Pregnancy is a very exciting time, yet for some mothers-to-be it can sometimes be an anxious one too, particularly if you haven't been pregnant before, or if you have had a traumatic
birth experience in the past (which, thankfully, very few have). Some women find that their understandable concerns about their health and the health of their baby, coupled perhaps with
pregnancy sickness and hormonal changes, can increase
stress levels significantly, which can have a negative impact on their relationships and on their pregnancy.
What is less known is that around 10% of women will experience some form of
depression during pregnancy. This can be caused by a multitude of factors, such as hormonal imbalance, relationship problems, abuse issues, a family history of
depression, work related issues or a history of infertility or
miscarriage.
Symptoms of ante-natal
depression include: an inability to concentrate,
anxiety, extreme irritability with others and yourself, sleep problems - either too much or too little - eating problems - lack of appetite or eating too much for the sake of it - feeling tired all the time, inability to enjoy anything any more, constant sadness, agoraphobia - being scared to leave the house or to be in social situations - or obsessive compulsive tendencies, such as repeated washing of the hands.
How We Can Help
At the
Zita West Clinic we have a wide number of consultations designed to support you through these anxious moments. These include therapies such as
Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as Pregnancy Counselling (see below), all of which can be tailor-made to each individual. If you think that you may have symptoms of ante-natal
depression it is important to get help and support before the baby is born. This is probably best managed through Pregnancy Counselling, but you might also benefit from meeting with the clinic's consultant
midwife.
Hypnotherapy
The very term "hypnotherapy" can be off-putting initially for many people. But it shouldn't be. At base it's simply an extremely effective method by which to help you to to reach a profound state of relaxation, during which the subconscious part of the brain is accessed and positive suggestions can be made that release deep-seated fears and phobias.
Hypnotherapy is completely safe and very effective and you will be conscious throughout and fully aware of everything that is being said.
Many women, particularly those who are pregnant, can find
hypnotherapy invaluable in addressing and releasing the fears that may be making them worried and anxious. In addition,
hypnotherapy is effective in general
stress reduction too and this in turn reduces
stress hormones;
stress is thought to have an adverse influence on all stages of reproduction and pregnancy. It is particularly effective in helping women work through previous traumatic
birth experiences or specific
birth fears.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be described as a ‘brief’ form of psychotherapy; ‘brief’ meaning a few sessions as opposed to other forms of therapy that can take several years. In CBT we look at a person’s
emotions, behaviours and thoughts and try and identify the ones that are holding them back or causing disturbance in their life and then work on strategies to change them. The principle behind CBT is that it is not events that cause the problems but the way that we interpret these events.
Pregnancy Counselling
Pregnancy counselling provides time and space for you to explore your feelings and
emotions around your pregnancy and how this may be impacting on you and your relationships. The counsellor acts as a knowledgeable sounding-board, helping you to test out ways to manage your situation. Counselling can help you to cope with issues such as:-
- Anxiety and stress in the early stages of pregnancy
- The impact of pregnancy after previous miscarriages, pregnancy loss or previous traumatic birth experiences.
- Ante-natal depression
- Relationship difficulties
- The pressures of work, friends or family
.
Sometimes a single session of Pregnancy Counselling may be all that is needed. Sometimes a programme of sessions may be more appropriate. You can be seen by one of our pregnancy counsellors either individually or as a couple. Most counselling is face-to-face, but telephone counselling is also available.
How To Book or Contact Us For More Information
If you would like to book a consultation for
Hypnotherapy, CBT or Counselling, or if you just want to discuss your own situation and what we might be able to do to help, please click on "How to Contact Us" from the menu bar on the left hand side of this page, or click on "Contact Us", immediately below.
