No one never really prepared us for this.

It can fall on us out of nowhere without watching it can disable us and all joy left us-talking about post-natal !

No, no depression or sadness “baby blues“, not “killing yourself“, not a bad mood, not crying because of hormonal changes, not the kind of thing that passes from themselves!

I’m talking about depression.

That falls like a black cloud, leaving many women in a situation of powerlessness, lack of desire and lack of control.

What really post-natal depression is?

  • How to diagnose?
  • What are the causes?
  • Some women suffer from it?
  • When is it made to appear?
  • Why is about and why it’s happening?
  • Which offers medical treatments Can prevent depression.
  • And most importantly: what area offers naturopathy?

These questions and others discuss this important article.

What is post-natal depression?

Before all, it is important to note that important detail may not be talking about enough: “the right of the spouse or partner to be depressed”.

True, the subject of the article is depression and about women, but I couldn’t help but mention the other side.

Neither spouse may suffer greatly birth, feel all the burden falls on him as a woman just finished for an extraordinary experience and simple.

Sometimes he also feels it is bumped, or expect him to do and support and be prepared for fatherhood, even if it happens and he wasn’t really ready.

Bottom line: two sides to the coin. The focus should be on both-it takes two to tango.

Pregnancy is not an easy job, not to mention labor.

But the really hard work begins after actually used to clear a woman should give birth and have guests at home (God forbid you any good luck can’t wait a few more days …), smile and be kind, with all the pain and, of course, after whole nights without sleep, she just wants to be left alone and rest.

Today, there is a degree of greater awareness around the subject.

We proceeded.

Let a woman some time to herself, to the press at organizations, adapting and healing, the Alliance is long but the Alliance Party or baby shower can also be done one month after giving birth, the woman does not think twice to ask or not to ask for help.

I hope that this trend will improve because it is accepted everywhere.

There are places still expect the woman to do it all alone, to be “super” anything that contributes greatly to the development of postpartum depression-discuss it immediately.

The feeling many women after is euphoria, but some women do not experience the “joy of birth and this miracle, but rather the feeling that the end of the world and everything close them!”

I do separate natural depression or sadness that may appear after birth due to lack of time, hormonal changes and difficulty on adaptability to the new situation, and post-natal depression-could erupt and gumboot months after birth.

Despondency or sadness usually pass on their own without any intervention, however, post-natal depression is harder and can be expressed in:

  • Changes in appetite
  • Changes in sleep, difficulty falling asleep
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of energy!.!.! Nervousness, “short fuse”, impatience!.!.! Deficit
  • Tears
  • Difficulty in everyday functioning
  • An unexplained anxiety
  • Palpitation (rapid heartbeat)!.!.!
  • Headaches!.!.!
  • Indecisiveness
  • A sense of meaninglessness!.!.!
  • Hopelessness
  • Sadness!.!.!
  • Solitude!.!.!
  • Lack of libido!.!.!
  • Unworthiness
  • Anger and rancor
  • Guilty!.!.!
  • Staying Away from friends and family
  • Seclusion
  • Fears and worries associated with fear, flip it, wash it, even thoughts of death!.!.!
  • The number and intensity of symptoms may vary with each woman.

Such depression can be very persistent and requires therapeutic intervention, as it affects all concerned and the family, and not only the woman herself.

The baby himself may feel that something is wrong and he experiences emotional deficiencies that can affect his development.

The first year of his life is the most dominant in determining his relationship with the mother.

I will not discuss this post-natal psychosis because the phenomenon is not common, but I will only explain that it is a very difficult situation of extreme mood swings,

hallucinations, and confusion, sometimes even denial of the baby and loss of self. A tendency towards suicide or actual harm to the baby.

Diagnosis of postpartum depression

Standard depression is also used for changes in eating habits, sleep, fatigue, and mood swings. Almost every postpartum woman suffers naturally from fatigue, exhaustion, lack of sleep, and naturally there are also changes in eating habits and mood. If so, the question arises – how do we really diagnose postpartum depression?

There is a questionnaire called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

This questionnaire cannot be a single diagnostic tool, but it does provide a primary predictive predictor of postpartum depression.

It consists of 10 questions and is used during pregnancy.

It is important to note that the early detection of motifs that may indicate a chance of depression can facilitate treatment because preventive treatment is preferable to treatment when the problem already exists.

The predictive factors include, among other things, the relationship between the couple – whether there is closeness, trust, understanding, co-operation, support and mutual help, whether there was family support, whether there were depressions in the past or during pregnancy itself.

This questionnaire is very important but unfortunately, it can not score 100% of the time … as you will soon understand from the following case studies.

Case Studies

 I have two patients, one of whom came to repeated ear infections in the one-and-a-half-year-old boy. In the framework of my questioning and diagnosis, I also asked about the pregnancy itself, the birth, and whether it was breastfed.
I learned from her that her biggest fear when she got pregnant was depression that would break out after the birth. And this fear had a real reason: it was the result of a long history of depression.

In terms of family history, her mother, aunt, and younger brother suffer from severe depression.

She had no warm, devoted and loving family support. In the past, she received medication for a year and a half, and in recent years her condition was wonderful and she did not need medication.

The psychologist who accompanied her at the time asked her to take care of herself because extreme changes, such as birth, may restore depression.

The pregnancy came as an unexpected surprise. There was no partner in the background, she was not sure she was built, ready and ripe for such a thing, and even considered whether to continue the pregnancy.

The pregnancy itself went well, the birth was quick and easy and the depression …. it did not arrive! The child filled her with so much happiness and meaning and satisfaction.

  The second patient came to the clinic to treat postpartum depression. The diagnosis and questioning revealed that in her essence she was a smiling, energetic and energetic girl, happily married, never experienced a severe depression, full of joy and joy of life that loves to give and enjoys life. What she wanted most was a child. And indeed, she and her husband were happy … The pregnancy began and was accompanied by great happiness from the family. After the birth everything was okay in general, there was mild depression but nothing unusual … After all, the body underwent a jolt and the hormonal system underwent significant and sharp changes.

Five months after the birth the situation deteriorated and the depression appeared and transformed her life completely. When she reached me, she told me that she had never imagined that she, of all people in the world, would suffer from depression, and that she was no longer sure she was really ready for the child.

Although the two cases I brought here are extremes, the idea is to say that pregnancy and childbirth can change many things and it is not always possible to know with certainty how and what will happen. Therefore, it is always good to preempt a cure and to approach Naturopath for preventive diagnosis and treatment. Many women do not find it necessary and find themselves in the clinic in a difficult situation after birth.

Do not wait, prevention is preferable even if you do not think it is necessary. Sometimes nutritional guidance and some recommendations are sufficient. One can certainly prepare and prepare the body and mind to reduce the chances of such depression appearing.

Why do women still suffer from postpartum depression?

Unfortunately, many cases of depression are not diagnosed and many women suffer – how and why does this happen?

Well, some are very concerned about how the environment will get the situation, so they’re hiding it. If depression is very difficult and can not or does not want to take care of a baby, it may be concerned about the reaction of people close to such behavior. Many women hide the situation from shame and confusion-especially when they have been told all their lives that having a child is the most amazing thing that can happen to them.

Another reason that many cases are not diagnosed and treated is that postpartum depression can also occur several months after birth, can not always be expected and can come as a surprise.

In addition, the signs are not always clear. Especially those who are relatives or relatives who are not professionals and who do not know how to pay attention to small nuances or interpret them correctly. The signs can be different for every woman and it must be remembered that it is very easy to miss the fact that this is a period of depression since all this period after birth, naturally and comprehensively, can be difficult and accompanied by a lot of fatigue, nervousness and sometimes confusion and mental distress.

Therefore, in many cases it is easy to believe and think that this is just “ordinary” passing difficulty, resulting from dealing with the new child and with all the changes the body is going through, and not knowing how to point a finger and identify that the problem is depression.

Prevalence of postpartum depression

  Sadness or sadness in the postnatal days is a very common condition that is considered normal and occurs in 50% -70% of women. In most cases probably related to the hormonal changes taking place in the body. This situation can be expressed in tears, outbursts of anger and depression and it passes by itself.

    In postnatal depression, 10% -20% of women are treated, and treatment intervention is recommended.

Causes of postpartum depression

    It is widely assumed that the causes of postnatal depression are a combination of the physiological, psychosocial, environmental-social and psychological and mental factors. All these can be affected by lack of sleep, hormonal and biochemical changes, communication and communication problems, false expectations, lack of support, and more.


Biological factors for post partum depression

        After birth, there is a rapid drop in the level of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and/or thyroid hormones, and increased cortisol hormone secreted in stress situations.

        Hypothyroidism can cause symptoms that are reminiscent of depression.

A drop in estrogen levels can lead to depression because the body responds to this drop by releasing an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO), which interferes with the proper functioning of hormones that are essential for balancing the state of mind. Progesterone prolapse may also lead to depression.

This drastic hormonal change certainly constitutes the basis for the hypothesis of the hormonal connection to postpartum depression.

There are wonderful herbs such as the Chinese Angelica, Dioscuria, Abraham’s bush (Vitax) and others, which help restore the hormonal balance. (Not suitable for each, may be harmful to misuse, consult a qualified naturopath)

 Lack of sleep affects directly our biology, brain chemistry – including the levels of serotonin responsible, among other things, for mood. Without adequate sleep, fatigue, irritability, impatience, exhaustion, and difficulty in caring for the baby and getting up all night to feed them can be a sure cause of postpartum depression. Add to this the heavy responsibility that comes with caring for your baby.

 Pregnancy and/or childbirth are difficult – some women suffer from postpartum depression because the pregnancy itself was very difficult, it had health problems, it was heavy and oppressive and did not go smoothly, or the birth process itself was long, exhausting, exhausting, physically and mentally difficult.

 

 Psychological factors for postpartum depression

    As noted at the beginning of this article, mental problems and depression during pregnancy itself or in the past may increase the chances of postpartum depression. I write “may” because it is not committed to reality as you must have read the story of the case I brought earlier.

But overall, there is a correlation between depression in the past and the odds of postnatal depression. There can be a similar correlation even if there is a family history of depression.

Environmental – social – familial factors for postpartum depression


Story A – the husband, the parents and the family … yes everyone croaking around you during pregnancy. Love, help, support, and care are sent to you until you see a new message.

And here, without any evil intent, all this attention is ripped out of you at once and passed on to the newborn immediately after birth.

Unfortunately, there are still such cases (I deliberately do not include), and here there is a traumatic experience for the woman, an experience of abandonment and loneliness that may well lead to depression.

Story B – Everyone croaking around you pregnant, offering help and support. The husband is charming, the family asks if you can help and if you need anything.

After birth, come to embrace, kiss and hold the new baby, as long as he sleeps, smiling, calm, clean everything is wonderful. Every time he cries or defecates, he is flown straight to you …

Only a child recently and the only one who has to deal with and take care of him. Where did all the help go?

* There are societies and nations where it is customary to give a mother to rest, when someone else always takes care of the baby and help. The woman is exempt from any family obligation and from any treatment of the residents of the house and the house itself.


Western lifestyle has significantly increased postpartum depression rates, researchers explain, with insufficient support from family and friends. The absence of a support system that enables a woman to recover from pregnancy and the birth process. Studies show that women who receive this support are more protected from postpartum depression.

The third story – the whole pregnancy until the last minute you got to the workplace. Work is important to you and constitutes an important part of your life, giving you satisfaction and meaning. After birth, you are on maternity leave and feel more like a cage. Your spouse goes out to work and you stay with the baby at home full of jealousy and anger – why do not I go out to work and he stays with the child. You’re bored, tired, unwilling to do anything, sick of the treatment, the feeding, the laundry, the changing of diapers. It turns out that going back to work will not be as simple as you thought. In the workplace there are changes and not so much anymore.

* Please note, this is just one story! There are definitely opposite cases – women who thought they would go back to work and found that all they wanted was to stay home and raise the child. The priorities change. And they’re happier than ever.

Story D – You really like to go out, travel, see friends, entertain. Suddenly all the priorities change and you find yourself busy with the baby and for some reason the friends move away.

* There are many other examples of how environmental, social, and familial factors can lead to postpartum depression. It also depends on the nature of the woman, her wishes, her expectations and what she wants.

Psychological factors for postpartum depression

The woman’s unwillingness to give birth becomes a mother.
Do you sound delusional? Well, not necessarily!
Many women, like my patient, even if they wanted a child and were ready for the child, in the moment of truth – when he came into the world, realized that perhaps they were not really ready for the mothers as they thought.
The phenomenon is more common than many think, but many women are ashamed of it and therefore say nothing. Not all women adopt mothers immediately.
Sometimes it is a process of ripening. Some women suddenly find out after childbirth that baby care is not what they thought, they discover quite surprisingly that the difficulty may be greater, and they doubt their ability to know how to treat it – which can make them feel confused, helpless, and fall into depression.

The social expectation that women feel happy about having a baby is something that is hard to break. It could even be taboo-that a woman should not be less than happy with the new baby, or what kind of mother is she?
True, there are many women who are happy to the full after birth, but there are many who are in great distress because they do not experience the great happiness that everyone is talking about.
The distress grows even more when they have to hide it. This whole situation is accompanied by a whirlpool of emotions that are turbulent, difficult and not at all simple: anger! fear! Wrath! blame! shame! The road is very short.

The couple relationship / lack of support – There are situations in which the partner is self-involved, does not support and expects the woman to take on the role of child care alone.
There are also situations in which the partner feels that the baby has taken his place. This would have a direct effect on both the woman and the baby.

But do not rush to judge, there are certainly situations in which the partner himself may be in great distress and / or immaturity of fatherhood.
He, too, may be tired and mentally and mentally exhausted, troubled by the idea of becoming a father, the sense of responsibility, the expectations of him, the thoughts about the future, worries …
Note that I am not talking about physical difficulty since it is impossible to compare the physical difficulty of pregnancy and childbirth, but I do speak of a great emotional-mental-mental difficulty.
Therefore, the partner may also need help and support. There must be mutual tenderness and sensitivity, and it must be remembered that the shock, the difficulty, the fear and the market can also be the property of the partner.

Bottom line, both partners should prepare, be aware, support each other, do homework, help family and friends, be mutually sensitive to each other.
Do not forget the woman, not support her, and expect her to do everything by herself, and the woman should not forget the man and what he must feel and pass.

Another psychological factor is related to the mother’s ability to contain absolute giving to the infant. If a woman feels in her life (or experienced in her past) a lack of acceptance and attention, the situation can lead to depression through argument or internal war between herself.
There can be difficulty in being able to unilaterally give the whole thing to the new baby.
There are women whose very act of love fills them with total love and loads them with the power and ability to give more and more, and there are women who may feel lost themselves and their identity within this new relationship and from there the path to depression can be very short.

Another significant psychological factor contributing to the likelihood of postpartum depression is the way the woman perceives herself and her body after pregnancy and childbirth.
Many women feel fat, less attractive, sexual drive naturally decreases, and here has a critical and important role for the stability, sharing, friendship and love that exists in the couple relationship.

The conventional treatments offered for postpartum depression

Today, doctors understand that postpartum depression is real and real and offers treatment. The preferred goal is of course early detection, which can improve treatment capacity and its results. The Ministry of Health, which understood the importance of early detection of postpartum depression, is making an effort to promote this.

The conventional treatment available to women today is antidepressant medication, combined with psychological therapy, similar to the treatment of normal depression. There are, of course, different emphasis in the physiologic treatment that takes into account the baby factor and the relationship with it.

It is important to note that if the mother breast-feeding there are problematic drugs because they pass the milk and reach the baby. If breastfeeding, inform your doctor in order to avoid any harm.

Natural treatment through naturopathy in postpartum depression

The most important thing is to understand that there is a problem and not neglect. Many women try to convince themselves that the problem will go away on its own and will not go to therapy.

  Treatment on all fronts

    In postpartum depression, I look for the cause and direct the Naturopathic treatment to both the physical and the mental levels.

    Physical level – treatment of the cause of depression (may be more than one):

  • Balancing the hormonal system by nutrition, herbs, oligotherapy and homotoxicology. There are great and highly effective homotoxicological and oligotherapy treatments for hormonal balance.
  • After a lot of blood loss at birth it is important to nourish the blood by a certain diet with a combination of plants and nutritious, supportive and “blood-building” supplements. Blood loss causes not only fatigue and weakness but also depression and other emotional and mental symptoms.
  • Strengthening the body that has been traumatized by a suitable diet, strengthens and nourishes, natural ingredients and herbs to strengthen and increase the energy level.
  • Central nervous system balance and increased levels of serotonin in the brain – critical in depression! This can be done using natural ingredients, supplements, herbs and nutrition.
  • Restoring all nutritional deficiencies if present, including iron and B12 by diet and herbal medicine.
  • Check that the thyroid is balanced. If not, treat and treat accordingly.


    On the mental/body level:

        Body-mind medicine – guided imagery, conversations, relaxation, relaxation, coping with stress, anger, disappointment, crisis, with exaggerated or incorrect expectations of the woman of herself or her surroundings. Work on self-image, strengthening, supporting, rehabilitating and nurturing the mind.

   Homotoxicology – The homotoxicological treatment, similar to Naturopathic treatment, is not symptomatic. Therefore, postpartum depression is not treated, but in a woman who experiences postpartum depression. And therefore the treatment will vary greatly from woman to woman depending on the cause. In general, the homotoxicological treatment may include hormonal balancing agents such as Hormeel and Ovarium com, major leaks such as Hepar com, something for fatigue and weakness Aletris-Heel Ignatia, Nervoheel, and more.

Herbs – The medicinal herbs are adapted to each woman according to her condition. Of course, breastfeeding is always taken into consideration. Apart from the plants I mentioned at the beginning of the article for hormonal balancing and blood strengthening, formula can include strong nutritious plants that help to recover from birth (or illness) such as Avena sativa and Withania, calming herbs that nourish the nervous system and plants with antidepressant activity.

 

Some Tips for Postpartum Depression

 Once you have recognized that there is a problem and that it is uncontrollable as you thought, talk and share with you, do not take care of your stomach.

The condition of depression stems, among other things, from a physiological problem – from a chemical imbalance in the brain, in the hormonal system, and so on, so it is not related to the weakness of character or something in the style – there is no point in beating and self-blame. You are not to blame for this and you are not alone in this situation – try to find someone who has experienced it and can share with you and listen to you from a place that knows and understands.

Needless to say, make sure you rest and sleep as much as you can to gather strength and strengthen yourself, especially if you’re the one who got up all night for a baby. Ask for help If you can not sleep, do everything to make sure your baby is in good, safe hands.

You should never be shy about asking for help, and certainly not to refuse the help offered to you out of consideration for others. When someone offers you help, do him a favor by not refusing her.

You should also try Light therapy lamps

In conclusion

Each woman is different, the personality structure of each woman is different, the family structure is different, the marital relationship is different, the character is different, the economic situation is different … There are many factors that can increase the risk of postpartum depression, Do naturally to avoid the problem or treat it when it already exists.

Naturopathic treatment is tailored to each woman and according to the situation.

There is nothing to prevent natural treatment parallel to conventional treatment – on the contrary! Proper professional care and qualified enteropathies can help enhance conventional treatment and even prevent the side effects of drugs.

Aya Hod Naturopathic Rcp, a member of the Israeli Association of Naturopathy and Natural Nutrition, lectures on the subject of natural healing, founder, and director of the Complementary Medicine community. , Functional medicine, oligotherapy, homotoxicology, body-mind medicine, EFT and guided imagery.
Owner of the site “Naturopathy and Alternative Medicine”: http://www.ayahod.com