Pregnancy and childbirth are special times in the lives of many women. But sometimes, instead of being excited, joyful and in the brink of good health, you can find yourself struggling to cope with depression.
Research has suggested that antenatal depression, or depression during pregnancy, may be even more common than postnatal depression. Locally, about one in five pregnant women is likely to have significant depressive symptoms associated with impairment of functioning, and about one in ten will have clinical depression - that is, depression requiring medical attention.
We also now understand that antenatal depression often marks the onset of depressive illness in women and increases the risk of postnatal depression.
It is often an interplay of various factors that led to the onset of depression during pregnancy. As a pregnant woman, you will need to undergo a significant psychological adjustment as you adapt to the pregnancy and the notion that you will be nurturing a new life that you are fully responsible for.
If this is your first baby, the adjustment can be more challenging, especially:
Other factors that may contribute to antenatal depression include:
The same factors that contribute to depression at any other time in a woman’s life will similarly affect her during her pregnancy:
Lastly, if this is a precious pregnancy, or you have had difficulty conceiving or previous miscarriage, there is also an increased risk of depression.
KK Women's and Children's Hospital