Treatment and Prevention
If you're experiencing mild depression or the "baby blues" you
should take care of yourself by getting adequate rest, eating a nutritious diet,
exercising in moderation, and accessing your social support system. Listen
and respond to your body's cues for rest. If possible, get some rest during
the day while the baby is napping.
If you're suffering from one of the more severe forms of postpartum depression, you should seek early treatment with a doctor so you can have a more rapid recovery. Treatment methods vary and may include counseling, antidepressant medication, anti-anxiety medication, and hormone therapy. Support groups may also be very helpful. Concerned family members should always discuss these symptoms with the family doctor if the new mother does not want to speak with the doctor herself. People suffering from this type of depression are often the last to admit how they really feel.
In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Usually, the baby will be
admitted with the mother or taken in for visits. The goal of treatment for postpartum
psychosis is to keep mother and baby safe and to preserve the mother's sense
of competence as a parent while she recovers.
If you're prescribed certain medications, you may need to stop breast-feeding
and turn to bottle-feeding instead, as some antidepressants can enter breast
milk and affect the baby's health. However, this is not the case with all antidepressants.
If you want to continue breast-feeding, ask your doctor about medications that are safe to use while nursing.
The good news is that there's a very high recovery rate for postpartum depression. While a few women may have a longer-lasting experience with depression, most women will find the condition improves within two to three months.