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Depression during and after pregnancy affects many women and experts know how to treat it.
While the majority of new mothers suffer from some degree of baby blues – or slight changes in mood caused by hormonal changes after childbirth – nearly one in seven will suffer of a much more serious mood disorder before, during or after pregnancy: perinatal depression.
Although the symptoms of perinatal depression vary from one case to the next, the most common symptoms include feelings of worthlessness as well as extreme sadness, misery, and loneliness. 39; irritability. It can last weeks or even months if it is not treated.
The term encompbades both prenatal and postnatal depression.
Unfortunately, most women with perinatal depression are not correctly diagnosed or treated, which is a huge public health problem, according to previous research.
In the United States, the Prevention Services Working Group suggests that women at risk follow behavioral counseling to effectively prevent perinatal depression. The recommended counseling interventions were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in mid-February.
To determine the most effective treatment options, the task force reviewed 50 studies that had previously examined the effectiveness of various treatments for perinatal depression, such as physical activity, education, food, drugs and counseling.
The team found that cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy were the most effective in preventing perinatal depression. In fact, both types of counseling have reduced the risk of contracting mood disorder by about 39%.
Interpersonal therapy is conducted during pregnancy and is intended to help identify social, psychological and biological factors that may affect a woman's mood. The counselor works with the patient to strengthen the mother's confidence, facilitate the transition to parenthood, and relieve interpersonal stress.
"Together, they develop a plan on how to deal with potential conflicts about workload at home and at work, sleep patterns, who does what when the baby is born, and postpartum problems such as Breastfeeding, "said Dr. Samuel Malloy, general practitioner. currently medical director of the telemedicine site Dr. Felix.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), on the other hand, is a form of psychotherapy that aims to change individual thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. A CBT therapist usually helps the mother to first identify the prejudicial patterns of thought or underlying beliefs, then develop coping strategies to combat anxiety and depressive symptoms, according to Malloy.
Many health experts believe that the treatment of perinatal depression is most effective when an individualized treatment plan is in place. Women should work with their doctors to develop a treatment approach tailored to their specific symptoms.
In general, psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for women with mild-to-moderate perinatal depression, but is often complemented by other treatment options and lifestyle changes.
"Women with moderate to severe depression often need a combination of psychotherapy and anti-depressants," Dr. Elizabeth LaRusso, a psychiatrist who specializes in women's mental health at Allina Health in Minneapolis, told Healthline.
In addition, all women can benefit from increasing their social support system, reducing external stressors, exercising, improving their diet, and improving their health. getting enough sleep, LaRusso added. Support for family planning and badfeeding decision-making can also help women move to maternity.
Although perinatal depression is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, doctors have yet to identify a standard screening tool to accurately determine whether or not a woman has perinatal depression. As a result, many people with the disorder are not treated.
The researchers found that people who had a history of depression or depressive symptoms, a family history of depression or external stressors – such as a teen pregnancy or unwanted, financial problems, abuse or unemployment – run a greater risk.
That being said, more research is needed to determine why some women are prone to perinatal depression.
Knowing what causes and prevents perinatal depression could not only greatly improve the life of the mother, but also that of the child. Maternal depression can have a negative impact on the baby's health and increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and other developmental issues.
Some of the most common warning signs are: excessive sleep, excessive crying, feeling overwhelmed, hopeless or agitated. However, the symptoms are wide and vary according to the women.
If you start to feel symptoms or think you have a perinatal depression, you should not feel guilty or ashamed of asking for help, advises the health experts. Experts want pregnant women to remember that a perinatal depression does not mean you're a bad mother. All women are prone to perinatal depression and it is important to remember that you are not alone.
"If you are pregnant or are a new mother and have more bad days than good days, contact your support system, talk to your OB / GYN or your midwife. Let people know you're struggling! Advised LaRusso. "Depression is treatable and, once identified early, the burden of suffering is greatly reduced."
Although perinatal depression is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, most women who suffer from it are not treated. At present, a special task force suggests that women at risk undergo counseling intervention to prevent mood disorders.
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