Although physical wellness and mental health are often perceived as two separate and distinct things, the truth is that the mind and body are inextricably linked and what impacts one usually affects the other as well. This connection is particularly strong in pregnancy as the rapid physical changes taking place alter the biochemical balance of the body and brain. Pregnancy is also a precursor to one of the biggest life-changing events there is — the arrival of a baby — and that alone is enough to stir up new and unexpected feelings.

Emotional Health

The hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy can have you feeling weepy one minute and irritable the next. And the emotions you experience, especially the negative ones, can be detrimental to your growing child. Depression, stress, and anxiety may alter your eating and sleep patterns, robbing you and baby of the nutrients and rest you need.

If you're feeling hopeless, sad, tired, having trouble sleeping, or losing interest in things that once gave you pleasure, you may be experiencing antepartum depression. Research has linked depression during pregnancy to preterm delivery, lower birth weight, developmental problems in infancy, and a 50 percent chance of developing postpartum depression. Don't wait — talk to your provider about treatment options today.

Clinical studies have found that depression and stress also have a direct impact on fetal growth and infant development. If you are feeling blue, you aren't alone; up to 11 percent of women experience major or minor depression and 70 percent have had depressive symptoms at some point in their pregnancy. Yet women frequently feel guilty that they are feeling so bad during a period of their life that is supposed to be joyful, and for that reason many do not seek professional help.

Keeping Stress in Check

Pregnancy is a stressful time. A lot of it is positive, exciting stress as you plan for the baby. But you may also be feeling the pressures of impending financial and family responsibilities, fears of labor and delivery, and new career challenges. Trying to keep up with a hectic prepregnancy schedule as your body grows to a very large and unwieldy size is also a sure-fire way to stress out. In high enough amounts, the stress hormone cortisol can cross the placental barrier and impact fetal brain development. It has also been linked to the development of high blood pressure in animal offspring studies. That's why it's essential to take time out for yourself throughout your pregnancy to decompress. (See Chapter 4 for more on stress management.)