Pregnancy causes a lot of change within your body. It puts added stress on your circulatory system, digestive system, and even your neurological system. If you have the mental illness that already exists before you become pregnant, it is highly likely that your pregnancy will cause the illness to progress faster than normal.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant and you have already been diagnosed with a mental illness, make an appointment with your physician and discuss all the possibilities. If you have just discovered you are pregnant and you have already been diagnosed with the mental illness, mention this to your obstetrician at your very first appointment.

How does this affect you?

Even for someone who has not been diagnosed with any mental illness there are huge emotional and mental changes that occur during pregnancy. Women find themselves with mood swings that tend to be more severe than what their menstrual cycle. They can also find themselves anxious and having panic attacks.  Depression is also not uncommon. This is just for the woman who has no diagnosed mental problems.

For someone who has already been diagnosed with a mental illness, pregnancy causes the same symptoms but at a much higher level. The mood swings can be severe. The depression can be exceedingly low. The levels of anxiety can be off the charts.

While this can occur during pregnancy, mental illness can intensify after the birth is over. This can be the most dangerous time for woman and the baby.

Symptoms of a Big Problem

There are some symptoms that you need to be aware of and report to your doctor if they persist.

• Do you feel sad and as though there is no hope left and life?
• Are you finding that you can’t sleep well or not it all?
• Do you find that your favorite activities can’t interest you anymore?
• Have you noticed a change in your appetite that is quite abnormal for you?
• Are you finding yourself preferring to be alone and not around other people?
• Do you find yourself crying for no reason at all and have trouble stopping?

If the majority of the answers to these questions are yes, you might be suffering from clinical depression. This is not something that you just attribute to hormones. This is severe. You need to talk to your doctor about this so that treatment can begin immediately.

Treatment can include counseling or medication. Whichever one your doctor determines for you, you need to be aware of the importance to follow through with the treatment plan.

Postpartum depression is a very common occurrence in women. It is a condition which severe depression occurs after the birth of a child. It can show itself up to you after the birth. Anyone can develop postpartum depression. There are no set criteria to determine who will or will not develop it. All women who have just given birth should go through preventive measures.

Preventive Measures

It is important to note that anyone who has just had a baby can benefit from these preventive measures. These measures are not meant to replace professional help.  If you think you are suffering from postpartum depression, please seek professional help immediately.

For overall improved mental health for any new mother, here are a few things you can do.

1. Make a daily list of all the good things that happened. Nothing is too small for this list. Things like hearing the song from a bird or seeing a beautiful sunrise should not be neglected.
2. Make time to physically and mentally relax. Have someone take your baby for at least an hour a day and just chill. You can take a nap, watch TV, or take a walk. This is the time for you to wind down mentally and physically.
3. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. You might think you have to be a Wonder Mother, but no one is expecting that. You can’t do it all. You have to accept that fact and be willing to ask for help.
4. Have someone you can talk with. You can’t keep your feelings bottled up inside. This includes the frustrations of being a mother. That bundle of joy can be a pain sometimes. They keep you up at night. They speed up over your clean clothes. You need to have someone you feel comfortable with whom you can express these frustrations to. This will help you relax and have a healthy emotional and mental outlook.

Articles related to other pregnancy illnesses you might want to read more:

Epileptic and Pregnant, Don’t Be Scared and Worried!

Diabetes in Pregnant Women

The Dangers of High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

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