When you have a baby, it is definitely one of the major highlights of your life. You actually go through a rush of emotions. This also includes emotions which make you feel depressed and anxious. Having a baby can be an overwhelming experience especially for a new mom.
There is no denying that.
Sometimes you just don’t have the right answers all the time. However feeling a little anxious and overcoming those baby blues in a while is fine.
The real problem sets in when you can’t shake off these emotions completely. In fact you are getting more engulfed and controlled by them.
Sounds familiar?
If so, then this means there is a major root cause and it is called postpartum depression. It is important for you to identify the symptoms and diagnose it problem. This is to ensure that you are getting the proper postpartum depression treatment.
In this article, I am going to be talking in detail about how can postpartum depression treatment help, the different ways to get and how effective it can be.
So let’s start:
Why Did I Get Postpartum Depression?
Many women question this : I so wanted to have a baby, then why did I get depressed?
First of all, this rush of emotions does not have anything to do with your parenting skills and needs. It is actually a mix of physical, emotional and even behavioral changes which will happen in a woman, only after she gives birth/
It is not something that can be in your control. Hence there is no need for you to actually lose sleep over it. The fact is many women will be going through this condition.
But the good news is- you can get treatment for it. And in this article, I am going to be sharing in complete detail the kind of treatment options available at your disposal.
Postpartum Depression Treatment: What Works
When it comes to getting the treatment, the one major thing you will have to do before that is actually getting a proper diagnosis to determine what the actual problem is .
Understanding the Diagnosis Process
In this phase, which can be called as an early treatment phase, your doctor will be talking to you about your feelings. He/she will also look into ways to distinguish between what are short-term cases of having the baby blues and what major depression episodes you might be having.
One thing you should know is that don’t get embarrassed about going for a treatment. It is a common condition and something which should be talked about.
So meet your doctor. Someone you are comfortable with and share your symptoms and feelings. They will device a good, healthy treatment plan that works for you.
A few things your doctor will probably do :
- Ask for a screening test which includes a detailed questionnaire to know where do you stand and having even the smallest details available for a proper checkup
- Ask for blood tests. These will be determining if there is some other relating medical condition or something which has been missed out while getting treatment
- Get a second opinion. If a case is showing certain signs of complications, it is quite possible that your doctor may ask for some additional tests to know everything is working in a proper manner
Meanwhile I am going to be talking about all the different remedies available which can make a difference.
Let’s check out what these are:
Treatment of Baby Blues
Since we are touching about the ways to get an effective treatment, I think it is best that we also talk about treatment of baby blues. This is because it is usually the reason in most cases and when you know and have identified what it is, it is easier to get the treatment for the same.
So when it is simply an onset of becoming overwhelmed with having a new baby, a few things that can help is:
- Try to get rest. This may seem like an impossible feat especially when you have a newborn baby who is crying all the time. But here the golden rule applies. Just take rest when the baby is resting.
- If someone from the family wants to help, let them. It is best to allow others to come in and provide a lending hand when possible.
- Connect and communicate with other new moms.
- Take out some me time whenever possible. It really helps.
Now let’s look into postpartum depression treatment and what works:
Getting the Professional Help
When talking about getting help from your doctor or a professional healthcare provider, it usually falls under one of the two. You either will need some kind of therapy or medication, or in some cases- both.
Therapy Works
It is always helpful if you can actually talk to your doctor about the feelings you are going through. When you are having therapy, you are actually learning ways in which you can cope better with your feelings. It also allows you to create better goals to attain mental peace. In some cases, your doctor may also recommend you speak to your family and loved ones on a regular basis.
Using Antidepressants
In some cases this is the best way to handle your condition. Antidepressants have been around for ages and studies have shown that they do help. However there are some limitations to taking them with you are actually breastfeeding. But there are different kinds which are known to provide you instant relief.
It is very important that you get the right kind of treatment. In some cases, the condition can also improve. However when they don’t and continue, then it will become chronic. I want to also talk about the Postpartum psychosis treatment which is needed quick to relieve from the symptoms.
Postpartum Psychosis Treatment
This would be including having to go to the hospital on an urgent basis. It also includes:
Taking medication- you will need to do that to get immediate affect of relief. It includes a combination of different medicines and this can include mood stabilizers. It helps to control the condition.
Electroconvulsive Therapy- This is basically done so when your depression becomes all the more severe. And when you are not responding to medicines, then this is the best solution. ECT works when you pass little currents through the brain. It aims to change the symptoms or make them less severe.
So these were the treatments you can get at the hospital. What about getting on with solutions that work right at home?
Yes, there are some things which are effective and you can try:
Postpartum Depression Treatment- Home Remedies
You can try some things which are known to provide some kind of solace and help in making your treatment better. These will include:
Healthy Choices
It always helps when you pick on some physical activities which will release feel-good hormones. This includes working out. Sleeping well, eating healthy food. Drinking green tea. And avoiding food items which are too oily or greasy.
Create ‘Me’ time
We couldn’t stress this enough. You need to have some me time assigned for you. Take some time out and go out for a while. Meet a friend, walk around the park but change your ambience. Enjoy hobbies and it is okay to seek entertainment that does not involve your baby.
Don’t Isolate
This is very important. Don’t coop yourself in a setting. It is best to speak to your family and friends. Share your experience and hear them out too. It helps to know of relating stories.
Asking for Help
Sometimes all that you need to do is open up to your loved ones and ask for help. It is okay to see if someone can baby-sit for you. Go on a dinner date, enjoy a nice long bubble bath, catch a movie. It benefits not just you but your baby too when you feel refreshed. Your caregiving skills actually get better when you start to feel better.
Conclusion
Having a baby can be pretty hard on someone who is doing it for the first time. You are already drained and stressed from carrying the baby for 9months. And then this happens.
So it is best you take it one day at a time. Try not to feel completely overwhelmed. If you are having the baby blues, identify the symptoms and get the treatment.
In case it is something more serious then aim to get that situation solved. Postpartum depression treatment is real and there are different ways.
You just need to have a doctor look into your condition and symptoms. Your doctor will create a treatment plan which works well for you. Adapt it into your regime and soon you will notice the results.
Remember it can be scary. But postpartum depression is very common. Many new moms go through it. So there is nothing to be ashamed about. Your doctor means well and when you follow his/her professional advice, you already are on your road to recovery.
