- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Postpartum Depression
Preventing Tragedy
By Marcia Starkman
The most severe complication is postpartum psychosis, which affects 1 to 2 percent of women and requires immediate treatment. The woman is out of touch with reality, hallucinating, perhaps "sped up," and filled with false beliefs that a helper cannot change. She needs to be hospitalized as soon as possible. Do not wait; get her there now.
Remember: Postpartum depression is a treatable illness, just like diabetes or heart disease. You are neither "crazy" nor "lazy." It is unfair for you or anyone else to expect you to stop feeling depressed by "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps." It often takes a combination of sophisticated approaches to treat depression and anxiety. Anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety medication, combined with counseling and -- hopefully -- a postpartum support group, is often the most effective treatment of choice.
There are many different kinds of antidepressants on the market, and it may take a few dosage or actual medication changes until you notice an improvement. That's why it's important to be patient and not give up if your response is not immediate. If you do start to feel better, don't stop taking the medication until your physician advises you to. This way, you won't experience a relapse and start feeling depressed again. Do not worry that you will become addicted to the medication -- this is not a factor with antidepressants. Another concern you may have is that you will need them for the rest of your life. This is not usually the case. Anti-depressants may only be necessary at times of stress or changes that cause you to start feeling depressed again.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
