Postpartum depression can be extremely debilitating. It can also rob a new mother of some of the joys of having her new baby. Post partum depression affects as many as 1 out of 8 women during the first few months of their child’s life. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help to lessen the symptoms of postpartum depression.

Some of the most reliable treatments for postpartum depression are anti-depressant medications. Some antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Anafranil, and Norpramin, are considered safe for a woman who is breastfeeding. Others antidepressant medications, such as Paxil, may be more questionable. However, if postpartum depression is severe enough that it is interfering with a mother’s role in caring for her child, stopping breastfeeding to take an antidepressant may be the lesser of two evils.

Another possible treatment for depression of any sort is therapy. This can take the form of almost anything, from psychoanalysis to counseling to cognitive-behavioral therapy. By talking to a psychologist or therapist, many women have had success managing the symptoms of depression. Talk therapy does not make the feelings of depression go away; rather, it helps the mother develop the tools that she needs to keep those feelings in check.

In addition to these treatments, there are a variety of other factors that may help a woman manage postpartum depression. A strong social structure, beginning with a supportive husband, can be a tremendous weapon in the fight against postpartum depression. These types of support can range from helping out with housework to taking care of the baby for a period of time so that the new mom can get some well-deserved rest.

The most successful treatment of post partum depression will likely include a combination of these methods. Therapy, antidepressant medications, and a social support structure all together will exponentially increase a woman’s chances of dealing with postpartum depression successfully. If you believe that you are suffering from postpartum depression, you should contact your health care provider immediately. If left untreated, post partum depression can be seriously debilitating and even lead to worse conditions, such as postpartum psychosis.

It is normal after you deliver your baby to experience the baby blues, so normal in fact, that it is not even considered an illness. The baby blues, or postpartum blues, are usually mild and occur 3-5 days after delivery and last up to 2 weeks. A woman with the baby blues may feel sad, irritable, on edge, or have trouble sleeping. These symptoms do not interfere with a womans ability to care for her baby and are unrelated to past mental illnesses and stress.

In contrast, women who experience postpartum depression develop a more disabling form of mood disturbance. Postpartum depression, or postpartum nonspychotic depression, occurs soon after you have a baby. It occurs in about 10-20% of women, and can happen anytime within a few months of delivering a baby.

There are risk factors that include a previous bout of major depression, high stress levels, an inadequate support systems, and previous premenstrual syndrome disorders. How do you know when your baby blues are normal (because they dont feel very normal) and when you should be more concerned and contact professional help? Here are some symptoms of postpartum depression:

- You may feel upset, alone, afraid, or unloving toward your baby.

- Feelings of guilt, or worthlessness for experiencing these emotions

- Depressed mood

- Tearfulness

- An inability to enjoy activities youve previously enjoyed

- Trouble sleeping

- Fatigue, loss of energy

- Appetite problems, weight loss

- Agitation or anxiety

- Decreased interest in sex

- Feelings of rejection

- Suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of death

- Feelings of inadequacy as a parent

- Inability to concentrate, or an impaired concentration level trouble making decisions

- Worry about the babys health and well being

- Negative thoughts about the baby and/or fears about harming your infant

- Depression that interferes with your ability to care for your child

- Symptoms usually appear anytime from 24 hours to a few months after delivery

In addition to the symptoms listed above, you may experience physical symptoms associated with depression, as well. Many of the physical symptoms can be associated with those that accompany anxiety, such as headaches, chest pain or rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath.

If you think you may be suffering from postpartum depression you should talk with your health care practitioner. It is often helpful to keep a journal or diary of your moods and symptoms. A journal can not only to relieve symptoms of depression, but also to help your health care practitioner to better assess your situation.

Many women who have just had their baby are anxious to begin to take off that extra weight and get back to exercising. Keep in mind, though, that it took you 40 weeks to gain that extra weight, and that it might take another 40 to get it off. Still, there are things you can do to help during the postpartum period to help take off the weight. These include:

- Eat a nutritious and balanced diet. Especially if you are breastfeeding, it is important that your body gets all of the nutrition that it needs. Still, avoiding foods that are high in saturated fats or empty calories can help you to start to slim back down.

- Keep hydrated. Before and after you exercise, make sure you’re getting enough water. In addition, drinking 6 8 oz glasses of water a day will help with appetite control.

- Most health care practitioners recommend that you wait until at least six weeks after delivery before you restart or start an exercise regimen. In general, this is good advice; your body has just been through a rather traumatic experience, and it needs time to recover. Still, even during this period you can wal, stretch, do pelvic tilts, do yoga and do kegel exercises.

- After your health care provider gives you the OK to exercise, Focus on tummy exercises. crunches, pushups, and other toning exercises will help you loose weight where you need it most.

- Cardiovascular exercises, as well, will help with rapid weight loss.

- Make sure you are getting enough rest and relaxation. The harried life of a new mom can be stressful. This stress can lead to eating problems, and a lack of motivation for exercise.

- Hook up with other new moms for exercise. Either exercise together, or take turns watching the babies so that each of you can get some exercise time in.

- Vitamin supplements, while they are not a substitute for proper diet and exercise, can definitely aid the process of weight loss along. Use a daily multivitamin supplement that meets your daily requirements.

While advice will vary from one health care provider to the next, most health care providers recommend that you abstain from sex until after your six-week postnatal checkup. There are a variety of reasons for the wait.

During delivery, your uterus and your cervix go through tremendous changes. Accordingly, they need time to heal. Specifically, the lining of the uterus may be particularly prone to infection during this time. Not just sex but douching, the use of tampons, or the placement of anything in the vagina can introduce bacteria and cause a uterine infection. Lochia, the material that flows from your uterus after delivery, is a sign that your uterus is healing. When the flow of Lochia is not red in color any longer, it indicates that the uterus is nearly healed. This can take anywhere from three to eight weeks for most women.

A variety of things can happen during delivery that can also affect the safety of having sex after delivery. If you have an episiotomy, for example, it may require stitches. Having sex could reopen the tear and pull out the stitches. The same danger can occur if you have a vaginal or rectal tear or laceration, as well.

Other forms of sex, such as oral sex or masturbation, may be appropriate sooner. It is important that during this time, however, nothing is placed into the vagina. In addition, there is the risk of bacteria from your mate’s mouth working its way into your uterus, so stimulation should be kept mainly on the “outer” parts, avoiding penetration of the vagina, and any areas, such as the perineum, where there may have been a tear.

In addition, many women find that they have a reduced sex drive after delivery. Some women complain of pain during intercourse, even long after delivery. More common is the fear of pain that a woman may have after delivery. The use of lubricants and the woman-on-top positioning may make a woman more comfortable, and allow her to take more care with areas that may still be sensitive.

Many women who have just had their baby are anxious to begin to take off that extra weight and get back to exercising. The most important thing to remember is that you should begin to get back into a routine slowly.

Most health care practitioners recommend that you wait until at least six weeks after delivery before you restart or start an exercise regimen. In general, this is good advice; your body has just been through a rather traumatic experience, and it needs time to recover. However, even during those first six weeks your health care provider may allow you to:
- Walk. Walking is one of the most healthy forms of exercise that you can engage in. Make sure that you listen to your body; if you get winded, stop and rest. If you feel any pain, do the same. You should walk for no more than about 10-15 minutes each day, and about 3 times a week.
- Stretch. You can do chest stretching and back-stretching exercises that will help limber you back up. Be certain not to stretch to far and, again, if you feel any pain, you should stop.
- Do pelvic tilts. These will help bring the blood flowing back into your pelvic region. These are especially useful if you had any vaginal tearing or an episiotomy during the birthing process.
- Do kegel exercises. These also will help the pelvic region, and may help with hemorrhoids and pain of the perineum.
- Do Yoga. Yoga is low-impact, and will help your body with flexibility and muscle tone.

While exercising during the first six weeks, you should:
- Be cautious of leg and back exercises that may be high impact.
- Wear a sports bra for additional comfotability and support.
- Drink lots of water.
- Eat a nutritious diet, low on sugar and caffeine.

After the first six weeks your physician may release you to engage in a more rigorous exercise program. Once this happens, aerobic exercises will be best to help you lose the extra baby weight. Keep in mind that it took you 40 weeks to gain that weight, and it may take as long to lose it all as well.