How to Deal With Depression During Pregnancy

Most women have heard how pregnancy can make your moods unpredictable--how a commercial can bring you to tears and how a sock on the floor might send you into a screaming fit. What some expectant women may not be prepared for, however, is how depression and anxiety can become part of their pregnancy symptoms. With the mood swings that pregnant women already experience they may have a hard time differentiating between the weepies and depression, but it is important to not only be able to tell the difference but to be able to deal with depression should it come along. Here are guidelines.

Instructions

1. Pay attention for prolonged periods of feeling hopeless, restless, and unmotivated. Sure, it is normal during pregnancy to be overly emotional, but if you find yourself spending days at a time in bed and feeling helplessly sad then you are probably dealing with more than just the weepies.

2. Let others know what you are feeling. Sometimes you may find it hard to let others know, even your husband, that you are feeling sad for no reason at all because you feel as though you should just be able to pull it together. However, it is very important that someone knows what you are going through so that they can keep an eye out for troubling symptoms. Depression can often leave you feeling indifferent to things like showering, eating well, and even toward sleep, all of which are particularly important during pregnancy.

3. Tell your doctor about any harmful thoughts you are having. It is extremely important to tell your doctor if you are having thoughts of harming yourself because not only is harming yourself bad for you it can also be bad for your baby. Also make your doctor aware of any thoughts you may be having about cutting yourself, pulling hair, scratching, or any other destructive behavior.

4. Ask your doctor for emergency numbers. Both you and your husband should have emergency numbers programmed into your phone if you are dealing with depression at any time, but especially during your pregnancy. Ask for numbers to emergency psychiatric wards, 24-hour counselors, and even the number to your local emergency room as a last resort. You never know when a breakdown may occur and you will need to seek immediate help.

5. Know what medications are safe to use to help regulate your mood during pregnancy. Ask your doctor what medications are available to you during your pregnancy should you need them. Also, if you go to a psychiatrist during your pregnancy tell him or her about your pregnancy, even if you think your belly makes it obvious.

6. Consider seeing a counselor on a regular basis even if you aren't experiencing depression, so that they can help you deal with all the changes that are taking place in your life and your body. A counselor can also keep an eye out for any troubling signs and help you nip depression in the bud.