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Helping With Postpartum Depression & the Post Baby Blues

For many women, giving birth is an incredible, life-changing experience that can trigger many emotions—a lot of them being positive. However, for many women childbirth also comes with very powerful negative feelings, like anxiety and fear. These particular “baby blues” emotions can even lead to what many know as postpartum depression or PPD. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 11 to 20% of women who give birth each year have postpartum depression symptoms. If you settled on an average of 15% of four million live births in the US annually, this would mean approximately 600,000 women get PPD each year in the United States alone (see Postpartum Progress).

What postpartum baby blues can look like:

  • mood swings
  • crying spells
  • anxiety
  • sadness
  • difficulty sleeping
  • feeling overwhelmed
  • appetite problems

Some more extreme symptoms may look like:

  • Depressed mood or severe mood swings
  • Excessive crying
  • Difficulty bonding with your baby
  • Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
  • Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
  • Intense irritability and anger
  • Fear that you’re not a good mother
  • Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Postpartum depression is the most common complication from childbirth, and it is important that women (and their families) who suffer from PPD, and potentially an extreme version called postpartum psychosis, seek help immediately. It can appear within the first few weeks after childbirth and can last up to 6 months post childbirth.

Remedies for Postpartum Depression

While there are certainly ways to prevent and help relieve symptoms of PPD, the most important is to make healthy choices and to not be afraid to ask for help.

Having a session with an acupuncturist is an incredible way to seek help without having to undergo rigorous testing or elevated stress. In fact, acupuncture is a perfect way to take some personal time for a new mom to relax and rejuvenate all the while using techniques that can help alleviate stresses that come with dealing with PPD. By targeting particular areas of the body, the use of acupressure and acupuncture can remedy the depression, stress, and other physical ailments that come with any postpartum disorder.

Acupuncture can also help with other post-pregnancy issues such as:

  • Insufficient Lactation and Breastfeeding Problems
  • Mastitis
  • Back Pain
  • Hip Pain and more

If you or someone you know is dealing with postpartum depression, contact your doctor for immediate treatment and also search for your local acupuncturist today and enjoy a depression free life for the new baby and mom.

~ Acupuncture RemediesTM & NOA Health & Acupuncture