Family Focus: Maternal Depression, Help Available

This week, KSEE24 has partnered with First 5 Fresno County for another Family Focus series. The topic is something many moms don’t like to talk about, but should: maternal depression…or depression during pregnancy.

As Carina Corral shows us, it’s more common than you might think and there’s plenty of help available.

"I’m a very energetic mom. I like being with my kids and doing activities with them," said Teresa, who only wants to be identified by her first name. She is a very involved mom with her five kids, so when she started withdrawing from them she knew something wasn’t right. 

"After I was pregnant with my fourth child I noticed myself changing," she said.

It wasn’t until she became pregnant with her fifth child that she sought help. "That’s when it came on to me that I couldn’t even leave my house."

Her doctor referred her to the Fresno County Perinatal Mental Health Program where she was diagnosed with maternal depression and started seeing a therapist.

     

"Every therapy session we let the parents talk, let them say what going on," said Sona Yemenjian, one of the therapists of the perinatal program.

The therapists work one-on-one with patients talking them through their feelings, giving positive feedback and letting them know these symptoms will pass.

"You can solve them, it’s temporary and there’s hope. Hope that what you’re going through are not something that’s not treatable," said Yemenjian.

Symptoms of maternal depression include sadness, uncontrollable crying, chronic fatigue, anxiety and irritability that last longer than two weeks and continue to intensify.

"Those are symptoms that we want to address and get a handle on early on," said Program Director Jeanie Cox, who says they treat about 400-500 patients a year. 

Most of the time, it’s not long before the women are feeling like themselves again, excited about life and the life they’ve created.

Teresa is living proof.

"I enjoy my life, I enjoy living! Before I was having thoughts about why am I here?" she said. 

Experts say to talk to your doctor if you have feelings of depression.

KSEE24 will also host a call center Friday during our evening newscasts when people can call in to get more information from a panel of experts.