Postpartum Depression Treatment

The type of treatment^[16] used for postpartum depression varies from person to person. Generally, treatment depends upon the severity of your symptoms and your individual wants and needs. If your symptoms may be caused by hypothyroidism or an underlying health condition, your provider may treat those conditions or refer you to specialists. You may also be referred to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist.

Baby blues treatment

Generally, the baby blues resolve on their own within a few days to one or two weeks after they begin. During this time, it’s important that you take care of yourself:

• Get plenty of rest
• Accept help and support from family and friends
• Set aside time to relax and take care of yourself
• Connect with other new moms and create a network of support
• Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, as these can make mood swings worse

Postpartum depression treatment

Postpartum depression is most commonly treated with psychotherapy (also referred to as talk therapy, mental health counseling, or just therapy), medication, or a combination of the two.

• Psychotherapy: Talking to a mental health professional (such as a psychiatrist or psychologist) can help you learn to cope with your feelings in healthy ways, solve problems, set realistic goals for yourself, and respond to difficult situations in a more positive way. You may benefit from individual counseling, family or relationship therapy, or a combination of these options.
• Medication: Your healthcare provider or specialist may recommend that you take antidepressants. If you’re breastfeeding, it’s important to note that any medication you take will enter your breastmilk. However, most antidepressants are safe to take during breastfeeding without posing a significant risk of side effects for your baby. Discuss the potential risks and benefits of specific antidepressants with your healthcare provider.

The signs and symptoms of postpartum depression usually improve with effective, appropriate treatment. In some cases, however, postpartum depression can continue and become chronic. It’s important that you continue treatment even after you begin to feel better—stopping treatment too early may cause a relapse of depressive symptoms.

Postpartum psychosis treatment

Because it is so serious and potentially life-threatening, postpartum psychosis requires immediate medical treatment—usually in the hospital. Some treatments used for postpartum psychosis include:

• Medication: Mothers with postpartum psychosis may require a combination of multiple medications (such as antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines) to manage their signs and symptoms.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): ECT may be recommended if the symptoms of postpartum psychosis don’t respond well to medication. This procedure involves passing small electrical currents through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. This seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can alleviate the symptoms of depression and psychosis, especially when other treatments have failed.

Treating postpartum psychosis may require that a mother be separated from her baby and take medications that aren’t recommended for women who are breastfeeding. Because of this, treatment for the condition can limit a mother’s ability to breastfeed. If you’re experiencing postpartum psychosis, talk to your provider about working through these difficulties.

Postpartum depression medication

Your provider may prescribe the following medications for postpartum depression:

Postpartum depression prevention

If you have a history of depression (especially postpartum depression), talk to your healthcare provider if you plan on becoming pregnant or as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant. They may be able to administer or recommend preventive treatment^[17] that can help decrease your risk of postpartum depression (or manage your signs and symptoms if the condition does arise). Preventive treatments may be used at different times. During pregnancy, your healthcare provider may monitor you for the signs and symptoms of depression. They may also ask you to complete a depression-screening questionnaire during pregnancy and after giving birth. In some cases, mild depression can be managed with counseling, support groups, or other therapies. When severe, a provider may recommend treating depressive symptoms with antidepressants, even during pregnancy. After giving birth, your provider may recommend that you have an early postpartum checkup to screen you for the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. The earlier the condition is detected, the earlier you can begin treatment. If you have had postpartum depression in the past, your provider may recommend that you begin treatment with antidepressants or psychotherapy immediately or shortly after giving birth.

Self-care, coping, and support

If you have postpartum depression, it’s important that you take care of yourself. Doing so can support your treatment plan and help you recover more quickly.

• Make healthy lifestyle choices: Try to get as much rest as possible and include regular physical activities, such as walking with your baby, in your daily routine.
• Set realistic expectations: Don’t put pressure on yourself to do everything. Try not to get caught up in expectations for having the “perfect” home and family. Just do the best you can, avoid self-criticism, and ask for help when you need it.
• Take time for yourself: Set aside some time to do things you enjoy and get out of the house. You may want to focus on your hobbies, go on an outing to see a movie, or schedule some time with your partner or friends. You may need to ask a partner, family member, friend, or babysitter to take care of your baby.
• Avoid isolating yourself: People with depressive symptoms frequently isolate themselves. You don’t have to deal with postpartum depression alone. Share how you’re feeling with your partner, family, and friends, and talk to other mothers about their experiences.
• Ask for help: It’s okay if you need to reach out to loved ones for support. When support is offered, try to accept it. Having help with the baby can give you some much-needed alone time to rest and heal.

Postpartum depression is never a mother’s fault. Making time to take care of yourself is important to recovering through the already-stressful time of giving birth and caring for a newborn baby.