Treating postpartum depression naturally?

Tlucey · April 2011

So my Dr. prescribed me a prescription earlier this week, however, I'm not fully on board with it and not enjoying how it makes me feel. My SIL told me to give it a chance that it takes time for it to work. However, I'm thinking of doing this naturally with SAMe and other supplements instead. Anyone else going thru this or have recommendations?

Lindsay2907 · April 2011

I was prescribed 20mg of prozac. I felt horrible for the first 13 days, and on day 14 BAM.... I've felt like "Myself" again ever since. It takes time to fully get in your system, and it IS worth it. PPD is very scary and the meds DO help and they DO work. If your dr put you on meds, he/she clearly felt it was necccessary. Definitely do not skip a day or "not take it for awhile" then start up. This will cause many more issues.

write2nicole · April 2011

Ditto what PP said. Don't just stop; give them time to work. Also, if they don't work or you have trouble with side effects, talk to your dr. You might need a different dosage. Stopping on your own could have even worse side effects.

Also, be careful about supplements. I remember St. John's Wort used to be recommended for depression, but then they found out it interfered with birth control pills. I know lots of people don't trust the pharmaceutical companies, but I have bigger questions about supplements. They don't require any testing, even to see if they work at all, much less to determine whether they are harmful.

SuperThat1006 · April 2011

I suffer from clinical depression and when I went in for my follow-up appointment, my doctor was surprised I made it through the initial couple weeks. She said the biggest hurdle with anti-depressants is that most people stop taking them in the midst of the initial side effects.

They can be tough (I was EXHAUSTED when I first took them), but coming out the other side, I recognize what "normal me" actually is. I didn't realize how chronically anxious and paranoid I was until my body regulated thanks to the meds.

I would try to stick it out and if you want to talk to someone about it, please PM me. I'd be happy to talk to you about it.

snansley · April 2011

Medicine is one part of treating PPD. Are you also doing some counseling? Sometimes little things make a difference in how you feel like telling DH specific things he can do to help or taking time for yourself every day. Regular exercise and good sleep habits are also helpful. It can take the medicine a while to get to the right levels in your system so be patient. If the side effects are unbearable, then talk to your doctor about trying something different. Also, just because something is "natural" doesn't mean that it is without side effects.

SarahWaggy · April 2011

Stopping suddenly can make it worse then continuing, which is why doctors WEAN their paitents off of them...

That said, the only natural supplement I can think of that helps depression in general would be Saint John's Wort. I do not know if it is same to consume though if you are breastfeeding (if you are).

SnoopyLuv · April 2011

My psychiatrist explained that most PPD is due to chemical stores being depleted from delivery. I'm sure it would go away eventually naturally but I wouldn't want to wait if there was medicine to make me better. He has me taking an omega 3 supplement in addition to my antidepressant. I nurse without any guilt or issue and my psych has said it was best for me to continue breastfeeding from an emotional standpoint.

I'd definitely try working out, getting out in the sun and taking omega 3/DHA supplements but I wouldn't hesitate to take the medication if you feel you need it.

And pp's are right- it takes up to 6 weeks for medicine to really kick in.

SuperThat1006 · April 2011

SnoopyLuv:
My psychiatrist explained that most PPD is due to chemical stores being depleted from delivery. I'm sure it would go away eventually naturally but I wouldn't want to wait if there was medicine to make me better. He has me taking an omega 3 supplement in addition to my antidepressant. I nurse without any guilt or issue and my psych has said it was best for me to continue breastfeeding from an emotional standpoint.

I'd definitely try working out, getting out in the sun and taking omega 3/DHA supplements but I wouldn't hesitate to take the medication if you feel you need it.

And pp's are right- it takes up to 6 weeks for medicine to really kick in.

To piggyback off this, the best way to describe what meds do is thinking about a pitcher of lemonade. (This is how I explained this to DH when he didn't understand what the meds did for/to me).

Think of a glass pitcher (your brain) of lemonade filled to the top. The lemonade is serotonin (what allows you to be happy and at peace). If the pitcher has cracks in it, it can't retain the lemonade being produced. The meds fill up the cracks so the lemonade can stay in the pitcher.

No medication can produce serotonin. Only your body can do that. As PP said, childbirth can result in low levels. What meds do is help you retain the serotonin your body is creating.

SnoopyLuv · April 2011

ChrissieW3:
SnoopyLuv:

My psychiatrist explained that most PPD is due to chemical stores being depleted from delivery. I'm sure it would go away eventually naturally but I wouldn't want to wait if there was medicine to make me better. He has me taking an omega 3 supplement in addition to my antidepressant. I nurse without any guilt or issue and my psych has said it was best for me to continue breastfeeding from an emotional standpoint.

I'd definitely try working out, getting out in the sun and taking omega 3/DHA supplements but I wouldn't hesitate to take the medication if you feel you need it.

And pp's are right- it takes up to 6 weeks for medicine to really kick in.

To piggyback off this, the best way to describe what meds do is thinking about a pitcher of lemonade. (This is how I explained this to DH when he didn't understand what the meds did for/to me).

Think of a glass pitcher (your brain) of lemonade filled to the top. The lemonade is serotonin (what allows you to be happy and at peace). If the pitcher has cracks in it, it can't retain the lemonade being produced. The meds fill up the cracks so the lemonade can stay in the pitcher.

No medication can produce serotonin. Only your body can do that. As PP said, childbirth can result in low levels. What meds do is help you retain the serotonin your body is creating.

That's a great analogy, Chrissie. I'm going to steal that if I ever have to explain myself.

QueenBee320 · April 2011

You've already gotten a ton of great input, but I wanted to add two things. Waiting for the meds to kick in is well worth the wait, you need to give it a good 6 weeks. Also, if you are BFing, I know you shouldn't take St. John's Wort and any other natural supplement won't have enough research behind it to judge whether it is safe or not, in other words it's a huge gamble and probably not recommended.

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