Treatments for Ppd?

I had major PPD after delivering my twins and was put on Lexapro by my OB/GYN when they were 2 wks old. I breastfed both until they were 12 months old. It was safe and good for all concerned! Good luck dealing. Admitting you need help is by far the hardest part. All the best!

My doctors had me on Zoloft which all my doctors said was the only safe treatment while breastfeeding. It worked well for me, and my daughter was absolutely fine. Best of luck.

Definitely talk to you doctor! I took Lexapro (10mg) during my pregnancy and bfeeding my son (for 13 months) and had NO problems!
Low doses can help mom out A LOT and not have any harm to your baby!

There are NO SAFE MEDS! Please educate not medicate. Proper food and balance in your life is the best medicine.

Read the book Potatoes not Prozac! Also check what Dr John Gray (author of the Mars Venus books) www.MarsVenus.com.

J., my passion is working with moms to educate not medicate. Please, I have an array of natural products and services (it starts with the best breakfast ever!) that will steer you clear of the medication route for you and your baby. If you are interested, we can have a conversation.

B.
Family Success Coach

Yes, you need to call your doctor! With my daughter I was frightened about taking anything while breast feeding and in the end I suffered. With my son, I was put on zoloft and it has helped tremendously.
Please contact your doctor as soon as possible!

The best thing is to call your doctor. I don't really believe in antidepressants unless it is super serious. What did you used to love about life before pregnancy and birth. For being getting out and being social and working out really helped me. Try looking at www.strollarstrides. com...you can join mom work out groups as soon as 6 weeks postpartum and this will give you both social interaction and exercise!

Good luck!

i read a few posts and agree with portions of each.

years ago i was tested by an Internist. A holistic doctor who believes in finding the cause and not just treating the symptoms. I did a one time saliva test which showed where my cortisol levels were, this allowed her to see the times of the day i functioned best and the times when i crashed. My highest peak was where a normal woman's low was. The treatment was herbal adrenal gland supplements, adjusting my diet and 10 mg of lexepro. the formula Worked! she also gave me progesterone cream, sorry to say i didnt use it.
* I had visible results and for the first time in many years i was HAPPY. what a relief.

Years later i got married and became pregnant, my obgyn read the ingredients of the herbal supplements and compared it to my prenatal pill, she said they were virtually the same. [My husband didn't think so]

our first year of marriage was mostly fighting. we asked about anti depressants and my obgyn cautioned against using any. i also breast fed and still was strongly advised not to use Lexepro but Welbutrin was ok. The only problem was Welbutrin didnt work on me. So i took my Lexepro during my breastfeeding months. I was able to cope with all the new changes in my life.

A girlfriend of mine used Lexapro throughout her pregnancy and breastfeeding months. Her baby boy is the same age as mine and he is just as healthy and smart as they come. The doctors don't want to have you take it under their watch because they don't know about the effects it might have. there just hasn't been enough testing, so if anything went wrong, they don't want to be held responsible.

sorry for the long explanation and no real advice on the cream but maybe some portion of this might help.

best wishes,

What a GREAT QUESTION J.! AND even MORE GREAT advice!

Firstly, I am an adoptive mother who breast fed AND I am a Social WORKER and I HAD depression...so my input is:

re: THE MEDICAL PROFESSION - NO they do NOT know it all! you have to be ARMED with knowledge before you even see a MD - and if he/she does not feel right, then get a second opinion. Do what is best for you and your baby...natural is the way to go as much as you can...

re: PP DEPRESSION- OF COURSE your hormones are outta whack! you just had a baby! give yourself a break - did you notice all the women in the same boat? It seems you need support besides mamapedia - any FTF friends you can share with? GIRL time is INVALUABLE and we all KNOW IT!

re: BREAST FEEDING - now, I FIRMLY BELIEVE that breastfeeding is INVALUABLE - i pushed for it, and it really helped our bonding (at the least). If I would have known to be taking OMEGAS - I would have, now I directly give them to my son. He was a 3# preemie and now he is SO STRONG and SO SMART! I can't take the genetic credit, but I can take the OMEGA credit.

Now to answer you question!

I no longer need my lexapro - thanks to my OMEGAS! It COMPLETELY cleared my depression & anxiety (severe and long-term).

BUT you gotta have the right OMEGA! even the "good ones" have MERCURY and PCB toxins (look up the lawsuit on ABC news).

Obviously I found one that is the BEST on the planet!!! (let me know if you want more info)

did I mention that I no longer have to take blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds AND I LOST #20 (with admittedly NO exercise, not good I know)

But the bottom line is, J., you are going to be OK. You will find your footing and your rhythm and you are ALREADY the perfect mom for your baby...just be where YOU want to be with yourself.

Let us know how you do - i can call you if you need...

Homeopathy. Get Miranda Castro's Baby book if you are a hands-on type or go to professional homeopath. Just make sure you go to classical homeopath.

~volvere
V.
http://thinebody.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/thinebody

Bio-identical progesterone cream worked for me & it is safe. But you need to educate yourself because doctors much more readily prescribe meds based on symptoms only. Not all are aware of the benefits of bio-identical hormones because there are no patents, no drug companies promoting them.

The best way to measure your hormones is saliva testing (according to World Health Organization) yet many doctors here still rely on blood tests, which give you a higher level than is available to your body. Also, when they tell you you are within the "normal" range, that just means compared to the average of women in the US. Over 50% of us over 35 have too much estrogen & not enough progesterone (you can have too little progesterone even if your estrogen is low - they need to balance).

Dr. Lee was a pioneer in this field. You can start to learn at www.drjohnlee.com I highly recommend every woman read his book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause". This effects women of EVERY age (our daughers) & men, too.

PS Just read the other comments & wanted to add that I used the cream while I was breastfeeding. Again, educate yourself & advocate for yourself. I went to an endocrinologist (who only tests blood) and STILL wanted to give me an antidepressant even though the blood tests showed my progesterone was low (which means it was probably even lower)! He blew it off... educate yourself... doctors do not know everything.

you can take Wellbutrin while breast feeding because it doesn't cross the blood brain barrier. It doesn't get in the milk at all, plus it is good for weight loss also. Ask your dr about it.

Yes, but you need to talk to an MD psychiatrist who specializes in post partum depression. Do not see a regular doctor or a psychologist, who can't prescribe medication. Also, concurrent therapy with either the MD, a PHD or an MSW with the medication is mandatory. There could be other issues.

Good for you for inquiring about this issue. You show you are trying to take care of you and your little one. Great!!!!

I agree with previous answers to consult with your doctor. I will also share with you some research I did on the issue.

Apparently Zoloft may be the most recommended for bfeeding women. Nonetheless, it has been recommended that you take is and don't bfeed for 8 hours after to be on the safe side. So, as I don't know how many times your baby is bfeeding, you may need to pump milk before you take the med and then give that bottle during the 8 hours.

check out www.askdrsears.com. he discusses in depth the 3 different categories of meds for depression and different impacts on bfeeding.

I am sure la leche league also has info on its site...

as an addendum, i understand prozac is possibly safest for pregnant women, so if you plan to get pregnant, i would consider this option as well.

lastly, i also understand that if you plan to get pregnant, if possible (and again, ask your doctor) you may want to consider stopping any such med for a month before getting pregnant, as well stopping for the first three months of pregnancy. needless to say, please make any such decision carefully and weigh all sides of the equation...for some, it may not be right to stop and for others OK...

i repeat -- i am just a momma and not an expert, so please do double and triple check what research i have accumulated.

best of luck.

hI THERE - IT DEPENDS ON HOW BAD U FEEL. i WAITED FOR FEAR OF MEDS HARMING THE BABY AND IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I SUFFERED FOR OVER 6 MONTHS! DO NOT LET IT GET SO BAD. I DO BELEIVE ZOLOFT HAS BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN CELEXA AND LEXIPRO AND IT IS THE ONE MOST RECOMMENDED BY FAMILY PRACTITIONERS & OBGYN! NOT JUST PSYCHIATRISTS.

IT IS A HORMONAL IMBALANCE, LACK OF SLEEP AND THE STRESS OF BREASTFEEDING. YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER NOT BREASTFEEDING SO YOU CAN GET BACK ON TRACK AND YOU WILL GET MORE REST. MAYBE DOING BOTTLE AND BREAST? I DID HOWEVER BREASTFEED TIL MY DAUGHTER WAS 2. BUT I DID STRUGGLE ALOT AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE IF I HAD OPTED NOT TO BREASTFEED, CONCENTRATED ON GETTING SOME HELP WITH THE BABY AND GETTING MOE REST AS WELL AS EATING BETTER I WOULD HAVE RECOVERED A WHOLE LOT FASTER. IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU TRULY FEEL AND YOU NEED TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOURSELF. I WAS AND YET I WAS STUBBORN...WHICH ULTIMATELY DID ME MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

IT TAKES ALOT OF COMMITMENT TO BREAST FEED. AND THE PRESSURES OF CARING FOR A NEWBORN ARE HIGH ENOUGH. ONLY YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN HANDLE. AGAIN BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND TRY SLEEPING MORE, BOTTLE FEEDING AND MORE HELP WITH THE BABY TO SEE HOW YOU FEEL. IF YOU KNOW DEEP INSIDE THAT YOU CAN NOT DO IT WITH THOSE CHANGES ALONE THEN TAKE THE MEDS. THEY DID HELP ME. GOODLUCK.

You should check for hormonal imbalance and get sleep!! If you have to hire someone to take care of your baby for a while at night - do it!! Also, it is much easier for your doctor to write a prescription for Zoloft than it is to do a lot of testing or send you to an endocronologist. You have to be diligent about getting hormonal testing.

Definately best to talk to you Dr. And good for you for wanting to take the right steps. ppd is very hard, I dealt with it after my last son, and its a struggle. But there are resources out there, and I applaud anyone who would rather find a solution then hide it. It's a tough thing for some moms to admit. But you're not alone!

YES.....the safe meds are called HOMEOPATHY. Homeopathic remedies are totally safe to take while pregnant and breastfeeding, unlike most pharmaceuticals. And, best of all, when they are well chosen, they will probably improve the lot of both mother and baby. Because during pregnancy and infancy, what the mother needs is often what the child needs as well, and vice versa.

Find a certified practitioner in your area. If you e-mail me I can recommend a couple.

Hi J.,
I was diagnosed with mild PPD about 2 weeks after my son was born. I did get a prescription for a medication which I filled, but didn't end up taking. What I did find was that sleep was what I needed most. Sleep deprivation is a tool used in other countries for torture, and after my first six weeks I realized how incredibly effective it was. It's amazing how much brighter the world seems when you are able to get rest. So, if there is any way that someone can relieve you for a few hours a day for a nap, try and do it. You will feel remarkably better. In my case, my mom came to help and took over the night time feeding. We ended up using formula, which I really didn't want to do, but was so desperate for sleep I had no other choice.
Some other things I did that helped were to get out into the son for a minimum of 30 minute a day. The sun gives vitamin D which helps with depression. I also took a vitamin D supplement which I purchased from Mercola.com. Finally, I took a supplement which I bought from a local health food store called Postpartum Omega Mom. It has fish oils and other herbs, etc. which help with depression, but a great for baby brain development. I still take three a day with each meal.
However, if none of these things work and if you have to use meds, ask your doctor to prescribe the lowest dose possible. It will take longer for you to feel full effect, but will be less harmful for baby.

I have been on antidepressants for years & with the advice from my OBGYN & my psychiatrist, I stayed on Lexapro throughout my pregnancy & while I was breastfeeding. My son has not had any problems. I tried going off in my 1st trimester, but quickly realized that I was slipping back into depression. Both of my doctors said that not having any extra meds in your system is preferred, but if you cannot be a good mom & take care of yourself & your baby, than its better to be on something. They both also said that there haven't been any studies to prove its harmful to the baby.

I know its a big decision because I've been there before. Just weigh the pros & cons & do what's best for you. I hope my experience helps. Take care!

There are many that are safe. I have been on a low dose of Celexa during both pregnancies and while breasfeeding both girls. Talk to your doctor. :)

I was given an antidepressant while breastfeeding. I didn't feel comfortable taking it though. It's best to call your doctor.