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 Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Can people with mild depression drink alcohol?

Patients with mild depression are generally advised not to drink alcohol, especially those who have sleep problems and rely on drinking to solve these issues; they are strongly urged to abstain completely. Patients with mild depression may experience mood swings, slow cognitive responses, and an inability to feel joy. They might have difficulty falling asleep or frequently wake up during sleep. Some patients might attempt to alleviate their symptoms or improve their depressed, suppressed mood through drinking. The adverse consequences of this are an increase in the severity of depression and ultimately the potential development of a substance dependency on alcohol, which negatively impacts the treatment of depression. Therefore, for patients with mild depression, it is clinically advised to forbid or reduce alcohol consumption, with abstinence being the best treatment approach.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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What is the best treatment for mild depression?

In clinical practice, the first choice of treatment for mild depression is generally psychotherapy, especially recommended cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and interpersonal therapy. In cognitive behavioral therapy, it is particularly important to help patients identify automatic thoughts, including teaching patients to recognize automatic thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By correcting irrational cognitive patterns, such as catastrophizing, magnifying, and overgeneralization, a new cognitive system is reestablished to achieve effective treatment goals. Additionally, physical therapies like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can also be chosen to alleviate symptoms of mild depression. However, for some patients with depression, pharmacotherapy can also be considered, particularly recommended are first-line serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is crucial to follow the doctor's advice during the clinical treatment process and adhere to a systematic and standardized medication treatment throughout the illness.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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How to treat geriatric depression effectively?

Elderly depression should be treated comprehensively. Firstly, it is important to enhance the diet and supplement nutrition. Secondly, through psychotherapy, mainly to alleviate or relieve symptoms, improve patients' compliance with drug treatment, and reduce or eliminate the adverse consequences of the disease. Thirdly, pharmacotherapy can involve the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, selective serotonin, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which are widely used in the treatment of elderly patients with depression. Fourth, modified electroconvulsive therapy is an option. Through the aforementioned comprehensive treatment, the clinical symptoms of depression can be improved. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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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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Dietary Cautions for Geriatric Depression

Patients with geriatric depression currently find antidepressant medications and electroconvulsive therapy to be quite effective. However, due to lack of appetite and poor mental responsiveness in these patients, their nutritional status often remains unfulfilled. Therefore, we should enhance the dietary nutrition of elderly patients with depression. The focus should be on protein-rich foods such as eggs, shrimp, fish, chicken, and duck. Additionally, attention should be given to including roughage in the diet, ensuring daily fruit intake and vegetables in every meal.