Your mental health is an important aspect of your overall health during and after pregnancy.
We are here to support and help you as we would with any other health related concerns. Especially, when having a baby and all of the life changes that comes with it. These can be stressful and can affect your health and the health of your baby.
Understanding Depression
Depression is an illness that affects the way you think and feel. One in seven women experience depression during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. Even though the exact cause is still unknown, changes in hormones, brain chemistry and genes are believed to play a role.
You may be thinking: “Why am I feeling so anxious and sad?” This can be depression or anxiety related to having a baby. Getting help is the best thing you can do for you and your baby. Talking to your health care provider is the first step toward feeling better. There are many ways to treat depression.
Call your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of the following for 2 weeks or more:
- Crying for no clear reason
- Having trouble sleeping, eating, and making choices
- Questioning whether you can handle caring for a baby
- Having intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness
- Not being able to do your daily tasks
- Feeling ashamed or guilty
At Gyn Ob Associates of Fall River, we offer support and resources for moms experiencing emotional changes like depression during pregnancy and after birth. Your health care provider may ask you about how you are feeling. We will be using a questionnaire to get a better sense of how you are doing. We also suggest you talk to your health care provider about your emotional well-being.
MCPAP for Mom’s also offers additional resources for Mom’s in Massachusetts. Talk to your provider today if you would like help utilizing these services. Please visit www.mcpapformoms.org and click the “For Mothers and Families” tab to learn more about
- Support groups for moms.
- Resources for women who are pregnant or just had a baby.
- Tip sheets for talking with your healthcare provider about mental health concerns.
- Resources for fathers and partners.
- Supports for parents and families.
- Resources if you have lost a pregnancy or a baby.
- Phone numbers and on-line resources.