Pregnancy is often considered to be one of the happiest moments of life, so why is it that so many expectant mothers struggle with overwhelming feelings of doubt and anxiety?
If you’re starting to feel like your melancholy means that something is wrong with you as a parent, don’t. As it turns out, feelings like these are actually extremely common among mothers who are quietly struggling with depression during pregnancy.
It’s also common to feel hesitant to speak up about how you’re feeling, but the truth is, you deserve to feel happy and healthy as you prepare for childbirth. Prenatal depression can be challenging, but you are not alone. The good news is, prenatal depression is treatable.
Getting started as soon as possible puts you on the fast track to feeling better, but if you’re concerned about the various risk factors associated with taking antidepressants during pregnancy, that’s incredibly valid and understandable.
TMS Center of Lehigh Valley is here to help you explore other options for depression treatments that can help prevent any possible harm to you or your baby.
How Prenatal Depression Affects Women of All Backgrounds
While some women feel ashamed to admit they’ve been struggling with prenatal depression, mental health experts estimate that between 14 and 23 percent of expectant mothers have shown clear signs of depression symptoms throughout their pregnancy.
Often, seeking treatment for depression during pregnancy can feel overwhelming and stigmatized, as society often labels pregnancy and motherhood as exclusively positive experiences.
Unfortunately, emotional depression symptoms can be easily written off as a hormonal overreaction, and the physical symptoms of depression, such as fatigue and changes in appetite, can also mimic typical side effects of pregnancy.
To help you differentiate between typical pregnancy symptoms and signs of prenatal depression, keep a watchful eye on your personal experience with the following factors:
- High levels of stress in daily life
- One or more current or prior mental health conditions, especially mood disorders like anxiety and depression
- Low levels of social support
- Involvement is an abusive or violent relationship
Emotional ups and downs are extremely common both throughout pregnancy and following childbirth, but ongoing sadness, constant crying, or feelings of disconnection are signs of something more serious. Talking with your doctor can help you understand if you may be experiencing prenatal depression.
The Importance of Seeking Immediate Treatment
Moms-to-be often feel frustrated when considering depression treatment options during pregnancy. They know they want to feel better, but the risk factors of potentially exposing their babies to the adverse impacts of antidepressant medication can have them considering whether it’s worthwhile.
As a result of this, some depressed expecting mothers delay treatment for weeks, months, or for the entire length of their pregnancy. However, untreated depression can ultimately cause significant harm to both mother and baby.
Without effective depression treatment, an expectant mother may have less motivation to care for herself, leading to further physical, mental, and emotional issues within herself as well as low birth weight and preterm birth in her child, which can cause long-lasting health issues for the baby.
For this reason, it is extremely important to seek safe, effective prenatal depression treatment as soon as possible.
TMS as an Alternative, Drug-Free Option
If you aren’t comfortable taking antidepressants while carrying your child, don’t avoid getting the help you need altogether. Instead, consider non-invasive, non-drug treatment options like TMS.
TMS therapy is a scientifically-backed, safe, and effective treatment for mental health conditions like chronic stress and depression.
TMS Center of Lehigh Valley, is the Lehigh Valley region’s first depression treatment center offering FDA approved, non-drug, non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment for patients who suffer from mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
Our dedicated staff is made up of tireless advocates who, with our years of expertise and commitment to compassion, help people struggling with depression conquer their disease and get their smiles back. To learn more about what we do or how we can help, don’t hesitate to contact us today.