Myths about pregnancy and postpartum

MYTHS ABOUT PREGNANCY AND MOODS:

MYTH: Every woman glows and feels happy when pregnant
TRUTH: We now think between 10-20 percent of women get depression or anxiety during pregnancy, to the degree it effects day to day functioning. Pregnancy does not “protect” women from mood or anxiety disorders.

MYTH: It’s just hormones-I’ll feel better once the baby is here.

TRUTH: Depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy is one of the greatest risk factors for mood problems once the baby is born. In other words, moms who have mood or anxiety problems when pregnant are most likely to worsen once the baby is born. Many women I see for mood or anxiety problems postpartum realize they started feeling bad during the pregnancy.

MYTH: You can’t take antidepressants when pregnant.
TRUTH: While there has been some controversial information about this, the experts in the field feel that taking medication during pregnancy needs to be considered carefully based on each woman’s situation and history. The risk from antidepressant medications seems to be very small. What we do now know is that it’s not good for the growing fetus to have a mom who is very depressed or anxious. When women stop antidepressant medication before getting pregnant or when they find out they are pregnant, between 50-75% experience depression or illness again, during the pregnancy.

The New England Journal of Medicine published an article in June 2007 on a new study about medications in early pregnancy. Here are the conclusions: "Maternal use of SSRIs during early pregnancy was not associated with significantly increased risks of congenital heart defects or of most other categories of birth defects. Associations were observed between SSRI use and three types of

birth defects, but the absolute risks were small, and these observations require confirmation by other studies." SSRI's are medications including Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Celexa and Lexipro. (see Medical Update page)

MYTHS ABOUT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION:
» Only poor women get it/only rich women get it
» Only bored women get it
» Only American’s get it

» Only weak women get it

TRUTH: Postpartum Depression is seen all over the world.

Different cultures and languages may describe it differently, but it happens to childbearing women of all ages, (although teens are at a higher risk) and is seen in all socioeconomic groups. In my practice, I’ve treated physicians, attorneys, rocket scientists, nurses, grocery checkers, physicists, UPS drivers, engineers, athletes, psychologists, and full-time moms. It doesn’t matter what you know, it can happen to anyone. Postpartum depression is the most common complication of pregnancy. It occurs in up to 1 out of every 5 women!

MYTH: Vitamins will treat it

TRUTH: Most postpartum women are already on prenatal vitamins. There is no evidence that vitamins cure or treat postpartum depression, unless there is an documented deficiency.

MYTH: Postpartum Depression will go away after a while without treatment
TRUTH: Not always! Postpartum depression, without treatment, often becomes chronic (it sticks around for a long time). It is not good for your brain to stay depressed-you are more likely to get future depressions. It’s bad for your children to have a depressed mom, and it’s very challenging for relationships.

When moms suffer, the whole family suffers.

With help, you will recover!