Antenatal Depression: Don’t Let It Get You Down
Post Natal Depression is one of those terms that has really gained awareness and notice in the last few decades and that’s super positive, encouraging news. It’s so essential that everything possible be done to support women post-birth and prevent “baby blues”.
The sad thing is that we don’t hear much, if anything, about Antenatal depression.
What is it? How common is it? What can we do to help?
What Is Antenatal Depression?
The term “antenatal” means during pregnancy. Depression, stress, distress throughout pregnancy is incredibly common. In fact, PANDA says that one in five expecting mothers experience antenatal anxiety or depression, and one in twenty dads experiencing antenatal depression and many more experiencing anxiety. Those are crazy high numbers, when you think about it.
What’s worse is that there can sometimes be a stigma associated with negative feelings and comments like, “You wanted to be pregnant so badly, what are you complaining about?”
What to Look For?
There are a myriad of symptoms that fall under the banner of Antenatal Depression and stress. These can be anything from mood swings and anxiety to panic attacks and withdrawal from family and/or friends. There may also be continuous worry that there is something wrong with the baby.
What Can You Do?
It’s so incredibly important to seek help if you or a pregnant friend start to spiral down during pregnancy. It’s also incredibly important to manage or minimise your stress levels wherever possible.
Here are some important things to remember about why reducing your stress levels is helpful during pregnancy.
Keeping emotionally healthy will help the baby to grow to full size and be delivered around its due date
Towards the end of pregnancy stress reduction is paramount to initiating and continuing with a smooth labour
This can be explained by looking at the relationship between the hormones Oxytocin and Adrenaline
Oxytocin is an extremely important hormone in Pregnancy. Receptor cells that allow your body to respond to oxytocin increase gradually in pregnancy and then increase a lot during labor
When we are feeling stressed we produce Adrenaline. Adrenalin is the ‘Fight or Flight’ hormone that tells our body that we are in trouble. It’s an extremely important hormones towards the end of labour but in the weeks up to labour and in early labour it can be detrimental as it inhibits the body’s natural oxytocin availability
The body perceives it is not in a safe place and will not allow the birthing process to continue smoothly until the women is feeling safe and calm
How can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture is great at reducing stress. It can switch off that ‘Fight or Flight’ mode and activate the ‘Rest and Digest’ state.
Acupuncture done by a trained and nationally registered Acupuncturist (such as us!) is safe throughout pregnancy, very well tolerated and enjoyable!
A recent study conducted at two antenatal clinics in South West Sydney in 2020 looked at how Acupuncture can help reduce stress, depression and distress in pregnancy. The participants were between 24- 31 weeks pregnant and were divided into three groups. One group had Acupuncture + routine care, one had muscle relaxation therapy and routine care and the other had routine care only. The participants in the Acupuncture group were given an individually tailored treatment and were seen weekly for 8 weeks.
The results of the study showed that the pregnant ladies in the Acupuncture group had an improvement in their mental state and psychological wellbeing.
I Want To Prepare My Body for Labour Too!
At the same time as relaxing your mind Acupuncture can also help to relax your body. In the second trimester this might mean helping with your hip pain or carpal tunnel. In the third trimester the legs might be tired and the lower back starting to ache. And as women approach birth acupuncture points to prepare the cervix and hips for childbirth and encourage baby into an optimal position are used.
Often we see women weekly in their first trimester and then fortnightly or monthly until they are 34-36 weeks pregnant when we like to see them weekly again up until labour.
Please though, if you are pregnant and struggling emotionally don’t hesitate to come more frequently throughout any stage of your pregnancy.
The PANDA (perinatal anxiety and depression) hotline number is 1300 726 306. The website has great resources too.
Know someone who would benefit from this info? Please feel free to share it with them. We’re so keen for awareness to increase!