There's a general unhealthy expectation on all women to bloom during pregnancy. Now of course many women enjoy their pregnancies and maintain good mental health, but unfortunately pregnancy does not protect or stop women from developing mental health problems.
In fact for some woman because it can be a time of significant change and transition and emotionally physically and also within family dynamics, pregnancy can be a particularly stressful period. So depression and anxiety are actually a lot more common than people think.
10 to 15 out of every 100 pregnant women will suffer from depression. Anxiety disorders are equally common and there's often an overlap between the two. There are other more severe forms of illnesses like postpartum psychosis but thankfully they are much rarer occurring in about one to two out of a thousand.
Answered: Dr. Mas Mohammed, Perinatal, Psychiatrist
What Prenatal Tests or Investigations Are Available?
If My Pregnancy is High Risk How Does It Affect My Care?
What Treatments Are Available for Depression During Pregnancy?
Concerning Mental Health Problems During Pregnancy, What Signs Should I Look For?
Did you know?
Nine out of ten women experience a change in skin tone during pregnancy, called hyperpigmentation. This is because the body increases its production of melanin during pregnancy.
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