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All that you want to know about anxiety and depression during pregnancy

Tess Thompson

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Even though pregnancy is supposed to be the happiest period in the life of a woman, a tenth of all women go through this phase facing some symptom of anxiety or depression. About 5 percent of women undergo major depression during pregnancy. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy is fairly normal and if you are going through this phase, you should know that a large number of women face similar thoughts and worries.

Feeling anxious about the nutrition that you need to take for the child, being worried about the health of the baby and the future of your life with your partner after the baby comes, is something that most, if not all, women go through. Thoughts about how you will manage a small baby along with your ambitious work life and home management can send shivers down the calmest of people.

Nervousness and apprehension can get severe at times and even cause panic attacks. But help for panic attack treatments and anxiety relief is available and there is no need to worry incessantly about these aspects. To avoid anxiety from manifesting in panic attacks, try and stay calm. Talking about your concerns with your partner, your caregiver and other women who are pregnant or have just delivered can help you calm down a lot.

Discussions with your partner may bring out certain apprehensions that he may also have and will help both of you bond more in this beautiful phase of your life. Avoid stressful situations and reduce the workload that you have. Don't fret about a messy cupboard or room and if you are a workingwoman ensure that you leave office on time and learn to say no. Try and pamper yourself and pay attention to your nutrition. Ensure that you exercise regularly.

Effective natural treatments for anxiety are yoga, deep breathing, aromatherapy and stretching. This relaxes the muscles causing you to relax. Joining or creating a support group can also be a great idea. Antenatal depression is somewhat different from anxiety. It is more serious since it is often undiscovered and is mistaken for mood swings caused by hormonal changes in the body.

Depression is also a biological illness wherein the hormones cause certain chemical changes in the brain. Extended sadness, lack of sleep, under eating or overeating, lack of interest in any activity, thoughts of death and suicide and lack of concentration are all key symptoms of depression. Women who have a history of depression in the family are at a higher risk of experiencing clinical depression during pregnancy.

Relationship issues with partner, earlier pregnancy loss, extended fertility treatments and an otherwise stressful and demanding lifestyle can trigger of depression during pregnancy. The reason why it is critical to detect antenatal depression is because, if untreated, it can harm the baby. Depression leads to poor nutrition, an increase in alcohol consumption and smoking, all of which are extremely harmful for the development of the baby. Factors like these can cause premature birth and low birth weight.

Help should be sought immediately in the form of support groups or psychotherapy or medication or light therapy depending on the recommendation of your caregiver. If your case is severe and requires medication, opt for natural remedies to start with. These are harmless for you and for your baby. In case your particular case requires medication and cannot be treated by other means, make sure that the medication is safe.