Postpartum

Postpartum depression affects women shortly after childbirth but sometimes the symptoms can begin during the pregnancy. Postpartum depression lasts more than a few days and includes emotional extremes such as crying for no reason or panic. Postpartum depression can include suicidal or homicidal thoughts.

Preventing Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Having a baby is an exciting, life-changing event, but for many women it signals the beginning of the blues. About 13 percent of new moms struggle with postpartum depression in the year following the birth of their child. New research shows that such depression can be prevented by training health visitors to assess and support these women after childbirth. University of Leicester Psychiatry Professor Terry Brugha led the prevention study. 1474 women were part of the intervention and 767 women were in the control group. Researchers found that mothers who had …

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Depression

by Tasha Gerken on June 28, 2010

If you’re one of the 14.8 million Americans who are affected by depression, new research gives more credibility to the idea that omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, fish oil supplements, flaxseeds and walnuts) may alleviate some of your depression-related symptoms. A Canadian study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry is the largest double-blind, randomized control trial ever conducted on depression and Omega-3 fatty acids. Many studies have previously shown promising outcomes, but were not conclusive because they studied so few participants. This study however, sampled over 400 …

Ask the Expert : Does My Friend Have Postpartum Depression?

by FYI Staff Writer on March 30, 2010

Dear Ask the Expert, My friend recently had a baby and I think she is experiencing postpartum depression. She is really sad, and says she hates to be alone with the baby. We’ve been friends for years, and I’ve never heard her this sad before. Every time we talk on the phone she starts to cry. We don’t live in the same state so it’s hard for me to visit her, and I just don’t know how to help since I live so far away. This is her second baby. …

New Research: Possible Blood Test For Postpartum Depression

by Irene McGee on March 3, 2010

As with most forms of depression, there are no blood tests to confirm Postpartum Depression for new moms. Ilona S. Yim, PhD, from University of California, lead research out of University of California that may someday be able to help new moms predict whether they are at risk for Postpartum Depression with a simple blood test. Yin’s study uncovered that a higher level of the hormone pCRH was found in the placenta of the moms in her study who did develop postpartum depression. More research is needed to determine whether …

Beyond Baby Blues: Postpartum Depression

by FYI Staff Writer on January 24, 2010

Eleven percent of pregnant women will suffer some degree of Postpartum Depression (PPD), according to the American Pregnancy Association. Statistics show that over half of new mothers experience some type of mood disorder. Typically, the baby blues, characterized by low energy, sadness or irritability, last for only short periods of time. PPD, however, lasts longer and causes more intense symptoms, even to the point of Postpartum Psychosis. Postpartum Psychosis Massachusett’s General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health says, “It may be useful to conceptualize these disorders as existing along a …

Understanding Depression in Women

by FYI Staff Writer on January 15, 2010

Detecting depression seems like it should be easy, but depression often goes unnoticed. Life moves rapidly. Kids, work, household chores may act as distractions. But when feelings of depression strike, depending on severity, they becomes impossible to ignore. According to WebMD, signs of depression include appetite changes, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, and mood shifts like agitation or thoughts of suicide. Everyone experiences depression differently. Depression in Women Compared to Men Women are more likely to display depressive symptoms than men, according to data from the CDC. Although many theories …