Depression in pregnant women can not only affect the mother, but the fetus as well. Some of the consequences that can occur as a result of depression during pregnancy include a failure to seek prenatal care, an improper diet, and an increased likelihood for using drugs, all of which have a negative effect on the growth and development of the fetus (1). It is more likely for a woman to experience depressive episodes during pregnancy if they have had a past depressive episode.
Women who have experienced depression in the past should consider talking to their physician about being screened for possible depression during their pregnancy so that appropriate measures can be taken towards treatment; for women who experience mild to moderate depression, cognitive behavioural therapy or psychotherapy can prove to be beneficial. However, if the depression is very severe and therapy will not suffice, antidepressants may be an option. There may be some stigma attached to whether or not a pregnant woman should be taking antidepressants, as there are many “perceived” dangers to the fetus, such as an increased susceptibility to cardiac defects (1), but the results of studies are often conflicting and inconclusive. Overall, there seems to be no definitive effects on taking antidepressants during pregnancy other than a slight increase in spontaneous abortions and premature births (2).
Depression that is left untreated during pregnancy not only affects the mother, but also the child even after it is born; it can lead to an increased probability of a miscarriage, and children of depressed mothers often have higher Cortisol levels, increased irritability, and fewer facial expressions than children without depressed mothers (1). These risk factors alone show that it is very important to address the issue of depression during pregnancy, for the health and well-being of the mother as well as the unborn child.
Sources:
(1) Stewart, D.E. 2011. Depression during Pregnancy. The New England Journal of Medicine, 365: 1605-1611. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1102730
<http://www.nejm.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp1102730#t=article>.
(2)
Lorenzo, L., Byers, B., and Einarson, A. Antidepressant use in pregnancy. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 10(6):883-889. doi: 10.1517/14740338.2011.583917
<http://informahealthcare.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/pdf/10.1517/14740338.2011.583917>.
Should the mother talk to their physician about getting screened for possible depression even if the mother has never had any form of depression before?
Although those who are most susceptible to depression during pregnancy are women who have previously had a depressive episode at any point in their life, it is always good to check with a doctor if the woman believes that she could be at-risk of developing depression (i.e. a family history of depression) either during or after pregnancy.
Great question! Thanks for reading 🙂