Prenatal depression is more common than people realize

Transcript

Let's talk about prenatal depression. So depression that pops up during pregnancy. This is way more common than people realize. And there are a few risk factors that we see again and again in the research. So the number one risk factor for getting prenatal depression is a history of depression or anxiety. If you've struggled before with your mood, then your brain is likely already primed for a dip during pregnancy. This is totally common and totally human. Number two, low support or relationship stress. If you don't feel like you have a community or a supportive partner, pregnancy feels heavier. Support is protective. We're designed to do this in community. And when we feel like we don't have one, that's a risk factor. And number three, high stress and poor sleep. So stress hormones and disruptive sleep can make anything feel harder. It tanks your mood really fast, especially in pregnancy. So if any of these sound familiar, you're not failing. it's important to know the risk factors so that you can be educated about what to look for to get the support that you need when you need it.