Antepartum Depression Affects Many Pregnant People: Here’s What to Know
Mental Health ConditionsDepression

Antepartum Depression Affects Many Pregnant People: Here’s What to Know

Antepartum Depression Affects Many Pregnant People: Here’s What to Know
Marta Lebek/Stocksy; Canva; Everyday Health
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Updated on February 14, 2026
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Depression is a mood disorder marked by major changes in emotional experience — including sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness — that cause considerable distress and may interfere with daily life for a prolonged period. Depression that happens during pregnancy is known as antepartum depression, and it’s quite common.

Here, learn more about antepartum depression, including potential causes, treatments, and complications.

What Is Antepartum Depression?

Antepartum depression is depression that happens during pregnancy. It’s a form of perinatal depression, which includes both antepartum depression and postpartum depression (PPD). Estimates show that 1 in 10 pregnant women experience antepartum depression and 1 in 7 experience PPD.

 However, both rates may be higher due to underreporting and lack of screening. Antepartum depression in particular is often overlooked, given that many symptoms mirror those common in pregnancy, like fatigue, low sex drive, depleted energy, and sleep issues.

As a key step in addressing this problem, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening both pregnant women and new mothers who are at an increased risk of perinatal depression.

 Several signs of being at an increased risk include a personal or family history of depression, pregnancy complications, and current depressive symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Antepartum Depression

Depression during pregnancy can have the same symptoms that define major depression in the general population, according to the Office on Women’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 These can include the following:
  • Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once enjoyed
  • Feeling hopeless, worthless, helpless, or guilty
  • Frequently feeling irritated, anxious, frustrated, or angry

It’s important to note that a number of symptoms of major depression are similar to the changes that many pregnant women typically experience, even those who do not have depression:

  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Changes in appetite and eating habits
  • Feeling anxious or overwhelmed

This overlap can make it difficult for healthcare providers to identify pregnant women who need professional mental health care.

Causes and Risk Factors of Depression During Pregnancy

Some women who struggle with depression in pregnancy have a history of depression.

 An episode of major depression puts you at a higher risk for more depressive episodes in the future.

That said, it’s possible for a person to have their first experience of depression during pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, perinatal depression (including depression during pregnancy) is often a result of hormonal and psychological changes associated with pregnancy, along with the impact of life stress.

 Other changes during pregnancy, such as bodily changes and alterations in sleep and eating habits, can contribute to antepartum depression.

Other risk factors for depression during pregnancy include the following:

  • History of anxiety
  • Unintended pregnancy
  • Major life stress, such as trauma
  • Insufficient social support system
  • Current or past domestic violence or abuse
  • Lower income or education level
  • Smoking
  • Being a single mother

Treatment Options

Managing antepartum depression is possible with standard treatments for major depression. According to the American Pregnancy Association, these treatments include the following:

While research suggests that antidepressant exposure does not increase the risk of birth defects, it’s nonetheless important to discuss the option with your healthcare provider, who can help you weigh risks and benefits.

While some pregnant women experience such severe depression that antidepressants are essential, for women with mild to moderate forms of depression, counseling or therapy can be an effective option. Lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and enough sleep each night can also help women manage antepartum depression.

Researchers are devoting more time to finding out whether mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga can treat depression during pregnancy. One meta-analysis concluded that mindfulness meditation — especially mindfulness-based cognitive therapy — may be an effective strategy for improving the remission rates of depression during pregnancy, in addition to helping prevent its rate of incidence.

Complications of Depression During Pregnancy

Pregnant women with depression are more likely to develop pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) than pregnant women who don’t have depression, according to the March of Dimes.

Women with depression during pregnancy are also at a higher risk for postpartum depression.

Untreated depression during pregnancy poses a health risk to the pregnant woman as well as the infant by increasing these risks:

  • Complications with pregnancy or delivery
  • Delivering a low-birth-weight baby
  • Prematurely giving birth

The risk of such complications underscores the importance of seeking care.

The Takeaway

  • Antepartum depression refers to depression during pregnancy, and estimates suggest that around 1 in 10 pregnant women experience it.
  • Many symptoms of antepartum depression mirror common pregnancy symptoms, like changes in sleep habits, decreased energy, and shifts in appetite. Risk factors include a history of depressive symptoms.
  • Treatments are available to help manage antepartum depression, including talk therapy, medication, and mindfulness exercises. It’s key to work with your healthcare provider to land on the best treatment for your situation.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Depression During Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. November 2024.
  2. Postpartum depression: Causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options. American Psychological Association. November 2, 2022.
  3. Pregnancy week by week. Mayo Clinic. November 21, 2024.
  4. Perinatal Depression: Preventive Interventions. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. April 22, 2025.
  5. Postpartum Depression. Office on Women’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. October 17, 2023.
  6. Prenatal Depression. Cleveland Clinic. May 10, 2022.
  7. Olaya B et al. Understanding the incidence and recurrence of depression and associated risk factors in 9 years of follow-up: Results from a population-based sample. Psyhchiatry Research. March 2025.
  8. Perinatal Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. 2023.
  9. Depression During Pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association.
  10. Suarez EA et al. Association of Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy With Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children. JAMA Internal Medicine. October 3, 2022.
  11. Li Y et al. Effect of mindfulness meditation on depression during pregnancy: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology. September 14, 2022.
  12. Stress and Pregnancy. March of Dimes. February 2023.
  13. Ghimire U et al. Depression during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction- an updated meta-analysis. Early Human Development. January 2021.
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Seth Gillihan, PhD

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Seth Gillihan, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, who helps people find personal growth by making important changes in their thoughts and habits. His work includes books, podcasts, and one-on-one sessions. He is the the host of the Think Act Be podcast and author of multiple books on mindfulness and CBT, including Retrain Your Brain, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple, and Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

He completed a doctorate in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania where he continued as a full-time faculty member from 2008 to 2012. He has been in private practice since 2012.
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