by Piper Wilson

Created on: July 25, 2007   Last Updated: December 12, 2008

There is a beauty surrounding a pregnant woman that attracts attention from people. She is nurturing a gift to the world of hope, untapped potential and promise. People often discard normal boundaries when faced with a pregnant woman. Many women tell stories of complete strangers touching them, asking intrusive and personal questions about everything from conception to plans for labor.

Pregnant women are bombarded with unasked and often unwanted advice from family, friends, co-workers and even complete strangers. In addition, the media inundates women with conflicting messages about the best way to have a healthy baby. For example, studies about caffeine intake have "suggested that a high caffeine intake could lead to lower average birth weights of as much as 100g to 200g and an increased chance of preterm babies, others found no such connection between caffeine and problems with fetal development."

It would be uncomfortable, but survivable for a pregnant woman to forgo cold medicine for her baby's health. Her nose will be runnier, but that is short term and ultimately not harmful to either mother or child. However, almost 20% of pregnant woman experience clinical depression. "While the term "depression" is commonly used to describe a temporary mood when one "feels blue", clinical depression is a serious illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that cannot simply be willed or wished away. It can be a disabling disease that affects a person's work life, school life, sleeping and eating habits, and ability to enjoy the activities they normally would."

In spite of the seriousness of clinical depression, it is still a common misconception that depression is just a passing mood. Individuals seeking treatment are often looked at with disdain by society. They are viewed as weak or overly-sensitive. Their suffering is not recognized for what it is; it is seen as trivial.

Left untreated clinical depression can be deadly. In 1997, suicide was the 8th leading cause of death in the United States. That is more than double the amount of deaths attributable to AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is always a terminal one. Depressed people do not always commit suicide, but that potential is always very real. "Depressed pregnant women are less likely to eat and sleep well and more likely to neglect personal hygiene and to smoke and drink alcohol. They are less likely to seek prenatal care or to adhere to medical recommendations. In addition to personal suffering and disability,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>