Depression affects 42 percent of pregnant women

One-third of pregnant women suffer from depression during pregnancy
Official data on prenatal depression shows that between 10 and 15 percent of women suffer from depression during their pregnancy. But the problem seems to be much more common. Nearly a third of mothers surveyed experienced five or more key indicators of prenatal depression during pregnancy, according to a UK survey. These express themselves in, for example, gratuitous feelings of fear or the mothers lost their interest in everyday activities.

Nearly a quarter of a million pregnant women in the United Kingdom suffer from depression each year, according to the survey results of the information portal Babycenter. About half (42 percent) of those affected do not address their problems to a doctor or a midwife. They are afraid of being mentally ill. The three most common reasons for this were that the expectant mothers felt guilty (74 percent), were ashamed (62 percent), or were afraid that other mothers would judge them badly (58 percent)..

Many women develop depression during pregnancy or after childbirth. (Image: WavebreakmediaMicro / fotolia.com)

Many expectant mothers go through depression
Pregnancy is an emotional time for every woman. It is not uncommon for occasional mood swings to occur during this time. But many of the mothers experience symptoms of depression. Women often feel obliged to preserve the picture of a perfect pregnancy. But the reality is usually very different, said Sasha Miller of the British information portal Babycenter.

Depression is often concealed by sufferers
In today's society, the term depression is still associated with a stigma. Although many expectant mothers have already been affected by the symptoms, most can not admit that they are experiencing problems during their pregnancy. For this reason, they do not seek help from doctors or midwives. The attitude on the subject must change, it is important to take depression during pregnancy seriously, the experts warn.

Lack of money biggest concern with depressives
Women who have had depression during their pregnancy are nine times more worried about developing postnatal depression after giving birth. For example, one of the biggest concerns about living with a newborn baby is lack of funds or the baby's health. Mothers who did not suffer from depression during their pregnancy are more concerned about problems such as lack of sleep.

Treatments need to be more targeted.
Today, the level of awareness of depression during pregnancy is higher than just a few decades ago. Unfortunately, this does not mean that affected women get help and support to improve their mental health and well-being, Sasha Miller said. Pregnancy hormones could make women go crazy. For some pregnant women, this only applies to a brief moment of the day. For other mothers, this condition lasts longer, just then it will become a serious problem. It is important for midwives and other healthcare professionals to build trusting relationships with their patients. These help the women to share their feelings and accept the depression. This may allow them to receive appropriate treatment. Normal appointments take about 15 minutes and focus on the physical exam. For this reason, there is usually no time to question the pregnant woman about her feelings. Independent obstetrics ensure the continuity of care, but also more timely appointments. Such examinations can help uncover the state of emotional health, and then, if appropriate, make it possible to find suitable treatment options, the expert explains.

Depression is often associated with body changes
The baby-cell surveys show a clear pattern between the signs of depression and the sensation of body changes. Women with depressive symptoms feel almost twice as often unwell and are almost three times as disgusted by this change as unaffected women. Conversely, it is in women who have no symptoms. They feel happy three times as often and are amazed at how pregnancy changes their body. Many of the mothers with depression are socially isolated. These women have little contact with friends and family. A quarter of those affected see their friends less than once a week, according to the information portal.

Advice for those affected
The British charity "Pandas" advises affected families to talk to a midwife or a doctor about the symptoms as soon as possible. It should be taken time to take your own needs seriously. Mothers are advised to tell their partner or friends about their problem. These are always a good source of emotional support and can help prevent social isolation. Pregnant women may try to perform light movements and exercise to raise their spirits. Swimming, walking or pregnancy yoga are suitable for this purpose. If expectant mothers notice that they are prone to depression, they should urgently visit a support group, midwife or doctor. (As)