Why the link between pregnancy and depression? First, many women suffer from depression before becoming pregnant. Second, according to a recent government report, about one woman in seven experiences a new episode of depression during pregnancy. Possible triggers could be the psychological or hormonal stress of this major life change or the mood-lowering effect of lessened activity.

So, if you’re pregnant and depressed, the good news is that you have plenty of company. The bad news is that pinpointing depression during pregnancy can be tough because pregnancy triggers some of the same symptoms, notably fatigue and mood swings.  

Feeling Down?
Pregnant or not, you may be depressed if a feeling of sadness or hopelessness has persisted for at least two weeks, along with one or more of these symptoms:

• Frequent crying
• A lack of energy
• Changes in your normal appetite
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• A loss of interest in usual activities
• Withdrawal from loved ones
• Headaches, rapid heartbeat, or breathing too fast

• A family or personal history of depression
• Little support from family and friends
• Problems during a previous pregnancy
• Medical complications during this pregnancy
• Marriage or money problems  

Help for Depression
If you’re being treated for depression and are considering becoming pregnant, psychotherapy with a mental-health professional, such as a psychologist or social worker, can help pick you up.   So can antidepressants, but there are risks. A recent article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggested that taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors increased a woman’s chance of having a low birth-weight or premature baby. But stopping the drugs also can pose a threat, according to a different study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In this study, discontinuing antidepressant use boosted the risk for a depression relapse during pregnancy. So, be sure to discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of such treatment. His or her recommendation will probably depend on the severity and length of your depression.

Reprinted from Southwest Health, January 2007. Copyright Southwest Washington Medical Center.