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Ways to Treat Postnatal Depression

Baby’s Birth Not Always a Joyous Event for the Mother

May 13, 2008

It's not always easy being a mother, iStockphoto

For many women, giving birth is not the start of a happy life, but the beginning of depression, labeled postnatal or postpartum depression. But they are not alone.

For at least 13 per cent of new mothers, the lovely images of life with a new baby don’t jive with their reality. Instead of feeling happy, they feel overwhelmed and depressed.

Many of them feel guilty at such emotions and alone, fearing they cannot cope. But they are not alone.

May is Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders Awareness Month

May 2008 has been designated ‘Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders Awareness Month’ in the US state of New Hampshire.

University of New Hampshire researcher Dr Kathleen Kendall-Tackett says that postpartum mood, anxiety and thought disorders -- often referred to simply as postpartum depression -- affect 10-20 per cent of pregnant and postpartum women as well as their children and partners.

Her research shows that in high-risk populations, that percentage can be as high as 40 percent to 50 per cent.

Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Research Associate Professor of Psychology specializing in women’s health at the Family Research Lab, University of New Hampshire.

The author of a new monograph, Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Depression in New Mothers. she says there are a myriad of treatments available to new mothers experiencing postpartum depression.

“The consequences of postpartum depression are simply too serious to ignore. We can’t just hope that it will resolve or go away on its own,” she says.

“Depression is also potentially quite harmful for babies. Children of depressed mothers have more social, behavioral, and cognitive difficulties than their counterparts with non-depressed mothers.”

Many Mothers Refuse Anti-Depressant Drugs

Depression in new mothers needs to be treated promptly, Dr Kendall-Tackett says.

Yet many new mothers are wary of or completely refuse to take antidepressants, fearing the medication’s effect on their new baby while they are breastfeeding.

“For mothers who refuse antidepressants or for whom antidepressants may be inappropriate, we have more evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical options than ever before,” she says.

“And because all of these choices are compatible with breastfeeding, mothers are never forced to choose between their mental health and breastfeeding their babies — a choice no mother should have to make.”

Non-Drug Treatments Compatible with Breastfeeding

Dr Kendall-Tackett lists a range of non-drug treatments for postpartum depression which are safe to use while breastfeeding, and reviews the clinical evidence to support them.

They are:

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Exercise

• Social support

• Psychotherapy

• St. John’s Wort

• Bright light therapy

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fish oil and EPA supplements balance the ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids in the blood, reducing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines which contribute to depression.

Exercise

Regular exercise is known to improve mood and daily function in many people, including the elderly, and severely depressed adult males.

In order to achieve the benefits of exercise, Dr Kendall-Tackett recommends moderate exercise for 20 minutes at least three times a week - either aerobic or strength training or a combination.

St John’s Wort

St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and has also been used to treat major depression, Dr Kendall-Tackett says.

It is the most widely used of the herbal antidepressants and has other beneficial properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral, as well as relieving pain.

The evidence is less strong for some other treatments, which are discussed fully in the monograph, but she says they could be quite useful.