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Depression
Depression is something that is not often talked about, especially during pregnancy. For many women it is something they hide, chalking up their feelings to an increase in hormones. Society and the media don't help. Depression feels socially unacceptable and not normal.
Many women have a hard time realizing they are depressed. Maybe I'm just moody they tell themselves. Or they feel insecure bringing this up with their doctors. It makes them feel inadequate as a mom. Depression and anxiety are very common during and after pregnancy, so there is no need to feel alone. 85% of new moms experience the "baby blues". It is very important to be vocal about they way you are feeling, because your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
In fact, if you are not taking good care of your emotional health, physical problems can quickly come your way. Such as preterm labor and preeclampsia or other stress induced complications.
Are You At Risk?
There are a few different things you can do to check if you are at risk for developing depression in pregnancy.
Family History
First, investigate your personal and family history. If you know that you struggled with being depressed or suffered from anxiety, before you were pregnant, or your family members have a history of depression, you are definitely at higher risk. Those crazy moody days are something to talk about with your doctor.
Breakups
Change in relationships can definitely send you into the dumps in pregnancy. Nobody likes breakups, especially not a pregnant woman. If you have a sudden change in a relationship, whether it is a husband, boyfriend, mother, or friend, make sure you are constantly talking to someone about the way you are feeling. Find professional support, if possible. This is best for yourself and your baby.
Miscarriage
If this is not your first time being pregnant, and you have previously lost a baby, make sure you stay in tune with the way you're feeling. Being moody is one thing but having experienced loss will bring up fears and anxiety, so get support. Sometimes mothers do not realize that they have not fully grieved the loss of their previous child, which leaves them experiencing a lot of sadness and anxiety. Facing your fears can help with the right kind of support.
High Risk and Complications
Many women get this idea in their head that they are going to have the perfect pregnancy. Unfortunately when a complication arises, they feel out of control. The outcome is a lot of anxiety, which in turn can lead to being sad, unhappy, and even angry. They begin feeling moody and resentful that they have been put on bed rest. They are ready to get the baby out and get back the active life they are used to.
If you have pregnancy complications and have been feeling down because of this, make sure tell someone how you are feeling (especially your doctor). Keeping your emotional health strong will in turn help your complications to not get worse. Taking control of whatever you're able to will help-one small step at a time.
What Now?
Now that you are aware of how common it is to be depressed while pregnant, don't feel embarrassed. Don't hesitate to talk to your care provider and have her help you seek treatment. Keeping your emotional health strong is so vital for that growing fetus inside you. This can be a slippery slope if not treated promptly. Know you're not alone. So please don't wait.
PregnancyYou and your baby's safety and health come first. For your free "Healthy Birth Booklet-6 Steps to a Safer Birth" filled with six simple steps that support and guide your decisions before and during labor to have a safer and healthier birth, visit the link below. http://www.birthclassathome.com Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader should contact a licensed medical professional regarding their own condition.
Pregnancy: Dealing With Depression and Moodiness
PregnancyStudy Pregnancy Complications and Diet more
Pregnancy is a wonderful time for most women. It's a lot of fun to plan for a baby. Sure there are some discomforts, but most women find those manageable. Complications of pregnancy, however, can cause a lot of worry for women -- and even put mother and baby in danger. What causes complications? Is there a way to prevent many of them? There is a way to stop many complications in their tracks: eat a good pregnancy diet.
Pregnancy Creates Increased Nutritional Need
Your pregnancy is a time of increased nutritional needs. You may read magazine articles that say you shouldn't "eat for two" -- and it's true you're not supposed to be eating heaping double helpings at every meal. But these articles that state that the pregnant mother really doesn't need all that much more than a non-pregnant woman are wrong. You do. You're not only taking care of your body, but you're building a new person!
During pregnancy you must create a new baby from start to finish. This task takes an amazing amount of nutrients, from the "big" nutrients like protein and fat, down to the "smallest" nutrients like trace minerals and vitamins. Your baby needs it all. Your baby doesn't get big until later in pregnancy, but all of his or her major systems are built in the first trimester. You may not need as many calories for your baby as you will need later in pregnancy, but you still need high levels of nutrients.
As you move through pregnancy your body must change a lot to accommodate your baby. Your blood volume greatly increases and many of your organs move and shift. Of course, they're not just moving and shifting... many, like your kidneys and liver, are working hard to take care of not just your needs but those of your baby. All of these changes require nutritional support.
Poor Nutrition Means Things Fall Apart
As your body builds your baby and as it changes to help your baby's body function, you need increased nutrition. What happens if you don't get it? This is the point where pregnancy complications come in. Many doctors will tell you that if you're eating a "healthy" diet that complications will still sometimes "just happen." There are mothers who may have prior medical conditions that cause complications to occur. But most women will find that a great pregnancy diet helps them stay healthy.
Lack of protein and salt during pregnancy has been shown to dramatically increase a mother's risk of serious complications such as pre-eclampsia. A low-fat diet during pregnancy can cause other nutrients to be poorly absorbed or used wrongly (for instance, protein will be broken down for energy if there's not enough fat -- therefore depriving the baby of vital protein).
Eating the wrong foods during pregnancy will also cause complications. Mothers naturally become slightly insulin-resistant during pregnancy. Insulin helps your body deal with blood sugar. This natural resistance helps ensure the baby gets all nutrients he or she may need. But it means that if a mother overdoes it on lots of sweet foods or lots of carbohydrates of any kind she is far more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Low birth weight babies, preterm labor, and intra-uterine growth retardation are other problems that can often be linked to nutritional causes.
Eat the Right Foods
The key during pregnancy is not to "eat for two" by eating massive quantities of whatever you like. The key is to eat enough of the right foods to satisfy your own and your baby's nutritional requirements. If you're carrying multiples you'll need even more high-quality food.
Remove junk food and processed foods from your diet and switch to wholesome, nourishing foods. They don't have to be complicated to prepare. Your baby doesn't want gourmet fare. He or she just wants solid nutrients. Eat foods that have ample protein and fat; these are your baby's building blocks. Supplement those foods with vegetables and fruits to get the vitamins and minerals your baby needs.
Red meat and full-fat dairy are nutrient-packed foods. Eggs are also wonderful; in fact they are almost like nature's prenatal vitamin! Fatty fish like salmon will give your baby plenty of brain-building Omega 3 fatty acids (pastured beef is also very high in Omega 3's). Vegetables like avocados and olives are tasty and nourishing. Leafy green vegetables provide plenty of nutrition for your baby. Moderate carbohydrate intake is also fine for you and baby -- choose easy-to-digest foods you can add plenty of other nourishing ingredients to. Baked potatoes and stir-frys with rice are good examples.
These foods are nutritional powerhouses for you and your baby and will go a long way towards preventing major complications (and minor discomforts) of pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Complications and Diet
Read Before a Missed Period - Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy additional
Before a Missed Period - Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy
PregnancyWhen most women think about very early symptoms of pregnancy, they automatically assume that a missed period is the top symptom. Would you be surprised that a missed period isn't even in the top 5 very early symptoms of pregnancy?
By the time a woman has noticed a missed period due to a pregnancy, at least 5 other symptoms may have made themselves known, possibly weeks before the scheduled period.
Here are five very early signs of pregnancy that can be noticed by a sensitive mother-to-be. And, all five can happen long before a period has been missed.
Elevated Basal Body Temperature
The body's basal temperature (the lowest body temperature that happens during rest) begins to elevate after ovulation, and stays elevated beyond your next expected period. Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary and pushed down the fallopian tube and is ready to be fertilized by a sperm. The implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6 to 12 days after ovulation - that's about two to three weeks before the next period is missed.
This one-half to one degree Fahrenheit increase in basal body temperature is a subtle early warning sign of pregnancy. This change in basal body temperature, which is measured by a special, more accurate thermometer, can happen as early as two days after ovulation. And, that can be two weeks before you notice a missed period.
Breast Tenderness, Nipple Enlargement And Increased Breast Size
Changes and increased swelling and tenderness in the breast and nipples are one of the classic very early signs of pregnancy. Many times, a woman may notice these changes and blame them on a particularly ill-fitting or uncomfortable bra or other article of clothing. But, the sensitive woman will notice these changes for what they are - a new life is beginning to grow inside her with the new pregnancy.
Nipples, particularly the dark area around the nipple called the areola, enlarge and darken in anticipation of breastfeeding the new infant. These changes are due almost entirely to hormone releases in the body, all in anticipation of sustaining the new life within. Some experts say the darkening of the areolas serves a purpose - helping the newly born child find the nipple easier for feeding. These changes to the breast and nipple areas should return to normal after birth.
Nausea And Vomiting-
Also known as "morning sickness," this early and uncomfortable sign of pregnancy usually targets women and begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, but often occurs earlier. About half of all expecting mothers have morning sickness - which may or may not include vomiting. But, it usually always features nausea. Often attributed to increased hormone levels in the body, some doctors feel that morning sickness is a good sign that the baby is healthy and is developing normally, and the pregnancy is progressing well. If your morning sickness is accompanied with vomiting, be sure to stay hydrated, keep your electrolyte levels within range. and get plenty of rest and nap throughout the day.
Constipation
Another subtle and often overlooked pregnancy clue is constipation - defined as less that three bowel movements per week. Who doesn't get constipated at one time or another - without being pregnant?
The constantly changing level of the hormone progesterone, which slows down the movement of food through your digestive system, can wreak havoc with the frequency and timing of bowel movements. Many women who are pregnant but don't realize it may just write constipation off as an unrelated, and irritating issue. Like changes in the breasts, paying close attention here really can make tell a story.
Fatigue And Exhaustion
There is a big difference between fatigue and tiredness. Feeling tired and sleepy after a long day's work is completely normal and expected. Sleep, which usually happens after tiredness, is the remedy for a body needing rest, as sleep allows the body to repair itself and ready itself for another hard day.
Fatigue, on the other hand, is not a normal bodily function and is usually a sign of some other condition. Technically speaking, fatigue really has nothing to do with a tired body, as sleep will not normally resolve fatigue. Fatigue can be a sign of disease such as certain cancers, auto-immune disorders and a host of other conditions - including pregnancy.
Fatigue can also be a sure sign of an early pregnancy, usually occurring during the first trimester and often partially blamed on a dramatic rise in the level of the hormone progesterone. Pregnancy also can put a huge strain on every bodily function - it's no wonder that you may feel totally exhausted before the day is through.
Are you experiencing one or more of these very early symptoms of pregnancy? If you have even the slightest idea that you may be pregnant, get a home pregnancy test from your local drug store and test yourself. Then, you'll know for sure and if positive, you can then notify your doctor and start taking care of your new baby.
If you or someone you love is struggling to get pregnant, then READ THIS. It may be the most important information that can turn failure into success!