Women spend nine months looking forward to cuddling their new baby, but after delivery, 14% of them will have difficulty bonding because they have postpartum depression. Audra Worthington, MSN, PMHNP-BC, and Tammy Lewis, PMHNP-BC, at Sage Mental Wellness, have advanced training in perinatal psychiatry and extensive experience helping women recover from postpartum depression. If you can’t shake depression, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call the office in Hagerstown or Frederick, Maryland, or connect online to request an in-person or telemedicine appointment today.
The baby blues affect many women, starting shortly after delivery when their hormones temporarily go through significant changes. In most cases, the baby blues go away within two weeks.
The blues primarily make you sad, but they can cause emotional swings from happy one minute to crying the next. You may also feel restless and anxious.
By comparison, postpartum depression is a major depressive disorder that seldom gets better without treatment. Though it’s called postpartum depression and usually begins in the weeks after childbirth, your symptoms may first appear during your pregnancy.
The symptoms of postpartum depression make it hard to bond with and care for your baby. In addition to withdrawing from your baby, you avoid interacting with friends and family.
Other common symptoms of postpartum depression include:
While you’re depressed, you may also have ongoing anxiety over many concerns, from fear of being unfit to be a mother to worries about your baby’s wellness.
The Sage Mental Wellness team has advanced training in perinatal psychiatry, giving them a deep understanding of the mental health challenges that occur during pregnancy and in the year after delivery. In addition to treating depression, they also help women with postpartum anxiety, a challenge that affects more than one-fourth of women.
Treatment for postpartum depression typically includes therapy, medications, or both. After a psychiatric evaluation, your provider discusses your treatment options.
As medication management specialists, they closely monitor any medications you may need during and after pregnancy. Whether you need psychiatric medication for depression or another mental health disorder, they protect your mental health while also minimizing your baby’s exposure to the drugs.
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is often just as effective as medication for depression. Your Sage Mental Wellness provider draws from their experience using a range of therapies that help women overcome postpartum depression and enjoy their new babies.
Don’t wait to seek help for postpartum depression. Call Sage Mental Wellness or book an appointment online today.