It's common for a woman to become depressed during or just after a pregnancy. The timing and specific symptoms tend to vary by person.
The womenshealth.gov website mentions these risk factors for developing postpartum depression:
- Having had depression or another form of mental illness before pregnancy.
- Having a family history of depression or another mental illness.
- Lacking support from friends and family.
- Having negative or anxious feelings about being pregnant.
- Having had a prior pregnancy or delivery with complications.
- Being stressed about money or personal relationships.
- Engaging in substance abuse.
- Becoming pregnant at an early age.
Health Tip: Pregnant Women Must Protect Against Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that, if acquired by a pregnant woman, can threaten the fetus.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how to reduce a woman's risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis during pregnancy:
- Ask someone else to clean the cat's litter box each day.
- If you must clean the litter box yourself, wear gloves and carefully wash your hands when you're finished.
- Always wash hands with soap and water after exposure to unwashed vegetables, raw meat, soil or sand.
- Don't eat undercooked meat.
- Freeze meat for a few days before you cook it. This will greatly reduce the chances of infection.
- Carefully clean with hot water and soap all knives and cutting boards after using them.
- Wash or peel vegetables and fruits before eating them.
- Don't drink untreated water, particularly when visiting another country.
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