How Dou Deal with Postpartum Depression

I believe all depression should be treated with a lot of natural sun light, plenty of water, energetic nutritious meals, age appropriate vitamin supplements, conversation, and exercise. If that doesn't do it, maybe she has to go back to the doctor and get something to balance the hormones.

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There is still a certain taboo to taking anti-depressants but in certain cases they are not only extremely helpful but necessary. It seems so easy to tell someone to get some fresh air or exercise but those suffering from true depression may not have the ability to make and follow through with common sense decisions that seem so simple for those who are not depressed to suggest. When I was truly depressed, I would go work out and run on the treadmill and think terribly negative thoughts the whole time. I hope she gets the help she needs so that she can cherish this amazing time with her new baby. :)

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M.
I can see that you are a very concerned grandmother and this is a very serious subject. A fabulous book on the subject is "Depression in New Mothers: Causes, Concequences, and Treatment Alternatives". If you can't easily find it this book, and others, are available on our website BEST FED BABIES (http://astore.amazon.com/bestfedbabies-20/detail/0415778395) under 'More Great Books".
Please make sure that you are in communication with her and enlist your son to do the same.
All the best!
L.
www.VirtualBreastfeedingHelp.com

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I found with myself that, as mentioned, sunlight and vitamins are very helpful. Also, progesterone cream from the health food store is a lifesaver. Progesterone levels plummet after giving birth and can easily cause wicked (and I do mean WICKED) problems. The cream is inexpensive and just rubbed on the skin.

Best wishes and blessings

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I'm not a pill pusher or the type person to take pills at the sign of the mildest ache or pain. But I had post-partum depression last summer with my 2nd daughter and my OB/GYN put me on Pristiq. It's very mild and helped me immensely, along with sunlight and excercise. I also got some counseling, which these days can be VERY expensive. Some health insurance companies will pay for professional counseling so check into it. Good luck!

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I am not one for taking meds but I realised I needed to when my depression wasn't getting better. I've been on Zoloft for a couple of months now and it has saved me! I'm back to normal and feel so much better.
It's ok to take meds once in a while. There is nothing wrong with getting a little help when in need...

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I found myself when I had my first child when I went through the post partem depression I just said to my husband, I am going out. He looked at me oddy and said well I will get the baby ready and we will go. I just simply turned around and said "no" I'm going alone, you look after her. This was just a one time only, it never happened again and what a relief I felt when I came home. I was only gone maybe 2hrs. and just went to visit my parents, so I wasn't far away. At the same time I thought something was wrong with me, feeling as though I was a bad parent but no it wasn't that at all. It was just the fact that I was with my daughter constantly and needed time out. After this my husband would get up on wknds. and get our little girl and he would feed her,change her and cuddle with her, while letting me have my much needed rest. She was a baby that was up every 3hrs. I can't say how it made me feel, especially when he understood as well what I was going through. I hope this helps. Sometimes its just the need to speak with other new moms', just to make yourself feel like your doing a good job. Everything in your body changes after childbirth, and there are times when we just dont' know what we need. Perhaps if she needs some time away, you could maybe offer to watch the little one for an hour or so, just so she can clear her head. Visit with a friend for tea/coffee. Sometimes thats' all we need is our time that we had prior to giving birth. Good luck, I'm sure your son's g/f will be just fine.

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Natural progesterone cream and acupuncture treatments...both really restore the hormonal balance.

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Whether it's her first, second baby, ALL women deal w/ postpartum issues in their OWN way. Just let her know that she has support and help when she needs it. Make your son realize that her body is going through changes now that the baby has left her body, and her hormones, mood swings, etc. will ALL be crazy for at LEAST the first 3 months. Explain to him that he needs to be willing to let her rest and relax when she really needs it (assuming that he works during the day, have him take care of the baby at least ONCE overnight). Make sure that he knows that HE might have 2 do laundry, go food shopping, make dinner/breakfast, etc.....ask him AND his g/f if it's okay if U drop by once/twice a week just to help out. If U just show up unannounced, it could make the g/f upset w/ unexpected guests....As long as he loves his g/f AND the baby, everything else will fall into place.

Remember how YOU felt when U had your son...did U feel overwhelmed w/ joy? Overwhelmed w/ the HUGE change in your life? Try 2 remember what worked for YOU, and suggest the same things 2 her. Have your son's g/f talk to a Nurse Practitioner @ her OB/GYN's office, even have her speak to the Dr. if she thinks that she needs to do that. It's perfectly fine, nothing wrong w/ that.

Does the g/f have other friends who have kids? Does she have ANY community support (church, Mom groups, etc.)? If not, find out what's available in your area for those resources. Check online (meetup.com, even check on here (mamapedia)), call the OB/GYN's office for help. There are PLENTY of people who your son's g/f can reach out to if she feels the need for support and encouragement. Is YOUR relationship w/ her good? Is it difficult now that she's a new Mom (I'm guessing she's a first-time Mom)? Do U feel close 2 her? Is she close w/ her OWN Mother/sister/cousin, etc.? Even if she's not saying anything, she needs comfort and support that she's doing a great job taking care of the baby. Give her hugs, praise her for how well she does little things...keeping the baby comfortable, changing diapers, etc. As we ALL know, there are NO instructions when the baby gets here and is home w/ us and he/she is SO tiny, helpless, and SO dependent on our time, energy, etc....as long as your son's g/f feels that she has support and love from U AND your son, she'll get through these next few months really well :)

Hope that helps, take care, God bless your new grandchild! I'm sure he's beautiful!

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ANTIDEPRESSANTS I went through it and had to go on antidepressants for about 2 months

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Education not medication. Please. Many of m y clients start here:
www.BestBreakfastEver.com.

Food regulates the body, then the body can be better. Back in 400 BC Soccrates said: Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.

B.
Family Nutrition Coach

She needs to see a good therapist, one that deals with PPD would be best. She needs to talk it out with other women who have either gone through it or currently have it. Basically she needs a lot of support, and needs to understand she is not alone. If it gets worse her therapist can send her to a psych who will see if she needs some meds. I've struggled with is for the past year, and it is terrible but there is no need to suffer. Take care of it right away. It is no joke. A woman my mother knew had her baby a few months after me, she took her life when her little girl was 3 months. She was not getting the support or help she needed. She felt ashamed. The family did not know what to do. This is a serious illness. Make sure she gets help, and knows that she is supported and loved.

I found the book The Depression Cure by Stephen Ilardi to be really helpful. It is easy to read with a cloudy head (which I certainly had) and provides lots of detailed but simple tips on managing depression (sun light, exercise, social support, vitamins, etc.).

the best thing for me was a great support system.

please have her talk to her dr asap! dont let her wait for her check up to come. she can get help. ask to watch the baby so she can goto her dr with out a distraction. also make sure your son and her are working as a team. i had bad postpartum with my daughter because my husband didnt help me with our daughter at night or durring the day so i could sleep a little and his mom said it was ok because he worked. i was on maturnity leave! i had a full time job. my daughter is 3 and we still have these issues because im a sahm. i take celexa and i love it!!! its very mild it just made me super tired for a while until my body adjusted to it. anyways dont let her wait she needs to talk to her dr alone with no bf or baby

Lots of support like already mentioned. After I had my oldest daughter I just wasen't feeling like myself. Nobody offered to help, and inside I was screaming for it. Support, support, support! Best help she can get, and of course seeing her doctor would also be a good idea. I hope she gets to feeling better soon. Let her know that alot of women feel that way after having a baby! She will get through this:)