Best answer:

Answer by Sunny
Pregnancy is a time of great joy and anticipation. Many mothers-to-be, especially first time moms, wonder about the upcoming addition to their family. She may worry about whether she will be a good mother, whether the baby will be healthy, whether the pregnancy will be normal. For most, these questions do not cause undue concern, but for mothers-to-be who have anxiety disorder, these questions, along with hormonal fluctuations, can create and increase anxiety symptoms.

Interestingly, women with panic attacks often experience a decrease in panic symptoms during pregnancy. The hormones oxytocin and prolactin are manufactured during pregnancy and can contribute to the lessening of panic disorder symptoms. According to anxietycure.org, 40% of women with anxiety experience a lessening of anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.

Women with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may see an increase in symptoms during pregnancy. It is thought that the increase of androgen hormones during pregnancy may be the cause of increasing symptoms of OCD.

Hormonal changes are gradual during pregnancy and therefore, anxiety symptoms can either increase or decrease over several months. However, once the pregnancy is completed, hormone levels significantly decrease immediately. This is the cause of both postpartum depression and increased anxiety symptoms.

The good news is that anxiety medications are relatively safe to both the mother and the baby. Women experiencing anxiety symptoms should discuss the possibility of medication with their doctor.

Taking time during pregnancy to do activities you find relaxing and enjoyable can also help. Exercise has also been found to help reduce symptoms of anxiety, however, you should talk with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Other treatments for anxiety, such as therapy and self help strategies including deep breathing or meditation can be helpful in relieving symptoms during pregnancy.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Pregnancy is a natural process involving changes in a woman’s body. Most women have uncomplicated pregnancies and their daily routines may not change until the last few weeks before delivery. Other women have difficult pregnancies that change their daily lives right from the start.

Most women experience emotional shifts and mood swings. It’s natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Keeping a online pregnancy journal can help you keep track of your emotions. Plus, it will serve as a wonderful keepsake of your pregnancy in the years to come.

As soon as you think you might be pregnant, you should visit a pregnancy help center or clinic right away for a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant it is important to learn more about what to expect from pregnancy and how to care for yourself and your growing baby. If you smoke or drink, you should stop immediately — tobacco and alcohol can harm your unborn child. Certain medications can also harm your child. [More about prenatal risks.]

Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks, or 9 months. That time is divided into three periods called trimesters (three-month intervals), during which different things happen to your body and to the baby. Below is a list of some of the normal things a pregnant woman may experience during each trimester. The changes described here may happen earlier or later than they appear on this list, and some may continue throughout the pregnancy.

? DID YOU KNOW… Pregnancy is counted from the first day of a woman’s last period. This means that at conception, the unborn child is already considered two weeks old!
The First Trimester
(Week 1 – Week 12)
six week embryo
Six Weeks: By twenty-one days after fertilization, the embryo’s tiny heart has begun beating.

More about the First Trimester

* Your period stops or becomes very light.
* You may feel nausea or queasiness. Some women vomit. (“Morning sickness” can happen any time of day — it may help to eat small meals throughout the day, snack on crackers or toast, or drink juice or lemonade.)
* Your breasts swell and may be tender.
* Your nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) get darker and broader.
* You have to urinate more often.
* You feel tired.
* You may become constipated and have heartburn (Tums may help).
* You may have headaches.
* You experience mood swings — feel angry, sad, or happy for no reason.

! WARNING: Although most pregnancies are uncomplicated, dangerous situations can develop. If you experience a sharp pain on the side in early pregnancy, or bleeding and/or cramping at anytime during pregnancy, call your doctor immediately!
The Second Trimester
(Week 13 – Week 26)
18 week fetus
Eighteen Weeks: By this time eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

More about the Second Trimester

* You gain weight.
* You can feel the fetus moving.
* The skin on your stomach stretches and may get dry. (Use lotion to lessen the chance of stretch marks.)
* Your breasts get bigger. It helps to wear a supportive bra.
* A small amount of thin fluid (called colostrum) may come out of your nipples.
* You may experience ongoing heartburn, indigestion, and constipation.
* You may get nosebleeds.
* Your feet, hands, ankles and face may swell (this is called edema).
* A dark line develops on your skin between your navel and your pubic area.
* A “mask” or darker area or pigmentation may develop on your face. (It disappears after the pregnancy ends.)
* You may begin to develop varicose veins. Varicose vein relief is available if you are suffering.

The Third Trimester
(Week 27 – 40)
24 week fetus

Twenty-four Weeks: Seen here at six months, the unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy substance called vernix. The fetus still has much growing to do, but some babies could survive if born this early.

More about the Third Trimester

* You can see the fetus move from the outside.
* Your navel pushes out.
* You begin to get backaches.
* You begin to walk differently to accommodate the weight of the fetus.
* You experience painless “practice” contractions.
* You have shortness of breath.
* Finally, labor and delivery!

In our pregnancy forum you can get more information about pregnancy symptoms.
Epigee Links

* Online Pregnancy Test
* Calculate Your Due Date
* Crisis Pregnancy Help

Pregnant and need some advice? Chat with other new moms in our online forum.

Get your family and friends involved in your pregnancy by creating a baby pool at PregPool.com.

Dangerous Diseases

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Missed Menstrual Period:

Most important symptom of pregnancy. A missed menstrual cycle is a first sign of pregnancy. This is first indication of conception being occurred.

Morning Sickness:

This is the most common symptoms faced by most of the pregnant women. Most women said that they experienced nausea first then any other symptoms that can be even two weeks before an expected monthly cycle. You feel like eating crackers in bed. Eat smaller meals instead of larger meals, this can help with nausea.

Tender Breast:

Tender swollen breast, even enlarged breast is symptom of pregnancy. Though tender breast is sign of impending sign of menstrual cycle, enlarged breast is the sign with pregnancy. You feel the breast to be sore and swollen, and have a tingling sensation; these are good symptoms of pregnancy. As pregnancy progress areolas will darken and swell.

Fatigue:

Getting tired easily and feeling of fatigue is the indicator of pregnancy, with other symptoms present. Taking nap can help pregnant woman during normal daily activities.

Frequent Urination:

After conception, between six to eight weeks out, there is increase urge for urination which is also a good symptom of pregnancy.

Mood swings:

This is the one, where others have to take the blunt of your pregnancy. Your fatigue and tiredness makes you go crazy at times, feelings of euphoria followed by depression or sadness such emotional changes are experienced.

Implantation bleeding:

Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine wall; this process occurs 6-12 days after conception and may be accompanied by light spotting and cramps.

Pregnancy Headaches:

Headaches, that is tolerable, an early pregnancy symptom. If occur take quick nap and avoid taking pain killers but if Preeclampsia or toxemia is happening with headache then this can be dangerous to a pregnant woman. If you are pregnant and you have this symptom, be sure to go to your health care provider immediately.

Light Headedness:

This is can be light headedness or even actual fainting.

Constipation:

This is experienced, because of hormonal changes affecting the digestive system. Its better to drink loads of water and even exercising can help.

Some early symptoms of pregnancy do begin even before a missed period. These symptoms include flu like symptoms, fatigue, headache, implantation bleeding, mood swings, nausea, and changes in your breasts, frequent urination, and odd food cravings. As some of these symptoms mimic pre-menstrual symptoms, don’t get confused and as these symptoms can occur a few days after conception occurs. So it’s better to get yourself a pregnancy test done, for you to confirm your pregnancy as early as possible so that you can begin your prenatal care. The early prenatal care is most important to the health of your baby and also for yourself during the time of pregnancy. As you begin to notice any early Pregnancy symptoms, take a test as soon as you can and have the test confirmed by your physician. Remember to stay relaxed during pregnancy, and try to keep your stress levels down.

Depression symptoms in women is extremely typical. In fact, women tend to be twice as prone to create clinical depression as males. So that as many as 25% will probably experience a chapter of major depression at a point in their lifetimes.

What’s depressive disorders?

Depression is a serious as well as pervasive mood condition. This causes feelings associated with sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Depression could be moderate to moderate with symptoms of apathy, small urge for food, trouble sleeping, low self-esteem, as well as low-grade fatigue. Or even it can be main depressive disorders along with symptoms of depressed feeling the majority of the day, reduced interest in daily activities, weight loss or even gain, insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping), exhaustion, emotions of guilt just about every day, and recurring ideas of passing away or even committing suicide.

What are the the signs of depression in women?

Symptoms of depressive disorders in women consist of:

* continual unfortunate, nervous, or even “empty” feeling
* loss of interest or pleasure in actions, such as sex
* uneasyness, becoming easily irritated, or excessive sobbing
* emotions associated with guilt, worthlessness, vulnerability, hopelessness, pessimism
* resting an excessive amount of or not enough, early-morning awakening
* appetite and/or weight reduction or eating too much as well as putting on weight
* reduced power, exhaustion, feeling “slowed down”
* thoughts associated with passing away or committing suicide, or committing suicide efforts
* difficulty concentrating, recalling, or even producing choices
* persistent bodily signs and symptoms that don’t respond to treatment, for example head aches, digestive disorders, and persistent pain

Do you know the symptoms of mania in women?

Mania is really a highly raised mood which occasionally happens along with bpd. Moods within bipolar disorder golf swing from the levels of depressive disorders to the highs associated with mania. Despite the fact that mania is definitely an raised feeling, it’s severe and requires medical assessment and treatment.

The actual the signs of mania consist of:

* abnormally raised feeling
* becoming easily irritated
* decreased need for rest
* grandiose ideas
* greatly increased speaking
* rushing ideas
* increased activity, including sexual activity
* markedly increased energy
* bad judgment leading to risk-taking behavior
* improper social behavior

Exactly why is depressive disorders in women more common compared to depressive disorders in men?

Prior to adolescence, the rate of depressive disorders is about the same in girls and boys. Nevertheless, with the oncoming of puberty, a girl’s risk of creating depression increases significantly in order to two times those of kids.

Specialists believe that the increased possibility of depressive disorders in females might be associated with changes in hormone levels which happen throughout a woman’s existence. These modifications are evident throughout puberty, pregnancy, and the menopause in addition to after giving birth, having a hysterectomy, or going through a miscarriage. Additionally, the actual endocrine fluctuations that happen along with every month’s menstrual cycle probably bring about premenstrual syndrome, or even PMS, and premenstrual dysphoric condition, or PMDD — a serious affliction marked particularly by depressive disorders, anxiety, cyclical mood changes, as well as lethargy.

One of the early pregnancy symptoms are fainting or the feeling of dizziness. Women at this time might feel light headed after walking few distance or while climbing stairs. This happens because the uterus walls swells compressing arteries of the legs which ultimately cause the blood sugar level to drop.

Extreme fatigue, nausea, mood swing and flu like symptoms are also sign of pregnancy.  Early in their pregnancy women feel extremely exhausted which can be followed by the feeling of vomiting or queasiness known as morning sickness but many women might experience it in evening or night. Frequent urination which is due to the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone is produced by the developing embryo is also a sign of pregnancy. Mood swings are quite severe during pregnancy and is similar to what a women experiences as pre menstrual syndrome.

Pregnancy symptoms include altered sense of taste.  An equally common symptom is loathing towards a particular food. One might even develop a strong dislike against a past food craving. These are not sure sign of pregnancy and one must not rely on them totally. This happens mostly due to the estrogen hormone present in women’s body.

Several hormonal changes in the body can bring about digestive problem during pregnancy. The hormone produced in the body at this time slows down bowel movement to absorb as much as essential nutrient in the body. It is advised by the doctors to take smaller but frequent meals. Slower emptying of stomach may also cause acidity leading to heartburn.

Early pregnancy symptoms show breast tenderness and swollenness. Since women breast plays an important role after childbirth, the body prepares itself for breastfeeding. Nipples might be much more sensitive and the skin around the nipple known as areola darkens.

Some other physical changes are back pain, cramps and high body temperature. Lower back pain can be due to several reasons .Firstly it can be because of the weights gain during pregnancy. Secondly it can be lack of proper sleep during night since the womb keeps pulling on the muscle making one feel uncomfortable while sleeping. It is best advised to use maternity pillow during pregnancy.

A less known fact for many is implantation bleeding .Implantation bleeding is caused by fertilized egg when it tries to implant itself in uterus.

Gaining weight is one of the unavoidable pregnancy symptoms. To make sure one is pregnant its best to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy test gives better result after at least two days of missed periods and its advised to take minimum two pregnancy tests.

It is of utmost importance for a woman to detect pregnancy as early as possible for prenatal care. It is healthy for both the mother and her baby.

Having a baby is one of the happiest moments in the life of a mother. It can be so thrilling and exciting to have a new baby enter your lives. But it can even be very challenging at times. A woman goes through a lot of changes at physical and emotional levels during pregnancy and child birth.

Such changes can cause a woman to feel sad, afraid, confused and anxious. For many women, such feelings go away after some time. When the feelings go away on their own after some time, it is reffered as ‘baby blues’.

However if feelings persist for a long time, or even get worse, then it would be labeled as pospartum depression. Below are a few signs and symptoms of pospartum depression. A woman may feel all or some of these symptoms.

If these symptoms do not go away or fade away soon then the woman may need medical attention to overcome the problem. It is not advised to neglect this problem for long.

Postpartum Depression Symptoms:

Feelings of restlessness
Feeling sad or feel like crying
Low energy levels, getting tired easily
Feeling irritable
Unable to sleep well
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Don’t feel like eating
Sometimes a woman may indulge in overeating
Lack of interest in the baby, or on the other hand, become overly worried about it
Unable to focus or remember things easily
Not deriving pleasure in anything, including  sex
Being too much worried about hurting the baby

These are some of the common postpartum depression symptoms. One woman may suffer from some of these symptoms while another may suffer from other symptoms from the above list.

PPD may affect women of any age, racial background etc. The exact causes of postpartum depression may not be exactly known. It could be due to hormonal changes in the woman’s body. Or it could be due to low thyroid levels which could happen after giving birth.

If you suffer from any of the above postpartum depression symptoms, no need to get unduly worried. This condition can be treated and cured. However, it is advised not to resort to medication (unless extremely necessary) for treatment of this condition as it could affect breast milk.

Few Tips to Deal with Postpartum Depression Symptoms:

Get good amount of rest.
Try to take a nap when the baby naps.
Talk to your family members.
If needed, consult a doctor.
Avoid spending a lot of time alone.

Best answer:

Answer by Live and let live
for goodness sake take a pregnancy test. if it is negative, talk to a dr. depression could be caused by different things. a dr needs to help you figure out the cause. not someone online. there is no price you can put on your health. don’t play around get help

Add your own answer in the comments!

Learn about the pregnancy symptoms you’ll experience at the beginning, middle, and end of when you’re pregnant. Watch more pregnancy videos: Pregnancy.Healthguru.com

Whether you want a baby, or you aren’t ready to be pregnant, waiting for the early signs of pregnancy can be stressful. For more information visit: Pregnancy.Healthguru.com

Symptoms to look for:

* Sudden and excessive weight loss, or weight gain.
* Depression symptoms often manifest with obvious negative changes in mood or attitude.
* Sufferers will often become anti-social and detach from friends and family.
* Being tired for no reason all the time (I.e., you haven’t done anything taxing, but still don’t feel like being active.)
* Lack of self worth such as: hopelessness, feelings of guilt, pessimism, or like you’re not wanted by friends and family.
* Having an intense desire to cry, but not being able.
* Hallucinations, delusions, thoughts of suicide.

Other Things to Consider

Depression symptoms at their worst typically plague people most of the day, every day, for at least two weeks. Some forms of depression will come and go through the course of our lives. Natural forms of depression include: coping with the loss of a loved one, mood-swings during pregnancy or menstruation, aging, etc. Some things we just can’t control and it’s quite natural that we’ll not feel well and need time to heal.

When depression symptoms linger, action has to be taken in the form of therapy, supplementation (natural or prescription), or getting out and doing more (social and/or physical activities.) For those of you out there who have a history of depression in your family, it’s important to recognize symptoms from their onset and treat them appropriately. Many people feel they have to live with this disorder, when there is often very simple steps each of us can take to prevent anxiety from taking over our lives.

The exact causes of postpartum depression are unknown,but rapid hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy and delivery may trigger depression. Levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol fall dramatically within 48 hours after delivery. Women who go on to develop postpartum depression may be more sensitive to these hormonal changes. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that describes a range of physical and emotional changes that many mothers can have after having a baby.

After Pregnancy

Depression after pregnancy is called postpartum depression or peripartum depression. After pregnancy, hormonal changes in a woman’s body may trigger symptoms of depression. During pregnancy, the amount of two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in a woman’s body increases greatly. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, the amount of these hormones rapidly drops back down to their normal non-pregnant levels. Researchers think the fast change in hormone levels may lead to depression, just as smaller changes in hormones can affect a woman’s moods before she gets her menstrual period.

Marital/Self-esteem Causes

Marital dissatisfaction is not only a risk factor but may also be a cause for PPD. Mothers who are closer to their spouses/partners are less likely to develop PPD. Some research shows that receiving a daily massage from their partner dramatically reduced the incidence of PPD for some mothers. So clearly a poor marital relationship can play a role in PPD, while a good marital relationship appears to reduce PPD symptoms.

Symptoms

If any of the following symptoms endure for more than two weeks after childbirth, women should seek medical attention:

Feelings of anxiety, guilt, sadness, worthlessness, restlessness or irritability

Sleep disturbances

Lack of interest in social or other activities you previously enjoyed

Lack of feeling or feelings of resentment, anger or fear about motherhood, your partner or your child

The symptoms can range from mild depression to a severe depression with thoughts of ending one’s life (suicide). The disorder should be suspected during its peak (four to six weeks after delivery) in a patient who demonstrates signs and symptoms of clinical depression (feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, irritability, difficulty with motivation, and difficulty getting out of bed in the morning). Additionally, patients may be emotionally detached from the infant and unable to display loving affection towards family members.

Treatment

Psychotherapy for the woman and her family can be very helpful in enhancing coping skills, educating them on caring for a newborn, and providing support. SSRIs are secreted into breast milk, however, in varying amounts. Some studies indicate that paroxetine secretes the least amount of medication into breast milk. Breast-feeding women considering taking an antidepressant should discuss medication choices with their doctor. SSRIs can be given two to three weeks before delivery to patients who had a previous episode to avoid recurrence. Some SSRIs include: fluoxetine(Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline(Zoloft), and citalopram(Celexa).

Medical Treatment

Treatment for postpartum depression depends on the form and how severe it is.

Your health care provider may refer you for psychological help and individual or group therapy.

Support groups are helpful.

Marriage counseling may be part of your treatment plan.

It’s important for friends and family to understand the illness so they can help.

Gather the information about the depression symptoms according to the type of depression of an individual.

People suffering with depression and anxiety feel that they are in danger or bad things will happen to them or to their close ones. They become paranoid and live in constant fear. They develop negative thinking.

Apart from some of these common depression symptoms people suffering from depression can have dry mouth, fatigues and faint. Many a times they shiver, have a fast heart beat, muscle aces, sweat and usually have cold and moist hands.

People suffering with major depression could show up some of these types of depression symptoms such as low energy, low mood and also loss their interest in their favorite activities. They have trouble in sleeping like they can wake up early in the morning or wake up in night repeatedly. You can also observe that people suffering with major depression start feeling guilty, loss confidence and self-esteem. It is hard for them to concentrate on their work and therefore their performance drops. They think about suicide or can attempt to do so.

Bipolar depression is another type of depression which could be defined as mood swing and fluctuation in mood of a person. Bipolar depression has two phases one is manic and other one is depressive disorder. Both of these phases have different symptoms. Each one have its own symptoms and signs such as a person suffering from manic can show symptoms like he has increased energy, becomes aggressive and irritable, speaks faster than he used to, have increased sexual drive, restlessness, unable to stick to decisions and lose self-confidence.

Just as people suffering with depressive disorder have a feeling of hopeless and worthlessness, they either have over sleep or can face problems in sleep. They even become physically ill and lose interest in activities. They can even attempt suicide.

Most of the time women get depressed in pregnancy which is known as postpartum depression. It extends after depression also may be for a year after delivery. You can observe the depression symptoms like they lack in energy, loses appetite, a sudden increase or decrease in weight, continuous crying and anxiety and a lot of mood swing can also be noticed. They become paranoid about themselves and baby feeling someone will harm their baby or something bad will happen.

These are the depression symptoms according to the depression types in adults.

If you notice some of these symptoms in you, then you need a doctor or psychiatrist. They will help you to understand the situation and improve your thinking and behavior with the help of medication, psychotherapies, antidepressants, depression natural remedy and acupuncture.

The effect of maternal-fetal stress on depression is currently an exciting area of research. It seems that maternal stress during pregnancy can increase the chance that the child will be prone to depression as an adult, particularly if there is a genetic vulnerability. It is thought that the mother’s circulating stress hormones can influence the development of the fetus’ brain during pregnancy. This altered fetal brain development occurs in ways that predispose the child to the risk of depression as an adult. Further research is still necessary to clarify how this happens.

Symptoms of Depression

A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.

You may have physical aches and pains which appear to have no physical cause, such as back pain.

Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Harsh criticism of perceived faults and mistakes.

Problems sleeping, especially in the early morning, or wanting to sleep all of the time

You spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person. You may also feel guilty sometimes about being critical of others (or even thinking critically about them).

Feeling sad or “down” for a few days is not the same as exhibiting symptoms of depression. A clinical case of depression symptoms as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental.

Having a poor appetite, no interest in food and losing weight (though some people overeat and put on weight – ‘comfort eating’).

Thinking about suicide – this is very common. If you feel this way, talk to somebody about it. If you think somebody else might be thinking this way, ask them about it – IT WILL NOT MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

Significant changes in weight when not attempting to gain or lose (a gain or loss of 5% or more in a month) may be indicative of depression. In children, this may also present as a failure to make expected weight gains.

Causes of Depression

Biochemical: Some evidence from high-tech imaging studies indicates that people with depression have physical changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain but may eventually help pinpoint causes. The naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are linked to mood, also may play a role in depression. Hormonal imbalances also could be a culprit.

Depression can be linked to events in your life, such as the death of someone you love, a divorce or job loss. Taking certain medicines, abusing drugs or alcohol, or having other illnesses can also lead to depression. Depression isn’t caused by personal weakness, laziness or lack of willpower.

Certain environmental situations, such as stress or breakup of important attachments, also may precipitate depression, especially in vulnerable persons.

Genes. Some studies show that depression is more common in people whose biological family members also have the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.

If signs of depression are ruining what should be a happy and wonderful time in your life, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.  Help is available, and keeping yourself happy and mentally healthy is just as important to your baby as your physical well-being.

There are some major risk factors that may predispose a woman to depression.  When deciding when to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to avoid very stressful times in your life, such as financial problems, major life changes, and relationship issues.  These can all be risk factors for depression.  Other common risk factors in pregnant women are a history of infertility, previous miscarriages, and a history of depression prior to pregnancy.

From the time you experience the first signs of being pregnant, you may also see some signs of depression.  It can occur at any point in your pregnancy.  As hormones fluctuate throughout the three pregnancy stages, depression may come and go.

Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, extreme fatigue, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, long periods of crying, irritability or moodiness, and difficulty concentrating.  If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, it is possible you are suffering from pregnancy depression and not just normal pregnancy mood swings.

Remember, getting help is the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby.

Many women experience major mood shifts after childbirth, ranging from brief, mild baby blues to longer-lasting, deeper clinical depression, which is known as postpartum depression. Feelings of sadness and depression are more common after childbirth than many people may realize. It’s important for new mothers — and those who love them — to understand the symptoms of postpartum depression and to reach out to family, friends, and medical professionals for help.

Symptoms

Physical symptoms such as frequent headaches, chest pain, rapid heart beat, numbness, shakiness or dizziness, and mild shortness of breath suggest anxiety. Postpartum anxiety disorder is a separate disorder from postpartum depression, but the two often occur together.

A woman who has postpartum psychosis may feel cut off from her baby. She may see and hear things that aren’t there. Any woman who has postpartum depression can have fleeting thoughts of suicide or of harming her baby. But a woman with postpartum psychosis may feel like she has to act on these thoughts.

Causes

Postpartum depression is caused by changes in hormones and can run in families. Women with severe premenstrual syndrome are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression.

There may be a number of reasons why a woman gets depressed. Hormone changes or a stressful life event, such as a death in the family, can cause chemical changes in the brain that lead to depression. Depression is also an illness that runs in some families. Other times, it’s not clear what causes depression.

Experts agree there are no single cause but rather a combination of hormonal, biochemical, environmental, psychological, and genetic factors. Genetics may play the largest role in postpartum depression, as the single greatest risk factor for PPD is a personal history of depression.

When you’re sleep deprived and overwhelmed, you may have trouble handling even minor problems. You may be anxious about your ability to care for a newborn. You may feel less attractive or struggle with your sense of identity. You may feel that you’ve lost control over your life. Any of these factors can contribute to depression.

Treatment

Postpartum depression can be treated in several ways. Support groups may help. Some women go to therapy or counseling with a mental health professional. This professional may talk with the woman about the risks and benefits of antidepressant medications.

Always consult a psychiatrist or other mental health professional when depressive symptoms continue or worsen; when the new mother feels or expresses a wish to harm herself, or feels or expresses a fear that she will harm the child; or when she becomes suspicious or begins to act in an unusual, bizarre manner.

If bad moods, stress, and conflicts plague the pregnancy, try to head off the probable later depression by getting help before the baby is born. Be assertive; if a doctor does not take the symptoms seriously, get a second opinion.

I cannot explain why or how these symptoms are coming about. Could pregnancy be a possible issue? I have VERY irregular periods so I never know when or how long it’s coming. I had my last period starting on the 13th, and intercourse on the 20th and 27th. I was very careful and used condoms (none showed signs of tears). Could pregnancy even be possible with that small time frame? If so… when and how do you test? Or is it best to just wait out the whole month of april until I get a period? Could it be something else entirely?