Treatment of postpartum Depression
• Cognitive- behavioral therapy with a supportive counselor. This is recommended for all women with postpartum depression. It can also prevent postpartum depression. In one study, PPD symptoms improved after one session and showed much greater improvement after one session and showed much greater improvement after six sessions. A cognitive- behavioral counselor can also teach you skills for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
• Interpersonal counseling, focusing on your relationships and the personal changes that come with having a new baby. This gives you emotional support and help with problem- solving and goal- setting. In one study more women recovered from PPD after 12 interpersonal counseling sessions than did those who had no counseling.
• Antidepressant medication, ideally with counseling. Because breast-feeding offers many emotional and physical benefits for both baby and mother, experts are studying which antidepressants are most safe for breast- feed while taking an antidepressant for postpartum depression. Whether or not you are breast- feeding, your health professional is likely to recommend a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. This class of medication has proven to work very well for women, with minimal to no side effects.
Breast- feeding babies whose mothers take an antidepressant do not often have side effects. But they can. If you take an antidepressant while breast- feeding, talk to your doctor and your baby’s doctor about what type of side effects to look for.
