Perinatal/Prenatal Depression

While reading the text this week I really became absorbed with the issue of prenatal depression, mainly from my own experience. Frankly the issue is very frustrating because it simply isn't addressed or taken seriously. I didn’t know the rates of perinatal depression are nearly as high as postpartum depression and I don’t understand why the issue of prenatal depression is not addressed as fully as postpartum depression. I remember seeing ads and being given pamphlets and being talked to about postpartum depression, but next to nothing about prenatal depression. Not only that, even when women inform their doctors of the issue, it may not be addressed. I remember telling my doctor (not being asked) and him telling me that it was normal to be “a little down” when you were pregnant. Yet, to be frank, there was no, “little” to it. Apparently I am not the only one who has had this issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xM-fMSxXTQ <please watch this video>

Although that video talked about postnatal depression, it also included experts about prenatal depression which gives a more leveled picture of the issue, instead of just focusing on postpartum depression. It is important the people seek help because,
"Perinatal depression can have devastating consequences for the affected woman, her children, and family,15-18 and has been linked to poor childbirth outcomes such as preterm delivery and low birth weight19,20 and to detrimental effects on maternal sensitivity in the postpartum period," (Meltzer-Brody, 2011).

Thankfully, in my case, the depression lessened greatly a few months after the birth of my children, yet others are not so lucky. Either way though, it is important that women who seek help for mental health issues during (and after) pregnancy have their concerns fully addressed.

On a related not, paternal depression, as was discussed in the textbook, is also an issue that needs to be addressed more fully because, "prenatally depressed fathers also need to be identified and provided intervention to prevent the negative effects they may have on the mother's prenatal mood state and, in turn, the indirect effects on fetal development," (cite).

So, essentially my point of this is that prenatal depression is an issue that both women and men can face that should not be overlooked and it is an issue that more people need to know about. Alghouth people may make light of it, that it is "just hormones" or "baby blues" the truth is that it can have serious consequences on fetal and family health.

Refrences

Ascencio, A. Prenatal paternal depression. Infant Behavior and Development, 579-583. Retrieved June 18, 2014, from the Science Direct database.

Meltzer-Brody, S. New insights into perinatal depression: pathogenesis and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 13, 89-100. Retrieved June 18, 2014, from the NCBI database.

Image source from http://awordywoman.com/dealing-with-depression/

Here is some more information I found on the subject:

http://www.med.unc.edu/psych/wmd/mood-disorders/perinatal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-stir/prenatal-depression_b_1967991.html