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You're full of new life! Overjoyed, right? Actually, if you are among the 1 in 10 – or even more – pregnant women who struggle with the symptoms of depression, then you might not be feeling overjoyed at all. While you may be happy to be pregnant, this may be overshadowed by cloudy feelings… I know it can really be tough to admit we're depressed when everyone else thinks we should be ecsta c. Many women have told me they fear they will be judged by others as "bad moms" for admi ng they feel miserable. And it can be terrifying to imagine taking care of a baby when you feel you can barely get a smile on for the day. You may also feel very alone with your concerns. Your midwife or doctor, and even your friends and family, might not recognize that you're depressed. Your symptoms may be mistaken as simply normal changes of pregnancy due to hormonal shi s and other physiologic changes. A er all, fa gue, changes in ea ng habits, sleep problems, general aches and pains, changes in mood, irritability, and tearfulness – all these are normal during pregnancy, right? The answer is some mes, but not always. When mild and infrequent, these symptoms may be normal, but they are also classic signs of depression! 10 Things You Can Try Instead of Medication Depression in Pregnancy: Why DO I Feel So Blue? Causes of Pregnancy Depression… The root causes of depression are o en complex – but they can be tackled! As you can see from the diagram below, depression has many possible causes and some mes even more than one. These can include: Medical problems (for example, hypothyroidism, severe nausea and vomi ng in pregnancy, or a pregnancy-related medical problem). A previously complicated pregnancy or pregnancy loss. Nutri onal deficiencies (protein, omega-3 fats, iron, vitamin D, to name a few). Fa gue from poor sleep. Blood sugar problems, including both hypoglycemia and elevated blood sugar. Lack of support or rela onship problems. Family history of depression. Inadequate or ineffec ve coping skills. Stressful life problems (money, living situa on, job stress). Unhappiness or ambivalence about being pregnant. Food sensi vi es or gut dysbiosis (unhealthy changes in the gut flora or microbiome). Lack of exercise/movement. Lack of sunlight or me in nature. Environmental toxins, for example, heavy metal toxicity, usually from ea ng too much high mercury fish such as tuna, or hormone mimicking chemicals such as plas cs from food packaging and water bo les, to name a few sources. Abby's Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 5| Page 51