March 2018 - Misis Blog – For Moms and Dads

Everyone seems to talk about postpartum depression (PPD). There are myriads of reference articles, research, and support groups available for PPD.

However, prenatal depression seems to be swept under the rug.

Prenatal depression, antenatal depression, or simply depression during pregnancy is a real thing.

Often, people discount the feeling as something "normal" and "expected" during pregnancy, what with all the hormones and bodily changes a woman goes through.

But the truth is, being depressed during pregnancy is not normal nor expected, just like how being clinically depressed isn't normal for non-pregnant people.

Here are some useful information on what you need to know regarding prenatal depression.

I've also included some practical tips on how to cope with depression during pregnancy—coming from someone who also struggled with prenatal depression.

What is prenatal depression?

Prenatal depression, or antenatal depression, is a form of clinical depression that occurs during pregnancy.

Like clinical depression, it's a mood disorder caused by a number of reasons, mostly attributed to a hormonal imbalance.

Causes of prenatal depression

The cause of prenatal depression is, unfortunately, poorly understood.

But studies have shown that certain risk factors may trigger depression during pregnancy:

genetics
personal history of depression
pregnancy complications
previous pregnancy loss
being in an abusive relationship
going through stressful life events like divorce, death in the family, and more

Symptoms of prenatal depression

Chances are, you're having prenatal depression if you experience the following for more than 2 weeks:

being extremely sad
constantly distracted
sleeping or eating too little or too much
being very anxious
mulling over suicide
feeling generally low

Prevalence

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), prenatal depression affects 14% to 23% of women.

Depression during pregnancy is, in fact, not rare. But many pregnant women feel that they are alone, partly because no one seems to have the courage to talk about it.

How do you cope with depression during pregnancy?

1. Open up about your depression to someone you trust

It's sometimes really hard to open up about something that's laden with stigma, but it's one of the first steps to recovery.

Talk to someone you trust—it may be your husband, your parents or siblings, your best friend, or your pastor—the important thing is that you're comfortable talking with that person.

Tell them about your thoughts, no matter how incoherent it may sound.

The one you're talking to may not fully understand what you're going through, but just having someone to listen to you makes all the difference.

Bonus Tip: If you're not comfortable talking to someone you know, you can talk anonymously to a trained volunteer through Samaritans, a community of volunteers based in the UK who aims to help those struggling with mental health issues.

If you're living overseas like me, you can opt to email them through jo@samaritans.org.

2. Read or sing to your baby

While there aren't enough studies to prove that depression during pregnancy affects your unborn baby, it may negatively affect your capability to care for yourself, which in turn could affect your baby.

Depression could also potentially lead you to feel unattached to your baby.

To help you bond with your little one, and also to help you unwind, try reading or singing to your baby.

Read aloud children's stories and fairytales; your soothing voice can aid in your baby's vocabulary development. It also helps you keep your mind off negative thoughts.

Listen to classical music and let your baby hear it too. Studies have shown that classical music can positively impact your unborn baby's brain development.

3. Walk around your neighborhood

Exercise is one of the best and non-pharmaceutical ways to ease the symptoms of depression.

Any form of physical activity like walking around your neighborhood prompts your body to release feel-good hormones called endorphins, which can help you improve your sense of well-being.

Exercising during pregnancy also helps you maintain a healthy amount of weight gain, as well as helping you prep up for labor when the right time comes.

Bonus Tip: Walking around may not be an option for you if you're on bed rest or having a complicated pregnancy.

You can try brain-stimulating exercises instead, such as solving crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

4. Pamper yourself

Self-care is often overlooked when looking for treatment for depression.

Being able to pamper yourself by going out for a haircut, having your nails done, or simply getting a good warm shower can help you feel good, even for just a little while.

Bonus Tip: You can also ask your husband or your family to do things for you when you're feeling down in the dumps.

Ask for a back rub, breakfast in bed, or a trip to the mall to help you recharge and have a change in scenery.

5. Seek help from a professional

This sounds pretty cliché, and most websites will tell you the same thing.

But if you feel like you're becoming a threat to yourself, such as having recurrent suicidal thoughts and having bouts of rage, it may be the best option to seek help from a professional.

Try going to your nearest hospital and look for a psychiatrist.

Don't worry about the potential effects of anti-depressants while your pregnant; some brands are considered safe to use during pregnancy.

You may also be able to work out a treatment plan with your psychiatrist without needing medications.

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Battling depression during pregnancy is no easy feat. I managed to cope with mine without having to seek help from a psychiatrist.

Untreated depression during pregnancy could increase your likelihood of having postpartum depression, so it's important for the issue to be addressed early on.

If you feel that you have depression—pregnant or not—please feel free to contact Samaritans.

They were a really big help when I was pregnant and even after pregnancy when I had the baby blues.

Or you can always contact me. You can do it, Momma! :-)

March 13, 2018 No comments

Getting a passport for your baby as early as now isn't a bad idea, especially if your family already has travel plans.

What most mothers worry about is how long the wait is for setting up an appointment at the DFA Office.

The good news is, minors 7 years old and below do not need to have an appointment and can go directly to the DFA office without waiting in line.

Here are tips on how to get a passport for your baby in the Philippines:

What are the passport requirements for babies in the Philippines?

Passport requirements for minor applicants, specifically babies and those below 7 years old, are pretty straightforward:

Accomplished Application Form - Don't bother printing out one from home; the security guard at the DFA office will hand you out a new form upon entrance.
Personal Appearance of minor applicant and either parent or authorized adult companion
PSA Birth Certificate (Original) - For more information on how to get your baby's PSA/NSO birth certificate in one month, please refer to my article here: How to Get Your Baby's NSO Birth Certificate Fast in One Month (Infographic and Tips)
Passport of either parents with one (1) photocopy
Valid Government issued ID of either parent with one (1) photocopy - For a list of of valid IDs, check it out here.
School ID (if available)

Note: This list is according to the latest guidelines provided by the DFA on their website. For more information, please refer to their website here. Other requirements are also provided there for the following special circumstances:

In case applicant has No PSA Birth Certificate/Report of Birth yet
In case applicant is not accompanied by the parent/s during the application process
In case applicant is not traveling with parent/s
In case applicant is an illegitimate child in custody of the Mother
If the applicant is an Illegitimate child and mother is deceased / absent and father is unknown
If the minor applicant has undergone the process of domestic adoption
If the minor applicant is undergoing or has undergone the process of foreign adoption / Inter Country Adoption Board (ICAB) adoption process
If the applicant is a foundling and NOT for adoption

What is the best time to go to the DFA Office without an appointment?

In Facebook comments, I read that some DFA Offices have a limit of up to 80 courtesy lane applicants per day only.

I'm not sure if it's true in Cebu. Just in case, it's best to go to the DFA Office before lunch, ideally before 10:00 AM.

Who can accompany the baby at the DFA office?

Either parent or an authorized adult companion can accompany the baby at the DFA office.

In our case, both my husband and I were able to enter the office and accompany our baby.

What should babies wear during passport application?

There is honestly no hard-and-fast rule in place for the dress code.

But it's ideal to avoid sleeveless clothes for your baby. No need to wear something with a collar.

For as long as it has sleeves and looks decent, it should be okay.

In our case, we dressed up our baby in a dress without a collar but with sleeves.

Can either the mother or the father also update her/his passport together with the baby?

Yes. But only one "piggy-back" application can accompany the minor's application.

In our case, I renewed my passport and updated my name and civil status, together with our baby's passport application.

How much does the passport application cost for babies?

In DFA's website, it's stated that passport applications through the courtesy lane are considered expedited applications and therefore the expedited fee of 1, 200php applies.

However, in our case, we were able to avail of the regular fee of 950php.

Additionally, we also opted to have our passports mailed directly at home. For this, you need to pay 150php for each passport.

In our case, since it was my baby and me who applied for a passport, we paid 300php. This is because the passports are mailed separately (ours, however, arrived together on the same day).

How long will my baby's passport be available?

If you opted for the regular application, there is a lead time of 3 to 4 weeks, contrary to the promised 14 working days.

If you opted for the expedited application, there is a lead time of 1 to 2 weeks.

How many years after my baby's passport will expire?

For minors, the passport expiration is after 5 years.

Are baby strollers, baby bags, and baby carriers allowed inside the DFA Office?

Yes. Baby strollers, baby bags, and baby carriers are welcome inside the DFA Office during the application. There is more than enough space for a few strollers inside.

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So there you have it. Hope this helps. For more information, please refer to the Official DFA Website :-)

March 07, 2018 No comments