How is postpartum depression treated?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Counseling is the first line of defense to help get you back on track, and medications might be carefully added as well. You're especially at risk if you've suffered from any form of depression any time previously, have a family history of depression, or have recently undergone a major life change (other than the pregnancy). Some women who know they're at risk often ask their doctors for a prophylactic antidepressant before symptoms set in.Counseling is the first line of defense to help get you back on track, and medications might be carefully added as well. You're especially at risk if you've suffered from any form of depression any time previously, have a family history of... More -
Dr. Robert Farra of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:There are psychologists who specialize in the treatment of postpartum depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been widely researched and has been shown to be very effective in the resolution of postpartum depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and our behavior, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this type of therapy is that it puts the power to improve things in the hands of patient. We can change the way we think to feel and act better even if the people or situations do not change.
There are psychologists who specialize in the treatment of postpartum depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been widely researched and has been shown to be very effective in the resolution of postpartum depression. Cognitive... More -
Dr. Deborah Raines of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Postpartum depression is often treated with counseling and medication. Women with milder depression may respond to counseling alone, but many women need a combination of counseling and medication.
- Counseling may help the woman find better ways to cope with her feelings, to solve problems and to set goals. Sometimes having the spouse/partner and other family members participate in the counseling session is also helpful.
- Antidepressant medications are a proven treatment for postpartum depression. If the woman is breastfeeding she can work with the physician to select an antidepressant that is safe during breastfeeding.
- Hormone therapy, specifically estrogen replacement may help counteract the rapid drop in estrogen that accompanies childbirth, and may ease the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression.
In addition healthy eating, daily exercise, good sleep patterns and accepting help and support from family and friends are important. Postpartum depression usually goes away within a few months, with appropriate treatment. It's important to continue treatment after the woman begins to feel better. Stopping treatment too early may lead to a relapse.
Postpartum depression is often treated with counseling and medication. Women with milder depression may respond to counseling alone, but many women need a combination of counseling and medication. Counseling may help the woman find better ways to... More -
Burke Lennihan RN CCH answered:Sepia is the most commonly used natural remedy and it is worth a try. Women who need it tend to be exhausted (common of course for mothers nursing infants!) and to feel at the end of their rope. They may get teary at the drop of a hat or irritable with their loved ones.
If this sounds like you, try Sepia in a 30c potency (strength) from any health food store, or online. (If you tend to be very sensitive to a wide variety of medications, fumes, fragrances and environmental chemicals, 30c may be too strong for you – use 6c, the mild potency, instead.)
Dissolve a couple of pellets in your mouth as a single dose, and notice how you feel. If there is no change, repeat twice a day until you feel more energy and your mood lightens. As soon as you feel the remedy working, stop taking it and let it keep working until it wears off, then repeat again.
If the remedy description doesn’t sound like you, or if you try it and it doesn’t work, that means you need a different remedy for postpartum depression. Please consult a professional homeopath (www.homeopathicdirectory.org).
For more about natural remedies, including ones that are safe for babies, kindly see my book, A Healer In Every Home.
Find out more about this book: Your Natural Medicine Cabinet: A Practical Guide to Drug-Free Remedies for...
Sepia is the most commonly used natural remedy and it is worth a try. Women who need it tend to be exhausted (common of course for mothers nursing infants!) and to feel at the end of their rope. They may get teary at the drop of a hat or... More
