Postpartum Depression
It’s real & oh so common!
Welcome to the 4th trimester, Mommas! For some, it’s a time of pure baby bliss, immense oxytocin joy and lots of munchkin snuggles…for others, it’s simply a living hell. Studies estimate that at least 50% of women suffer from the baby blues shortly after giving birth. 20% of this group suffer from a more severe form, called post-partum depression (PPD) that may linger for weeks, months or even years. We know, right?! A call to action! So here’s what to look for…
The following symptoms, especially if they linger or get worse, may indicate PPD:
Restlessness, anger or irritability
Sadness, crying often, sometimes at the drop of a hat
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Fear of hurting your baby or yourself
Overly worried about the baby or no concern for the baby
Little or no energy
Headaches, chest pains, rapid heartbeat, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, or fast + shallow breathing
Sleeping troubles
No appetite or overeating/comfort eating
Trouble focusing, remembering or making decisions
Lack of interest in things you used to enjoy
Naturopathically, here’s how we approach PPD.
1. Order basic labs, for starters
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - may show nutrient or electrolyte depletions, organ dysfunction and more— a good lab to check in on for overall body function.
CBC w/ differential - may show that you’re anemic or fighting an infection. Uggh.
Ferritin - super important! Often times a CBC (above) may be “normal” but your ferritin level (which involves how much iron storage you have) is waaaay too low! This alone can make you super tired, depressed and have a whole host of other complaints. If your levels are 20 or lower, we consider that non-existent! And if they’re below 50, we see that as a problem, too.
Vitamin D 25 hydroxy - known for causing SAD (seasonal affective disorder) when deficient, this important vitamin is low in over 75% of Americans!! And can certainly cause low mood. Unfortunately, most prescription grade D is in the WRONG form (D2 instead of D3), meaning your body can’t use it! And you won’t feel better after taking it. Levels below 50, need a boost!
B12/folate - B vitamins are so important to energy and mood. With B12 in particular, studies have found that a B12 level below 400 greatly increases risk of depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Could be as simple at that!
Thyroid Panel - including TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Thyroglobulin Antibodies, and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies. “Standard of care” tends to only include TSH, which is analogous to looking for a needle in a haystack with one eye open. All 5 markers are needed, sometimes additional, to get an accurate picture of thyroid function. Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s are so common in women after having a baby, we’d venture to say it’s an epidemic!!
Lipid Panel - because cholesterol has a terrible reputation of being just that, terrible! But, in actuality you do need cholesterol, and often times we find too little in women who are depleted. Cholesterol is needed to insulate organs, the nervous system and for your brain to be healthy!
2. Implement support!
Which will largely depend on your bloodwork. Taking a whole bunch of supplements, simply because they’re natural, isn’t the best idea. (Remember, too much of a good thing can be bad!) Here are our favs, if your labs show you need them:
OptiFerin-C by Pure Encapsulations**
Vitamin D/K**
Methyl B complex by Ortho Molecular**
Thyroid support Complex by Pure Encapsulations**
Carlson’s Cod Liver Oil**
3. Work on the Gut!
The gut is the other brain, responsible for making hormones that help us to feel happy, balanced, and calm---hormones like serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Working on boosting your microbiome w/ fermented foods and a high-quality probiotic will help. We love Probiotic 50B by Pure Encapsulations.
We cannot underestimate the need for the community-care piece for women. All women, especially moms! We are social creatures, who need to be around other women who can relate to our experiences.
4. Encourage asking for help!
Sometimes, it can be a matter of sleep deprivation in caring for a baby. In combo with not enough time or energy to eat well. Dehydration. Or feeling overwhelmed by too many household duties that are being neglected. Asking for help or hiring help (post-partum doulas or night nurses are great for this!) can mean regained sanity and a return to health.
5. More extensive specialty testing
Including a hormone panel to see how your hormones are recalibrating after pregnancy. With each pregnancy, hormones can become more and more imbalanced. Progesterone in particular sky rockets during pregnancy and then may bottom out. Who wouldn’t feel crummy going through these changes?!
So hang in there mommas, we know it’s hard, we get it!! Here at Kale Blossom, we stick together and support each other. Through morning sickness, birth stories, mesh panties and poopy diapers. We want all Moms to know, there is support out there. From counselors & therapists, to moms’ groups, to reaching out to your nurse midwife, Ob/gyn, doula, birth team member or integrative med doc and even 24-hour hotlines. You don’t have to face post-partum depression alone, we certainly don’t want you to!
**Shop supplements in our curated Wellevate Dispensary.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm
http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/factsheets/pdpress.htm
https://naturopathicpediatrics.com/2013/12/18/how-to-treat-postpartum-depression-naturally/