Taking Care of Yourself During Pregnancy

Taking care of yourself during pregnancy and depression (and the baby blues!) is one of the most critical things your can do for yourself and your newborn baby. Not only for the obvious reasons, but also for the not-so-obvious. If you are constantly down and depressed, your body will start to show some serious signs of quick aging. One of the most important thing in pregnancy and depression is to focus on the positives. You are about to have a brand new baby and your life is going to change in a good way! This is a very positive thing.

A lot of doctors say that pregnancy and depression go hand-in-hand. Pregnancy is a time for body aches, weird cravings, mood swings, and of course massive amounts of swelling. Tiredness, problems sleeping, stronger emotional reactions, and changes in body weight will more than likely occur during and after pregnancy.

Pregnancy depression can be mild, moderate, or severe. Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called perinatal depression. Pregnancy can be a beautiful thing, and women have a right to enjoy their pregnancy. Depression is not something that has to be handled alone. The exact number of women with depression during this time is unknown, but researchers believe that depression is one of the most common pregnancy complications, both during and after pregnancy. Pregnancy and Depression: There may be a number of reasons why a woman gets depressed (baby blues). Their body is rapidly changing from that size (you fill in the blanks), their body aches all the time, they are afraid of what their life will be like, they feel that they are sacrificing a lot just to be a parent. All these feelings are valid, and know that every woman has experienced these feelings at one time or another. It's completely normal. The dangers of pregnancy depression can be avoided if you know what to do. Pregnancy and depression certainly cannot always be avoided, but seeing them as inevitable is not a healthy attitude either. Yes, you will inevitably feel everything I listed above, but it's not inevitable that you WILL have pregnancy depression. You'll certainly have the baby blues, though! Simple things like taking a walk, saying daily affirmations, doing your hair and/or make-up, or even praying can help out with pregnancy and depression. Pregnancy and depression can be a serious problem, but it is only a temporary one. There are, however, many medically effective treatments for pregnancy and depression. Nonetheless, a little bit of pregnancy and depression (and the baby blues) can not be entirely avoided. One of the most important factors in curing depression is having people who care about you and can take care of you. This can greatly aid with pregnancy and depression, as well as other pregnancy issues. Have your spouse massage your belly, or rub lotion on your feet. Make them do it! Having some signs of depression, such as restlessness or irritability, doesn't mean that you are depressed. It means that you are pregnant.

Pregnant women can use meditation, yoga, gentle exercise, and a healthy diet to decrease the risk of depression. Pregnancy headaches are common in pregnant women, and of course can contribute to the ever so lovely baby blues, especially those in their first or third trimester.

With pregnancy weight gain, changing hormones in the body, the stresses and expectations of having a baby, and of course the anxiety over whether it will all go okay, it is not surprising that pregnant women are often depressed. Therefore smile and cheer up and look forward to holding your tiny baby in your arms soon. It is always advisable to stay healthy and provide the right environment for your baby in the womb, when you are pregnant, to avoid any bad situations. Taking care of yourself during pregnancy and depression (and the baby blues) is extremely important. Pregnancy and depression (and the baby blues) are a very real thing, but again, with the right mentality (and if needed, the right help) you will be well on your way to being that fabulous mother you always knew you would be!