Do you feel like you are on the roller coaster of emotions during pregnancy? Few minutes of happy thoughts and after a second a move towards the dark and deep depression cave. Depression is common during pregnancy-between 14 percent and 23 percent of pregnant women will experience depressive symptoms while pregnant.

In 2003, approximately 13 percent of women took an antidepressant at some time during their pregnancy. One of the lead authors from Yale University said “Depression in pregnant women often goes unrecognized and untreated in part because of concerns about the safety of treating women during pregnancy.”

Both depression symptoms and the use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy have been associated with negative consequences for the newborn. Compared to those kids born to mothers without depression, infants born to women with depression have increased risk for irritability, less activity and attentiveness, and fewer facial expressions.

Depression and its symptoms are also associated with fetal growth change and shorter gestation periods. And while available research still leaves some questions unanswered, some studies have linked fetal malformations, cardiac defects, pulmonary hypertension, and reduced birth weight to antidepressant use during pregnancy.

The main problem is that identifying depression in pregnant women can be pretty much difficult as its symptoms mimic those associated with pregnancy, such as changes in mood, energy level, appetite, and cognition. Depressed women are more likely to have poor prenatal care and pregnancy complications, such as nausea, vomiting, and preeclampsia, and to use drugs, alcohol, and nicotine.

Two main hormones, estrogen and progesterone cause mood swings during pregnancy. Emotions are always unstable and feeling of depression is normal as any other body changes during pregnancy. She may move from great joy to deep despair within fraction of time. A pregnant woman may feel tearful with little cause or no cause at all. She may even find hard to express the reason of joy or despair. This is no psychological problem but; a clear picture of hormonal changes.

Mood Swings throughout pregnancy period is a common phenomenon. It is most common during the first trimester that is between 6 weeks to 10 weeks of pregnancy. However the fluctuation resides during the second trimester. This is the period when she first feels the baby move. The feeling is great so is her emotions.

The third trimester is the period when she worries about everything and anything that she can think of. This is the period of maximum anxiousness. However her major cause of anxiety lies not just on the labour and delivery process but also in baby care and parenting in general. She will feel physically uncomfortable with the growth of the abdomen and will feel irritated with the lightest noise as she lacks sleep in general. It may be more extreme if she is single without a partner. The hard-core fact of being a single mother can make her feel stressed and isolated. Pregnancy is the important period of any women’s life. It is during this time she is very vulnerable both, physically and mentally. One should try help a pregnant women. Believe me, even if she doesn’t ask for help, she indeed is in need of it.

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Presenters at the recent Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting , held in Chicago, IL, unveiled findings that show that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for depression during pregnancy.

“Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family,” said Dr. Schnyer, one of the study’s authors.

While the pregnant women share similar depression rates, compared to similarly aged non pregnant women and mothers during the postpartum (after birth), her are fewer treatment studies of depression during pregnancy.

Anti-depressant treatment during pregnancy can affect the developing baby and mothers as well.

150 participants with Major Depressive Disorder were randomly placed in a either a group that received acupuncture specific treatment for depression, or one of two active controls: control acupuncture (they didn’t receive acupuncture specific treatment, but another form of acupuncture) or massage.

During 2 months, the women received 12 sessions. Junior acupuncturists unaware of the treatment group assignment needled the participants at point prescribed by senior acupuncturists. The mother’s depression symptoms were evaluated at the beginning, after four and eight weeks of treatment.

The women receiving acupuncture specific treatment for depression experienced a significantly greater decline in the severity of depression compared to both control groups or the non-specific acupuncture group alone. They also had a higher response rate (63%) than the combined controls or control acupuncture alone. The reduction of symptoms and response rates between the control groups did not differ significantly.

Forty three of the 150 participants reported mild and brief side effects (20 in the depression specific acupuncture group, 19 in the non-specific acupuncture group and 4 in the massage group). Notably fewer participants reported side effects in the massage group than in the two acupuncture groups.

Dr. Schyner said, “The results of our study show that the acupuncture protocol we tested could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy.

Want to find out more about acupuncture , then visit Elaine R. Ferguson, MD’s site on how to choose the best holistic health information for your needs.

A great deal of research indicates that, not only are fish oil benefits numerous, many of them are actually quite amazing! It seems that new research is being written about everyday, as researchers and physicians learn so much more about how and why it is so effective. The omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oil are “good fats” that are vital to optimal wellness. They are necessary for our health but our bodies can’t make them – you have to get them from your diet. Here are some proven fish oil health benefits that should convince you to eat more oily, wild-caught fish and start taking a highly refined fish oil supplement if you’re not already!

Promotes Cardiovascular Health & Prevents Heart Attacks and Strokes

Fish oil continues to increase in scientific credibility as a significant component to heart health. According to statements from the American Heart Association, fish oil is effective in reducing the incidence of heart disease and helps to reduce risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Research studies of heart attack survivors have found that daily omega-3 capsules drastically reduce the risk of death, subsequent heart attacks and stroke. Omega-3s also decrease blood triglycerides, help correct irregular heartbeats, and can help prevent and treat atherosclerosis by inhibiting the formation of plaque and blood clots, which tend to clog arteries.

Decreases Pain & Inflammation

Omega-3s have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Clinical trials show that diets rich in omega-3s (and low in the inflammatory omega-6s) may help people with inflammatory disorders — anything ending in -itis!. Fish oil has have also been used to successfully treat back, neck and menstrual pain, enabling study participants to reduce their consumption of NSAID medication.

Ensures Healthy Joints and Reduces Arthritis

The omega-3s in fish oil reduce joint tenderness, pain intensity and morning stiffness produced by rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, quite a few test tube studies have found that omega-3s actually reduce the activity of enzymes that destroy cartilage. More than 13 published clinical studies have shown that fish oil supplements are very beneficial at treating rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil has helped people suffering from RA to reduce their dependence on pain killers.

Enhances Mental Acuity & Long-Term Cognitive Function

Are you aware that omega-3s, especially DHA, are highly concentrated in our brains? They’re important for optimum cognitive (brain memorization and performance) and behavioral functioning, as well as proper growth and development. Studies demonstrate that omega-3s may aid in maintaining proper cognitive functioning and possibly in preventing or staving off the onset of dementia. We also have learned that it’s very important that pregnant women get adequate DHA, which is required by the developing fetus — in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, the fetus’ brain grows at a rate of 250,000 new neurons every minute! Kids are also helped by omega-3 intake, as myriad studies show that omega-3s improve learning, focus, vocabulary and reading skills. Many studies have even shown benefits in treating ADHD.

Contributes to Positive Mood & Emotional Wellness

In nations where fish makes up a large part of the diet, nationwide rates of depression are lower. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that studies have discovered that fish oil supplements can reduce the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis. Numerous clinical trials have shown that people that took fish oil in addition to prescribed anti-depressants had a larger improvement in symptoms than those who only took antidepressants, with patients experiencing a stabilizing effect and less mood swings. Research has also shown that, when prisoners were administered omega three fatty acids, there was a huge reduction in violent behavior. Omega-3s also appear to lower the risk of postnatal depression.

Promotes Eye Health

Evidence shows that people with a greater omega-3 intake appear to have a lower risk of Dry-Eye Syndrome and developing macular degeneration. Preliminary studies also show that fish oil supplementation aids in alleviating dry eye symptoms, may help to slow macular degeneration for those already developing it and improves eye health in general.

Pregnancy, Infancy Eye & Brain Development & Reduced Occurrence of Childhood Disorders

DHA makes up 15-20% of our cerebral cortex and about 30-60% of the retina, so it’s absolutely essential for normal growth and development of the fetus and baby. Prenatal DHA availability also appears to reduce the chances of childhood allergies and have an effect on motor skill quality, cognitive development and behavior/hyperactivity later in the life of the child. Omega-3s also help to lower the chances of premature birth and low birth weight.

Enhances Fat Metabolism and Weight Loss

According to the National Institute of Health, omega-3s trigger “I’m full” messages to the brain and aid in inhibiting hunger signals. Research has also demonstrated that fish oil improves the efficacy of exercise in reducing weight. Volunteers who were given fish oil with their diet showed greater decreases in weight as contrasted with people who didn’t consume fish oil. Exercise combined with fish oil had a positive effect on the body shape and body composition of the participants.

Reduces Risk of Breast, Prostate & Colorectal Cancer

Though additional research in this area is urgently needed, we now are aware that the omega 3’s that appear in fish oil aid in the prevention and treatment of testicular, prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. Early studies suggest that consuming fish oil daily can help inhibit the progression of colon cancer in those with early stages of the disease and may possibly have the ability to induce apoptosis (cell death) of cancerous cells.

A great deal more can be said with regards to the many fish oil benefits. And, as the science community and doctors continue to study omega-3s, you can bet that fish oil will keep making headlines as the best source of these essential fatty acids that are so essential to our bodies. Even if you’re currently in good physical condition, a high quality fish oil supplement is the simplest, safest way to achieve and maintain optimal health!

Brittany M. Wallace is a health and nutrition expert who has been studying the benefits of fish oil for nearly 10 years. You can learn all about the fish oil benefits by visiting her site.