Prenatal Issues

We tend to think of pregnancy as a joyous occasion - which it can be. It is also important to remember that for some women, it can be very difficult. Research shows that about 7% of all pregnant women will experience depression during pregnancy, also known as prenatal depression.

What does prenatal depression look like?

The symptoms of prenatal depression are similar to those of depression more broadly. Signs of depression include:

Low mood
Change in appetite
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed
Sleep disturbances
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or suicidal behavior

Detecting prenatal depression can be difficult because many of the symptoms of depression are symptoms of pregnancy! There are some pregnancy-specific signs to look out for. These include:

Feeling very anxious about your baby
Feeling inadequate and worried about the type of mother you will be
Rarely feeling reassured about pregnancy and parenthood
Not following prenatal care guidelines

There are several factors that have been shown to increase a woman’s risk of experiencing prenatal depression. These include a mental health history (anxiety or depression), poor social support, intimate partner violence, life stress, and an unintended pregnancy.

Why is it important to get help?

Prenatal depression can make it harder to take care of your own physical health, which also affects the optimal development of your baby.

Many women feel reluctant to speak up about their challenges, since we are often told and made to feel that pregnancy is one of the best and most beautiful experiences of our lives.

Please remember that you are not alone. Many women like you will experience prenatal depression. It’s also important to know that there are evidence-based treatments that can be used to support you through your prenatal depression.

At our psychology clinic, we have three psychologists who can support you through your pregnancy - Dr. Kate Prozeller, Dr. Vassiliki Simoglou, and Pashmi Khare (M.Sc.)