by: Craig Smith

Depression during pregnancy is a serious problem, affecting 10-20% of all women. With figures like that and with the added concern that depression can factor into the health of the baby, it is important to know something about how depression and pregnancy are connected.

It’s important to recognize what depression is and what the symptoms are.Depression is usually diagnosed when the patient experiences three or more of the following symptoms in the space of two weeks:

·         A sense that nothing feels enjoyable or fun anymore

·         Feeling blue, sad, or “empty” for most of the day, every day

·         Difficulty concentrating

·         Extreme irritability, agitation, or excessive crying

·         Trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time

·         Extreme or never-ending fatigue

·         A desire to eat all the time or not wanting to eat at all.

If a woman experiences three or more of these, she may be suffering from clinical depression and should report the symptoms to her doctor.