Postpartum Depression (cont.)
How is depression treated?
There are two common types of treatment for depression.
- Talk therapy. This involves talking to a therapist, psychologist, or social
worker to learn to change how depression makes you think, feel, and act.
- Medicine. Your doctor can give you an antidepressant medicine to help you. These
medicines can help relieve the symptoms of depression.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with their doctors about
the advantages and risks of taking antidepressant medicines. Some women are
concerned that taking these medicines may harm the baby. A mother's depression
can affect her baby's development, so getting treatment is important for both
mother and baby. The risks of taking medicine have to be weighed against the
risks of depression. It is a decision that women need to discuss carefully with
their doctors. Women who decide to take antidepressant medicines should talk to
their doctors about which antidepressant medicines are safer to take while
pregnant or breastfeeding.
Can untreated depression harm my baby?
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; have trouble sleeping; may miss prenatal visits; may not follow medical instructions; have a poor diet; or may use harmful substances, like tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs.
Postpartum depression can affect a mother's ability to parent. She may lack energy, have trouble concentrating, be irritable, and not be able to meet her child's needs for 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 the father or another caregiver can assist in meeting the needs of the baby and other children in the family while mom is depressed.
All children deserve the chance to have a healthy mom. All moms deserve the chance to enjoy their life and their children. Don't suffer alone. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression during pregnancy or after having a baby, please tell a loved one and call you doctor or midwife right away.
Source: The National Women's Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
Last Editorial Review: 3/11/2008
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