Easing Post Partum Depression Naturally
Giving birth is one of the most beautiful processes of life and evolution, yet for some new mothers there is a catch. Feelings of sadness or anger after childbirth create a true struggle in the lives of many women, and may occur within 2 days of birth as pregnancy hormones suddenly drop and the new mother comes to the realization that there is now a new baby in need of constant attention. Following delivery, approximately 80% of first time mothers experience a decrease in mood sometimes referred to as the “post partum blues,” while 13% of new mothers experience a major depressive episode within a few weeks after childbirth known as post partum depression (Wisner et al., 2002). For some women the understanding that hormones and fatigue are the driving factors in this process is important, but many mothers feel guilty about having these symptoms, thinking they are not good mothers or not “cut out” for motherhood. If you are a new mother, remember you are not alone as hundreds of thousands of women in the United States each year experience post partum depression. Women with a previous history of depression are at a particularly high risk for depression (Wisner et al., 2002). Additional risk factors include conflict with the baby’s father, stressful life events and child care stresses. As more women seek drug-free treatment for pregnancy related conditions, the ancient Chinese healing art of acupuncture can support, nurture and ease the transition into motherhood while supporting the overall lifestyle of the new mother.
Postpartum is one of the most critical times for a woman to receive regular preventative care from a Chinese medical practitioner. Acupuncturists can often offset years of “suboptimal” lifestyle and stress in the first few weeks postpartum, as well as intercept abnormalities in lochial flow to rectify years of menstrual irregularities and prevent them from occurring. Acupuncture works on the normal recuperative cycle of a woman to counteract the effects of post-partum depression. In addition to restoring a mother’s energy levels after the stress of birth and alleviating depression and anxiety, acupuncturecan be used postpartum to relieve backache, perineal or other kinds of pain.
