A Deeper Shade of Blue: A Woman's Guide to Recognizing and Treating Depression in Her Childbearing Years

Depression affects women almost twice as often as men, with about one in four women suffering from it in her lifetime. While depression may strike at any time, studies show that women are particularly vulnerable during their childbearing years.

Despite the increasing awareness of this deeply concerning issue, many studies and health professionals still continue to focus almost solely on postpartum depression, ignoring the fact that depression is just as likely to affect women while they're trying to conceive and during pregnancy. Now, in this comprehensive, empathetic, and candid book, Dr. Ruta Nonacs, a senior member of the Center for Women's Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and mother of two children herself, confronts the seldom talked-about issues of pregnancy-related depression, including:

Becoming pregnant while being treated for depression

Infertility-related depression and the effects of fertility treatments

Understanding the effects of maternal depression on spouses and family

Postpartum depression and anxiety

Nonacs also addresses the many complicated issues in a woman's life during the span of her childbearing years — education, career, marriage, childbearing, and child rearing — and discusses the ways in which depression often takes hold during potentially stressful times. Nonacs identifies many of the symptoms of depression associated with pregnancy and discusses treatments and cures, as well as ways to minimize effects of depression on family and friends.

Straightforward and honest, as well as emotionally sensitive and deeply moving, A Deeper Shade of Blue gives every woman who has suffered from pregnancy-related depression theinformation she needs to get the best care for herself, during pregnancy and beyond.

Depression affects women almost twice as often as men, with about one in four women suffering from it at some point in her lifetime. While depression may strike at any time, studies show that women appear to be particularly vulnerable during their childbearing years. This comprehensive and empathetic book confronts the seldom-talked-about issue of pregnancy-related depression, identifying symptoms, treatments, and cures for this constellation of serious, underdiagnosed, and surprisingly common emotional conditions.

Topics covered include the emotional repercussions of infertility and miscarriage, depression during pregnancy, postpartum depression and anxiety, and the impact of maternal depression on spouse and family. Also addressed are the many aspects of a woman's life — career, education, marriage, and a host of other factors — that may increase her stress during the span of her childbearing years and make her especially susceptible to emotional difficulties.

Straightforward, honest, and sensitive, A Deeper Shade of Blue speaks directly to women at risk of or suffering from depression within the context of childbearing and provides the information they need to get the best care, during pregnancy and beyond.

Dr. Ruta Nonacs, M.D., Ph.D., is the associate director of the Center for Women's Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Contents

Foreword by Lee S. Cohen, MD

Part One: Introduction

Chapter 1 A Neglected Problem: Depression During the Childbearing Years

Chapter 2 Hormones and Mood: Understanding What Causes Depression in Women

Chapter 3 The Ripple Effect: How Depression Affects the Family

Part Two: Pregnancy

Chapter 4 Modern Technology Meets Mother Nature: Getting Pregnant

Chapter 5 Unexpected Tragedies: Coping with Pregnancy Loss and Other Complications

Chapter 6 A Not-So-Rosy Blush: Depression During Pregnancy

Part Three: The Postpartum Period

Chapter 7 Crying for No Good Reason: Baby Blues and the Transition to Motherhood

Chapter 8 Beyond the Blues: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Chapter 9 No Sense of Reality: Postpartum Psychosis

Part Four: Minimizing the Impact of Depression

Chapter 10 Life After Children: Partners As Parents

Chapter 11 Helping Yourself: Practical Techniques for Managing Stress and Depression

Chapter 12 Seeking Professional Help: Treatment of Maternal Depression

Chapter 13 Understanding Your Options: Treating Depression During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Chapter 14 For Families and Friends: How You Can Help

Author's Note

Appendix A: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Appendix B: FDA Pregnancy Categories

Appendix C: Women's Mental Health Programs

Resources

Recommended Reading

References

Index