Postpartum
Depression
What
is postpartum depression?
What are the symptoms of depression?
What is the treatment for postpartum depression?
Also
See:
OB Patient Information: The Post Partum
Period
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What is postpartum
depression?
Postpartum
depressions can range from transient "blues" following childbirth to
severe, incapacitating, psychotic depressions. Studies suggest that women
who experience depression after childbirth very often have had prior
depressive episodes. However, for most women, postpartum depressions are
transient, with no adverse consequences.
What are
the symptoms of depression?
Symptoms of
Depression include:
-
Persistent sad,
anxious, or "empty" mood
-
Loss of interest
or pleasure in activities, including sex
-
Restlessness,
irritability, or excessive crying
-
Feelings of guilt,
worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism
-
Sleeping too much
or too little, early-morning awakening
-
Appetite and/or
weight loss or overeating and weight gain
-
Decreased energy,
fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
-
Thoughts of death
or suicide, or suicide attempts
-
Difficulty
concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
-
Persistent
physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches,
digestive disorders, and chronic pain
What is
the treatment for postpartum depression?
The most commonly
used treatments for depression are antidepressant medication,
psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Which of these is the right
treatment for an individual case depends on the nature and severity of the
depression and, to some extent, on individual preference. In mild or
moderate depression, one or both of these treatments may be useful, while
in severe or incapacitating depression, medication is generally
recommended as a first step in the treatment. In combined treatment,
medication can relieve physical symptoms quickly, while psychotherapy
allows the opportunity to learn more effective ways of handling problems.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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