| At one time, doctors believed that the
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| | or PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder,
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| hormones associated with pregnancy were a
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| | a severe type of premenstrual syndrome or
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| good protection against depression. In
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| | PMS) is paramount among these, as a
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| more recent years, however, there has
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| | predisposition to the disorder can
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| been a growing body of evidence that
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| | increase the chance that pregnancy and
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| depression during pregnancy is a serious
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| | its attendant stresses will bring on an
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| problem, affecting 10-20% of all women -
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| | episode. Age at time of pregnancy is also
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| the same proportion that women as whole
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| | a factor -- the younger the woman is, the
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| suffer without adding pregnancy into the
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| | higher the risk of depression.
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| equation. With figures like that and with
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| | There are also environmental factors to
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| the added concern that depression can
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| | consider. If the woman is living alone,
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| factor into the health of the baby, it is
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| | without the support of a partner, and has
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| important to know something about how
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| | limited social support; if there are
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| depression and pregnancy are connected.
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| | already multiple children in the family,
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| First, it's important to recognize what
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| | or there is a history of marital conflict
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| depression is and what the symptoms are.
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| | and ambivalence about the pregnancy,
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| Depression is a mood disorder that may
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| | there is a greatly increased risk of a
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| have both biological and behavioral
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| | significant clinical depression.
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| roots. Although healthy women frequently
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| | If a pregnant woman believes that she is
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| experience some of the following symptoms
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| | experiencing depression, she should seek
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| during a pregnancy, depression is usually
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| | medical advice immediately. This is not a
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| diagnosed when the patient experiences
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| | condition that will simply go away;
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| three or more of the following symptoms
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| | treatment to avoid the serious
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| in the space of two weeks:
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| | consequences listed above is vital.
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| - A sense that nothing feels enjoyable
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| | Fortunately, there are many ways to treat
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| or fun anymore
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| | depression during pregnancy. One of the
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| - Feeling blue, sad, or "empty" for most
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| | most important is for the woman to take a
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| of the day, every day
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| | step back and realize that she may not
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| - Difficulty concentrating
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| | have to do everything she did before the
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| - Extreme irritability, agitation, or
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| | pregnancy. If a social network and
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| excessive crying
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| | supportive partner are available, much of
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| - Trouble sleeping or sleeping all the
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| | the self-imposed stress of trying to
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| time
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| | maintain a normal, pre-pregnancy routine
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| - Extreme or never-ending fatigue
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| | can be alleviated by doing less while
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| - A desire to eat all the time or not
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| | others take up the slack. If these
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| wanting to eat at all
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| | resources are not available,
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| If a woman experiences three or more of
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| | psychotherapy is an effective way to help
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| these, she may be suffering from clinical
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| | the patient get at root causes of
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| depression and should report the symptoms
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| | feelings of helplessness and low
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| to her doctor.
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| | self-worth, thus allowing her to cope
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| Depression is a serious disorder, and is
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| | better.
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| more than just having "the blues."
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| | Self care is critical - developing good
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| Untreated depression can interfere with a
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| | sleeping habits, regular diet and
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| woman's ability to care for her self
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| | exercise routines and the like are also
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| during pregnancy, and can push a woman to
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| | effective treatments. Medications are
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| neglect vital personal care, thus hurting
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| | also available, but as with any drugs
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| her unborn child. In extreme cases, the
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| | taken during pregnancy, there are risks
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| condition can also put her at risk for
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| | that must be considered. Some
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| suicide, and for abuse of substances such
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| | antidepressants have been associated with
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| as tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
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| | serious side effects for the baby; any
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| Depression may also interfere with the
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| | use of these drugs should be discussed
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| ability to bond with the child, and can
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| | carefully with a trained doctor so that
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| also increase the risk for having an
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| | risks are balanced against the benefits.
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| episode of depression after delivery
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| | Keeping in mind that depression is a
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| (postpartum depression). In addition,
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| | serious illness; there are times when the
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| recent studies have shown the possibility
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| | benefits of treating a depressive episode
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| of links between depression in the mother
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| | with drugs outweigh the possible
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| and such serious conditions as premature
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| | downside.
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| delivery, low birth weight, spontaneous
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| | As with any medical condition that occurs
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| miscarriage, and gestational
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| | during a pregnancy, depression requires a
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| hypertension, or preeclampsia.
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| | skilled diagnosis and treatment by a
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| Doctors feel that there are several major
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| | trusted specialist. Women who are at risk
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| causes which can contribute to a
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| | for depression or who are experiencing
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| depression during pregnancy. Having an
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| | the symptoms owe it to themselves to
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| existing history of clinical depression
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| | address the problem as soon as possible.
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