Can Women Feel Depressed during Pregnancy?

While preparing to welcome a baby can be fun and exciting, it can also be a challenging process. It is a complex experience of feeling joy, fear, and stress at the same time. 

Most people and cultures expect it to be a rosy period of celebration. However, there’s more to the story. Women go through a lot of physiological and psychological changes during pregnancy, and this can have a lot of effects on their overall physical and mental health. For many women around the world, experiencing depression during pregnancy is becoming more and more common.

Before understanding what is depression and how it is related to being pregnant, remember to not compare your experience with others as everyone experiences pregnancy differently with its own wonder and challenges. 

Reach out to your doctor or your mental health practitioner if something is bothering you. They are here to listen and remind you that you’re not alone in this journey. 

What is Depression?

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders where you persistently experience intense sadness and loss of interest in activities that once brought you joy. Depression occurs twice as often in women.

Depression can feel like:

• Experiencing intense sadness, guilt, anxiety, and hopelessness

• Having outbursts out of anger, irritation, or frustration

• Sleeping too little or too much

• Getting tired of performing even the simplest of daily tasks

• Having trouble thinking, making decisions, and concentrating

• Having frequent thoughts of suicide and death

To gain insight into your symptoms, take this assessment to find out whether you’re sad or depressed. 

Also read: Understand Mood Disorders - Types, Symptoms and More

How can Depression Manifest During Pregnancy?

Given the changes that a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy, it is not uncommon for them to experience mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Pregnancy hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone can lead to feeling positive as well as negative emotions intensely, especially during the first trimester.

Moreover, the increasing stress of planning parenthood, celebration events, and other responsibilities and commitments coupled with childbirth can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. Unfortunately, it can easily go unnoticed and be attributed to the “hormonal changes” during pregnancy. 

When women experience a lack of support from family during pregnancy, it can cause excessive worry and stress about the baby’s upbringing and future. Here are some risk factors that play a role in causing depression during pregnancy: 

• Experiencing anxiety and stress persistently 

• Having a personal or family history of depression

• Lack of emotional and/or financial support from the partner, family and friends

• Having an unplanned pregnancy

• Experiencing emotional or physical abuse from the partner and/or family

These factors can make makes it difficult for women to look after themselves and the baby while pregnant. If left untreated, it can have serious consequences on the woman’s as well as the baby’s health - the most serious being death due to suicide.

Also read: It's Not All In Your Head: The Physical Symptoms of Depression

The stigma associated with mood disorders, especially depression can make it even more difficult for women to talk about their experiences openly. They may feel embarrassed, guilty, or even ashamed to bring up the topic. They tend to divert all their attention to their physical health during pregnancy as that is where they experience the most changes.  

Hence, the right support system needs to be present that can be there to look after not just their physical health but their mental health too.

Also read: How Effective is Therapy for Depression?

Bottom Line

Women experiencing depression during pregnancy are more likely to experience post-partum depression if left untreated. Fortunately, depression is a treatable mental condition and with the right support and care from the partner and the family, it is possible to have a fulfilling and smooth pregnancy.

Also read: What Is Postpartum Depression?

If you’re looking for support for yourself or a loved one who is going through a tough time during pregnancy, let our mental health coach help you. You can discuss the situation and explore care options over a free 30-minute call.