Posts Tagged ‘perinatal depression’


Pregnant women at risk for depression if stressed, lack social support

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Educating clinicians about how to identify and treat serious illness in expectant mothers is crucial to minimizing complications, researchers say

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Some pregnant women are more likely to be depressed than others.

A new U-M study published in this month’s American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, finds that factors such as stress, mental health history, social support, and whether a pregnancy was intended, contribute to a woman being more at risk of experiencing depression than others.
 
“Depression has been associated with adverse outcomes for both mom and baby, including pre-term delivery, pre-eclampsia, sleep disturbances for both mom and baby, and maternal-infant attachment effects, in addition to its impact on the mother’s daily quality of life,” says Christie A. Lancaster, M.D., M.S., a U-M clinical lecturer in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and lead author in the study.
 
Depression, experienced by as many as 12.7 percent of pregnant women, is a serious complication that, if identified, can be treated during pregnancy.

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Beating baby blues during and after pregnancy

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, depression during and after pregnancy is a common problem. Around 13 percent of expecting and new mothers experience it.

Depression can result from a number of different reasons. Women who have a family history of the condition are more likely to experience it themselves.

Alterations in brain chemistry are believed to contribute greatly to depression, and in some women, hormones may also play a role. It is known that hormones directly affect brain chemistry tied to emotions and mood, and that women are more susceptible to developing depression during certain times in their lives, like during puberty, pregnancy and pre-menopause.

Experts say hormonal changes after childbirth may be what trigger postpartum depression.

Read on…

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Postpartum Depression: Letting Go of Being Supermom & Surviving With Stevie Wonder

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Thank God for the internet and blogging. Else how would we get to read all of these great stories and share in other women’s triumphs over perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Here are some amazing women.

Sophie in the Moonlight on the holidays, postpartum depression, and NOT being Suuuuupermom:

If the postpartum depression had won and my spectacular suicide attempt had been successful, I would not be here making magnets out of 29-cent wood cutouts, cheap acrylic paint, and sparkly beads with my boys.

Read on…

From Dr. Shosh:

As a mother, it’s easy for your needs to get lost in the shuffle. The truth is, that’s not good for loved ones around you. Learn how to put yourself on your own list, and watch your family benefit!

Setting the Supermom Cape Aside: Caring For Yourself

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Antidepressants During Pregnancy: Are They Safe?

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Up to twenty percent of women suffer from depression while pregnant with some requiring medications. Is antidepressant use harmful during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the happiest times of a woman’s life, but up to one in five women deal with depression during this all important time. Not only is this hard on the mom-to-be, but it can affect the health of the unborn baby. Depressed moms to be are more likely to drink, smoke, and eat a poor diet in a misguided attempt to deal with their depressed mood. Obviously, it’s important for the health of both mom and baby that the symptoms of depression be treated; but are antidepressants the answer? At one time, using antidepressants during pregnancy was considered to be safe, but now there questions about their safety.

Are Antidepressants Harmful During Pregnancy?

What are the risks of using antidepressants during pregnancy? There’s growing concern that using antidepressants during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects in the unborn baby. A class of drugs known as SSRI’s are being closely scrutinized since recent studies show they’re associated with a slightly higher risk of birth defects – particularly the drug Paxil. A study showed that women who took Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy were two times more likely to give birth to babies with structural heart defects.

Read on …

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Perinatal depression often goes untreated, study says

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Not again.

That was the dread that hit 18-year-old Bianca Lewis when she learned she was pregnant with her second child, less than a year after her daughter was born.

The depression that had troubled the single mother during her first pregnancy intensified after the birth of her second child.

Lewis, of Sun Prairie, frequently cried, fell into fits of screaming rage and abused alcohol. She even broke ceramic plates over the head of the father of her children.

More than 65 percent of depressed mothers don’t get adequate treatment for depression, according to nationwide study released this fall by the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

Read on…

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The influence of prior perinatal loss on parents’ psychological distress after the birth of a subsequent healthy infant

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term influence of a previous perinatal loss on parents’ psychological distress during a subsequent childbearing experience. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A cohort design was used to examine 36 couples with a history of prior perinatal loss. Data were collected during the third trimester of pregnancy, 3 months postpartum, and again 8 months after birth. MEASURES: Outcome measures included posttraumatic stress (The Impact of Event Scale), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), anxiety (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and parental concerns and attitudes (Maternal/Paternal Attitudes Questionnaire). RESULTS: Levels of depressive symptoms (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), and posttraumatic stress (p=.046) significantly decreased over time in this population. However, levels of posttraumatic stress remained in the moderate range even at 8 months after birth. Depression was significantly correlated with posttraumatic stress at each time point. In addition, depression was significantly related to posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and concerns parents had about their infant's well-being at T3. CONCLUSION: While levels of anxiety and Read on…

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Medications During Pregnancy: A Vexing Dilemma

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

After my daughter was born last year, I swore she would be an only child. I had postpartum depression and couldn’t imagine putting myself through that again. Add a year, education, medication and an almost-full recovery and I’ve started to change my mind. But here is the rub: What about the meds during the next pregnancy?

The American Psychiatric Association and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently released a report about depression and pregnancy, along with recommendations on treatment. According to the report, some patients with mild-to-moderate depression can be treated with psychotherapy alone or in combination with medication. But those with more-severe or recurrent bouts of depression should remain on their meds during pregnancy, and the sickest depressed women may want to consider electroconvulsive therapy, often called shock therapy, which is actually considered safe and effective during pregnancy.

Read on…

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