
Dealing with the Blues during Pregnancy
While most people have heard of postnatal depression, perinatal depression is less well known. Yet the blues can hit you even during pregnancy.
Be good to yourself. Taking care of yourself emotionally as well as physically should be your top priority at this time. Here are some suggestions that could help lift your mood:
1. Rest. Fatigue can intensify pregnancy mood swings.
2. Spend time outdoors. Being in nature has been proven to reduce stress and depression symptoms. Take a walk in the Botanic Gardens or plan a staycation in Sentosa.
3. Don’t overdo things. Do things one at a time, you don’t need to shop for baby, set up the nursery and tidy up the house all in one weekend.
4. Adopt a balanced diet. Avoid sugar, caffeine and processed foods and have regular snacks and meals to keep your blood sugar up.
5. Break a sweat. Regular aerobic exercise is known to be an effective antidepressant.
6. Spend time with family and friends. Have dinner with friends or cuddle with your partner.
7. Get emotional support. Don’t keep things to yourself. Discuss your worries and concerns with friends and family.
8. Build a support network. Look for support groups so you can talk to other pregnancy women in similar situations.
9. Speak to your doctor. If your mood swings spiral out of control leaving you unable to function normally, speak to your doctor about it. He may suggest some effective treatments, beginning with non-drug approaches like psychotherapy, to treat your depression.
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