How common is post partum depression, is medication required to resolve it?!
Question: very comman, and yes there is meds. for it.
Answers: very comman, and yes there is meds. for it.
Common in modern, industrialized nations that do not get enough nutrition. A good women's multi and 6-10 grams of fish oil should do the trick. Also, work in 2 hrs of exercise a week and at least 30 minutes of sun a day (expose as much skin as possible for vitamin d). It's a fact that countries that consume a lot of fish or fish oil have very very little experience with post partum, it's basically unheard of. Check it out, very highly recommended.
very common indeed.
I had this managed to cope without meds.
From my own experience I can tell you that it is very real. I actually got PPD with my third that was born in july of 06 and was put on Zoloft (safe while breastfeeding) and it helped A LOT!! I am still on it but plan to taper off once summer gets here because I also suffer from Season Affective Disorder. If you have it, don't feel bad about it. It is very common and I can name more moms I know who have or have had it that moms who have never had it! If you are breastfeeding, I know that Zoloft is considered safe while breastfeeding. If you starty medication, gradually increase the dose because it could result in anxiety and other side effects that WILL GO AWAY within a week or two. For me I only experienced a little nausea for a few days....joked with my husband that it was morning sickness all over again. I am now a much better mother for getting treatment. Read some books and educate yourself and therapy is always great with medication or without it. Good luck to you!
Postpartum depression is the one to be oh-so cautious of.
Untreated, this is the one where women have killed their own children! Untreated other women have come oh-so-close to suicide. This is the fast-onset dangerous one. Every new mother will feel it to some effect, but when it goes deep it goes deep fast and becomes very unpredictable. She should not be left in the house alone. She NEEDS to see a DR, and in some form SHE NEEDS FOOD, SLEEP & TREATMENT. SHE NEEDS SOME TIME AWAY FROM THE BABY. AND SHE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED-ON OFTEN.
If she does not receive treatment, it can last well into the first year of the baby's life, effecting her mothering because she has no energy and little interest and is oh-so sad or angry.
How common is it? Everybody gets it for a little while. Some get it longer and harder. A few can't get out on their own, and do and say things they would NEVER do in their normal mindset.
At our house we call hormones "those horrible moans".