The Growing Baby Inside

I just really had to share this video I saw on youtube to you moms-to-be, future moms and already moms!

It really melts my heart! I bet you'll be in awe too! :P

I watched it several times, and it amazes me everytime! Enjoy watching! :)

Symptoms of Depression During Pregnancy

Aside from the Wedding day, Pregnancy's supposed to be one of the happiest times of a woman's life. But in reality, sometimes there is time of confusion, a place for fear, a feeling of sadness, a part of stress, a period of mood swings and even depression. After knowing the risk factors and possible triggers of depression during pregnancy, it is important to know the symptoms of this biological disease during pregnancy. Is it just light mood swings or depression?

There are a lot of signs and symptoms that you must be aware of especially when it takes longer than two weeks or more before settling which includes:

• Persistent sadness, feeling blue, sad or empty for most of the day that takes longer than mood swings does
• Difficulty concentrating (although pregnant's brain shrinks a little bit)
• Sleeping too little, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much even after the first trimester
• Loss of interest in activities that you usually enjoy and all you wanna do is lie down in bed or a sense that nothing is enjoyable or fun anymore
• thoughts of death, suicide, or hopelessness (pregnant tend to have weird dreams, and I mean WEIRD)
• Anxiety, extreme irritability, agitation and excessive crying
• Feelings of inappropriate guilt or feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness
• Change in eating habits, a desire to eat all the time or not eat at all
• Feeling extremely tired and always fatigue

Normally, healthy preggers experience fatigue and trouble sleeping but when they're combined with a sense of sadness, hopelessness or emptiness, it interfere with the ability to function and live like you used to. On my case, I think it's not extreme, maybe its just an ordinary everyday stress + pregnancy + mood swings = thought I had depression.

Then again, some may be confuse about depression and bipolar disorder. Remember, bipolar disorder is mood swings with cycles of depression or feeling low with periods of an abnormally high spirits like super energized, increased activity, little need to sleep or eat, racing thoughts, inappropriate social behavior, or poor judgment.

However, if you're experiencing panic attacks that includes frequent unnecessary concerns about your baby's health, a feeling that something bad might happen with heart pulsation, light-headed, sweaty palms and feet, breathlessness and or feeling that you might pass out or faint, you might be having anxiety.

And if you feel your unable to handle the situation anymore, you can't bear your responsibilities and/or having thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, it is important to seek help, call your OB, a close friend you could rely on or a family member. This will show that you're willing to accept help and take necessary actions to keep yourself and your little angel safe and healthy.

The key is "don't worry too much", women of all centuries get pregnant and turned out fine. Depression is one of the mood disorder that even non preggers experience in their lifetime at some point so it should not be a surprise if you're experiencing it now that you are pregnant. :) It can be treated and managed most especially during pregnancy but the first step which is the most relevant part of fighting this illness is to seek help and support.

Watch out for my next post as I tackle on how I avoid and lessen mood swing, anxiety and depression during this time of pregnancy. :)

Risk Factors and Possible Triggers of Depression During Pregnancy

Everyone including yourself expects you to be always happy and excited about the coming baby... Pregnancy is a time of great joy, excitement and cute things surrounds you like small socks that could make anyone giggles! But let's all face it, rapid increase of hormones and great changes to the body could disrupt brain chemistry and there are times when we feel down. I personally experience the sad/lonely mood and sometimes chocolates are not enough...

Antepartum depression, is a mood disorder just like clinical depression during pregnancy. Mood disorders are biological illnesses that involve changes in brain chemistry. Since hormone changes can affect brain chemicals during pregnancy, it is directly related to depression and anxiety.

I searched about it and learned that there are risk factors for depression during pregnancy especially if you have one or more of the following:

• History of Depression or anxiety. If it runs in the family, and if you struggle with this in the past, you are more likely to experience it again when you're expecting.
• Relationship Difficulties. Problems in marital relationship, couples not working out can lead a pregnant to depression. But the coming-soon-cute-little-bundle-of-joy may not be the solution to the couple's problem because the stress that comes in taking care of the baby may only add strain onto the relationship.
• Past history of abuse might also trigger depression during pregnancy, like emotional, sexual, physical, or verbal abuse. But hey, you survive girl, you still could this time. :)
• Failing on previous attempt to get pregnant for months or even years will tire you down and now that you're carrying one, you might still feel the emotional effects
• Previous pregnancy loss and miscarriages. Losing a baby in the past will make moms-to-be a little more worried than those who didn't experience such. Of course, the baby you lost is always treasured. Here is a dedication to your unborn.
• Health problems with your pregnancy. If your like me, who had a major heart surgery and blood infection, the complication and high-risk pregnancy can really make you down emotionally and physically. I'm not allowed travel much so I'm usually stuck at home bed resting. It's a good thing I work at home or else my financial status would hurt too. Although now, I work less than before.
• Everyday Stresses and Decision Making. Unplanned pregnancy, becoming a soon to be single-parent,being a young parent could depress you. Even the unexpected death of a friend or family as well as breaking up. Also the financial worries, job issues and decision-making whether to stay home after giving birth or work right away can trigger depression too.

Obviously on my case, my health sometimes stress me so much, I'm so worried for my little baby inheriting my health problems plus the fact that even non preggers stress about: financial status. :3