Treatment of depression during pregnancy

Pregnant women's depression is no longer a taboo subject. Both if it concerns women who have been struggling with the disease for a longer time, and those who have fallen ill while in the blessed condition. Unfortunately, studies confirm that women who have previously been depressed are at an increased risk of recurring depression during pregnancy. Of course, not every antidepressant can be taken during pregnancy, but the treatment of this disease is not only a pharmacological treatment, but also cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. Both are effective when the symptoms of depression are not too severe - both recurrent and when a woman falls ill for the first time. How does the treatment of depression in pregnancy look like?

Doctors avoid administering antidepressants to patients during pregnancy because of the many complications and side effects that affect the fetus. It should not be forgotten, however, that the poor health of the mother also affects the development of the unborn child, and often also affects the mother's relationship with the child after birth. Therefore, in cases of acute depression, psychiatrists sometimes decide to administer medicines to mothers in order to protect them from mental deterioration after childbirth.

Women are introduced to the risks of using medication during pregnancy. The list of side effects and complications is reduced in later trimesters. Young pregnancies, when the fetus is still underdeveloped, are therefore most at risk. Other psychiatric disorders and medication can also have a negative impact on your child's health.

Contraindications for the treatment of depression during pregnancy

Doctors are still investigating the exact effect of antidepressants on pregnant women and their offspring. In most cases, the father of the child and the patient's family are also consulted about the start of drug therapy, so that everyone is aware of the possible complications and the increased risk of miscarriage by the woman. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, the group of respondents is small and the results obtained are often contradictory. Some drugs increase the risk of miscarriage and cardiovascular complications in children, therefore doctors recommend the lowest possible dose of antidepressants.

The disadvantage is the fact that the effects of pharmacological treatment appear only after a few weeks, so the fetus is exposed to the adverse effects of these substances for a longer period of time. When there is a need for pharmacological therapy in the pregnant woman, usually 3-4 weeks before the birth, the drugs should be gradually discontinued in order to prevent the symptoms of "discontinuation" in the newborn after the birth.

Due to a number of negatives and risks, it is recommended not to use pharmacological therapy in pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. Cognitive behavioural therapy, which aims to focus on changing erroneous thinking and behavioural patterns, and personal therapy, which improves social interaction, are less effective in acute depression, but do not affect the health of the child.