Postpartum Depression – The Baby Blues - Written by Dr. Sherry Chen, Naturopath - Toronto, Canada

Postpartum depression is a feeling of extreme sadness and related psychologic disturbances during the first few weeks or months after delivery – Merck Manual

Most people have heard of postpartum depression and stories with tragic endings such as the one with Suzanne Killinger-Johnson, who in 2000 threw both her baby and herself in front of a Toronto northbound subway train. Although the media brings into light a very serious condition, open discussion of it still latches on to the stigmatism of a mental disorder. We tend to shy away from it and hope for the best that it only happens to “crazy people”.

But the incidence of seeing postpartum depression in a doctor’s office is increasing. Statistics show that twelve per cent of women will develop postpartum depression and that 85 percent of women will experience ‘baby blues’ –a milder and shorter lasting episode of depression after delivery. Debate still continues around the cause of such an illness. Theories and risk factors range from a physical hormonal influence to psychosocial factors. No doubt the final answer is a multi-factorial one, as the human body goes beyond just an isolated entity functioning on its own. But are there other signs and symptoms that we have over looked that may indicate to us that we are at risk for postpartum depression?

Most conventional medical doctors would not associate symptoms such as:

- cold hands and feet
- poor memory
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- poor sleep
- blurred vision
- sallow complexion
- pale lips
- scanty menstrual blood, dark clots, menstrual pain
- dry mouth

as symptoms that may put one at risk of postpartum depression. A bandage approach is generally taken where each symptom will have a separate bandage. The result is that someone with these pre-existing conditions maybe walking right into the hands of postpartum depression. So why have medical doctors continue to ignore such indicators? The simple reason is that in conventional medical theory there is not an explanation to link all those symptoms together. But, if for a brief moment in time, we can change the conventional glasses we wear and place on a different pair, we would see what most Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners have seen and concluded for thousands of years. The above symptoms would suggest a blood deficient or blood stasis pattern. Having such a pattern prior to conceiving (as pregnancy tends to hide the true picture) puts the woman more at risk for developing postpartum depression. As a woman gives birth to her baby, there will be a loss of blood and Qi (energy), further exacerbating the original symptom picture. This may lead to the milder depressive state of baby blues or to the other end of the spectrum where there are destructive thoughts for the baby and the mother herself. Therefore, early identification of a blood deficiency or blood stasis pattern is key to successful prevention.

Postpartum depression does not have to be viewed as being only a psychiatric disorder. TCM practitioners believe that it can develop from an imbalance within blood and energy. They believe this imbalance can be prevented, reduced in severity or cured. The key is identification of symptoms. Further, by taking action either through lifestyle and dietary changes, or a more aggressive approach of taking selected herbs or acupuncture, the symptoms that postpartum depression can present can be eliminated or reduced.

The above article appeared in the London Kids Magazine 2003.

Naturopathic Doctors have the training and the knowledge to help. We are extensively trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Contact us today and make an appointment to talk about postpartum depression or refer someone you love so that they too know that there is something they can do and that they are not alone.

Tel: 647 435 2517
1370 Don Mills Road, Suite 206
Toronto ON M3B 3N7
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