depression, stress, relationship , Pregnancy

Depression And Pregnancy: A Mother And Child's Life Compromised

Pregnancy can be a special moment for expectant mothers and couples. But, it can also be a time for depression among pregnant women. Depression among pregnant women has a lot of causes. This article tries to identify them and provide some factors to help them cope depression during this momentous but also a difficult time in a woman's life.


Pregnancy is a wondrous moment. It is the time when women are excited to be called “moms.” It is a great opportunity to learn about child's growth and development. But sometimes it can be the other way around. Pregnancy is not always such a happy experience for some. Pregnancy can also be a time for worry. It can also be a moment of confusion.

A woman's decision to begin a pregnancy carries with it the acceptance of the lifelong responsibility to be a parent. Ideally, effective parenting begins even before the moment of conception, when the woman confirms her desire to have a child and is physically and mentally prepared for the challenges of pregnancy, birth, and parenting.

However, most women go through a lot of changes during pregnancy that sometimes, it is causing them stress as well as numerous emotional and physical changes. As a result, many pregnant women develop depression during their pregnancies.

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, so it's a commonly encountered pre-existing condition during pregnancy. Depression has both physiological as well a sociological causes. It is actually caused by a number of different factors. But, it is most likely to be linked to a change in the levels of chemicals in the brain. These chemicals govern our moods, and when they become disrupted, it can lead to depression.

During pregnancy, the rapid change in a woman's body’s hormones can trigger a change in the levels of these chemicals, resulting in depression. Interestingly though, women have it twice as often as men, and among women, there is an increased tendency toward it during the reproductive years.

It has been proven that the rapid rise in hormone levels during pregnancy is actually a very common trigger for depression. At least 20% of pregnant women experience some depressive symptoms during their pregnancies, while 10% of pregnant women develop full-blown clinical depression. Depression during pregnancy is actually much more common then many people realize. At one time, health care professionals thought that pregnant women couldn’t suffer from depression because of their pregnancy hormones. It was believed that these hormones protected against mood disorders like depression.

Any pregnant woman can develop depression at some point throughout her pregnancy. There are several causes of it during pregnancy, some of which are the following:

·    having a personal or family history of depression
·    relationship or marital conflict
·    age at time of pregnancy
·    unplanned pregnancy
·    living alone
·    limited social support
·    previous miscarriage
·    pregnancy confusions and complications
·    history of emotional, physical or sexual abuse

Because depression can often drain a woman's desire and energy, pregnant women with the disorder may not seek appropriate prenatal care. Depression during pregnancy may also increase the likelihood that  a pregnant woman will abuse alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs during pregnancy. When it is most severe, clinically diagnosed depression can be a psychiatric emergency. Because a woman is in a very difficult period of adjustment and less likely to climb out of her despair, hopelessness, and suffering, she poses a danger to herself and her new baby.


Pregnancy is a particularly active field for depression to either start anew or worsen if already a problem.  The extra physical, financial, marital, and sexual stresses come whether one is ready or not. On top of that, any new feelings of poor self-image can reinforce depression's already negative self-image problems.

Preparing for a new baby is a lot of hard work, but a woman's health should come first. A pregnant woman should resist the urge to get everything done, she should limit her activities and do things that will help her relax. Talking about things that concern a pregnant woman is also very important during these difficult times. A pregnant woman should ask for support, which most often than not, she will get.  Remember that taking care oneself is an essential part of taking care of the unborn child.

counseling, depression, relationship,Teenage pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy: Think And Re-think Of Your Choices

An unplanned pregnancy is a traumatic event, this is especially true among teen-age girls. Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult experience a young person might ever face. It can interrupt school or other plans in their young lives. But with options available nowadays, teenagers now have an opportunity and choose the best for them and their babies.

Adolescence can be a challenging time for young people and their families. A teenager goes through rapid physical and emotional changes. Teenagers go through awkward times and get caught in between wanting freedom and having the security of the family. Parents want their children to grow to happy and independent.  But at the same time, they cannot help but fear for the safety of their children as they watch them spread out their own wings. Given this situation, parents have accept the fact that the dreams they had for their children may not come true. For teenagers to have their own dreams, they must cope with the controlling behavior of parents while trying to explore the world on their own.

Aside from the initial forays into drinking and smoking, many teenagers also explore the “adult world” by getting into a romantic relationship. Having an intimate and romantic relationship among young people is very common even if it is prohibited by their parents. Naturally, teenagers rebel and some even engage in per-marital sex not thinking of the consequences of such actions. This is especially true among teen-age girls.  Unfortunately, these girls will also be the ones who will have to face the problem of early pregnancy, a dilemma that would have long-term consequences.

Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult experiences a young person could ever face. It can interrupt school or other plans in their young lives. It can create an emotional crisis resulting in feelings of depression, shame, and fear.  The stress of how a teenager breaks the news to her parents might be even greater, and finding help may seem an impossible task.

Some pregnant teenagers are so shocked and frightened that they try to cope by ignoring or denying the pregnancy. A pregnant teener might even think no one can help her, she might be too embarrassed to search for help. However, denying the pregnancy or ignoring it can only make things worse for the teen ager and the baby. Denial will not take the pregnancy away, instead, the teenager will lose the time she could have invested in prenatal care and counseling.

Research shows that sex education and access to effective contraception are essential in preventing unplanned pregnancy in the teenage population. Some teenage pregnancies occur as a result of young women's sexual inexperience and an inadequate understanding of their reproductive cycle. Research suggests that knowledge about reproductive matters and access to contraception are necessary to prevent unintended adolescent pregnancy.

Teenagers, as a group, have significantly higher complication rates both during pregnancy and delivery. Reasons for the higher complication rate include physical immaturity, lack of health care knowledge, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, illegal drugs, poor diet, inadequate antenatal care. Teenage mothers have a higher risk of postnatal depression than older women.

Moreover, research have shown that the number of births to teenagers has decreased considerably over the last few decades. This decrease is most likely due to the increased availability of contraception and abortion, rather than a decrease in sexual activity. There has also been a dramatic fall in the number of teenagers choosing adoption. Changes in social attitudes towards single parents and illegitimacy and the availability of social support groups have made parenting a more viable option.

Pregnancy counseling is generally available in school, church or the community. Ideally, counseling should support the young woman in making a free and fully informed decision about her options, and give information on abortion, adoption and parenting. Many teenagers feel uncomfortable or unable to talk with family, so professional counseling offers a valuable and much-needed resource.

Teenagers now have a lot of options and making a choice can be a bit difficult. But carefully checking one's resources and giving oneself the opportunity to make the best informed decision should be available to each and every teenager.

pregnancy, health condition during pregnancy

A Shadow Over Your Pregnancy: How Preexisting Health Conditions can Affect You and Your Baby

Preconception planning is an important step for women with preexisting conditions to take when considering the possibility of becoming pregnant. This should be done with the advice of a doctor to ensure that the illness will not adversely affect the development of the unborn child or endanger the lives of both mother and child.

One of the most important things for a woman to ensure while she is pregnant is that she remains healthy throughout the the nine-month period. This is because anything that affects the mother will affect the baby in her womb. With that into consideration, women should be aware that any preexisting condition they might have and/or the medications that they are taking can have a profound effect on their pregnancy and their baby. In some cases, this may increase the risk of babies being born with birth weight problems (either overweight or underweight), developmental problems, preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia, congenital heart block, or deformities. It may even be the cause of death for both mother and child.

Among the preexisting medical conditions that pose a significant health risk for women during pregnancy are anemia, asthma, arthritis, sexually transmitted diseases, heart conditions, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thyroid disorders, kidney diseases, liver diseases, infections, diabetes, hypertension, eating disorders, epilepsy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), substance abuse, depression, and other mental illnesses. While these conditions can pose complications during pregnancy, it is possible to manage them with medical assistance.

It is highly recommended that women visit their obstetricians monthly during a normal pregnancy, but for women with preexisting conditions this may occur with more frequency so that their healthcare providers can monitor the progress of the pregnancy, how the woman is managing her preexisting condition and how it is affecting the unborn child.

For women with preexisting conditions who are planning to become pregnant, it is important to consult with a doctor before conception happens. A doctor will be able to explain the risks the condition poses to the pregnancy and help a woman weigh the pros and cons of carrying a child. This is called preconception planning, and when followed by early and on-going prenatal care, it is very helpful in ensuring a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Preconception planning can map out a possible plan for every step during the pregnancy, including counseling for the couple who wishes to have the child, the possibility of changing the medications currently being used to manage the preexisting condition, and of any changes in diet for the mother-to-be.    In some cases, such as if a woman has an eating disorder or a predilection for substance abuse, the doctor may suggest going through therapy to eliminate these conditions before becoming pregnant. Both diet and medication have been proven to have an impact on the health of the child, since the baby is effectively sharing whatever the mother ingests.

Chronic conditions don't have to threaten a woman's life or the life of her unborn child. Apart from seeking medical advice about her preexisting conditions, it is also important to have the support of her family and friends around her. There are also groups composed of women in a similar situation that remind the the woman that she is not the only person going through this challenge. There are many women out there have triumphed over their illnesses to carry a child to term. Practicing preconception planning is just one of the steps in giving birth to healthy babies.