please do go and see your doctor Bella. There is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting how you are feeling. It will help you and your baby.
Is there a mothers group nearby that you could join?? Please post here as often as you can too. xx
Breaking Through the Baby Blues | myLifetime.com
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