Postpartum Depression Treatment

Are you a new mom looking for help in adjusting to your new, stressful situation? Feeling unsure of your skills at caring for a newborn? Sad? Weepy? This article will provide some tips and guidance to help you cope and there are links at the bottom of this article to direct you to a website that can provide more detailed postpartum depression treatment options.

Postpartum Depression (aka -- post natal depression or 'baby blues') affects new moms usually within the first few days or weeks after giving birth. It is a form of clinical depression and can last for a week, months or even a year in some cases.

Child birth can be a challenging time for expectant mothers, both physically and emotionally. Mood swings are very common immediately after giving birth -- feeling joyful at one moment and depressed the next. When this depression lasts for an extended time, it is referred to as postpartum depression and requires a detailed treatment.

Some of the common symptoms associated with this condition are feeling sad, being constantly fatigued, or having eating problems, sleep issues, anxiety and irritability. A number of women recover from baby blues immediately in within a week's time with or without the help of some counseling. Others need professional treatment.

Postpartum depression usually goes undetected and undiagnosed. Effective treatment requires early identification and adequate diagnosis. The first step in alleviating this condition is acknowledging the symptoms. Mothers with this condition may feel that they are bad mothers and are hesitant to seek help.

Mild forms of postpartum depression are treated with the help of just counseling and support from family. Women with moderate and severe form of depression may need both counseling and medications.

Prescription medication known as antidepressants may also help relieve postpartum depression symptoms especially in conjunction with counseling or therapy depending on the severity of the condition. Both partners can be included in the treatment process because it is important for the male partner to understand what's happening and be tolerant of his partner's feelings. The treatments and recovery associated with any kind of depression depends on the extent of the depression.

Medicines like antidepressants relieve the symptoms of depression. Certain types of antidepressants are proven safe to take at the time of breastfeeding. Your doctor is the best person to decide which treatment will work best for you.

A possible cause for these feelings is hormonal imbalance. Women who have experienced depression before pregnancy are more at risk and should discuss this issue with their doctors well before their due dates. Hormone treatments may be an option for a swift recovery though their effectiveness may be limited.

Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT helps in understanding things. Emotional support helps in solving problems and in setting and achieving goals.

Focusing on the short-term goals which can be achieved rather than thinking on long-term goals may also help relieve feelings of inadequacy as well as self-critical talk. Sharing feelings with your partner, families, and friends will also help in achieving a more positive outlook.

Look for inexpensive activities like reading, walking, visiting a place of worship, etc. The less isolated you are the better you'll feel. Avoiding stressful situations during pregnancy and love and care from family and loved ones will help in the long run.

With proper treatment baby blues can be conquered. Postpartum depression treatment works. One needs to acknowledge the condition and follow the treatment map set by your doctor for a speedy recovery.