Treatment for depression
Treatment options for women who are
pregnant can include:
 Support groups
 Private psychotherapy
 Medication
 Light therapy
Natural ways to treat depression during
pregnancy?
Exercise – Exercise naturally increases
serotonin levels and decreases cortisol levels.
Get adequate rest – Lack of sleep greatly
affects the body and mind’s ability to handle
stress and day to day challenges. Work on
establishing a routine sleep schedule that has
you going to sleep and getting up at the same
time.
Diet and Nutrition – Many foods have been
linked to mood changes, the ability to handle
stress and mental clarity. Diets high in
caffeine, sugar, processed carbohydrates,
artificial additives and low protein can all
lead to issues regarding your mental and
physical health. Make a conscious decision
to start fueling your body with the foods
that can help you feel better.
Acupuncture – New studies report
acupuncture to be a viable option in treating
depression in pregnant women.
Omega-3 fatty acids – For years its been know
that omega-3 can help with a number of health
issues, but the newest studies are showing that
taking a daily supplement of omega-3/fish oils can
decrease symptoms of depression. Pregnant women
would want to make sure to take a mercury free
version of fish oil and check with their care provider
or nutritionist on a recommended amount.
Herbal remedies – There are a number of herbal
and vitamin supplements known to affect moods
and the hormone serotonin. Talk with your health
care provider and nutritionist/herbalist about
whether to use St John’s Wort, SAM-e, 5-HTP,
magnesium, vitamin B6 and flower remedies.
Many of these cannot be used in conjunction with
antidepressants and should be evaluated on the
dosage for pregnant women.
Antepartum depression can be successfully treated
using standard treatments for major depression.
These treatments include:
Counseling or therapy, including specific
techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy
Support groups
Brain stimulation therapies, such as
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), in which a low-
level electrical current is passed through the brain
— although a review of case studies, published in
the Archives of Women’s Mental Health,
recommends using ECT only as a last resort
Medications
Prescription antidepressants offer benefits to
both the mother and her child that need to be
balanced carefully against their risks.
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) —
which aims to help people uncover unhealthy
or negative patterns of thought and belief and
replace those patterns with positive ones —
had the strongest evidence of helping pregnant
and postpartum women with depression.
Interpersonal psychotherapy — which
focuses on exploring a person’s relationships,
identifying problems in those relationships,
and improving interpersonal skills — was also
shown to be effective in treating depression.
Lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced
diet, getting regular exercise, and sleeping at
least seven to eight hours per night can also
help women struggling with depression.
Researchers are devoting more time to finding
out whether mindfulness practices, such as
meditation and yoga, can help relieve
antepartum depression. One pilot study found
that mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral
therapy prevented relapses in pregnant women
who had experienced depression in the past.