There’s a lot of knowledge out there on the dangers and risks of postpartum depression, which is excellent because it’s a very real issue. But many people don’t realize that mental health concerns can come up during pregnancy, too. Pregnancy can be challenging on the body, and pregnancy worries for your or your baby’s health can lead to prenatal depression, increased anxiety and more.
The Importance of Mental Health During Pregnancy
People may describe pregnancy as a “gift” and “the most wonderful time in a person’s life.” While that might be the experience for some mothers, it doesn’t make these statements universal truths. There’s no denying pregnancy comes with challenges. Most notably, you spend 9 months growing a human you care deeply for and worrying about whether they’ll be okay and safe.
Being nervous about being pregnant is perfectly normal, especially when every appointment feels like it’s checking to ensure something else isn’t wrong with the baby. You go through ultrasounds to confirm proper development, genetic screening for abnormalities, tests for gestational diabetes, swabs for Group B strep and more.
It’s only natural to develop some anxieties or depression around all these concerns for your baby. According to Dr. Veerle Bergink, Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, “Anxiety and depression are equally as prevalent during pregnancy as they are outside of pregnancy.” And yet, 85% of women who experience perinatal depression go untreated.
The stigma around perinatal mental health conditions must end. Pregnant moms must do all they can to maintain a healthy mental state throughout pregnancy. Some of the risks of untreated mental health conditions in pregnancy are:
- Mothers who are struggling mentally may stop taking care of themselves, and their baby might also suffer as a result. This might look like a poor diet or even partaking in drugs and alcohol.
- Expectant moms with mental health conditions are at a higher risk of stress, which can increase the risk of preterm labor.
- If left untreated, a mother may begin her postpartum journey already in a negative mental space. This isn’t ideal, as early postpartum is already a difficult time for most mothers.
Common Mental Health Challenges for Expectant Mothers: Looking Beyond Typical Pregnancy Worries
There are a lot of misconceptions about the mental health challenges that can occur for expectant mothers. Some of the most common problems a pregnant woman might deal with include:
- Anxiety disorders. The woman may develop constant anxious thoughts about her baby being sick or getting hurt, about not being a good enough mother or not having enough to provide for the baby and more.
- Depression. Women can develop depression during pregnancy for many reasons. They might question their choice to get pregnant, regret getting pregnant or mourn the change it’s brought to their life.
- Panic attacks. Some may experience panic attacks while pregnant, which can be triggered by many things.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder. An expectant mother who’s highly stressed may develop OCD during pregnancy. In many ways, pregnancy can feel like losing control of yourself as your body goes through many changes. Some people respond to this lack of control with conditions like OCD that allow them to have power in small actions instead.
- Eating disorders. Women are meant to gain weight as they progress in their pregnancy journey. However, for an individual with disordered eating habits, this weight gain may trigger an eating disorder.
Of course, if these above conditions are left untreated, they may continue during the mother’s postpartum period.
Seeking Help During Pregnancy
When you’re on an airplane, you’re told to put on your oxygen mask first before helping others in an emergency. You need to take care of yourself first to be in a good place to help those who need you. This is a great lesson for all moms. You can’t take care of your baby — whether they’re still in your womb or already out in the world — unless you take care of yourself first.
Taking care of your mental health will help you be a better mother and partner and allow you to enjoy this new stage of your life fully.
No one expects this to be a challenging time until it happens to them. The best thing you can do if you’re struggling mentally is seek professional treatment. Talking to a counselor will help you understand your condition and learn skills to cope with any symptoms that arise.
In addition to a therapist, it’s essential to lean on your support systems. When your friends and family understand what you’re going through, they can check in on you and offer help when needed.
Additionally, friends and family might benefit from an education on how mentally taxing pregnancy and postpartum can really be. You may want to have some depressed pregnancy quotes on hand for your husband when he questions what you’re dealing with. For example, singer Adele has a quote that captures the situation’s complexity. She says, “I had really bad postpartum depression after I had my son, and it frightened me. … My knowledge of postpartum — or postnatal, as we call it in England — is that you don’t want to be with your child; you’re worried you might hurt your child; you’re worried you weren’t doing a good job. But I was obsessed with my child. I felt very inadequate; I felt like I’d made the worst decision of my life. … It can come in many different forms.”
Tips for Maintaining Mental Well-Being During Pregnancy
Some ways you can prioritize your mental health during pregnancy include:
- Aim to get some form of exercise every day.
- Eat a healthy, nutritious diet.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Take up meditation, yoga or journaling.
- Spend time outdoors.
- If your mental health issues are fear-based (fears around getting hurt or your baby getting hurt), reduce the amount of online research you do.
- Don’t compare yourself to other mothers.
- Spend time with loved ones.
- Only consume information from reliable sources.
- Consider therapy.
Find Prenatal Resources With the National Mental Health Hotline
If you’re struggling with your mental health during pregnancy, know there are resources out there to help you. The National Mental Health Hotline is open 24-7 and can provide you with phone counseling, online counseling, referrals to local resources and crisis intervention. Our compassionate, trained staff are here to offer judgment-free help. Contact us today.