Causes of Antenatal Depression
Many factors can lead to antenatal depression among women, and hormonal imbalance during pregnancy can be part of the reasons. Pregnant women will have a two-to-four time elevated maternal cortisol level during normal pregnancy to support fetal growth and development. However, the cortisol awakening response is highly associated with momentary mood states, according to an article published on BMC pregnancy and childbirth. The research also points out the correlation between hypercortisolemia and transient depressive states.
Apart from hormonal imbalance, other possible causes are:
- Miscarriage experience
- Difficult childbirth experience
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Depression history
- Financial pressures
- Unhappy childhood memory
- Poor self-esteem [3]
