Depression While Pregnant? You Are NOT Alone
Do you think you might have depression while pregnant? You are not alone. Read about the signs of possible depression and why it’s important to get help.
This may not be a topic you want to read about or discuss. However, I am here to tell you that the more you talk about it, educate yourself, and learn about depression while pregnant the better it is for you.
And they frankly don’t care about the number of women who have depression while pregnant.
Some Signs That You May Have Depression While Pregnant
It can be hard to pinpoint some of the signs because they can be some of the same sings for many things, including pregnancy. But here is a list of possible signs. Resources can be found here and here.
- changes in sleep and energy level
- changes or loss of appetite
- feelings of sadness, being overwhelmed, or having feelings of hopelessness
- crying a lot or for no reason
- moodiness
- feeling like you are worthless
- suicidal thoughts
- withdrawing from friends and family
- having troubles with your memory or forgetting things
- loss of interest in things that you usually love or enjoy
- getting headaches, stomach pains, or pains that can’t be explained or will not go away
If you are showing signs and/or symptoms for over two weeks then it is time for you to talk to your health care provider. Trust me, they will NOT judge you! They are there to help you.
It may be super scary! But from personal experience I know that it is both scary and also refreshing.
Here’s why:
- You admitted to yourself that you are not okay and that you need help.
- You are doing something for you! By reaching out you are doing the first step in getting yourself help and treatment.
- It’s been almost 4 years since I admitted to myself and my husband the at I was not okay and that I needed help. During these last 4 years I have made huge improvements and gains in my mental health journey. Am I cured of my depression and anxiety? Nope. Also during these past 4 years we have had awesome highs and very low lows. Without the help that I’ve had I’m not sure where I’d be today.
- I remember being so scared when I called my OBGYN’s office to get therapist referrals. I was shaking and embarrassed. There were feelings of inadequacy and failure.
- After I got off the phone I remember having a feeling of peace. It seemed strange to go from one extreme to the next.
Hopefully, you can see that not only was it scary but it was necessary and very helpful!
Why is it important for you to get help now? Well, there are so many but I’m going to just focus on a few in this post.
Why Get Help?
Your Baby! There can be many negative affects on your baby as a result of untreated depression while pregnant.
- Not getting the care you need which can affect your babies health
- Increase risk for having your baby too early
- Your babies birth weight may be low
- Possible learning difficulties later in life
You! Yes, you are important!
- You may not take care of yourself during your pregnancy
- Increase or s start in use of drugs and/or alcohol
- There is a higher chance of having Postpartum Depression (PPD) after you delivery your sweet bundle of joy
- Although this is rare but thoughts of suicide
- Harder for you to connect with your baby after delivery
Have I convinced you to seek help if you are are feeling any of these things? I sure hope so. It is nothing, NOTHING, to be ashamed of. If you cut your finger really bad you would go get help, right?
Taking care of your mental health should be a huge priority! If you have depression while pregnant you should want to get help asap for you, your precious baby, and the rest of your family.
Next week I’ll go over some ways to help you deal with your depression while pregnant. So check back to see ways to help you! 🙂
Xxx, Steph
I am not a medical professional, I am a mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend that has mental illness. These are my thoughts with the help of the Mayo Clinic and March of Dimes.
Please reach out to anyone (me included) if you are needing help. Here are also some good resources as well:
- National Helpline
- Suicide Prevention Helpline
- Google mental health help
Here are some links to blog posts I’ve written about mental health and ways to help oneself.
- Just What My Therapist Ordered
- Depression and The Holidays…
- My Reasons for Taking Antidepressants
- Depression Triggers…
- Depression Triggers…
- Can Laughter Be the Best Medicine?
- I am Enough Shirts
- Depression Surprised You?
- And many others. 🙂
Such a powerful post you’ve written! I am not pregnant but have been trying for a few years, I hope pregnancy depression doesn’t happen to anyone but it’s nice to know there is a community out there for it. I wish you happiness ❤️
Thank you so much! Good luck and best wishes to you! 💚
Thank you for providing these resources and for your encouragement to pregnant women to seek help when needed. It’s so important for people with depression to realize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. It’s better to get help today to be better prepared for when the baby arrives.
Thanks Kim! 🙂 It totally is a sign of strength! Hopefully that will become more normal and recognized.
The problem is how do we convince someone else to get help or talk? When it’s obvious someone is struggling and yet they claim everything is alright. It’s so hard to watch and feel so helpless why someone we love struggles.
Oh, that is so hard. Honestly, there is only so much we can do. I would continue to love and support them. Keep reaching out to them and let them know you are there for them.
Depression is REAL. And with all the hormones of pregnancy, mom’s need to be super careful. Having a supportive husband makes all the difference in the world. Also, not allowing all the little things to creep in (too high of expectations on keeping the house perfect, making four course meals every night, etc…) will help one navigate through such a time. Thank you for your post. And your red hair is absolutely gorgeous. One of my four kiddos has red hair about the same color! LOVE IT!!
Thanks so much Erin!! You’re so sweet. I agree, you have to take care of you, it can just be hard. But I’m hoping to help others as well as myself. 🙂
Pregnancy was the hardest time for me mentally. That is what held me back from having more children because I was afraid I wouldn’t make it through another one. Thanks for sharing <3
I’m sorry it was hard for you! It was be tough!
It’s so important to get this message out there. I wrote a post on the same topic a while back. It’s necessary that more moms talk about this. We haven’t really paid much attention to prenatal depression but it’s real. As many as 50% of PPD cases actually started during pregnancy. But very few people realize it. I was one of those people too.
It’s so scary!! I really think there needs to be more of an effort on OBGYNs to address this during pregnancy. We have talked about it a few times but with my last two pregnancies I knew what to expect and we have already talked about my depression so it was know. What’s the link to your article? I’d like to share it. 🙂
This is such an important topic that needs to be discussed openly so no one feels ashamed or scared to get the help they need. Very informative post that will help many I’m sure.
I so agree! Thank you so much! 🙂
This is definitely one of my many fears of having children. You never know who will have a harder time with this than the ‘average’ person until it happens. Great post!
Right?! I certainly didn’t think it would effect me. But now that I know I am better able to handle it. Sometimes not so great… haha.
Thanks for sharing this sometime difficult subject. We have to be open about our experiences in order to heal!
You’re so welcome! Being more open can be a healing tool. 🙂
I never thought about this, you usually think of being overjoyed about being pregnant but you have opened my eyes..
That’s so true. Being overjoyed is certainly part of being pregnant, which is awesome! I’m so glad, thanks for sharing. 🙂
Definitely a topic that needs to be discussed more. I had severe postpartum and looking back now, I wish I had help.
Nicole, I’m sorry you went through that!! I hope things are better now. 🙂
Thank you so much for the post! I haven’t gone through anything like this, but I can’t even imagine how hard it may be!
You’re welcome! 🙂 I’m glad that you haven’t experienced something like this!!
THIS WAS SO SPOT ON FOR ME. I WENT THROUGH REALLY BAD DEPRESSION WHEN I WAS PREGNANT. ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS I HAD I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NORMAL PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS. IT WASN’T UNTIL I SPOKE WITH MY DOCTOR THAT I I REALIZED THAT DEPRESSION DURING PREGNANCY WAS DEF REAL.
I’m sorry you went through it also! Did it help to talk with your doctor? I hope all is well now! 🙂
Everyone talks about post partum depression, but you don’t really hear about depression during pregnancy. Thank you for shedding some light on the subject and sharing some great resources!
That’s very true, which is good to know about PPD. But it is time for depression during pregnancy to be talked about more. Thanks! 🙂
What a powerful article. I hope this helps a lot of women open up about this sensitive norm. Having supportive people like you will surely help.
Thank so you much!! I hope so too, it can help them and others so much. ☺