During pregnancy, our physical bodies go through numerous changes like weight gain, inflammation, swelling, nausea and increased blood volume. But the changes that most of us don’t anticipate as much are the mental health struggles that can accompany pregnancy.
Most of us have heard the term “baby blues,” also known as post-partum depression. We probably also know a friend or family member that has experienced this after having their baby. When sleeping becomes rare during the newborn phase or there is colic that keeps your infant crying what seems like 24/7, it’s not a surprise that moms will start to feel down.
Many medical professionals will put a large emphasis on taking care of a mom’s mental health after delivery, but what is often forgotten is how mom is feeling while pregnant, especially when diagnosed with a rare disease like fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAITFetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia A rare condition in which a mother’s immune system attacks fetal platelets, leading to dangerously low platelet levels before and/or after birth.).
FNAIT and my prenatal mental health
It was very unfortunate that when I was diagnosed with FNAIT during my second pregnancy, the world was also two months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the many restrictions in place at hospitals and because I was already halfway through my pregnancy, I had to drive one hour across a major city to do my first few IVIGIntravenous immunoglobulin A treatment given to pregnant women with a history of FNAIT or known alloantibodies. IVIG reduces the immune reaction against fetal platelets. infusions at a larger hospital. My husband couldn’t be in the hospital with me either.
With the stress of not knowing much about FNAIT and the fear of catching COVID-19 while pregnant, I experienced a severe panic attack while in the hospital during a transfusion. It felt as though I was having a heart attack, and the nurses, who took wonderful care of me, ran an EKG, finding that everything was normal. This was just the beginning of the negative effect FNAIT would have on my mental health.
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Facing the COVID-19 pandemic and healing from PTSD
Dealing with my medical insurance became extremely frustrating because of how COVID-19 was affecting the entire medical world. It took weeks to finally get coverage for the intravenous immunoglobulinIntravenous immunoglobulin A treatment given to pregnant women with a history of FNAIT or known alloantibodies. IVIG reduces the immune reaction against fetal platelets. infusions, along with another few weeks before I was able to have an in-home nurse come to my house to administer them. Being on lockdown didn’t help either with its never ending list of unknowns. When it finally came time to deliver my son, there were some complications during my c-section that left mental scars for years to come.
The first few years after my son was born, my husband and I fell into our routine as parents of 2 little kids. It wasn’t until I experienced other major life events that I decided it was time to seek professional help and see a therapist regularly. Through therapy, I was diagnosed with PTSD from all that happened during pregnancy. That PTSD was negatively affecting my daily life and my relationships. Burying all the emotions I had didn’t work, and eventually, they came back up to the surface. It is never a bad thing to seek out help when you need it and to address those difficult moments in your past when you’re ready.
If you’re struggling, ask for help
During my first pregnancy, in which I was not officially diagnosed with FNAIT, I remember the first time that I got a sudden “down” feeling. For anyone who is not pregnant, it felt like depression–I experienced a feeling of hopelessness, and I couldn’t seem to find or do anything that made me feel happier.
Luckily, these feelings would come and go, never becoming severe enough to seek professional help. I was able to manage the symptoms, but this change really caught me off guard.
It’s important to remember that every pregnancy is different, and my experience may not mirror yours Prenatal depression can become severe quickly and should be handled like any other medical event. FNAIT and any rare disease can affect your mental health just as much as your physical health.
Don’t be afraid to talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling during pregnancy, especially if there are any thoughts of suicide or self-harm. The 988 line is always open to take your text or call and can also help you find mental health services close to you. There are professional counselors who specifically work in the field of prenatal mental health that can be there for you as well. If you are struggling with your mental health during pregnancy, don’t hesitate to contact your OBGYN for help or additional resources.
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