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Postpartum Depression. (PPD)

Feeling down in the dumps ? feeling blue ?

What is postpartum depression ?

80% of moms go through some anxiety and depression after pregnancy. Most moms don’t realise that they are depressed, and moms that do not breastfeed are usually at a higher risk of getting post partum blues. The baby blues is a very common part of childbirth and generally only lasts a few weeks, only some mothers (about 10%) may become heavily depressed and need to seek professional help.

Depression symptoms (signs of postpartum depression):

Ask yourself the following questions if you think you might have postpartum depression:

- Am I happy, as happy as what I was before I gave birth?

- Do I feel like life is passing me by, and that things are unreal?

- Do I feel like it’s an effort to do anything I usually have to do like clean up, bath baby etc.

- Do I look forward to anything anymore?

- Have I been very emotional lately (mood swings )?

- Am I losing or gaining allot of weight?

- Do I feel like I’m detached from my baby?

- Do I find it difficult being intimate with my partner?

Read more on breastfeeding and sex here Depression treatment:

The entire family is affected when a mom is feeling depressed, even baby.

1. Get at least eight hours of sleep daily

2. Take a multi vitamin supplement that is safe to take during breastfeeding

3. Get as much help with baby as possible

4. Talk about the way you feel. Talk to a healthcare provider with both knowledge of post-partum depression and breastfeeding. Get some emotional support as well, from somebody that you can confide in.

5. Eat a balanced diet

6. Several studies have proven that exercise can be effective in treating depression.

7. Depression after delivery help line:(1-800-944-4PPD).

8. Ask your doctor about antidepressants like Zoloft and Paxil that are safe to use during breastfeeding

9. There are herbs that are safe to take during breastfeeding that can help with ppd.

Can breastfeeding actually help prevent baby-blues?

Depression in women has been proven to be lower in those who breastfeed. Abrupt weaning or not weaning at all can cause a moms hormone levels to change which can cause the depression. Oxytocin which is one of the hormones that is released while breastfeeding is a powerful antidepressant. Many mothers who are experiencing post partum blues, have been recommended to stop breastfeeding and will continue to have post partum depression and some get even worse.

What causes PPD?

- The sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone after delivery