Postpartum Depression info?
Q.Below you will find some info on Postpartum Depression. While most of us experience a few days of the "Baby Blues" after the birth of a child, for at least 1 in 10 women "the blues" don't go away and sometimes get worse. Many women feel guilt, shame and isolation, afraid to tell partners, friends and even their doctor. However, just like a physical illness, Postpartum Depression is real and needs to be treated. There are several treatment options available sometimes including medication and counselling. Some of the most effective medications for treating PPD are considered compatible with breastfeeding. This is not your fault. You did nothing to cause this and help is available. Please tell your doctor if you think you may have PPD. I am a social worker and survivor of PPD and I hope that by posting this message on a monthly basis I can help other women seek out treatment early and avoid going through what I did.
A.I think that this is a big worry for alot of women and may be a barrier to seeking treatment and the reality is that in the past this has happened. This fortunately is not the case these days though. Children's protection services are very aware of PPD and realize that separation of mother and baby is not going to help. More importantly, they realize that a woman with Postpartum Depression poses no threat to her child. That said, women with Postpartum Psychosis do often pose a threat to themselves and their children but this is a very different illness and these cases are rare (1 in 1000) As long as the illness (Postpartum Psychosis I mean) is diagnosed and the mom has support of family they usually do not intervene. Call your 'daughter's' obstetrician. Tell the OB that this patient appears to have many symptoms of postpartum depression but will not seek help. Ask if the doctor can call her in for a follow-up visit and get her on treatment. Most OBs will take a phone call like this from the patient's relatives very very seriously. If nothing happens call back and insist on speaking to the doctor. A simple course of antidepressant medication can be of great benefit. Often it does not need to be continued but can be tapered off at 6 months or 1 year. It is possible to continue breastfeeding on several antidepressants. Paxil or Zoloft would be the first choices for bf.
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