Managing postpartum depression
How is postpartum depression treated?
Depression is a medical condition that requires treatment. It's not a sign of weakness. Be honest with yourself and those who care about you. Tell them about your struggle. You, your health professional, and your friends and family can team up to treat your postpartum depression symptoms.
Talk to your health professional about your postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms, and decide on what type of treatment is right for you. (You may also have your thyroid function checked, to make sure a thyroid problem isn't causing your symptoms.) Treatment options include:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy with a supportive counsellor. This is recommended for all women with postpartum depression. It can also help prevent postpartum depression. In one study, PPD symptoms improved after one session and showed much greater improvement after six sessions.3 A cognitive-behavioural counsellor can also teach you skills for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
- Interpersonal counselling, focusing on your relationships and the personal changes that come with having a new baby. This gives you emotional support and help with problem-solving and goal-setting. In one study, more women recovered from PPD after 12 interpersonal counselling sessions than did those who had no counselling.4
- Antidepressant medication, ideally with counselling. Because breast-feeding offers many emotional and physical benefits for both baby and mother, experts are studying which antidepressants are most safe for breast-feeding babies. So, you can breast-feed while taking an antidepressant for postpartum depression.2 Whether or not you are breast-feeding, your health professional is likely to recommend a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This class of medication has proven to work very well for women, with minimal to no side effects.5 Tricyclic antidepressants, excluding doxepin (Sinequan), are also used by breast-feeding women.
Breast-feeding babies whose mothers take an antidepressant do not often have side effects. But they can. If you take an antidepressant while breast-feeding, talk to your doctor and your baby's doctor about what types of side effects to look for.
Home treatment measures may also be helpful.
- Schedule outings and visits with friends and family, and ask them to call you regularly. Isolation feeds depression, especially when combined with the stress of caring for a newborn.
- Get as much sunlight as possible—keep your shades and curtains open, and get outside as much as you can.
- Eat a balanced diet. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. If you have little appetite, eat small snacks throughout the day. Nutritional supplement shakes are also useful for keeping up your energy.
- Get regular daily exercise, such as outdoor stroller walks. Exercise helps improve mood.
- Ask for help with food preparation and other daily tasks. Family and friends are often happy to help a mother with newborn demands.
- Don't overdo it, and get as much rest and sleep as possible. Fatigue can increase depression.
- Join a support group of moms with new babies. An infant massage class is another great way of getting out and spending time with others whose daily lives are like yours, while learning new ways to bond with your baby. To find a support group in your area, talk to your health professional or public health service, or see the Web site of Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net.
- Play stimulating music throughout your day and soothing music at night.
Test Your Knowledge
If I'm not willing to take an antidepressant medication, there's really no point in talking to my doctor.
I have an antidepressant that I took before pregnancy, but I should check with my health professional before taking it again for postpartum depression.
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| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: August 22, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry | |
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