Mental health during pregnancy

Most of us have heard of postnatal depression. It’s discussed openly, the medical profession has plenty of help available, and it’s an accepted and widely known concept. However, mental health issues during pregnancy don’t get the coverage they deserve.

And it shouldn’t be that way, especially considering how common it is. Antenatal depression and anxiety affect both men and women. It can happen no matter your background, age, or medical history. In this guide, we’ll talk you through the basics, we’ll give you an overview of options, and the associated risk factors you should be aware of.

The Facts and Figures

Let’s talk hard numbers. According to a pregnancy survey conducted in 2017 (1,000 women), for example, over a third of mums experience inconsistent moods: feeling sad and bouts of tears happen often. Perhaps more surprisingly, however, is the response on depression. 22.5% of those surveyed reported suffering from depression as a result of pregnancy.

These numbers are clearly not insignificant. That’s why it’s so important for expecting parents and their family to be aware of what mental health during pregnancy entails.

Risk Factors

There’s no surefire way to know whether an expectant couple will experience mental health issues during pregnancy. It’s impossible to predict. There are several risk factors you can watch out for however:

• Medical history. If you have prior history of mental illness, then it’s possible that pregnancy will affect you.
• No support group. Pregnancies are challenging. If the woman does not have a solid family and friend network to support her through the pregnancy, anxiety or depression are more likely.
• Unplanned pregnancy. A recent survey suggests women find unplanned pregnancies more stressful than losing their jobs or breaking up with their partner.
• Stressful life events. The death of a loved one, losing your life savings, and other such life events can cause undue stress on an expectant couple.

While these risk factors make it more likely that you will suffer from a mental health issue during pregnancy, it’s not a guarantee. Most couples find ways to adjust and will go through the pregnancy without major complications. Conversely, those who feature no risk factors whatsoever can also suffer from mental health issues.

How to Know When to Get Help

Most expecting mums and dads/non-birth parents will go through the pregnancy with the common ups and downs. A few mood swings, periods of anxiety, and feelings of overwhelm are completely normal. If you feel the following, however, it may be time to think about seeking help:

• Consistent low mood. You experience a consistent low mood, with frequent bouts of sadness or anxiety, for a period longer than a fortnight.
• You can’t function normally. Your thoughts and feelings are so overwhelmingly negative that you can no longer able to function normally in your day to day life.
• Panic attacks. Frequent panic attacks are a clear sign that you may be suffering from antenatal mental health issues.
• Lose interest. You’re no longer interested in the things that used to drive you. Your job, hobbies, or the fun things you used to do no longer feel the same.

Getting Help

The best piece of advice we can give you is to seek help from trusted medical professionals. Having a supportive social network is an integral component, but it is not a replacement for your GP, for example.

Each and every parent will experience antenatal mental health issues differently. There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment option. That’s why discussing your wellbeing with your GP is so important. Your GP will be able to give you advice based on your own personal situation. Treatment options can include self-care mechanisms, medication, and counselling.

What You Can Do

We’ve mentioned self-care in the previous section. This is some of the advice that medical professionals tend to give out (although it’s not a replacement, we still recommend talking to your GP!):

• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you need rest, take a breather. Struggling to cope? Ask for help. Be realistic about your limits.
• Limit changes. When you’re pregnant, hit the pause button on anything else. Wait to move house, don’t start that renovation project, and stop sending out resumes. Major changes can be stressful.
• Stay healthy. We recommend light exercise and eating a varied and healthy diet.
• Do positive things. Spend time with the people you love, for example.
• Don’t turn to alcohol or drugs. They may provide temporary relief, but ultimately they’re unhealthy for you and the baby.
• Seek out other parents. The benefits from meeting other expectant parents can be tremendous. You’re all in the same boat, you can talk about what you’re going through, and making new connections will make you feel good.
• Ask and receive. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If someone offers a hand, be positive and accept if it will help you.

Finally, Take Your Feelings Seriously

Your feelings matter. It’s important you discuss your feelings openly and without fear of judgment or prejudice. Remember, antenatal depression is very common and you shouldn’t feel there is something ‘wrong’ with you for feeling the way you are. There are loads of contributing factors and blaming yourself isn’t fair.

The ‘myth of motherhood’ is so strong that women often feel like they need to grin and bear it. But this will only make things worse if you are struggling. Early treatment works incredibly well and seeking it out is nothing to be ashamed of.

References

• Antenatal depression affects men too
• Understanding Women Mental Health During Pregnancy
• Unplanned pregnancies stressful for women