Does mild depression affect pregnancy?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on May 19, 2025
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"[Generally, mild depression does not affect the ability to become pregnant normally, but it is not recommended to take medication during pregnancy, as some medications can affect the normal development of the fetus, even impacting the baby's brain development. If mild depression can be managed through psychological adjustment, that is best; it's important not to use medication lightly. In daily life, family and friends should also provide psychological comfort to the pregnant woman, helping her to safely get through the pregnancy. However, if mild depression is not treated effectively and timely, it can impact the entire pregnancy.]"

Other Voices

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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What is depression?

Depression, clinically referred to as depressive disorder, is a type of mood disorder. Its primary manifestations are persistent and significant low mood, reduced volition, and slow thinking. It is accompanied by sleep disturbances, eating disorders, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt and self-blame. Patients do not feel pleasure or interest, sometimes feel excessively guilty, and even find life meaningless, leading to thoughts and behaviors of suicide. In severe cases, depression may also present with psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. If these symptoms occur daily, are present most of the time, and persist for more than two weeks, significantly affecting work, study, daily life, social interactions, and family functions, then it can be diagnosed as depression. This describes the relevant clinical aspects of depression.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a psychological disorder affecting emotions, psychology, and the body, caused by a decline in physical constitution and poor mental state due to societal perspectives and excessive stress after childbirth. Mothers may experience anxiety, sadness, emotional indifference, weakness, a tendency to cry easily, and a loss of confidence and interest in life. These symptoms generally persist throughout the entire postpartum period. Mild cases of postpartum depression can be alleviated through daily life adjustments. More severe cases, however, require treatment at a formal medical institution, and it is crucial for family members to pay attention to psychological communication with the patient.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Is elderly depression easy to treat?

Depression in the elderly is difficult to treat because compared to younger patients, depression in the elderly tends to last longer with an average duration often exceeding one year, and episodes occur more frequently, often becoming chronic. Additionally, the prognosis for elderly depression is worse compared to other age groups, primarily due to the coexistence of cerebrovascular diseases and other physical comorbidities, recent acute illnesses, long-term ongoing diseases, as well as the presence of delusions and a lack of social support systems. Thus, depression in the elderly is quite challenging to treat.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How long does postpartum depression last?

Postpartum depression can generally be cured within a year in 70% of women. In families where such cases occur, it is important to pay attention, communicate more with the patient, and provide sufficient care and guidance. Additionally, timely psychological and pharmacological treatments should be administered to boost the patient's confidence and self-worth. It is also necessary to use antidepressant medications under a doctor's guidance that do not enter the breast milk, meaning they do not affect breastfeeding.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Do patients with mild depression need to be hospitalized?

Patients with mild depression can choose inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. The main decision depends on the communication between the patient, their family, and medical professionals. Patients with mild depression have relatively mild depressive symptoms, so psychological therapy is primarily used, with pharmacotherapy and physical therapy serving as supplementary treatments. Psychological therapy mainly employs cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve the patient’s unreasonable beliefs and alleviate emotional stress. This includes identifying automatic thoughts, recognizing the irrationality of cognition, and employing reality testing, ultimately aiming to improve the patient's symptoms. Pharmacological treatment primarily uses serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and patients can adhere to a regular medication schedule at home during outpatient treatment periods. Physical therapy consists mainly of transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can be administered either as an outpatient or inpatient treatment. The final treatment choice should involve comprehensive communication with the patient's family and physicians to make an informed decision.