Pull Yourself Together

I doubt though that anyone who endures such serious depression in pregnancy ever fully recovers. But I believe as a loyal servant of Allah SWT, keeping the faith goes a long way to keeping sane and strong.

Pull yourself together. Oh how I wish it could have been that simple!

  Some of the risk factors that make women susceptible to distress during pregnancy are:

1. Conflicted pregnancies, e.g. unplanned, ill-timed;
2. “Emotionally charged” pregnancies, e.g. post-infertility pregnancies; Complicated pregnancies
3. Major stressful life events, e.g. bereavement, miscarriage, relocation, redundancy;
4. Negative socio-economic factors and stresses;
5. Lack of emotional support, especially from family and partner;
6. Previous depressive illness or psychiatric disorders.

What to do?

• Stay close to people who are supportive, sensitive and uncritical.
• Keep communication open and friendly with your partner – if needs be, have some marriage/couple counselling.
• Be well informed.
• Know that even the best birth-plan may not come to fruition; that it doesn’t mean you are a failure if things work out differently.
• Try not to make major changes to your life at this time – the baby will be enough of a challenge. Don’t move house, get a new pet, do major renovations etc.
• If you are feeling very anxious or depressed most of the time, don’t just tell yourself that it will go away, although it may. Talk to someone about it: your gynaecologist, childbirth educator, GP, your partner, mother or a trusted friend. We can also help you – PNDSA. (The Postnatal Depression Support Association). (Call: 082 882 0072)
• Know that 1 pregnant woman in 10 suffers from Ante-natal Depression. It is not her fault.
• Know that interventions for Ante-natal Depression will help avoid the debilitating, long-lasting negative effects of Postnatal Depression, that will impact adversely on the woman, her partner and also on her baby.

[ http://www.pndsa.co.za/anxiety_depression.htm ]

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