3 Types of Treatment for Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression affects up to a quarter of Canadian moms. Mental health conditions affect everyone differently, postpartum depression is no different.
If you know someone who has experienced it, their diagnosis could look vastly different from your own.
This means that treatments can also look very different from person to person. The most important thing to remember is getting you back to feeling your best.
Be sure to consult with your healthcare professional if you are concerned or unsure whether you have postpartum depression and need treatment.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is a perinatal mental health disorder that occurs following the delivery of your baby.
Postpartum depression is different to the common “baby blues,” because it is more severe and longer lasting. The “baby blues” typically last up to two weeks following delivery. Whereas postpartum depression exceeds this period and gets worse.
It requires treatment to get better and oftentimes depressive symptoms begin to present during the pregnancy as well.
Postpartum depression can be a new parent's first experience with depression and that can be extremely troubling.
It leads to feelings of guilt and inadequacy as the period following the birth of your baby is mostly advertised as being happy and full of love.
Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression sometimes won’t seek help right away because they don’t want anyone to know what they’re going through.
This is a completely normal and natural response and you’re not alone. However, it is pertinent that if you notice signs and symptoms that you seek treatment as soon as possible.
They will not just go away on their own and they could increase in severity being detrimental not only to your own mental health but also interpersonal relationships with your spouse or even your baby.
Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression include:
Emotional changes:
Depressive feelings most of the day everyday
Feelings of guilt and shame
Severe mood swings
Changes to your everyday:
Losing interest in things that once brought you pleasure
Feeling exhausted all the time
Eating a lot more or a lot less
Changes in sleep habits
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Changes in your relationships:
Developing a strained relationship with your partner
Having difficulties bonding with the baby
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Feeling isolated and alone
Postpartum depression can also affect your ability to be a good parent. It is incredibly hard to take care of someone else when you are not feeling like yourself.
Postpartum depression can make it hard to bond with your baby, leading you to feel increasingly frustrated and alone. You may start missing check ups and appointments.
Yes being a parent means prioritizing your child but you cannot do that if you are not also making yourself a priority as well.
Remember to be kind to yourself if you are struggling with postpartum depression and know that you are not alone. There are many other parents dealing with the same thing and many incredible therapists and healthcare professionals ready to help!
Risk Factors and Causes of Postpartum Depression
There are not any exact causes for postpartum depression. There are many suggested causes that make a lot of sense but none of them are very well researched.
Some causes include:
Genetics: genes are passed down from generation to generation and there is a link between having a higher likelihood of developing depression if you have a family history of depression.
Hormone levels: changing hormone levels following pregnancy are a minefield to deal with as it is let alone to think of them as causing postpartum depression. Due to such sudden fluctuations in hormone levels it is easier to develop a postpartum mental health disorder.
Sleep changes: Sleep changes are normal following bringing a new baby home but it is also one of the most important things in our lives that keeps us happy and healthy. Extreme sleep deprivation is a risk for a variety of mental health conditions including postpartum disorders.
Breastfeeding: although the connection between breastfeeding and postpartum depression is not thoroughly researched it's incredibly common that difficulties with breastfeeding can lead to postpartum depression. This is because the frustration of not easily breastfeeding your baby leads to feelings of inadequacy and makes you question whether or not you are a good parent.
There are a plethora of risk factors for developing postpartum depression. As we go through those it is good to keep in mind that just because you may have some of the risk factors it does not mean you are definitely going to develop postpartum depression.
Risk factors:
A history of depression or symptoms of depression throughout your pregnancy
Difficulties in your relationship with your partner preceding the delivery of your baby
Life stressors i.e. a death of a loved one
Diabetes prior to pregnancy or diabetes developed from pregnancy called gestational diabetes
Complications throughout the pregnancy or complications with a previous pregnancy i.e. pregnancy loss
Doubts and fears about the imminence of becoming a parent
Smoking, drinking, or use of other substances
3 Types of Treatment for Postpartum Depression
The good news is postpartum depression can be treated. You need to ensure that throughout the entire process you are remaining very open and communicative with not only your healthcare provider but your loved ones as well.
Asking for help is most times the hardest thing to do but it can also be the most important. The treatment types we will be discussing are counselling, support groups, and pharmaceutical treatments.
Counselling
Being able to talk through your concerns and feelings with a professional who is not directly involved with your situation can be incredibly helpful.
Different counselling options are always recommended for those dealing with postpartum depression.
Two of the most common and most effective kinds of therapy are interpersonal therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
Interpersonal therapy is considered one of the top therapeutic methods for treating postpartum depression especially postpartum depression in breastfeeding mothers. Interpersonal therapy aims to reduce patients’ symptoms and to improve their interpersonal functioning. It identifies the fact that depression may come from interpersonal internal turmoil and seeks to address those issues. It follows what is called the biopsychosocial model which states that a person's current state is a result of biological, psychological, and social events. Once these three factors are identified at the time of therapy then the therapist and patient can begin working through them to alleviate how they’re feeling.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a great type of therapy because it is centered around identifying your maladaptive habits, thoughts, and behaviours and then reformulating them into positives and better ways to do things. So for example if you found that your babies constant crying was a trigger for you to begin feeling negatively you and your therapist would identify this and then you would work through it in a way for you to come to the realization that your baby is not crying because you are not doing a good job but because they are a baby and they cry to communicate their needs like feedings and changings etc.
Support Groups
As stated earlier, many women across the country experience postpartum mental health disorders.
Many of those women find it incredibly helpful to be able to discuss their difficulties with others who have experienced similar situations.
There are a plethora of support groups for mothers with postpartum depression. PSI-Canada is the world’s leading non-profit organization which aims to help those struggling with perinatal mental health disorders that are a result of complications of childbirth.
Pharmaceutical Treatments
It's common for women to feel hesitant or conflicted about taking medication during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Concerns about the impact on their baby, as well as societal pressures to "tough it out," can lead to uncertainty. However, in some cases, medication becomes a necessary tool for managing mental health struggles like anxiety or postpartum depression.
There are perinatal psychiatrists and medical doctors (MDs) who specialize in understanding the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum women. They work with you to assess your situation, considering both the health of the mother and the baby. These professionals are trained to prescribe the safest medications and can offer a personalized approach, ensuring you're supported both emotionally and physically.
If you do decide to try medication, it's important to remember that it can take up to four weeks for them to take effect. Be sure to stay in close communication with your physician during this time and avoid stopping them prematurely without consulting your doctor first. Medication isn't always the first or only solution—many women find a combination of therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and other non-medicinal approaches to be helpful. But when medication is needed, it can be a crucial part of regaining balance and well-being during such a pivotal time.
Help us Help You
Postpartum depression is serious and should not be a diagnosis taken lightly but there are safe and effective treatments that can help you feel better and enjoy your postpartum journey.
There are many other parents fearing the same things you are, that you are not good enough, that being a parent is harder than you expected, or even fearing being a parent at all.
Toronto Therapy Practice has incredible therapists, some who specialize in perinatal mental health treatment.
The first step to getting you back to yourself is asking for help.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed in this blog and then try out a free first consultation to see if we are right for you.
We recommend you do what’s best for you always, you cannot be a super parent if you are putting your super needs on the back burner.
Be kind to yourself and know that we are rooting for you.
