There haven't been many write-ups on depression during pregnancy versus postpartum depression. But the fact remains that 25% of all pregnant women go through depression and nearly 10% experience major depression. Your body goes through many changes; some of the depression symptoms are hard to tell from pregnancy symptoms. Many pregnancy symptoms like fatigue and sleeplessness are similar to depression symptoms. The difference lies in the length and intensity of these symptoms.


Other depression symptoms include:



• Overwhelming unhappiness that goes on for days with no apparent reason



• Difficulty sleeping and waking early



• Feeling listless all the time



• Loss of appetite



• Lack of concentration



• Thoughts of inflicting harm on self




If these symptoms persist and you don't seem to feel better for days at end, seek advice from your doctor. There are medications that can help and are safe to use during pregnancy. Counseling may also be necessary. Whatever it is, don't ignore this thinking it will go away by itself. Other ways of going around this problem include exercise, vitamin B, folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids intake and some massage therapy. Another option is light therapy. A depressed person exposed to bright white fluorescent light for an hour a day for about a week have shown signs of improvement. Bright lights have a positive effect on moods, triggering the release of certain hormones to help deal with depression. If you believe you are depressed bring this up at your prenatal visit and let your doctor help you. It is important to help yourself and in turn your baby.