Treatment of depression during pregnancy: drugs and folk remedies

Causes

This condition does not occur in all pregnant women.
Often the cause of this disorder is the presence of a depressive illness before pregnancy, as well as the discontinuation of medications prescribed by a psychotherapist. The onset of depression often occurs when pregnancy was not part of the expectant mother's plans. Experts also advise paying attention to diagnosing this condition in close relatives, since depressive disorder may be associated with a hereditary factor.

Other causes of depression include various financial problems, stressful situations, unsuccessful pregnancies at various stages, severe course (toxicosis, complications).

And sometimes such a condition can occur in a woman expecting a child without any reason. But it should be noted that any stress and negative emotions can provoke this disorder in a pregnant woman.

Signs of Depression

Experts identify several signs that characterize the above condition:

sleep disorder;
disinterest in the outside world;
causeless remorse;
loss of appetite;
fatigue;
difficulty concentrating;
feeling of anxiety;
easy excitability;
slow reaction;
frequent migraines;
suicidal thoughts.

Often, most pregnant women experience sudden mood swings from joy to apathy. However, a distinctive feature of a depressive state is prolonged exposure to negative emotions and thoughts, which can significantly worsen over time.

In some cases, independently diagnosing depression in a woman expecting a child is quite difficult, since some signs may characterize the normal behavior of pregnant women or various physiological ailments, for example, disorders of the thyroid gland. Therefore, if there are any signs of depression, it is necessary, first of all, to consult a specialist to rule out other health problems.

What symptoms should you pay attention to?

Depression during pregnancy can manifest itself in different ways. Some women constantly cry, some cannot sleep, some are afraid of the future, driving themselves to suicide attempts with their fears. However, there are a number of signs by the presence of which one can judge the presence of depression. Among them:

Increased irritability
Anxiety
Inability to concentrate
Feeling hungry or lack of appetite
Constantly feeling tired
Dejection
Fear of going outside
Suspiciousness
Persistent drowsiness
Low self-esteem
Feeling hopeless and joyless
Feeling guilty
Lack of desire to communicate with anyone
Diffidence
Tearfulness
Sleep disturbances (inability to sleep, nightmares).

Features of prenatal depression in different periods of pregnancy

Depression can have different causes and signs at each stage of expecting a child. The woman comes to the realization that her life will change dramatically, and, as a result, the expectant mother may experience fear, tension and anxiety, which, with a prolonged impact on the psyche, can provoke depression.

At an early stage , a restructuring of the body’s functioning occurs, and this period is characterized by changes in a woman’s behavior, such as irritability, excessive emotionality, and depression. This behavior is typical for most expectant mothers. You should be wary when a pregnant woman begins to talk about the meaninglessness of her life, and she develops suicidal tendencies. Most often, in the first trimester, depression occurs against the background of moral unpreparedness for the birth of a child.

In the second trimester, the development of depression is facilitated by natural changes in a woman’s body, lack of sleep, and lack of support from loved ones. Experts note that it is at this stage of the gestational period that the risk of prenatal depression is higher, since the physical and emotional state in the second trimester are more closely related.

In the third trimester , due to physical and moral fatigue, negative thoughts may arise, the woman feels ugly and clumsy. Due to natural changes in the body, a pregnant woman has to almost completely change her lifestyle, which, in turn, is a factor in the onset of depression.

First and second trimesters

According to statistics, women are more likely to suffer from depression. They are more suspicious, susceptible to emotions and have a hard time with quarrels with loved ones. Hormonal changes and various fears trigger a mechanism of depression, the woman feels that she cannot cope with anything, her stomach has made her ugly, and her husband may already be looking for someone else. Such thoughts have a terrible effect on a woman.

Relatives and friends should support you at this time, involve you in some kind of activity, and interest you in new books and films.

What are the dangers of depression during pregnancy? The first trimester is dangerous because even many herbs known as sedatives are contraindicated, as they can cause miscarriage. Baths with aromatic oils, used in cases of neuroses and depression, are also prohibited. A woman will have to rely solely on psychotherapy and self-hypnosis.

In cases where there are risks of an unfavorable pregnancy outcome, there is also no need to despair. We must hope for the best. After all, probability is not a fait accompli.

Depression during pregnancy also develops due to disagreements with the husband, or even more so if the man refused to raise his child. Then the woman needs to start a course of psychotherapy as soon as possible and restore activity and good spirits. After all, it will be twice as difficult for her.

What are the dangers of prenatal depression?

Depression during pregnancy not only has an extremely bad effect on a woman’s well-being, but also negatively affects the development of the fetus, especially in the early stages.

Experts say that newborns whose mothers were depressed in the first months of pregnancy may be born with low weight and developmental delays, as well as have problems sleeping.

Also, if a woman experiences strong negative emotions for a long time, the risk of spontaneous pathological termination of pregnancy increases, complications during this period, as well as a significant deterioration in the well-being of the expectant mother.

The influence of the emotional state of a pregnant woman on the fetus

Whatever the reasons for depression during pregnancy, a woman cannot give up. Not in this situation. Maternal depression has several negative consequences:

the child may be born with emotional disturbances;
the newborn will be low weight and in poor health;
spontaneous abortion.

A woman must understand that she is now responsible not only for her health, but also for the well-being of the baby inside her. You can’t refuse to eat, go outside and mope all the time. She needs to go outside and breathe fresh air every day for 2-3 hours.

Perhaps the child will be an emotional support and support for the woman when she grows up. It’s better to think about this rather than be sad because of temporary difficulties and troubles. The most important task at this time is to ensure that the child knows from the womb that he is desired by this family. All a woman and her environment should worry about is how to get out of depression during pregnancy.

If the expectant mother feels an excess of negative emotions inside due to disagreements at work or at home, she can scream and break a couple of plates if she wants. A short burst of emotions will not harm the baby. Although it is still better to relieve tension with special gymnastics or yoga.

But a long-term stressful state, which leads to a loss of enthusiasm and weakens the psyche, is no longer good for both the mother and the fetus.

How to treat depression in a pregnant woman?

To correct this disorder, you need to seek help from a psychotherapist. Often, first of all, the specialist prescribes therapy sessions in which he finds out the cause of the depressive state, and also, together with the patient, looks for ways to eliminate the negative factor. In some cases, joint therapy with the father of the unborn child is necessary, since this approach to treatment gives faster and more positive results.

Drug treatment is prescribed only if there is no positive effect from treatment with psychotherapy, since most drugs have a negative effect of varying degrees on the development of the fetus. Often, tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Melipramine) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Fluoxetine, Cipramil) are used for therapy.

The need to use the above drugs, as well as the dosage, can only be prescribed by the attending physician.

Therapy with these medications, provided all the doctor’s recommendations are followed, does not provoke serious deviations in the development of the child. However, in some cases, a newborn may experience rapid heartbeat, disruption of the respiratory system, and digestive problems.

Electroconvulsive therapy can also be used to treat depression in women during pregnancy. The essence of the method is the use of electrical discharges that block the effect of the stress hormone on the body. According to research, this method of treatment does not have a negative effect on both the expectant mother and the development of the fetus.

A lack of vitamins can lead to depression in a pregnant woman, so a properly balanced diet and selected supplements will also help normalize the condition.

How do SSRI drugs work?

Not a single antidepressant works well on the embryo. It is best to allow the fetus to develop naturally. But sometimes a woman cannot eat or sleep because she lacks serotonin, the hormone of joy. Therefore, medications are needed to ensure that there is enough hormone, at least to fall asleep.

Serotonin uptake inhibitors are the latest 3rd generation drugs that are created to maximally protect people from negative consequences. Their effect is to lengthen the period during which the mediator acts on nerve cells. With its help, neuroses, panic attacks, anxiety and depression are treated.

How to deal with depression during pregnancy? Take your own pills? In no case. Only as prescribed by a psychiatrist.

Folk recipes

Additionally, you can use various recipes from traditional medicine, but you must first consult with specialists who will select the most effective and, most importantly, harmless means:

Chinese lemongrass. This remedy helps improve mood and has sedative properties. To prepare, you need to take 10 g of dried berries of this plant and chop thoroughly. Next, they should be poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 20 minutes. Can be consumed instead of tea with the addition of honey or sugar.
Passionflower. This remedy has a slight calming effect and can be combined with medications. 1 teaspoon of the above plant must be poured with an incomplete glass of water and left for 15-20 minutes. Next, you should drink this infusion throughout the day.

Carrot juice. This vegetable not only helps reduce anxiety and despondency, but also has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and improves the elasticity of the skin. During pregnancy, you need to drink a glass of fresh carrots every two days, add 100 g of raw carrots to your food or eat as a snack.
Aromatherapy. Carrying out such procedures will help to significantly improve the emotional state of a pregnant woman. The only contraindication to aromatherapy may be the presence of severe toxicosis, in which various odors of oils can worsen the condition of the pregnant woman.

For the above procedure, you must choose only natural oils. Tangerine (improves mood), petitgrain (relieves stress), Ylang-ylang (calms the nervous system), lavender (eliminates insomnia) are perfect.

You can use a special lamp to fill your home with the scent you like, or add a few drops to a spray bottle. Another way is to use aromatic pillows, which are easy to prepare yourself or purchase in special stores. They can be placed in a closet with clothes or placed in a room.

Massage. To carry out a massage that not only improves your mood, but also helps get rid of fatigue and pain, you should use olive oil as a base, adding 1-2 drops of aromatic oil to it.
Bath. To take a bath, the oil must be dissolved in a small amount of milk and only then added to the water.

Regularly performing such procedures helps relieve stress and speed up the healing process.

How to cure and prevent depression yourself?

There are several tips that will help not only prevent, but also get rid of depression that has already set in:

In some cases, the appearance of a depressive state is preceded by a lack of light. Women expecting a child should walk more often in sunny weather, avoid dark streets at night, and also take care of good lighting in their home.
Psychologists recommend limiting the presence of dark colors in clothing during pregnancy, since such a wardrobe leads to depression. If you don’t want to give up dark tones, you can simply add bright accessories. The same rule applies to the decor in the apartment - a few bright decorations in the room can significantly improve your mood.
If there are no contraindications, it is advisable to move a lot. You can sign up for special yoga courses for pregnant women, or go on a short trip. Even just daily walks in the fresh air will help cope with depression.
Psychologists recommend that during pregnancy you tune yourself to positive thinking and enjoy your situation. You can think about the design of a room for your unborn child, buy several items of clothing or furniture.
It is necessary to block negative thoughts, since they are the main factor in the development of depression. If you are overcome by unpleasant thoughts or memories, you need to learn to distract yourself.
As you know, delicious food helps improve your mood. Therefore, if there are no contraindications, you can eat more bananas, seafood, and oatmeal. Chocolate also helps improve your mood.
It is necessary to limit the flow of negative information. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid frequent viewing of various films and TV series with difficult plots and unhappy endings, as well as news, which often show episodes that aggravate the poor mental state of the pregnant woman.
The most important thing in the fight against depression is an optimistic outlook on the world. Therefore, you need to try to find the positive in all the little things. In this mindset it is much easier to overcome the above condition.

Experts also recommend not to reproach yourself for negative thoughts and not to panic, since everyone can have a bad mood from time to time, and this is completely normal.

Depression during pregnancy (video)

In this video, the psychotherapist talks about the main causes of depression during pregnancy, as well as methods to combat this disorder.

With proper treatment, prenatal depression in women responds well to treatment and often does not cause relapses. However, the lack of timely help, as well as support from loved ones in case of depression, can lead to a complicated pregnancy, fetal development disorders and severe suicidal tendencies.

Depression during pregnancy. Third trimester. How to deal with panic?

Most of the gestational period is behind. You are in the third trimester. For what reasons can panic and depression develop at this time? Depression during pregnancy in the third trimester is often associated with fear of childbirth. Especially if a woman is going through this experience for the first time. Courses for pregnant women help combat fears. In such courses, a woman will find support and learn how childbirth takes place and how she can prepare her body for this test.

Additional information from reliable sources always helps to better understand upcoming events and properly tune in to them mentally. It is useful to read books by prominent obstetricians and gynecologists during this period, consult with your gynecologist, and seek support on forums on the Internet. However, do not be intimidated by those who had a bad first birth experience. Most likely, everything will go fine for you.