Acupuncture helps in Depression during Pregnancy
Dr.Happy Lantin | Feb 24, 2010 | Comments 0
Pregnancy plays an important role in a woman’s life and it is often considered as one of their most memorable and happiest life event since they are bringing forth and welcoming a new member of the family. The pregnancy experience provides a feeling of complete bliss and total happiness especially for women who made their womanhood more fulfilling in their part. However, being in a happy mood does not happen all the time during pregnancy. Most of the time, pregnancy is a state wherein a mother experience enormous amount of stress due to the fact that they deal with many emotional and physical changes. Unfortunately, due to these numerous changes a woman may develop depression during pregnancy and this is not a favorable disposition for pregnant women. Depression in pregnancy is very dangerous and may compromise the mother and baby’s health. Although there are several antidepressant drugs which a pregnant woman can utilize; it is still evident how studies showed some serious side effects in newborns upon taking these medications during pregnancy. Now a recent study may have the answer to this potential problem through acupuncture which they believed may be used as an effective way to reduce depression during pregnancy. 
According to a study from the researchers of Stanford University School of Medicine, acupuncture may appear to be an effective way to reduce depression symptoms during pregnancy. Rachel Manber, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, who led this research study team, believes that a standardized acupuncture protocol could be a good treatment option for depression in pregnancy.
There are 14 percent of pregnant women who may actually develop a major depressive disorder which is described as feelings of gloom, hopelessness, and loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities. Although doctors may not be actually aware how pregnancy may cause depression, they believed that hormonal changes could be the one responsible behind it. From the co-author if this study, Deirdre Lyell, MD, who is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology; she reported that pregnancy can bring out some underlying psychiatric and emotional issues.
Depression during pregnancy is a critical problem and if left untreated may actually pose risk to both the mother and baby. According to Lyell, the treatment of depression during pregnancy is important so that a mother-to-be could maintain her sense of well-being and take good care of herself and her fetus. 
The use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy remains controversial because some antidepressants have been associated with risks of preterm labor or miscarriage. There are only two kinds of antidepressants which are traditionally utilized for depression during pregnancy: SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which includes Zoloft and Celexa; and TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants), including Pamelor, Tofranil, and Elavil.
In this manner, Manber reported his concern regarding the importance of finding an alternative treatment method for treatment of depression during pregnancy. Arising from this concern, the researchers performed their study among 150 women whose pregnancies were between 12 and 30 weeks gestation and who met the criteria for major depressive disorder. The subjects were randomized and received one of three treatments. Treatments used were acupuncture specific for depression, control acupuncture where needles were inserted in points which are known to help alleviate depressive symptoms, and massage. All the subjects received eight weeks of therapy and then afterwards were assessed for depression. At the end of the study, the researchers surmised that women who received depression-specific acupuncture responded better with greatly reduced depression as compared to the other groups.
There are many possible complications of depression during pregnancy and this may include lack of energy to seek prenatal care, substance abuse using alcohol, cigarettes, or even drugs during pregnancy, and in most severe cases of depression; self-harm or suicide which can lead to demise of baby. Because of these possible unfavorable outcomes of depression in pregnancy, there is a need to overcome such condition. But with the controversies behind the use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy, there seems to be an essential necessity to come up with a safer alternative treatment for pregnant ladies having depressive symptoms. The recent study of Manber and Lyell has paved a way of overcoming depression in pregnancy through acupuncture which is indeed safer and effective at the same time. Although more studies should be encouraged to support more concrete results, the researcher’s discovery has provided a window of opportunity for depressed pregnant women a chance to have a much better and happy life.
REFERENCES:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/sumc-ald021710.php
http://www.epigee.org/pregnancy/depression.html
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