Postpartum depression has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, affecting between 10 and 15% of women who give birth. However, antepartum depression, the sadness that expectant mothers experience before giving birth or shortly after conceiving, is a still unknown situation. Antepartum depression can directly affect the development of a baby’s cognitive abilities.
The sadness that future moms experience around pregnancy is usually due to fear of future motherhood , the situation that may surround pregnancy, but also hormones. It is something more common than we can imagine.
If you want to know more about what prepartum depression is and what the main causes may be, keep reading the article and take note.
Causes of antepartum depression
Recent studies have shown that, in addition to the much talked about postpartum depression, expectant mothers can also experience antepartum depression.
It is essential to know how to differentiate depression and sadness, because depending on whether you suffer from one or the other, you have to follow certain measures . People often use these two terms synonymously, but in reality they are not.
Sadness is a feeling that we can experience at various times in our life, and on certain occasions it is good to experience that sadness , for example, mourning the death of a loved one . Whereas, depression is a disorder that must be treated by a professional such as a psychiatrist. Although sadness is predominant, depression is also composed of other symptoms such as deep sadness, suicidal ideation, among other probabilities.
Therefore, if we talk about prepartum depression in the term itself, the most appropriate thing is to go to an expert as soon as possible. Only they will know how to help you and guide you until the depression disappears completely.
However, experiencing sadness, not depression, at some point in pregnancy is quite common. The vast majority of future moms think that these symptoms are the result of pregnancy, and therefore do not go to therapy or professionals.
Recent studies have shown that women who have experienced acute sadness in some of its stages during their pregnancy tend to have babies with a slower rate of development than usual. Professionals related to the field of study point out that women are more likely to experience sadness in the first stage of pregnancy than after eight weeks after giving birth. It has been shown that women who have suffered prepartum depression as such, have had premature and / or complicated deliveries , factors that are usually a consequence of the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy.
Acute sadness during pregnancy, not real depression, can be the result of various factors, such as:
- Hormones: Yes, hormones can influence the mood of expectant mothers. Women produce much more progesterone during pregnancy, which affects the central nervous system by generating a large amount of dopamine. This process that occurs in pregnant women, can drastically change the mood . That is why during pregnancy you tend to cry and be more sensitive than usual.
- The uncertainty of the future: Being a mother changes your life completely . As the great moment approaches, doubts and concerns arise. It is at this time that future mothers, especially new mothers, tend to be confused and believe that they will lose control of their lives . At this moment you just need calm, breathe deeply and think about all the positive things that the future will bring you.
- The responsibility of being a mother: When the time of childbirth approaches, future moms begin to have more and more responsibilities. It is one of the issues that can lead the future mother to overwhelm . Given this, we recommend that you take a piece of paper and a pen and start writing down everything that you will now have to do. In this way you will be establishing priorities in a simple way and organizing yourself will not be so difficult.
- 4. Control over the psychological impact: Having a baby always changes the way of thinking. The psychological impact when pregnant is very strong, trying to control all this impact can also make the future mother feel vulnerable and unable to cope with the situation. But don’t worry, you can always. Enjoying pregnancy is also a wonderful time. Don’t be afraid to relegate on other people.
Being a mother is a challenge, but in that challenge you also find happiness . So keep calm, and enjoy the “trip” is quite pleasant. If at any time you feel that you cannot take it forward, calm down, you can always count on the help of a professional, he will make you see the situation in a much more positive way.
