More Pregnancy Questions – What are symptoms of depression?

What are symptoms of depression?

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, any of these symptoms during and after pregnancy that last longer than two weeks are signs of depression:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, and overwhelmed
  
• Crying a lot
  
• Feeling restless or irritable
  
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
  
• Having no energy or motivation
  
• Eating too little or too much
  
• Sleeping too little or too much
  
• Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions
  
• Feeling worthless and guilty
  
• Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (the heart beating fast and feeling like it is skipping beats), or hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing)
  
• Withdrawal from friends and family After pregnancy, signs of depression may also include being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself and not having any interest in the baby.

Also See:

·         What causes depression?

·         How is depression treated?

•  What effects can untreated depression  have? 
  
•  What is the difference between “baby blues,”postpartum  depression, and postpartum psychosis?