What treatments are available for postpartum depression?

The treatment options for postpartum depression are counseling, antidepressant medications and hormone therapy.

• Counseling is focused on helping the woman to find better ways to cope with her feelings and to set goals. Women with milder depression may respond to counseling alone.
• Antidepressant medications are an effective treatment for postpartum depression.
• 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, a healthy lifestyle including a nutritious diet, daily exercise, good sleep patterns and accepting help and support from family and friends are important to support the treatment plan. With effective treatment, postpartum depression usually goes away within a few months. Continuing treatment after the woman begins to feel better is important. Stopping treatment too early may lead to a relapse.

If you think you have postpartum depression, contact your healthcare provider. If you are feeling overwhelmed, sad, out-of-control or feel unable to care for or to love your baby you need to seek treatment. Sometimes it is a family member or friend who recognizes the symptoms of post-partum depression. Let them call your healthcare provider for you and accompany you to see the doctor.

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.

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.

For most women, a combination of counseling and short-term antidepressant medication makes all the difference in treating postpartum depression (PPD). If you don’t want to try medications, ask your therapist about starting with counseling first to see if that is enough; often, it is. Also make sure to ask about the importance of getting adequate sleep, exercise and good nutrition. Many studies show that these factors can help a lot! New moms can ask their OBGYN, family physician, clergy or friends for a referral to a psychotherapist who can help moms suffering from PPD.

New moms may be ashamed of feeling unloving about the baby, feeling sad, overwhelmed and irritable, having trouble with sleep and appetite, and having feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and often don’t ask for help. They are told to “get a grip,” to “appreciate your beautiful family,” or that “in my day, we didn’t have time to be depressed.” All these reactions make the postpartum depression (PPD) sufferer feel worse, and less likely to seek help. But it’s important to seek help. The whole family suffers from PPD. So, treating mom for PPD helps mom, the baby, and the whole family as well.

It helps to know you are not alone. That means to find support for yourself, either with other women who are going through or have gone through the same thing. A support group can be invaluable. See your health care provider and get yourself checked out physically. Medication may be suggested. Don't dismiss the idea right away. For some women with PPD, it is a true life saver and needing it nothing to be ashamed of. It doesn't mean you're weak or damaged or will become an addict.

Here's where to remember it's not your fault! It's your biology, your genetics, your hormones, your pre-pregnancy psychological make-up, your personality, etc., etc., etc. All things that are out of your control. But all things that can be handled. All you can control are your responses and reactions. If you're not responding and reacting to these factors and new stresses in a way that's helpful for you, get professional help and support from others to help you through this difficult time.

Postpartum depression is very common and very treatable. Call your doctor as soon as you or a significant other suspects that postpartum depression is a problem. You heard right; if you even think a problem exists, then sharing the concerns with a professional is wise. Playing the martyr will only exacerbate the problem, preventing you from experiencing the joys of motherhood and preventing your baby from the benefits of having an engaged, happy mom.