Medical Treatment......for postpartum depression depends on the form and how severe it is.

Your health care provider may refer you for psychological help and individual or group therapy.

Support groups are helpful.

Marriage counseling may be part of your treatment plan.

It's important for friends and family to understand the illness so they can help and be more empathetic.

Medication can be helpful (see below).

For postpartum blues, specific treatment may not be necessary as the condition disappears spontaneously. If symptoms do not go away within 2 weeks, calling a health care provider is recommended.

Pharmacotherapy:

Vitamins: While postpartum depression in Canada is rarely related to nutritional problems, it is a good idea to continue to take prenatal vitamins like folic acid and iron after delivery.

Antidepressants: Drugs such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), or venlafaxine (Effexor) may be given for as long as a year (possibly longer). Other medications that might be used include lithium or valproic acid (Depakote).

Hormone therapy: Estrogen, often in combination with an antidepressant, sometimes helps with postpartum depression. Some women also require thyroid treatment for hormonal rebalancing.

Other therapies: include the use of bright light and nutritional therapy (especially increasing omega-3 fatty acids).

If you are breastfeeding, medicine you take can be passed to your baby. Some antidepressants can be used safely with little risk to the baby.

(eMedicineHealth, 2005)



Depression not only hurts the mother, but also affects her family. Some researchers have found that depression during pregnancy can raise the risk of delivering an underweight baby or a premature infant. Some women with depression have difficulty caring for themselves during pregnancy. They may have trouble eating and won’t gain enough weight during the pregnancy, they may also have trouble sleeping, may miss prenatal visits, may not follow medical instructions and or advice, have a poor diet, or may use harmful substances, like tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs (Robertson, Celasun & Stewart, 2003).

Postpartum depression can affect a mother’s ability to parent. She may lack energy, have trouble concentrating, be irritable, and may not be able to meet her child’s need of love and affection. As a result, she may feel guilty and lose confidence in herself as a mother, which can worsen the depression. Researchers believe that postpartum depression can affect the infant by causing delays in language development, problems with emotional bonding to others, behavioral problems, lower activity levels, sleep problems, and distress. It helps if a spouse or another caregiver can assist in meeting the needs of the baby and other children in the family while mom is depressed (Robertson, Celasun & Stewart, 2003).

All children deserve the chance to have a healthy mom. Likewise,all moms deserve the chance to enjoy their life and their children. If you or anyone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression during or after pregnancy, please tell a loved one and call your doctor or midwife immediately. (Robertson, Celasun & Stewart, 2003).




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Web pages created by: Desiree Reichhardt (2007)