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Pregnant and Depressed?
Find the Support You Need
By Heather Johnson Durocher
"It's just not the picnic you thought it would be," explains Douglas, a mother of four who is the author of 15 books including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (January 2002). "Even if you were really gung ho about becoming a parent, there is still a lot of adjustment."
Feeling guilty about any negative thoughts during pregnancy doesn't help the situation, Douglas adds. "Everybody always expects you to be totally euphoric throughout your total nine months of pregnancy. (But) when you're suffering extraordinary depression – you could feel unfit for motherhood."
The solution, as tough as it may be, is to seek help. "Definitely you need to talk your feelings through with people who understand. It has nothing to do with your fitness as a mom – you need to get lots of support."
The sooner you receive help, whether in the form of counseling, medication or a combination of both, the better off you and your baby will be, agrees Margaret Howard, Ph.D., clinical director of Women & Infants Hospital's Day Program in Providence, R.I. The program provides services for postpartum or pregnant women with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, or mild psychosis.
Expectant moms who are depressed are less likely to take their prenatal pills and make their prenatal doctor visits. They may turn to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. "Depressed women tend to not take good care of themselves and that's not good for the fetus," Dr. Howard says. And left untreated, the depression could continue after the baby is born.
Rachel acknowledged that she wished she'd sought help sooner. But as an obstetric nurse, she felt ashamed of her depression.
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