Your mental health during pregnancy

Expecting a bundle of joy is an exciting time for most parents-to-be. However with all of the ongoing changes during the months leading up to when the baby arrives, there are a few triggers that you want to monitor to ensure that your mental health is taken care of.

According to the World Health Organization, about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. In developing countries, these percentages are even higher.

Nicole Ripley, Director of Okanagan Clinical Counselling Services, says that new stressors from preparing for a baby can be challenging those who are expecting.

“Pregnancy creates physiological changes to our bodies which causes us to contemplate who we were, who we are becoming, and who we want to be,” says Ripley. “It can simply cause us to question whether we are strong enough, calm enough, or secure enough to be parents.”

Relationships and employment can also change during pregnancy, adding extra stress. Those with pre-existing mental health conditions may also experience issues that are re-triggered, as certain medications can not be taken while a baby is in utero.

Hormonal changes can also affect our brain chemistry during pregnancy, leading to possible depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ripley suggests to keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms, and to seek professional help if these reoccur.

• Excessive crying
• Consistent and overwhelming feelings of sadness or chronic worry (generally for longer then 2 weeks)
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Concerning changes in appetite or sleeping patterns
• Feeling overwhelmed and unable to concentrate
• Concerning loss of interest in activities you use to enjoy
• Lack of coping skills
• Repeated scary thoughts about your baby
• Feeling guilty or ashamed, concerns that will not be or are not a good parent
• Onset of panic attacks or develop obsessive or compulsive behaviours
• Mounting stress not relieved by anything
• Suicidal thoughts
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Substance abuse

Having some downtime and self-care is be important for optimal mental health. Ripley recommends taking the time to relax and not overbooking appointments or even social gatherings.

“Make sure that as much time as we put into preparing for our baby - we need to put at least half that amount of time into preparing ourselves too,” says Ripley. “Accept help if it is offered to you, and ask for help if you need it.”

We invite pregnancy experts and other moms-to-be to join in on the conversation! Reach out if you have topic suggestions for this column on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or email me at KelownaNow.