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Anxiety Attacks During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Pregnancy can be a time of both excitement and anxiety for all women regardless of whether it's their first time or another addition to their family. It’s natural for expecting mothers to fret about everything from eating to drinking to recurring thoughts and feelings or even panicking over trivial things. Anxiety is not only a part of being pregnant but also a part of being human in general. But it can become a serious issue if it becomes a part of a person's regular thought process. Read on to understand the causes and effects of anxiety disorders that occur during pregnancy and how they can be treated.
What is an Anxiety Disorder during Pregnancy?
An anxiety disorder makes you worry or afraid of things more often. Although fear and worry are natural responses to threats and situations in people, an anxiety disorder would make those feelings much worse than what most people would feel in the same situation. If your anxiety is stopping you from doing things you would normally do with ease, then it could be that you have an anxiety disorder.
It is estimated that women are 60 percent more likely than men to experience anxiety disorders and 1 in 10 pregnant women suffer from anxiety at some point. Anxiety disorders are characterized by anxiety attacks that involve various physiological responses like sweating, racing heart, shakiness and restlessness.
1. Normal Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks occur when feelings of intense fear or terror erupt without warning. They usually last between a few minutes to about half an hour and can be triggered by certain situations, places or people. They involve some or all of these:
Heart palpitations or a racing heart
Discomfort and chest pain
Feeling dizzy and nauseous
Shortness of breath and choking
Feeling like you’re losing your mind or going crazy
Serious Anxiety Attacks
A serious anxiety attack can be much worse. The symptoms mentioned above are heightened in this case, and hospitalization might be necessary in order to control the situation. Patients report the following sensations:
Having a heart attack
Fear of dying
A detached feeling from oneself
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders come in different forms, and it’s not unusual to have more than one disorder at the same time. It often coincides with other mental health issues such as depression.
Some of the most common ones include:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Women with this condition worry a lot about everyday situations which in turn interfere with their day-to-day activities. The common characteristics are irritability, inability to concentrate, tension in the muscles, difficulty in sleeping and a general sense of apprehensiveness.
Panic Disorder: Recurring panic attacks that occur out of the blue without an apparent cause is a sign of a panic disorder. It involves an intense feeling of fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, shaking, racing heart and nausea.
Phobia: A phobia is a feeling of extreme fear and anxiety about specific objects or events which are harmless. Some of the phobias such as fear of heights or fear of poisonous insects relate to moderate risk, but the fear is exaggerated. People go to great lengths to avoid these things.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Experiencing or seeing a traumatic or distressing event can cause PTSD which involves intense feelings of anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares etc. Losing a baby in a previous pregnancy can cause PTSD in some women and can bring back extreme fear and anxiety in a subsequent pregnancy.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Women can sometimes experience OCD during pregnancy, and it can get worse after the baby is born. Women with OCD have recurring obsessions such as unwanted thoughts, sensations and ideas which lead to compulsions that are repetitive behaviours that relate to the obsession.
Other Health Conditions: In a few cases a health condition such as a heart disease, hyperthyroidism or a respiratory illness can also cause anxiety.
What Causes Anxiety Attacks when Pregnant
The exact trigger for anxiety attacks is uncertain and is different for different women. The bodily changes that women go through during pregnancy may cause an anxiety attack in some women.
Some of the significant causes of anxiety attacks can be:
The hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Stress, worries and over thinking during pregnancy.
Pre-existing anxiety issues that start to re-occur during pregnancy.
The woman is at an age where anxiety attacks are common.
Anxiety disorders can also be genetic, or hereditary.
How does Anxiety Affect your Baby?
There hasn’t been much research on effects of anxiety during pregnancy to tell conclusively about its impact on the child. However, it has been observed that women with high anxiety and stress during pregnancy have a slightly higher chance of preterm birth. Anxiety is also linked to complications such as slow labour, fast labour and forceps delivery. Some research suggests that children whose mothers have experienced anxiety disorders during pregnancy reach developmental milestones slower.
Is it Anxiety or Baby Blues?
Baby blues occur in all women after they give birth due to the sudden change in hormones following the stress of delivery, sleep deprivation, stress and fatigue. Women often feel tearful and emotionally overwhelmed. This typically starts a few days post delivery and reaches its peak at about one week and tapers off eventually by two weeks postpartum. On the other hand, anxiety is characterised by panic attacks, thoughts and physiological symptoms that interfere with their normal functioning.
Symptoms Of Prenatal Anxiety
The symptoms of prenatal anxiety are often excessive and seemingly uncontrollable. They include:
Constant worry and a feeling that something terrible will happen
Uncontrollable thoughts
Difficulty in sitting still
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, hot flashes, dizziness and nausea
Disturbed sleep and appetite
Available Treatments for Anxiety Disorders
Non-Medicinal Approaches
There are a few approaches to treatment that do not involve the usage of medications.
1. Psychotherapy
Guided by a skilled therapist, techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are used. The therapist teaches new ways of looking at the stress factors and how to come up with better responses.
2. Omega 3
The Omega 3 essential fatty acid acts as a natural mood booster and is found in foods such as walnuts and oily fish.
3. Light Therapy
Light therapy is a method where an artificial source of bright light resembling the sunlight is used on the patient. Sitting by the side of the light at specific times of the day or having it set up in the living room can relieve depression symptoms.
4. Acupuncture
This is an ancient Chinese practice that involves placing tiny needles on specific points on the body. The meothod is used to influence mood and treat stress.
5. Talk Therapy
The method where a patient talks to a therapist or a counsellor about the thoughts and feelings that generate anxiety is called talk therapy. It acts as a release and helps find new ways to think about the anxiety triggers.
Medications For Prenatal Anxiety
Since anxiety medications can cross the placenta, doctors are always cautious about prescribing them during pregnancy. Prescribed medicines include:
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Similar to their usage with depression, they are used to treat anxiety in pregnancy. Some of the commonly used ones are; Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram, Paroxetine etc.
Benzodiazepines: These drugs are used to manage severe anxiety and panic attacks but are known to cause congenital disabilities in babies when taken during pregnancy. If you are already on benzodiazepines, your doctor would slowly lower the dosage and switch to a different drug once you’re pregnant.
Herbal and Home Remedies
Kava is a commonly used root to alleviate anxiety but isn’t recommended during pregnancy as it can weaken the muscles of the uterus. There is very little research on herbal remedies, and since they are unregulated, it’s advisable to stay away from them.
Who is at Risk?
While anxiety is normal during pregnancy, there are risk factors that put a few women at higher risk. These include:
Having a family history of mood disorders
History of Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Being a young mother who is single, having poor support or low income
Living alone or divorced, separated or widowed
Pregnancy complications
Having experienced stressful or traumatic events before
Preventing Anxiety during Pregnancy
Talk to your partner or a trusted friend about your feelings often
Learn simple relaxation techniques and maintain a regular practice
Look after yourself and read a self-help book for better understanding
Try not to feel embarrassed or guilty. It is not your fault.
FAQs
1. What will Happen if my Anxiety is Left Untreated?
Both you and your child are at risk in this case. The baby might be preterm with low birth weight and score low on APGAR. The baby might also have problems with adaptation outside the womb. Risks to you include pregnancy termination, postpartum depression, substance addictions etc.
2. Will Anxiety Result in Depression?
Anxiety disorders often coincide with other conditions such as depression. About half of the women who develop postpartum depression start noticing early signs during pregnancy.
3. Where Can I Get Help?
If you are pregnant and start having symptoms of anxiety, it’s best first to consult your ob-gyn or midwife.. There are international groups such as Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net), Women’s Mental Health Consortium (http://womensmentalhealthconsortium.org/), and The MGH Center for Women's Mental Health (www.womensmentalhealth.org)
Anxiety need not hold you back from experiencing the joys of early motherhood. With a better understanding of your condition, the appropriate treatment can be prescribed, thereby making it possible for you to enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest.
Also Read:
Stress during Pregnancy
Depression while Pregnant
Migraines in Pregnancy Read more
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Understanding the Pointing Skills of a 1 Year Old
One of the many important milestones babies achieve is pointing. By a year, most toddlers can draw attention to something by gesturing at it. Understanding the pointing skills of a 12-month-old toddler can help parents do more to develop their communication skills further.
For most adults, speaking comes naturally and we don’t think anything of it. But for babies, the process is preceded by other methods of communication like sounds and finger-pointing. If your child is nearing a year, you may have noticed her beginning to point. It’s her way of communicating and it’s important to learn what she’s trying to say.
Getting to Know the Baby Pointing Finger Milestone
Like adults who point to draw attention, babies do the same. However, since their vocal skills are undeveloped, pointing for them can mean more than simply trying to get attention. Here are a few interpretations:
1. “Look, mum! See what I see!”
By a year old, your baby is becoming quickly aware of her surroundings. The world has become a big place full of interesting things. She could be excited about trying to get you to see something she’s noticed. Share this new experience with her by looking at what she’s pointing at and naming it. It helps you bond and can develop her communication and social skills too.
2. “I saw something there once!”
The pointing finger sign doesn’t only mean your toddler is trying to get you to see what she sees. She could be remembering something she saw at a particular spot. Now that she’s noticed that same spot, she’s recollecting what she’s seen. You can guide her towards more communicative methods by clapping while speaking to her. Say ‘clap’ as you clap so that she slowly learns to associate the word with the action.
3. “I want that”
Not being able to ask for something verbally means that toddlers will try to draw your attention to their needs by pointing to what they want. This toddler communication can sometimes be hard to interpret, especially if they’re pointing at one thing among many. What you can do is look at where your child is pointing, touch the object, and name it. If it’s safe to drink, eat or play with, you can give it to her too.
4. Red Flags
While every child develops at their own pace, it’s important to know when to seek help. These are some of the warning signs to look out for in a toddler aged 12 to 18 months:
Doesn’t respond to familiar sounds and their own name
Doesn’t call attention by pointing or flapping
Doesn’t look at something when named or pointed to
Doesn’t look for objects after seeing that they’ve been hidden
A child’s communication skills can only develop properly if the people around do their best to teach. The aim should be to get a toddler to progress beyond pointing gestures. Waving goodbye, being able to point to parts of the body such as the nose, eyes and mouth when asked to, and vocalising when excited are just a few things to try. Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
16 hours ago
Q. I got faint line all my pregnancy test and I missed my periods for 10 days but USG and TVs test confirm there is no pregnancy is there any chance that it is very early stage that's why it is not visible???? or TVs test is the last thing that can tell that really there is no pregnancy
Read moreRashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
15 hours ago
A. I think it would be advisable for you to get an ultrasound done with your doctor that’s going to give you a clarity because if there is a pregnancy it would be visible at least at least that sack is visible if it’s a regular pregnancy so it would be advisable to have a test with your doctor
Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. mere twins baby girl and boyhai one month 8 days old kya mai ghutti de sakte hun ya gripe water de sakte hun aur kab se start kar sakte hun
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
11 hours ago
A. dear Mum, you should not give any sort of gripe water or ghutti to your baby. these are unhealthy and dangerous and can cause infection to your baby. so, these should be completely avoided.
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. I am currently 32 week pregnant.I recently had growth scan.mu baby is in cephalic presentation. Does this change as I approach my due date. Also my EDD is July 25 and EDC is July 2. what is my expected due date. Also what is EDC?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
11 hours ago
A. edc is expected date of delivery only.
that is 40 weeks
You will get more information for your query with your family doctor. You may meet your dr in person for proper guidance .
It is important to remain in contact with your doctor.
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
11 hours ago
Q. why I am getting dizziness in my pregnancy
I am going with 3rd month of my pregnancy it's a very strong dizziness I feel at times means every day .....no other symptoms of pregnancy .Please help with elaboration .All okay means isn't part of this journey.
Read moreSwati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
57 mins ago
A. Do consult your doctor as soon as you can. It's important to find the real reason because without that, proper medication is not possible.
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. I am currently 32 week pregnant and had growth scan recently.My baby is in cephalic presentation.does this change after 36 week or does this remain the same?
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
3 hours ago
A. usually fixed. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the child
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. it's my 5 month n I still didn't went for check up yet not even once is it okay if I go now or?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. You should have started going from the very beginning itself once you get to know you’re pregnant but since you haven’t reached that now if you’re pregnancy has been healthy last five months please get it checked with your doctor also if you need to start with any supplements or diet the doctor would advise you after a ultrasound so please visit your gynaecologist
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