Even if you have never been one to worry about things, you may find yourself worrying quite a bit during pregnancy. Concerns about the health of your baby, what it will be like to be a parent, and, of course, labor and delivery are part of the pregnancy experience. Sometimes, though, a pregnant mother’s worry will escalate into clinical anxiety.
Unfortunately, many prenatal care providers to not routinely address anxiety during their regimen of prenatal care. Although it can impact the health of both mother and baby, the topic of anxiety is not usually addressed unless the patient mentions that it has become a concern. Anxiety during pregnancy can be treated, so it is important that you do mention it to your care provider as soon as you notice that it has become severe, has been going on for a while, or you begin to notice that it is interfering with your day to day life.
As with anything else in the course of your prenatal care, if you think that your anxiety is serious and your care provider does not take your concern seriously, do not hesitate to get a second opinion. Treatment for anxiety during pregnancy may consist of therapy only, or in some cases, therapy combined with medication. There are some risks to taking anxiety medication during pregnancy, but there are also risks associated with untreated anxiety. If you find yourself in a situation where medication is being discussed, you may want to do some of your own research so that you can make an even more informed decision than if you rely on only the information given to you by your care provider.
If you are feeling anxious during your pregnancy, know that you are not alone. Between five and fifteen percent of women struggle with anxiety during pregnancy. In addition to reaching out to your prenatal care provider for help, you may want to consider reaching out to friends, family, and other people that you trust. Connecting with other people can help you to feel better supported during this challenging time and may help to ease some of your worries.
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