HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

The birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression.

Many new moms experience the "postpartum baby blues" after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Baby blues typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks.

But some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression. Rarely, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after childbirth.

Postpartum depression isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms — and enjoy your baby

Causes-There's no single cause of postpartum depression, but physical and emotional issues may play a role.

Physical changes. After childbirth, a dramatic drop in hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in your body may contribute to postpartum depression. Other hormones produced by your thyroid gland also may drop sharply — which can leave you feeling tired, sluggish and depressed.

Emotional issues. When you're sleep deprived and overwhelmed, you may have trouble handling even minor problems. You may be anxious about your ability to care for a newborn. You may feel less attractive, struggle with your sense of identity or feel that you've lost control over your life. Any of these issues can contribute to postpartum depression

Symptoms- Signs and symptoms of depression after childbirth vary, and they can range from mild to severe.

Postpartum baby blues symptoms

Signs and symptoms of baby blues — which last only a few days to a week or two after your baby is born — may include:--Mood swings, Anxiety, Sadness, Irritability, Feeling overwhelmed,Crying, Reduced concentration, Appetite problems,Trouble sleeping

Postpartum depression symptoms

Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first — but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, eventually interfering with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth, but may begin later — up to six months after birth.

Postpartum depression symptoms may include:

·         Depressed mood or severe mood swings

·         Excessive crying

·         Difficulty bonding with your baby

·         Withdrawing from family and friends

·         Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual

·         Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much

·         Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy

·         Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy

·         Intense irritability and anger

·         Fear that you're not a good mother

·         Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy

·         Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions

·         Severe anxiety and panic attacks

·         Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

·         Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Untreated, postpartum depression may last for many months or longer.

Postpartum psychosis

With postpartum psychosis — a rare condition that typically develops within the first week after delivery — the signs and symptoms are even more severe. Signs and symptoms may include:

·         Confusion and disorientation

·         Obsessive thoughts about your baby

·         Hallucinations and delusions

·         Sleep disturbances

·         Paranoia

·         Attempts to harm yourself or your baby

Postpartum psychosis may lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and requires immediate treatment.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

ACTEA RACEMOSA 30-Actaea Racemosa is one of the top medicines for Postpartum Depression where sadness and tearfulness predominate. The woman  is very sad, weeps a lot and the sadness gets worse from motion and cold. In some cases, the sadness is accompanied by the fear of going mad. Such a woman sits alone and cries. Another marked feature accompanying sadness is suspiciousness and the woman refuses to take any medicine. The woman also imagines things that trigger sadness like seeing rats running across the room and where everything seems confused and dark as if a black cloud has surrounded her. There is  alteration in the physical and mental symptoms.

IGNATIA AMARA-30- Ignatia Amara is also a good  medicine for Postpartum Depression that presents itself in the form of sadness and tearfulness where the woman has a very sensitive mood and gets angry from even a slight contradiction. The woman requiring Ignatia Amara usually has a history of concentrated grief during pregnancy. In women who have a difficulty in controlling their emotions and whose mood changes rapidly from happiness to sadness.  

NATRUM MURIATICUM 30- Natrum Muriaticum is an excellent  remedy for a woman who has an aversion to company, weeps alone and whose condition gets worse if someone tries to console her.

PULSATILLA NIG. 30- Pulsatilla Pratensis is another excellent medicine for this condition. But here the woman   likes the company of people, weeps in front of anybody or everybody and always  feels better when someone consoles her.

SEPIA 30-Sepia  is one of the   top l Homeopathic medicine for tackling irritability over the slightest cause during Postpartum Depression. Irritability associated with the fear of being alone and aversion to do any work, either mental or physical, can be managed with this medicine. If irritability is present along with a marked aversion to talk, then too Sepia Officinalis is the best remedy. It is also the ideal medicine when the woman develops an aversion to family members who she loved and cared for before the onset of symptoms.

KALI CARBONICUM 30-  Kali Carbonicum is useful when the  women facing Postpartum Depression in whom irritability of the utmost degree has set in and the woman has a fear of ghosts and fears being left alone. Such a woman will be sleepless if left alone in a house.

LILIUM TIGRINUM 30-Lilium Tigrinum is another  medicine that yields good results in Postpartum Depression where extreme irritability with violent palpitations are predominant symptoms. There is an increase in irritability when spoken to where the woman will use the most violent and indecent words even if the other person is very mild in speech.

BELLADONNA 200- Belladona is the ideal  medicine for women who complain of anger that comes and goes suddenly along with the face turning red. If anger is associated with violent acts like biting, striking or spitting on attendants, then too Belladona is the remedy. It is also of great help for women who want to run away, laugh excessively and tear things in fits of anger.

CHAMOMILLA 30- Chamomilla is the best remedy for Postpartum Depression patients who easily get angry and turn quarrelsome with the use of wild language, and show no respect for others.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30- Aconitum Napellus is one of the best medicine for depression and anxiety in Postpartum Depression patients who have a marked fear of death.The anxiety that gets worse in crowded places and while crossing the streets points.  Another symptom to take note of is extreme restlessness that makes the person do everything hastily. Aconitum Napellus is the best cure for depression and is very beneficial in all those cases where acute, sudden and violent attacks of anxiety occur with a marked fear of death and open air makes the Postpartum Depression patient feel better. There’s also an increased thirst for large quantities of cold water during the anxiety attack

ARSENICUM ALBUM 200- Arsenicum Album is another excellent  remedy  for anxiety with fear of death in Postpartum Depression patients. The patient refuses to take the medicine because she thinks that death is near and it’s useless to take any medicine. This symptom is accompanied by marked restlessness, making the patient continually change position, excessive weakness and the tendency to even faint.The anxiety attacks that get worse at night and make the person fearful to be alone .

COFFEA CRUDA 30- Coffea Cruda is also one of the best remedies  for depression and is a wonderful remedy to cope with the problem of sleeplessness  in women going through Postpartum Depression. The patients requiring Coffea Cruda go sleepless due to the mind being occupied with too many ideas. Oversensitive patients who have sudden mood changes from laughing to weeping and who experience sleeplessness that gets worse after 3 am .

 OPIUM 30- Opium is another remedy  for depression where the  patients who feel sleepy but remain awake due to acuteness of hearing. Distant noises like cocks crowing keep them awake.

AURUM METALLICUM 200-Aurum Metallicum is the top  Homeopathic remedy for Postpartum Depression . Due to  depression the patients who feel it’s useless to live, life is a burden and constantly think of committing suicide. Such women easily get angry over the slightest contradiction and any fright brings a feeling of depression.

NATRUM SULPHURICUM 30- Natrum Sulphuricum  is also a good  remedy for suicidal thoughts and a feeling of worthlessness in Postpartum Depression patients. The patients have to exercise much self-control to prevent themselves from commiting suicide.The patients who are very sad with an aversion to talk to others . Such a person cannot be made happy and even lively music is of no help.