Overcoming Depression during Pregnancy – A Guide to Natural Treatments
Some women suffer from depression during the stages of their pregnancy. Now, as this is a sensitive time for the woman and already involves many chemical and hormonal changes and fluctuations within the body, taking prescription or pharmaceutical medication may not seem like an attractive prospect. And in fact, the taking of mood stabilizers or medication for depression during pregnancy can have further complications and further disrupt hormonal swings. However, all hope is not lost because there are countless method of combatting depression and they can all be carried out naturally, without the reliance of a tablet or drug.
1. Maintaining and Establishing a Balanced Diet - During pregnancy, healthy and balanced diets are already an essential key to a successful, safe and healthy delivery, it is also key to maintaining the health of the pregnant woman. Increasing your iron, zinc and vitamin B-12 intake can all aid the alleviation and prevention of depression during pregnancy. These minerals and vitamins have important roles in neurological health, forming nerve connections and maintaining a healthy brain. These essential nutrients are also vitally important in fighting off fatigue and feelings of exhaustion, both of which are common
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Regular and Safe Exercise – Depending on the stage of pregnancy at hand, exercise should be carried out accordingly and safely. You can attend regular exercise classes, aerobics, yoga and meditation that is specifically crafted and aimed towards women who are pregnant – this can aid the alleviation and prevention of depression as exercising enhances the levels of serotonin released in the body and promotes an overall positive state of physical and emotional wellbeing. Exercising with a friend or partner can bring further benefits in terms of increasing motivation, increasing your ties of friendship and encouraging you to be active and positive about
Roca, Catherine. "Depression During and After Pregnancy." April 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Online. http://www.4woman.gov/faq/postpartum.htm. (17 Nov. 2005)
After giving birth, women will have hormonal oscillations (Rosequist). In the meanwhile, their bodies are getting back to their normal state, however if that “blues” does not go away, it can evolve in a deep depression. As she recalls, saying: “And yet I cannot be with him, it make me so nervous”(Gilman), it is obvious that Post-Partum depression is the cause of her poor attachment with the child; the mother can be hazardous to the baby; mood swing occur, and in extremes circumstances, about 1 in 1,000, it can bring psychotic indications (Hilts). If this condition if left untreated, it can cause serious psychological and physical damages. Treatment would include anti-depressants and therapy. This can also trigger other types of mental
Pregnancies are often correlated with the assumption that it will bring happiness to the household and ignite feelings of love between the couple. What remains invisible is how the new responsibilities of caring and communicating with the baby affects the mother; and thus, many women experience a temporary clinical depression after giving birth which is called postpartum depression (commonly known as postnatal depression) (Aktaş & Terzioğlu, 2013).
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story, The Yellow Wallpaper, portrays the life and mind of a woman suffering from post-partum depression in the late eighteenth century. Gilman uses setting to strengthen the impact of her story by allowing the distant country mansion symbolize the loneliness of her narrator, Jane. Gilman also uses flat characters to enhance the depth of Jane’s thoughts; however, Gilman’s use of narrative technique impacts her story the most. In The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses interior monologue to add impact to Jane’s progression into insanity, to add insight into the relationships in the story, and to increase the depth of Jane’s connection with the yellow wallpaper it self.
Having a child can be the happiest moment of a person’s life. A sweet little baby usually gives new parents tremendous joy. That joy can be accompanied with anxiety about the baby and the responsibility the new parents are faced with. The anxiety, in most cases, fades and joy is what remains. For some new mothers, however, the joy is replaced with a condition known as postpartum depression. “Postpartum depression is a serious disorder that until recently was not discussed in public…Women did not recognize their symptoms as those of depression, nor did they discuss their thoughts and fears regarding their symptoms” (Wolf, 2010). As such, postpartum depression is now recognized as a disorder harmful to both mother and infant, but, with early detection, is highly treatable with the use of psychotherapy, antidepressants, breastfeeding, and other natural remedies, including exercise.
Postpartum depression: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2012, September 19). In U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved April 8, 2014
The Effects of Education on Postpartum Depression Outcomes: A Literature Review Postpartum depression (PPD) is a period of depression that follows childbirth and lasts more than two weeks. It is experienced by up to 15% of women in the first three postpartum months (Camp, 2013). PPD is well represented by all ages, races, and cultures. The causes of PPD are currently unknown. There are many factors that place patients at a higher risk of developing PPD.
The history in a family can influence many generations. Certain families have stereotypes about them based on family history. This is a real world situation; the movie The Pregnancy Project, stereotypes about teen pregnancy where shown, and how they affect people. In the Pregnancy Project, the use of Gabi’s background influenced people’s reactions because her family has a history of teen pregnancy.
Nakhai-Pour, Hamid Reza, MD, PhD, Perrine Broy, BSc,, and Anick Bérard, PhD. "Use of Antidepressants during Pregnancy and the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion." ProQuest.com. Canadian Medical Association. Journal, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.
Watch your diet. Fish, nuts, and seeds are important to include in a healthy diet. Eating omega-3 fatty acids lower overall rates of depression and this includes a lower incidence of postpartum depression among new mothers. Consuming protein, such as poultry and dairy products, along with low-glycemic carbs like whole grains, and beans, can boost the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which has a calming effect on the brain. Avoid the alcohol, moderate the caffeine, and if you must have sweets, go for dark
PPD is sometimes known as Postpartum disorder or Postpartum depression; affects roughly. 9 to 80% of women after childbirth. PPD can normally arise within four weeks after giving. birth and it can even happen subsequently, much later in the same year. Men were also found.
Postpartum depression affects 8-15% of mothers within a few days or weeks after giving birth. Some mothers experience a mild form of this disorder, while others experience a more rare and intense version. This intensified postpartum depression is known as postpartum psychosis. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, Nau, McNiel, and Binder (2012) express “Postpartum psychosis occurs in 1-2 of 1,000 births and frequently requires hospitalization to stabilize symptoms.” These symptoms include: Hallucinations, restlessness, disturbed sleep, insomnia, drastic mood or behavior change, delusional thinking, thoughts of suicide or death, and extreme depression. In The Journal of Women's Health, Sit, Rothschild, and Wisner described postpartum psychosis as “an overt presentation of bipolar disorder that is timed to coincide with tremendous hormonal shifts after delivery”. Approximately 72%-88% of mothers who experience postpartum psychosis (PP) have bipolar illness, schizo-affective disorder or a family history of either which is why PP is classified as a psychotic disorder by the APAA.
It is crucial for a woman to maintain a good health throughout the whole pregnancy stage. Not only for her sake but also for the well-being of the yet to be born baby. Anything that is consumed during a pregnancy will affect both the mother and the growing fetus (child). Once a woman gets pregnant it is recommended that she changes her eating habits, exercise, the regular visit to the doctor office and make the changes that are needed for a healthy pregnancy. Most importantly, a pregnant woman should always avoid substances abuse because of the threat that they pose.
Maternal age is also associated with the unpleasant pregnancy outcomes. For example, in adolescence the mortality rate of an infant is higher than for mothers of older age. When women of age 35 years or older become pregnant, the risk that the child will have Down syndrome increases. Emotional states and stress during pregnancy can have long-term consequences such as having a child with emotional or cognitive problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and language delay. It is concluded that mothers who suffer from depression during pregnancy can be linked to preterm birth, low weight at birth in full-term infants, and an increased risk that depression will develop in the adolescence.
The silent killer that takes lives without warning, punishment, or any sympathy; depression is truly one of the most prominent mental illnesses in the world. Depression is defined as a mental illness inducing a severe and staunch feeling of sadness. The term depressed is coined in English as a temporary sadness that everyone experiences in their life. Despite that depression is more active in women, it is still one of the most common mental illnesses in the world. It affects anybody, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing. Regardless of all these facts, surprisingly little is known about depression, however, scientists have been able to hypothesize major causes, effects, and treatments for the disability affecting over