Can postpartum depression breastfeed?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on September 05, 2024
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When postpartum depression occurs, it is possible to continue breastfeeding. If the depression is mild and no medication is taken, continuing breastfeeding will not affect the baby's growth and development. However, depression often leads to low spirits, frequent crying, and a reluctance to care for the child, which can affect milk secretion and lead to a reduction in milk supply that may not meet the baby's growth needs. In such cases, it may be necessary to add supplementary food or formula. If postpartum depression is severe and involves medication, these medications may enter the baby's body through the breast milk, which can affect the baby's health. Therefore, if postpartum depression occurs and medication is taken, breastfeeding should be stopped. (Note: The answer is for reference only. Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

Other Voices

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Is elderly depression easy to treat?

Depression in the elderly is difficult to treat because compared to younger patients, depression in the elderly tends to last longer with an average duration often exceeding one year, and episodes occur more frequently, often becoming chronic. Additionally, the prognosis for elderly depression is worse compared to other age groups, primarily due to the coexistence of cerebrovascular diseases and other physical comorbidities, recent acute illnesses, long-term ongoing diseases, as well as the presence of delusions and a lack of social support systems. Thus, depression in the elderly is quite challenging to treat.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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How to Cure Geriatric Depression

For geriatric depression, the treatment includes several aspects. Firstly, it is important to strengthen the patient's diet and nutrition supplementation. Secondly, certain psychological therapies should be provided to the depressed patients. The aim is mainly to alleviate or relieve symptoms, improve patients’ compliance with medication, prevent relapse, and reduce or eliminate the adverse consequences caused by the disease. The third aspect is to provide certain medication treatments, such as the currently used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These types of medications have been widely used in patients with geriatric depression disorders. Among them, SSRIs are quite effective for geriatric depression disorders and can effectively counteract cholinergic and have milder adverse reactions on the cardiovascular system, making it easy for elderly patients to accept and maintain long-term treatment. The fourth aspect is the improvement of electroconvulsive therapy, which can significantly improve depression when combined with comprehensive treatment. However, since depression has a high recurrence rate, full-course treatment is recommended.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Is mild depression normal?

Patients with mild depression, although also experiencing symptoms such as low mood, decreased interest, reduced motivation, slow thinking, and reduced volition, may have difficulty falling asleep and frequently wake up during sleep, among other related symptoms. However, patients often retain most of their social functions, causing some disturbance to daily life and work. Through self-adjustment, standardized psychotherapy, and medication, patients often achieve good treatment outcomes. Sometimes, the symptoms of some patients are relatively mild, and they may appear normal outwardly, but their inner experience is indeed pathological. Therefore, it is still necessary to undertake standardized, systematic, and scientific treatment to achieve clinical recovery.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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How to treat postpartum depression?

When postpartum depression occurs, it is first important to pay attention to women's mental health. Treatment can be approached psychologically, and additionally, medication and physical therapy may be options. Psychological therapy includes supportive psychological treatments, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral adjustments. The main purpose of psychological therapy, especially during acute depressive episodes, is to alleviate symptoms of depression to improve social issues. It is important that family members and husbands provide sufficient psychological support and ensure that the new mother feels secure. Additionally, diet should be considered; consuming foods rich in protein and vitamins can strengthen a woman's body and resistance, and regulate her physical condition. In severe cases, under the guidance of a doctor, medication can also be used for treatment.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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How long does it take for depression to get better?

The treatment of depression is generally divided into three stages: acute phase treatment, continuation phase treatment, and maintenance phase treatment. The complete recovery from depression depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. The acute phase treatment usually lasts one to three months, mainly focusing on controlling the symptoms related to depression. Additionally, during the continuation phase treatment, the medication period generally lasts four to nine months, and its main goal is to maintain the stability of the patient's condition and prevent relapse of the disease. As for the maintenance phase treatment, the duration of treatment is to be determined. Typically, the duration is one to two years after the first onset, three to five years after the second onset, and for patients who have had more than three episodes, it is recommended to maintain a low-dose medication treatment to prevent recurrence of the disease.