Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Many women experience postpartum depression (PPD) after giving birth. Treatment is essential because you deserve a feeling of happiness and well-being, and your baby also deserves a healthy and happy mother. Medicines may be needed in some cases, but unless you have severe depression you can try some natural remedies first.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Recognizing postpartum depression

1. 

   Understand that baby blues syndrome that occurs in the postpartum period is normal. The first few weeks after your baby is born, you may feel depressed, restless, and anxious. You may find that you cry more and have difficulty sleeping. When these symptoms occur, you should understand that it is natural, and that the increase in symptoms is due to exhaustion and stress when you first become a mother. These manifestations will not cause postpartum depression if improved after 2-3 weeks.

2. 

   
   
   Watch for lingering negative feelings. Usually, “baby blues” syndrome begins to improve within two weeks. If you haven't been doing better after that time, you may have postpartum depression.

3. 

   
   
   Watch for weakness. When you first become a mother, you will probably be very tired - the body is still recovering from pregnancy and delivery, and the baby is not sleeping properly. However, if the fatigue gets overwhelmed and doesn't seem to get better after rest, it could be a sign of postpartum depression.

4. 

   
   
   Pay attention to your mood swings. Hormonal changes, new obligations, and extreme fatigue all contribute to mood swings. If the symptoms are severe, especially when accompanied by anger or depression, you may need treatment for postpartum depression.

5. 

   Try to bond with your baby. If you can't seem to connect with your new baby after a few weeks, you may have postpartum depression, especially if this is accompanied by other symptoms.

6. 

   Notice any change in your cravings. Women with postpartum depression often have anorexia (but in some cases eat more than usual). This change does not necessarily indicate PPD - it could be caused by hormonal changes, and breastfeeding can make you feel more hungry too - but if other symptoms come along, factor This could be a warning sign.

7. 

   Pay attention if you lose interest. If you find that you are no longer interested in activities or people you enjoyed in the past, you may have PPD. Women suffering from postpartum depression often withdraw from family and friends and lose interest in past favorite activities.

8. 

   You need urgent treatment if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. In severe cases, PPD can cause the person to think about harming themselves and their baby. Get medical attention right away if you have these symptoms.
   • Treating postpartum depression with natural therapy may not be the best and safest way in severe cases. Talk to your doctor if you need to take antidepressants or other treatments, such as electric shock therapy (ETC).
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Part 2 of 4: Coping with postpartum depression

1. 

   Talk to someone you trust. There is no reason to hide your feelings. If you have postpartum depression, try to talk to someone who is a good listener without judgment - be it a spouse or partner, a close friend, a family member or a friend who just worked. mom. Talk to them about your feelings and the things that worry you. Getting rid of your feelings can also be a helpful therapy.

2. 

   Find a therapist. Studies have shown that treatment can help many women with postpartum depression. An empathic therapist with experience in postpartum depression can help you identify your feelings, avoid mood swings, and take steps to help you feel better. . For women with mild or moderate PPD, finding a therapist can help them avoid taking antidepressants or other medications.
   • You can ask your obstetrician / gynecologist to refer a therapist who specializes in PPD treatment or search the internet.
   • Try http://locator.apa.org/ to find a suitable therapist. You can enter your city name or area code at the bottom of this website to find a therapist near you. You can then find a therapist who specializes in postpartum depression by searching for depression and pregnancy / childbirth.
   • You can also search through the support groups in the following list: http://www.postpartumprogress.com/ppd-support-groups-in-the-u-s-canada; They may refer you to a therapist based on their experience.

3. 

   Don't do everything alone. You should seek the help of a partner or family member to take care of the baby. You are not alone in your responsibility for the baby, even if it seems that way. Ask the people around you for help, tell them you're upset and overwhelmed, that you need their support!

4. 

   Get everyone's help with chores. Be specific about the job you need help with. You have the right to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby during the first few months of life. PPD can be exhausting, emotional, and overwhelming. You can absolutely ask others to take the burden off your shoulder. Your husband or partner should help you with housework and baby care. Alternatively, you can ask friends, neighbors, and relatives for help. They can help with the following:
   • bring frozen or ready-made food to you and your family.
   • do housework like cleaning and doing laundry.
   • help you run errands.
   • Take care and play with older children indoors.
   • watch the baby for a while so you can shower or take a nap.

5. 

   Take time to relax. With so many new responsibilities on your shoulder, finding time to rest can be difficult for you. After giving birth, you can easily get lost in many things, which are feeding your baby, burping, changing diapers, especially if you have many other obligations. Therefore, you need to try very hard not to take your health lightly. Make sure to take plenty of resting time. Here are a few tips that can help you take a break that you need to remember.
   • When a loved one helps take care of the baby and you want to switch to other things instead of resting, ask yourself how getting the job done is related to your health. There are times when you need to put off tasks to rest more.
   • Learn how to take effective naps. Try taking a nap in a dark room when you want to relax. Should take a nap no more than 10-30 minutes. You may find that the afternoon naps are most beneficial.
   • Relax your mind with normal games on your phone. Think-free games can boost your mood and reduce stress. You can play while watching the baby, as long as you are careful. Keep an eye on babies while playing games if you don't have private time.

6. 

   Eat well. A nutritious diet with fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low-fat milk and whole grains can help you feel better. Nourishing eating is even more essential if you are breastfeeding, as the supplements get into your baby through breast milk.
   • Avoid foods with a high sugar content such as soda water, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages. These foods may aggravate postpartum depression due to the effects of mood swings. For example, caffeine causes anxiety, and alcohol is a depressant.

7. 

   Do exercise. When you feel exhausted and overwhelmed, physical activity can help combat postpartum depression. Exercises don't have to be intense - you shouldn't actually do them for the first few weeks after giving birth. To start this activity, you just need to take your baby for a walk every day.

8. 

   Try to stay optimistic. While PPD cannot be completely cured just by keeping optimistic, being optimistic can help ease your symptoms. Remind yourself that postpartum depression is temporary, and you should feel better sooner. Although it's always easier said than done, try to focus on the fun things.
   • Stop the thought of screening.This negative thought trap occurs when you focus on negative information over positive information. To repel those thoughts, try thinking about the situation with the eyes of an outsider; in other words, you need to be as objective as possible. You may eventually find that your current situation is better than you might think.
   • Try not to over generalize. This thought occurs when we take something to refer to everything in general, or assume that it will always be. For example, if you have recently been deprived of sleep and feel that this is contributing to PPD, try to remember that this was not always the case; You will have a full night's sleep!
   • Just think, how wonderful it was to bring a new being to this world! This is a wonderful thing!
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Part 3 of 4: Using natural remedies

1. 

   Take fish oil pills. There is evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can help fight depression. You can buy this supplement without a prescription. Look for one with EPA and DHA.
   • Do not take fish oil before or two weeks after a cesarean section. In the case of a cesarean delivery, you need to wait two weeks after surgery to start taking supplements.

2. 

   Supplement with folic acid. In addition to eating a nutritious diet, you should also consider taking a folic acid supplement - folic acid that is either pure or incorporated into a B-complex vitamin. The risk of postpartum depression can be reduced if you take in sufficient amounts of this B vitamin.

3. 

   Try 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Talk to your doctor about 5-HTP, a natural supplement that increases serotonin levels. Some studies suggest that 5-HTP can help relieve symptoms of depression.

4. 

   Exposure to light. Light helps the body produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that, if it is low, is associated with depression. As a result, some people experience depression during winter when the sun becomes scarce. If you live in a sunny place, take advantage of going outside for a walk. Or you can choose a light therapy that is designed to emulate natural daylight. This lamp is available online.
   • Remember to do your research first by reading online reviews and consulting your doctor about specific products.

5. 

   Consider using acupuncture. Acupuncture is a very fine needle point therapy in the body that has been used in some parts of Asia for thousands of years. There is some evidence that acupuncture can treat mild to moderate depression, although controversial studies and efficacy in treating PDD have not been directly tested.
   • As this is an alternative area, you should consult with your doctor about the safety of using acupuncture for PPD treatment. Remember to ask questions about the impact on breast milk and any issues you are concerned about.
   • This is extremely important if you want to use acupuncture to treat depression during pregnancy to avoid putting needles in areas that could harm the fetus or cause problems during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using acupuncture during pregnancy and after giving birth.
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Part 4 of 4: Understanding the causes of postpartum depression

1. 

   Learn about hormone levels. Hormone levels change dramatically after you give birth. Understanding the causes of your depression can help if you want to treat your depression naturally. The most common cause is a drop in estrogen and progesterone, which is normal in the postpartum period but makes you feel sad and depressed.

2. 

   Know that other physical changes can contribute to depression as well. In addition to acting on hormones, childbirth can affect blood volume, blood pressure, immune system, and metabolism. These changes can make you tired, sad, and emotional.

3. 

   Take into account the lack of sleep. Many nights of staying awake and caring for your baby make you tired, easily emotional, overwhelmed, and less able to handle everyday problems. This can contribute to postpartum depression.

4. 

   Think of your stress level. Having a baby alone is pressure, even in the best of circumstances. You may worry about your ability to be a mother; In addition to feeling physically exhausted, you may also be concerned about losing your prenatal weight and getting back to feeling like you used to. Plus, if you have work pressure, money worries, relationship conflicts, problems with breastfeeding or worrying about other children, you may feel suffocated. breath. High levels of stress can also contribute to PPD. advertisement

Advice

• Some women may have a high risk of developing depression after giving birth. If your family has a history of depression, you are at higher risk. Your risk increases even more if you have a history of depression (postpartum depression or other type), or are often under great pressure in your life. Financial hardship and a lack of support from your partner can also add to risk. Also, if your baby requires special care, or this pregnancy was unintended, your risk of developing depression is higher.
• Diagnosing PPD may not be easy, especially at first. Many symptoms seem normal in the early days of the baby's birth. Anyway, new born women are always tired, sad and emotionally vulnerable. Notice how stressful and how long those feelings last to determine if you need help.
• Many women worry that being a mother is not good if they have postpartum depression. This is not true. It is not your fault that postpartum depression is your fault. That doesn't mean you are a bad mother or that you don't love your children.
• If natural remedies aren't working, talk to your doctor about other options, like antidepressants or electrocardiogram therapy. Remember to ask about the risks to the health of you and your baby.

Warning

• Always consult your doctor before taking any other dietary supplement or medicine. This is even more important if you breastfeed your baby. Anything you eat or drink or anything you get in your body can pass to your baby through breast milk.
• Seek help right away if your postpartum depression becomes very severe, if you have thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, or if you experience symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations or disorientation. These symptoms warn of a very serious problem that requires medical treatment.