Treatment For Postpartum Depression?
Q: does anyone have any information about treatment for postpartum
depression? My doctor and I have tried estrogen patches, which helped
the moods, but left me continually bleeding. We switched to birth
control pills and keep upping the level of estrogen in them, but around
the second week of my (pill-induced) cycle, I get hot flashes, crying,
anxiety attacks, breakthrough bleeding, and feeling low, worthless, and
non-functional.
A:My milk supply has decreased a bit due to the estrogen, which has me
giving my daughter more bottles of formula--not what I want. Now she
prefers a bottle much of the time since it's so much easier than bf,
which in turn doesn't help my milk supply.
Anyway, I'm having trouble finding information on the net about
treatments. There's a lot about symptoms (I'm already familiar with
those!), but treatment is rather vague. I'm also wondering if you're
more prone to this condition if you've undergone infertility treatments
with infertility drugs.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Or have any information or
know where to point me? Your help is much appreciated!
Postpartum Psychosis
Etiology: Hormonal, genetic
Symptoms: Hallucinations, labile affect, agitation, delirium
Risk factors: Previous puerperal psychosis, manic-depressive history,
prenatal life stressors, obsessive personality, family history of
mood disorder.
Treatment: Hospitalization, antipsychotics, ECT, social support,
psychotherapy, child care assistance.