Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsIdentifyingCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Identifying
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Perinatal depression is often described asdepressionthat occurs during pregnancy or the first year after childbirth. Contributing factors include hormonal shifts, increased stress, physical and environmental changes, as well as other factors.
Pregnancy is often described as a beautiful time of life. However, that’s just not true for everyone. Sometimes, the inability to meet the unrealistic expectations of a totally joyous pregnancy can even contribute to symptoms of depression.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Definition of Perinatal Depression
The current Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines perinatal depression as a major depressive episode that occurs during pregnancy or in the four weeks following delivery.
Depression during pregnancy is described as prenatal depression and depression in the year after giving birth is described as postnatal depression orpostpartum depression. Perinatal depression encompasses both pre and postnatal depression.
Perinatal depression is not uncommon. Historically, pregnancy was considered to be protective against mood disorders. However, recent research shows that this is false.
StatisticsBetween 9.7 to 23.5% of people who are pregnant will experience perinatal depression symptoms.Demographic groups at the highest risk of perinatal depression include women aged 19 years and younger, American Indian/Alaskan Native women, those who smoke during or after pregnancy, and those whose babies died after birth.Research also shows that the risk of perinatal depression is even higher (30 to 40%) among low-income women.
Statistics
Between 9.7 to 23.5% of people who are pregnant will experience perinatal depression symptoms.Demographic groups at the highest risk of perinatal depression include women aged 19 years and younger, American Indian/Alaskan Native women, those who smoke during or after pregnancy, and those whose babies died after birth.Research also shows that the risk of perinatal depression is even higher (30 to 40%) among low-income women.
Between 9.7 to 23.5% of people who are pregnant will experience perinatal depression symptoms.Demographic groups at the highest risk of perinatal depression include women aged 19 years and younger, American Indian/Alaskan Native women, those who smoke during or after pregnancy, and those whose babies died after birth.
Research also shows that the risk of perinatal depression is even higher (30 to 40%) among low-income women.
Understanding the Onset of Postpartum Depression: When Does It Start?
There are many symptoms of perinatal depression, but not everyone will experience exactly the same effects.
Symptoms of perinatal depression can include:
It is normal to have feelings of anxiety, doubt, or fatigue when experiencing the huge changes of pregnancy or caring for a newborn.
It can be difficult to identify perinatal depression because some of the symptoms of depression can overlap with the effects of a normal pregnancy. Overlapping symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, or altered sleeping pattern.
Screening and specific assessment for perinatal depression symptoms can help identify the condition.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises that obstetric care providers screen people who are pregnant for perinatal depression at least once during pregnancy, using a standardized and validated tool.
What Is Perinatal Depression?
Nearly 20% of women experience perinatal depressive symptoms.Pregnancy involves physical changes that can be uncomfortable, such as fatigue and nausea.
The prospect of caring for a newborn, as well as the financial or environmental stressors that accompany this responsibility, can be overwhelming. All of these factors can contribute to perinatal depression.
Genetics and epigenetics are also believed to contribute to perinatal depression.There is also a theory that increased inflammation during and after pregnancy can cause perinatal depression, but more research is needed to determine the impact of inflammation on this condition.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be very effective at treating various types of mild to moderate depression, including perinatal depression. In particular, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) have been studied as methods of perinatal depression treatment.
Medication
Antidepressant medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), can be prescribed during pregnancy.In fact, about 13% of women take an antidepressant during pregnancy.
These medications take about six to eight weeks to have their full effect and can help balance chemicals in the brain and improve depressive symptoms. They are often used in conjunction with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.
It’s very important to talk to your healthcare provider before starting antidepressant medication during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding. Although the risk of birth defects from antidepressants is very low, there may be a risk of adverse effects.
It’s important that you know that you are far from alone if pregnancy is not the happiest time of your life. Your body, hormones, social roles, and much more are in flux—so it is natural for your mental health to be impacted.
If you are experiencing perinatal depression, there are several things you can do to cope.
These include:
A Word From Verywell
Perinatal depression is treatable through medication, psychotherapy, complementary therapies, and lifestyle changes. If your depressive symptoms are getting in the way of your daily life, or you’ve lost interest in activities you used to love, speak to your healthcare provider about diagnosis and treatment.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bauman BL.Vital signs: postpartum depressive symptoms and provider discussions about perinatal depression — United States, 2018.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 69.Alhusen JL, Alvarez C.Perinatal depression.Nurse Pract. 2016;41(5):50-55. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3eNational Institute of Mental Health.Perinatal depression.Earls MF, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health American Academy of Pediatrics.Incorporating recognition and management of perinatal and postpartum depression into pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):1032-1039. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2348American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Screening for perinatal depression.Meltzer-Brody S.New insights into perinatal depression: pathogenesis and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(1):89-100. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3eOsborne LM, Monk C.Perinatal depression—The fourth inflammatory morbidity of pregnancy?: Theory and literature review.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(10):1929-1952.Cooper WO, Willy ME, Pont SJ, Ray WA.Increasing use of antidepressants in pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196(6):544.e1-5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.01.033Deligiannidis KM, Freeman MP.Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression.Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2014;28(1):85-95. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.08.007
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bauman BL.Vital signs: postpartum depressive symptoms and provider discussions about perinatal depression — United States, 2018.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 69.Alhusen JL, Alvarez C.Perinatal depression.Nurse Pract. 2016;41(5):50-55. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3eNational Institute of Mental Health.Perinatal depression.Earls MF, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health American Academy of Pediatrics.Incorporating recognition and management of perinatal and postpartum depression into pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):1032-1039. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2348American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Screening for perinatal depression.Meltzer-Brody S.New insights into perinatal depression: pathogenesis and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(1):89-100. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3eOsborne LM, Monk C.Perinatal depression—The fourth inflammatory morbidity of pregnancy?: Theory and literature review.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(10):1929-1952.Cooper WO, Willy ME, Pont SJ, Ray WA.Increasing use of antidepressants in pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196(6):544.e1-5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.01.033Deligiannidis KM, Freeman MP.Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression.Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2014;28(1):85-95. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.08.007
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bauman BL.Vital signs: postpartum depressive symptoms and provider discussions about perinatal depression — United States, 2018.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 69.Alhusen JL, Alvarez C.Perinatal depression.Nurse Pract. 2016;41(5):50-55. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3eNational Institute of Mental Health.Perinatal depression.Earls MF, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health American Academy of Pediatrics.Incorporating recognition and management of perinatal and postpartum depression into pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):1032-1039. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2348American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Screening for perinatal depression.Meltzer-Brody S.New insights into perinatal depression: pathogenesis and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(1):89-100. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3eOsborne LM, Monk C.Perinatal depression—The fourth inflammatory morbidity of pregnancy?: Theory and literature review.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(10):1929-1952.Cooper WO, Willy ME, Pont SJ, Ray WA.Increasing use of antidepressants in pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196(6):544.e1-5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.01.033Deligiannidis KM, Freeman MP.Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression.Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2014;28(1):85-95. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.08.007
Bauman BL.Vital signs: postpartum depressive symptoms and provider discussions about perinatal depression — United States, 2018.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 69.
Alhusen JL, Alvarez C.Perinatal depression.Nurse Pract. 2016;41(5):50-55. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3e
National Institute of Mental Health.Perinatal depression.
Earls MF, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health American Academy of Pediatrics.Incorporating recognition and management of perinatal and postpartum depression into pediatric practice.Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):1032-1039. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2348
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Screening for perinatal depression.
Meltzer-Brody S.New insights into perinatal depression: pathogenesis and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(1):89-100. doi:10.1097%2F01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3e
Osborne LM, Monk C.Perinatal depression—The fourth inflammatory morbidity of pregnancy?: Theory and literature review.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(10):1929-1952.
Cooper WO, Willy ME, Pont SJ, Ray WA.Increasing use of antidepressants in pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196(6):544.e1-5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.01.033
Deligiannidis KM, Freeman MP.Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression.Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2014;28(1):85-95. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.08.007
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