How Common is Mental Health Challenges During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a high risk time for women both physically and mentally. Perinatal mental health encompasses the health and challenges of pregnancy and postpartum, frequently including depression and anxiety, but also bipolar disorders, PTSD, etc. The physiological changes that occur during pregnancy due to changing hormonal levels can cause changes in mood, even in patients that have no history of mental health challenges. Up to 1 in 5 women (20%) are affected by mental health issues during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the rates of postpartum depression continue to rise, more than doubling in the last 15 years. Besides hormonal changes, other factors contributing to depression include physical discomfort, concerns regarding childbirth, finances, parenting responsibilities. While many people may be aware of postpartum depression, depression leading up to and during pregnancy can be common as well, with 33.4% and 26.5% onset respectively.
Along with depression, anxiety and OCD are common during the peripartum period. 20% of women expxerience maternal anxiety disorders.
Why Does It Matter?
Mental health challenges can affect the infant both during and after pregnancy. Depression during pregnancy can cause preterm birth and babies with low birth weight. Chronic stress leads to increased maternal cortisol, which can increase the risk of maternal obesity, gestational diabetes and preeclampisa.
Postpartum, research has showed a variety of impact on infant development, including:
Cognitive & Language Delays: Infants may experience slowed language and general cognitive development, affecting intelligence and executive functioning.
Emotional & Behavioral Issues: Babies can exhibit increased crying, agitation, difficulty regulating emotions (negative affect), and later develop anxiety, hyperactivity, or internalizing/externalizing problems.
Attachment & Bonding: PPD interferes with secure mother-infant attachment, a crucial foundation for future emotional health.
Health & Feeding: Poor nutrition, feeding difficulties, and potential breastfeeding problems can arise, linked to the mother's depressive state.
Long-Term Risks: Untreated PPD increases risks for children developing psychiatric disorders (like depression, anxiety, conduct disorders), learning disabilities, and impaired social skills into adolescence.
The Importance of Mental Health Care
As mentioned in a previous post, mental health care during pregnancy is crucial for both the health of the mother and the infant. During pregnancy, depression can lead to preterm birth, lower birth weight, decreased head circumference. After delivery, postpartum depression affects development of the infant in ways.
Therefore it is important that mental health care begin prior to conception, especially in patients with risk factors, such as history of pregnancy loss or complications, high stress, history of abuse to name a few.