Pregnancy can be a time of both excitement and anxiety for all women regardless of whether it’s their first time or another addition to their family. It’s natural for expecting mothers to fret about everything from eating to drinking to recurring thoughts and feelings or even panicking over trivial things. Anxiety is not only a part of being pregnant but also a part of being human in general. But it can become a serious issue if it becomes a part of a person’s regular thought process. Read on to understand the causes and effects of anxiety disorders that occur during pregnancy and how they can be treated.
An anxiety disorder makes you worry or afraid of things more often. Although fear and worry are natural responses to threats and situations in people, an anxiety disorder would make those feelings much worse than what most people would feel in the same situation. If your anxiety is stopping you from doing things you would normally do with ease, then it could be that you have an anxiety disorder.
It is estimated that women are 60 percent more likely than men to experience anxiety disorders and 1 in 10 pregnant women suffer from anxiety at some point. Anxiety disorders are characterized by anxiety attacks that involve various physiological responses like sweating, racing heart, shakiness and restlessness.
Anxiety attacks occur when feelings of intense fear or terror erupt without warning. They usually last between a few minutes to about half an hour and can be triggered by certain situations, places or people. They involve some or all of these:
A serious anxiety attack can be much worse. The symptoms mentioned above are heightened in this case, and hospitalization might be necessary in order to control the situation. Patients report the following sensations:
Anxiety disorders come in different forms, and it’s not unusual to have more than one disorder at the same time. It often coincides with other mental health issues such as depression.
Some of the most common ones include:
The exact trigger for anxiety attacks is uncertain and is different for different women. The bodily changes that women go through during pregnancy may cause an anxiety attack in some women.
Some of the significant causes of anxiety attacks can be:
There hasn’t been much research on effects of anxiety during pregnancy to tell conclusively about its impact on the child. However, it has been observed that women with high anxiety and stress during pregnancy have a slightly higher chance of preterm birth. Anxiety is also linked to complications such as slow labour, fast labour and forceps delivery. Some research suggests that children whose mothers have experienced anxiety disorders during pregnancy reach developmental milestones slower.
Baby blues occur in all women after they give birth due to the sudden change in hormones following the stress of delivery, sleep deprivation, stress and fatigue. Women often feel tearful and emotionally overwhelmed. This typically starts a few days post delivery and reaches its peak at about one week and tapers off eventually by two weeks postpartum. On the other hand, anxiety is characterised by panic attacks, thoughts and physiological symptoms that interfere with their normal functioning.
The symptoms of prenatal anxiety are often excessive and seemingly uncontrollable. They include:
There are a few approaches to treatment that do not involve the usage of medications.
Guided by a skilled therapist, techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are used. The therapist teaches new ways of looking at the stress factors and how to come up with better responses.
The Omega 3 essential fatty acid acts as a natural mood booster and is found in foods such as walnuts and oily fish.
Light therapy is a method where an artificial source of bright light resembling the sunlight is used on the patient. Sitting by the side of the light at specific times of the day or having it set up in the living room can relieve depression symptoms.
This is an ancient Chinese practice that involves placing tiny needles on specific points on the body. The meothod is used to influence mood and treat stress.
The method where a patient talks to a therapist or a counsellor about the thoughts and feelings that generate anxiety is called talk therapy. It acts as a release and helps find new ways to think about the anxiety triggers.
Since anxiety medications can cross the placenta, doctors are always cautious about prescribing them during pregnancy. Prescribed medicines include:
Kava is a commonly used root to alleviate anxiety but isn’t recommended during pregnancy as it can weaken the muscles of the uterus. There is very little research on herbal remedies, and since they are unregulated, it’s advisable to stay away from them.
While anxiety is normal during pregnancy, there are risk factors that put a few women at higher risk. These include:
Both you and your child are at risk in this case. The baby might be preterm with low birth weight and score low on APGAR. The baby might also have problems with adaptation outside the womb. Risks to you include pregnancy termination, postpartum depression, substance addictions etc.
Anxiety disorders often coincide with other conditions such as depression. About half of the women who develop postpartum depression start noticing early signs during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant and start having symptoms of anxiety, it’s best first to consult your ob-gyn or midwife.. There are international groups such as Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net), Women’s Mental Health Consortium (http://womensmentalhealthconsortium.org/), and The MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health (www.womensmentalhealth.org)
Anxiety need not hold you back from experiencing the joys of early motherhood. With a better understanding of your condition, the appropriate treatment can be prescribed, thereby making it possible for you to enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest.