Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder During Pregnancy

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn’t easy to deal with under any circumstances. When you’re also going through the physical and emotional stress of pregnancy, Treat PTSD can be even more difficult. Moms-to-be with PTSD are at higher risk of going into early labor and developing postpartum depression, among other issues, so it’s important to know how to take care of yourself and your baby during this time. Start by learning about PTSD and talking to your health care providers. At the same time, make sure your lifestyle is healthy for you and your baby, and learn how to reduce your risk of postpartum depression.

Steps

Managing Your Treatment

  1. Find resources on PTSD to prepare yourself. The better you understand PTSD, the more effectively you’ll be able to cope with it. Familiarize yourself with the reasons PTSD occurs, what kinds of symptoms it causes, and what types of therapy are used to treat it.[1]
    • Start by searching the internet and your local library for information about PTSD. You can also ask your doctor or therapist to help you find resources for learning about the condition.
    • PTSD can be caused by any kind of trauma, including rape, childhood sexual abuse, or the loss of a pregnancy. Some women develop PTSD without realizing it after experiencing one of these events.
    • If you think you have PTSD but you haven’t been diagnosed, see your doctor.
  2. See a therapist. PTSD is most often treated with psychotherapy. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist who works with trauma survivors. If you are already in therapy, continue to attend your sessions as usual.[2]
    • Your therapist will probably use different types of cognitive behavioral therapy, such as exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), to reprogram your thoughts and help you move past your trauma.
  3. Become familiar with the possible risks. Some studies have found that pregnancy is riskier if you have PTSD. Women with PTSD are more likely to give birth prematurely, and their babies may be smaller than those of women without PTSD. Talk to your doctor about how to minimize these risks.[3]
    • Pregnancy is known for heightening emotions, but it won’t necessarily make your PTSD worse. According to one study, as many as three out of four women with PTSD find that pregnancy actually reduces their symptoms.[4]
  4. Pause your current therapeutic work on traumatic memories. Don’t try to tackle all your fears while your hormones and emotions are in flux. This can heighten your stress and possibly complicate your pregnancy. Instead focus on learning good coping strategies for your current symptoms, so you can feel safer and more peaceful throughout your pregnancy.[5]
    • Good coping strategies are relaxation exercises like deep breathing, meditation, and grounding.
    • If you feel overwhelmed, let your therapist know that you need to slow down.
  5. Keep your whole medical team updated. Communicate frequently with your therapist, obstetrician, psychiatrist, and any other specialists you see on a regular basis. Make sure they are all informed about your pregnancy, your PTSD, and any medications you are taking.[6]
  6. Ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to take medication. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are sometimes used to treat PTSD, but they’ve been linked to birth defects, so they are usually not recommended for pregnant women. If you’re currently taking any medications to treat your PTSD symptoms, talk to your doctor about whether you should stop or switch to a different kind.[7]
    • Your doctor may advise you to keep taking a medication if they think the side effects are less risky than untreated PTSD.

Improving Your Lifestyle

  1. Surround yourself with positive people. Throughout your pregnancy, spend time with your partner, friends, and family members. Ask for help and support when you need it. If you’re having a hard time coping with your PTSD, confide in someone you trust instead of keeping it to yourself.[8]
  2. Exercise regularly. Exercise will help you stay fit and manage your mental health during your pregnancy, and it’s good for your baby’s health, too. Aim for thirty minutes of low-impact activity five days a week. Walking and swimming are good choices.[9]
    • Exercising during pregnancy is usually safe, but you should still check with your doctor before you begin a workout routine.
  3. Eat a nutritious diet. Your diet plays an important role in your baby’s health and in your own mental health. Choose whole foods like fresh produce and whole grains, and make sure you are getting enough micronutrients. Avoid highly processed foods, which often contain a lot of calories without much nutrition.[10]
    • Prenatal vitamins can help you get all the micronutrients your baby needs.
    • There are some foods you should not eat while pregnant. Avoid raw or undercooked foods, unpasteurized milk and juice, processed meats, and fish that contains high levels of mercury.[11]
    • A dietitian can help you come up with a balanced meal plan.
  4. Get plenty of sleep. While you’re pregnant, you will probably need a few extra hours of sleep every night. If your PTSD makes it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, good sleep hygiene may help you get a better night’s rest. Keep your sleep schedule regular, give yourself an hour or two before bed to wind down, and make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and comfortable.[12]
  5. Use relaxation techniques. Reduce your stress and PTSD symptoms by making time to relax every day. Visualization exercises and deep breathing exercises are two simple and effective ways to feel calmer and more centered. Meditation is another good option.[13]

Avoiding Postpartum Depression

  1. Spot the symptoms of postpartum depression. If you feel sad, hopeless, or guilty for more than a few weeks after your baby is born, you may have postpartum depression. Other common symptoms of PPD include feeling anxious, wanting to isolate yourself from family and friends, and having a hard time bonding with your baby.[14]
  2. Distinguish between postpartum depression and postpartum PTSD. Postpartum PTSD isn’t the same thing as postpartum depression, but the symptoms can be similar. Postpartum PTSD is caused by a difficult or traumatic birth experience, such as an emergency C-section.[15]
    • Women who have experienced trauma in the past are more likely to develop postpartum PTSD.
  3. Talk with your doctor about your concerns. Let your doctor know that you have PTSD and you’re concerned about developing postpartum depression. They can help you come up with a plan for staying mentally healthy after you have your baby.[16]
    • For instance, your doctor might recommend counseling or start you on a low dose of antidepressants at the end of your pregnancy.
  4. Ask for support. Before you have your baby, reach out for help. Ask your partner, family members, and friends if they’ll be willing to give you a hand with chores and errands after the baby arrives. You’ll feel calmer and less stressed knowing you have a support team waiting in the wings.[17]
  5. Seek help right away if you feel depressed. Postpartum depression is a serious condition, and it can last for a year or more if it’s not addressed. If you don’t feel like yourself after giving birth, talk to your doctor or therapist. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help – postpartum depression is both common and treatable, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong.[18]

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ https://www.anxietybc.com/sites/default/files/adult_hmptsd.pdf
  2. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/treatment
  3. ↑ https://www.anxiety.org/moms-with-ptsd-likely-to-have-poorer-pregnancy-outcomes
  4. ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160210110754.htm
  5. ↑ https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/ptsd-and-pregnancy/
  6. ↑ https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/traumaptsdblog/2017/04/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-and-pregnancy/
  7. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/women/pregnancy-and-medication
  8. ↑ http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201602/pregnancy-and-ptsd-surprising-findings-could-help-moms-be
  9. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/06/exercise-during-pregnancy_n_3713711.html
  10. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/eating-pregnancy.html#
  11. ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/risk/pregnant/chklist_pregnancy.html
  12. ↑ https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/sleep-and-ptsd.asp
  13. ↑ http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/relaxation-techniques
  14. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/understanding-postpartum-depression-symptoms#1
  15. ↑ https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/practice-briefs/articles/postpartum-ptsd
  16. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/understanding-postpartum-depression-prevention
  17. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/postpartum-depression-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/
  18. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Postnataldepression/Pages/Introduction.aspx
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