Top Tips To Combat Postpartum Depression and Fast

My Grandma Mary gave me tons of advice before my baby came, but she never said a word about depression. When my depression came on, I never knew what hit me. My colicky baby, poopy diapers, sleep deprivation, nasty hemorrhoids, sixty extra pounds, confused hormones and a new limp from pulled ligaments made me look and feel like hell.

The word depression does not begin to describe my "baby blues" and it really screwed with my marriage too. I got no warning. I came home from the hospital and just wished I could go back and let them take care of the baby. I started sinking fast. A month after my sweet baby arrived I'd find myself staring in to space with no desire to do anything. I became listless toward my husband and only had enough energy to feed the baby. I barely showered or spoke. These are typical symptoms, I guess.

In the book, "This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression" by Karen Kleiman, the author describes the signs of postpartum depression. I had them all - which is scary in retrospect. I actually had what's called postpartum psychosis. I was medically messed up. I hope this information can help other Moms so no one has to suffer the way I did.

I never knew that 30% of all women are affected by postpartum depression. That's 400,000 a year in our country alone. It usually hits six to eight weeks after the baby arrives, when we are supposed to be filled with baby bliss. Mother Nature can be tricky!

Here's the checklist of depression symptoms that affect new Moms. I had all of these. Ughhhhh!

• Can't shake the depression.
• Cry daily.
• Sad mostly.
• Can't concentrate.
• Don't enjoy what you used to enjoy.
• No interest in lovemaking.
• Can't sleep, even when the baby does.
• Feel like a total failure.
• Always tired.
• Not enjoying food.
• Not laughing.
• Feel hopeless.
• Not feeling like oneself.
• Feeling crazy.
• Low self esteem.
• Delusional.
• Thoughts of harming the baby.
• Mood swings.
• Anxiety.

The fact that I felt all these "signs" clarifies a lot for me. I was clinically depressed while thinking this should be the happiest time of my life, which only further confused me. Eventually I did get help and I got better, but here are the best tips my research found this week and I found different recommendations for all three types of postpartum depression.

BABY BLUES

Signs: mild mood swings, anxiety, sadness, irritability, crying, decreased concentration, trouble sleeping.

Suggestions: Rest, get help from family and friends, connect with new Moms, avoid alcohol.

OFFICIAL POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Signs: loss of appetite, insomnia, intense irritability, anger, overwhelming fatigue, no sexual desires, severe mood swings, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawing from family and friends, thoughts of harming the baby or yourself.

Suggestions: Counseling, marital therapy, antidepressants, hormone therapy.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS:

Signs: confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, disorientations, paranoia, attempts to harm yourself or the baby.

Suggestions: Anti-depressants, anti-psychotic drugs, mood stabilizers, electroconvulsive therapy, team of health providers get involved.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT SUGGESTIONS: (for all of the above)

Acupuncture, Omega -3 Fatty Acids, Massage Therapy, Creative Arts, Music therapy, Herbal therapy (not if nursing), Ginko, time away.

I'm glad I got help. I don't think my family would be intact today had I not reached out. If you or someone you know recently had a baby, share this with them, I wish someone warned me that this could happen. Hit me like a Mack truck and I am still scarred by those months. I don't want that to happen to anyone else.