Postpartum

The first recorded cases of postpartum depression come from the physician Hippocrates in ancient Greece. Hippocrates noted emotional difficulties in some women following the birth of a child, but it wasn’t until the mid-19^th century that postpartum depression became recognized as a legitimate medical disorder.

At the time, treatment usually wasn’t sought, and when it was, the option was usually electroconvulsive therapy. Until the last few decades, most women were too ashamed to ask for help, and the condition went quietly unnoticed and was suffered in silence.

Women with postpartum depression feel the usual, whole-body depressive symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, loss of energy and motivation, sadness and negative guilty thoughts. But postpartum depression is unique in that women also feel incredibly stressed, and worried about the care of their newborn. They often feel extreme guilt related to how they are doing as mothers. Oftentimes, women with postpartum will feel they are not able to care for their newborn, or that they are failing as a parent. Excessive worry and anxiety can also appear.

In addition, the lack of sleep and time for self-care that comes with being a new parent can exacerbate depression symptoms. Sometimes, new mothers are so bogged down with fear, worry, and guilt, that they are unable to sleep once the baby is settled.

These negative feelings and the disruption of depression symptoms in any sufferer’s life can make it extremely hard for mothers to adequately bond with their child. This lack of a stable maternal bond can impact the newborn’s development. Not only does depression affect the mother, but her child cannot escape from its clutches, either.

Postpartum depression is characterized by the following symptoms:

In extreme cases, postpartum depression can devolve into postpartum psychosis. When this happens, the underlying postpartum depression symptoms are present, but hallucinations, delusions, and thoughts of harming herself and/or her baby are present.

The 2001 Andrea Yates case is a tragic example of what can happen when postpartum depression is not treated. Left alone to care for five children while suffering from postpartum depression, Andrea Yates went on to develop psychosis and drowned her children in a bathtub. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered to reside in a mental hospital. Since 2006, she has been institutionalized.

Who is at-risk for developing postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression does not discriminate based on age, race, economic class, or even if the baby was planned or unplanned.

While some of the predictive criteria for postpartum are mood-related, a significant number of factors are environmental. A lack of support, unstable relationships, and lack of resources in caring for the newborn can all significantly increase a mother’s risk of contracting postpartum. Therefore, it is critical for women to have support before and after giving birth. They also need access to affordable childcare to mitigate their risks of getting postpartum depression.

Also, government studies indicate that women with a history of depression have an almost 20X greater chance of getting postpartum than women who’ve never experienced a depressive episode.

For a postpartum depression diagnosis, a woman has to have the symptoms either starting in the third trimester of pregnancy or for up to a year after giving birth. In the U.S., 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression within one year of having a baby. The U.S. is home to 4 million live births per year, meaning an estimated 600,000 women will get postpartum depression.

Lower-income countries tend to experience higher postpartum rates. The top ten countries for postpartum depression diagnosis are:

1. Chile – 50%
2. Pakistan – 30%
3. Nigeria – 27%
4. India – 23%
5. Saudi Arabia – 22%
6. Finland – 22%
7. Turkey – 22%
8. Austria – 21%
9. Brazil – 20%
10. Sudan – 15%

The U.S. rates of postpartum depression are on par with Sudan, an impoverished African nation. Since women with postpartum are often breastfeeding, and experiencing extreme hormonal fluctuations, treatment for postpartum may be contraindicated with the usual line of defenses against depressive symptoms.

Any woman who gives birth is at-risk for developing postpartum depression, but there are several known factors that can increase the risk:

During gestation, hormones like estrogen and progesterone are elevated and stay elevated to maintain the pregnancy. But once the baby is born, these hormones precipitously drop, falling back to their baseline levels. These sudden chemical changes can trigger mood swings.

Couple this with the fact that mothers are completely unable to rest and heal from the rigors and discomfort of pregnancy and childbirth, and the constant and long-term sleep deprivation from caring for a newborn can all contribute to the development of postpartum depression.

Mothers without adequate support from family and loved ones after birth are at an increased risk of developing the illness.

How is postpartum depression treated?

There are many treatment options for postpartum depression. Therapy, prescription medication, hands-on support, childcare help, and self-care are all effective when recovering from postpartum depression.

SSRIs, SNRIs, and therapy are effective treatment methods for postpartum. Since hormones trigger postpartum, hormone replacement therapy can also be used to treat the disorder.

Sometimes, women will present with what is called treatment-resistant depression. This can occur in as many as one-third of patients with a depressive sub-type. In these instances, patients have tried medication and therapy, but it doesn’t work for them. Estimates indicate that most of the costs associated with depression, i.e., productivity losses and health care spending, are from treatment-resistant depression. With this form of the disorder, patients require different treatment methods.

Antidepressant medication and hormone replacement therapies come with a list of unpleasant side effects. Also, some women may not want to risk having medicines pass through breast milk if they are nursing their infant. Mothers with depression may not want to stop breastfeeding their baby. Fortunately, there are non-medical depression treatments on the market for women in these circumstances.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is incredibly effective at alleviating the symptoms of depression. TMS is painless, quick, and convenient for busy, tired mothers. Sessions last about an hour and can be done in an outpatient setting.

With TMS, a magnetic coil is placed on the patients head, directed at areas of the brain found to be responsible for regulating mood. Magnetic pulses are transmitted to these brain regions. Patients show a marked improvement in moods, even after just one session of TMS. Side effects are short-lived, and TMS doesn’t include risks such as weight gain, lethargy, and passing into the newborn’s digestive system like with antidepressant medications.

Patients who receive TMS treatments can return to work or back home with their baby shortly after each session. Patients can also attend therapy sessions while still receiving TMS treatment as part of their maintenance plan. For busy, tired, nursing mothers, TMS is an excellent choice for alleviating the painful and potentially dangerous symptoms of postpartum depression.

What can family and loved ones do?

While it is normal for new mothers to feel tired and inundated with the responsibilities and care of a newborn, the symptoms of overwhelm, exhaustion, and anxiety found in postpartum depression are much more severe than the typical ‘baby blues.’ Family and loved ones are usually the first to notice the signs of depression in their loved one.

First, understand that postpartum depression does not happen because of something a mother did or did not do. Postpartum sufferers often feel guilty and ashamed. So, when confronting a new mother, be sure to approach from a position of understanding and patience. Be sure to let her know that what she is feeling are the symptoms of depression, that they are not an inherent part of her personality, and she is not a defective mother for having depression.

Mothers with postpartum often feel they are unable to properly care for their newborn. Let her know that her family can see how hard she is trying and give examples of where she is succeeding as a mother. Suggest how getting treatment will not only help her but her child as well.

Most importantly, many mothers fear they cannot take the time to rest, participate in self-care routines, or seek treatment. Offer ongoing, hands-on support for her. If she can see that taking some time out to care for herself will not result in diminished care for the baby, she will be more likely to seek treatment. Be aware though, that depression can take several weeks to months to heal from. She and the baby will need long-term support, and she will need help finding it.

Postpartum depression is not something to ignore or diminish in the hopes it will dissipate on its own. Women and children greatly suffer from its effects, and if left untreated, it can develop into a full-blown, and potentially dangerous, psychosis.

New mothers need support and understanding during their postpartum period, and if postpartum depression is suspected, consider reaching out to the following institutions and hotlines:

• Contact a healthcare provider
• If a suicide attempt or self-harm is suspected, immediately call 911
• Contact the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255

With treatment and support, women can go on to make a full recovery from postpartum depression, and neither she nor her newborn will experience any long-term effects.

Why Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Could Be Right for You

Postpartum depression is one of the many conditions known to benefit from Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Multiple diagnoses can be treated with TMS simultaneously. During and after pregnancy many women experience one or more disorders that are not part of their pre-pregnancy lifestyle. Post-pregnancy depression is one of these.

What conditions can benefit from TMS?

The list of conditions below is an example of conditions that can occur at the same time and can be treated together.

• Postpartum depression
• Chemical imbalance
• Sleep disorders
• Anxiety

When your depression and/or OCD is resistant to other treatments

Your diagnosis of depression post-pregnancy could alert your physician to consider TMS as the treatment of choice for you. Perhaps you began discussing it when you were pregnant. If you already suffered from depression and/or obsessive compulsive disorder, finding a treatment that would not harm your baby would be important.

TMS can be used in addition to other treatments

Some women respond better to TMS in conjunction with other therapy such as counseling or medication. It is quite acceptable to use overlapping therapies. You and your physician will make the decision about what the best mode of treatment is for you and your particular set of circumstances.

Why you might not have heard of TMS during previous pregnancies

Transcranial Magnetic stimulation is gaining ground in obstetrics circles. TMS was found to often be successful in pregnant women suffering from OCD or the debilitating depression after pregnancy. This illumination led to more and more OB-GYNs to suggest it to their patients.

TMS is relatively new, only having been discovered in the 1970s. It was found to be a successful treatment of postpartum depression in the 2000s. The United States has a relatively low percentage of post-pregnancy depression at only about 15%.

What makes TMS such a positive step forward for women with post-pregnancy depression?

TMS is no threat to your system. Your breast milk will not be affected, thereby no harm to your baby from nursing. No drugs enter your system. Nothing physically enters your body. You might get a little bit of a headache while undergoing the short procedure, but it goes away quickly afterward, if not before. You can drive yourself to your appointment, and you will feel comfortable enough to drive when you are finished.

TMS visits take about a half-hour per procedure. You will typically receive 35 to 40 treatments. You and your doctor will probably discuss your progress along the way. At the end of your sessions, you will know for sure how the TMS has affected your depression.

We can help

Being a new mother is stressful in itself. The weight of depression after your baby is born may need some professional help. If you have tried other avenues without relief, contact us at Pulse TMS, and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you with one of our physicians specifically trained in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Updated content on 12/22/20