|
<<back to postpartum
Postpartum depression can be a frightening and debilitating illness facing mothers after the birth of a child. It is possible for a woman to have postpartum depression after one child but be perfectly fine after the birth of another child. While the frequency of this is not reliably known, some estimates are that one in five women may have some degree of this depression.
Many new mothers have the “baby blues” for a few days immediately after the birth. These feelings may last up to around three weeks; if these feelings persist more than three weeks, then the more serious condition of postpartum depression may be occurring.
To help a mother evaluate her condition, VOB has chosen to use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire. Please click here, complete and print the questionnaire and bring it with you to your next visit at VOB or call our
office to make an appointment.
There are three main treatment options that you and your provider need to consider:
- Counseling can help you verbalize your feelings and can give you practical advise on how to deal with your feelings.
- Antidepressants are an option with risks and benefits that need to be reviewed and discussed. Also, the risks to the newborn who is being breastfed need to be considered.
- Hormone Therapy is another option with corresponding risks and benefits. Additional risks with this option include decreased breast milk production and possible increase in blood clots forming.
You should not feel alone in this matter. Your family members and friends, clergy and VOB are all here to help you overcome this illness. Additionally there are numerous websites available to help you also. Among the websites are:
|
