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Let's Talk Postpartum Depression & Progesterone

nutrients postpartum postpartum depression progesterone

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about postpartum depression lately and today I’d like to highlight the work of Dr. Katharina Dalton. Before we start, please note that I’m just sharing information and this does not necessarily represent my personal views.

Dr. Dalton defines postpartum depression aka postnatal depression (PND) as “...the first occurence of psychiatric symptoms severe enough to require medical help occuring after childbirth and before the return of menstruation.”

Mommas experiencing PND are not alone. ~1/10 women may experience it, starting immediately after delivery, any time during the first year after childbirth, or up until menstruation is restored (after which it can also evolve into PMS).

Women experiencing PND may express mood fluctuations, irritability, frequent crying, anxiety, guilt, fatigue, and low libido. PND usually comes on unexpectedly.

Dr. Dalton discusses how this is due to the large drop in hormone levels post-delivery. The body enters a “refractory phase” where it’s unresponsive to the usual pituitary hormones like GnRH and LH.

She also discusses some interesting research that showed women most likely to have PND had higher progesterone levels in late pregnancy and lower levels in the days immediately following delivery compared to the others in the study, correlating progesterone levels to PND.

“Postnatal depression is a hormonal disease. Conception, maintenance of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and conversion to non-pregnant state are all under hormonal control.”

Dr. Dalton used a combination of progesterone therapy, blood sugar balancing, and stress reduction as a way to prevent and support her patients with PND with great success.

While Dr. Dalton’s work is incredibly important, I have to point out that there are other factors not captured like nutrient status, trauma, community, environment, etc. that have all been shown to affect PND and shouldn’t be underestimated.

If you believe you’re experiencing postpartum depression, reach out to your healthcare provider right away. There is also SAMHSA’s National Helpline that you can call anytime: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

You deserve to be seen and heard, mama. Hopefully this post gives you a few new avenues to explore with your healthcare provider. 🧡

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Not medical advice.

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Cleveland Clinic. (2018). Postpartum Depression. Retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9312-postpartum-depression.

Dalton, K. Holton, W. (2001). Depression After Childbirth. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

 

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.