Women struggling with depression during pregnancy might not be feeling overjoyed at the prospect of being pregnant at all. That happy feeling of being pregnant may be overshadowed by the cloudy feelings of depression. This actually puts one in a very difficult position, as it is no fun being depressed when it’s usually an occasion to be ecstatic about. Although the root causes of depression are often complex, there are natural treatments available. Herein, we take a look at some of the ways through which one can the treatment of depression can be done naturally among pregnant women.

1. Being honest about how you feel
The first step toward the natural treatment of depression is to admit to oneself how they feel. One should not pretend to be cheerful when they are not. Ignoring the signs and symptoms of depression during pregnancy has serious consequences for both the mother and the baby. Admitting feelings to oneself and also their partner will make both feel better.

2. Get a complete medical check-up done
Symptoms of depression can be caused by a number of medical problems like thyroid problems, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and anemia. Get yourself checked to rule out any of these diseases as the cause of your symptoms of depression. Many times women who experience severe vomiting and nausea during pregnancy also report depression.

3. Seek support and stay connected
If you really feel that you need support during this time of pregnancy, don’t feel shy to ask for it. This will give you some time for yourself and will also help to keep feelings of depression at bay. You can also go in for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is the best therapy available for coping with symptoms of depression.

4. Optimize your diet
Mood swings can be caused by consuming gluten and dairy products; although one might crave them like crazy during pregnancy, they need to avoid such foods to stay healthy. However, if you do go dairy-free, make sure that you get calcium from other sources. It is also important to eat high-quality food, especially food products rich in protein like nuts, meat, fish, poultry, hummus or a protein shake. You will also need to make sure that you are getting all the nutrients that you need from your diet.

5. Exercise
Yoga or exercise can help work wonders both on the body and in the mind. It is one of the best natural treatments for depression. Having an exercise regime can help one work on improving their lifestyle and helps ward off those symptoms of depression.

6. Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep increases the symptoms of depression during pregnancy. It makes one more irritable and they will not be able to concentrate on anything they want to do. Since pregnancy already makes it harder for one to get enough sleep with a growing belly and frequent need to use the restroom, taking cat naps during the day helps in the natural treatment of depression.

It’s critical to naturally treat depression during pregnancy so that the mother and baby are in good health and live a happy life.