Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression affects some women after childbirth. If you’ve had a baby and are feeling miserable or anxious, call Katrina Coulter, RN, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, of Psych Investments LLC in Grapevine, Texas. She can help you address the underlying causes of your condition and find effective ways to overcome it. Call Psych Investments LLC or book an in-person or telehealth appointment online today to receive first-class treatment for postpartum depression.

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a distressing mental health condition that may develop in women after childbirth. It can sometimes arise months or years after you have your baby but typically appears within the first 3-4 weeks.

Up to 80% of new moms get the baby blues after having a child, feeling tired, weepy, and depressed. That is natural after around nine months of pregnancy, followed by childbirth, which takes a significant toll on your body and can be traumatic. However, the baby blues are mild, and your mood should stabilize after a week or two.

Postpartum depression is far more serious and sometimes disabling. It affects around 15% of women across the United States after they give birth.

What symptoms does postpartum depression cause?

Postpartum depression symptoms include:

• Unshakeable sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
• Crying frequently
• Moodiness and irritability
• Appetite changes
• Altered sleep patterns
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sudden anger
• Fatigue
• Physical aches and pains
• Social withdrawal

Women with postpartum depression often doubt their ability to care for their newborns. You may also have difficulty bonding with your baby. These feelings cause guilt, anxiety, and self-loathing.

How is postpartum depression treated?

Katrina offers sensitive, compassionate treatment to women struggling with postpartum depression. She uses several kinds of psychotherapy, adapting treatments to suit each woman’s unique needs.

One approach is individual psychotherapy, where Katrina helps you work through issues and experiences from the past that continue to affect your mental health. Another is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which provides you with coping skills and ways to challenge faulty thinking.

Is it safe to take medication for postpartum depression?

Decisions about medication use can be more complex for women with young children. One problem is that any medication you take passes into your milk and then to your baby if you breastfeed. Another is that medication might make you less likely to wake up when your baby needs you.

However, overcoming these problems is possible if you need medication for postpartum depression. For example, some drugs are less likely to cause adverse effects because there are only trace amounts in your milk. Also, it’s important to consider the potential consequences of not taking medication for a severe psychiatric disorder.

Katrina will explain your options and their advantages and disadvantages so you can make an informed choice regarding postpartum depression treatment.

To benefit from her expertise, call Psych Investments LLC or book an in-person or telehealth consultation online today.