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What is Anxiety and Depression?

Anxiety—feeling nervous, worried or scared and Depression—feeling sad, empty or down. Research has shown that up to 33 percent of women experience clinical anxiety or depression at some point during pregnancy. Both are serious medical conditions that involve the brain and may occur during pregnancy or after birth. Depression and anxiety that happen during pregnancy or anytime during the first year after the birth of your baby are medical conditions. These feelings are not something you caused by doing or not doing something. They can be treated if you seek help.

Symptoms of Anxiety During Pregnancy and After Birth:

The symptoms of anxiety during pregnancy vary by type of disorder i.e:

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms:

• Irritability
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Feeling restless
• Poor concentration
• Tension/muscle aches

Obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms:

• Recurrent, persistent, intrusive thoughts.

Panic disorder symptoms:

• Persistent fear of having a panic attack and Recurrent panic attacks.

Symptoms of Depression During Pregnancy and After birth:

• Decreased interest in the world around you
• A sense of worthlessness
• Low energy
• Guilt
• Poor concentration
• Appetite changes
• Thoughts of suicide
• Getting too much sleep, or not enough sleep.
• No longer enjoying the things you used to enjoy.
• You may feel sad, hopeless, “empty,” and generally discontented.
• Being in a depressed mood most of the time for at least two weeks.

Complications of Untreated Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy:

Risks to babies whose mothers have untreated prenatal mental health issues include:

• Low APGAR score (which rates a newborn’s health after delivery)
• Premature birth (before 37 weeks)
• Low birthweight
• Poor adaptation outside the womb, including respiratory distress and jitteriness

Risks to the mother include:

• preterm labor
• Having a C- section
• Suicide
• Pregnancy termination
• Postpartum anxiety or depression.

Treatment of Anxiety and Depression During Pregnancy: Experts agree that depression and anxiety require medical attention. Here are some medicinal and non medicinal approaches.

• Counseling (Talk Therapy)
• Medications

Here are some things you can do, in addition to treatment, that may help you feel better:

• Do something you enjoy
• Talk & connect to new moms
• Make time for yourself
• Rest when the baby rests
• Don’t be afraid of ask for help from your partner and family, whether it’s caring for the baby or doing household chores.