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Dean Raffelock, D.C., L. Ac, CCN, DACBN, DIBAK

Hyla Cass, M.D.

Postpartum depression (PPD) Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) have become a national epidemic in the United States, affecting 15%-20% of all new mothers, or about 600,000-800,000 women annually. (1) It is now estimated that over 30 million Americans are on antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications. (2) The majority of this 30 million are women who have one or more children. The chance of suffering from PPD increases with each successive child. (3)

The most common medical treatment for postpartum depression is SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressant drugs. Postpartum Anxiety Disorder is most commonly treated by the benzodiazepine family of drugs like Valium, Ativan, Xanax, and Klonopin. Combination reuptake inhibitors for both serotonin and norepinephrine (SNRIs) are also commonly used in postpartum depression. In the case of postpartum psychosis, antipsychotic drugs are used and are immediately necessary. Many women are now given samples of SSRIs as they are leaving the maternity ward. Most medical sources believe that PPD is caused by an imbalance of brain chemistry and that pharmaceutical intervention is the treatment of choice. While a certain percentage of women suffering from PPD do need pharmaceutical assistance, these are far fewer than are actually receiving them. Recent Meta-studies show this to be true.  While it is clear that some women with PPD do need and benefit from pharmaceutical intervention, it is our experience that an integrative approach yields the best results.

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Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyful time for a woman. Especially for those who have their first pregnancy. The happiness feeling is very important for pregnant woman. Usually pregnant woman who are happy will think about her embryo condition and her own condition more intense, like choosing good food, checking pregnancy regularly, giving stimulus to the embryo, and do all preparation to welcome the baby.

It’s not surprising if pregnant woman who are happy will deliver healthy baby, physically or mentally. Sadly not all women are happy with their pregnancy. In contrary they feel depressed. It’s not good for the embryo. And because of that you must avoid depression during pregnancy.

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Pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life when needless to say, several internal and external changes are occurring on a daily basis. There is a life, a whole new person growing inside of you and when this person is born, he or she will be totally helpless and dependent on you. To some women, this is a source of joy and excitement as they anticipate the responsibility of motherhood-especially the first time, to others; it is a source of a particular type of depression: Pregnancy Depression.

Although pregnancy depression can be triggered by the pregnancy and associated factors itself, it may be as a result of a previous state of other forms of depression. This is why being depressed while being pregnant should be addressed and approached differently.

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