How to treat postpartum depression?

Many women suffer from postpartum depression after giving birth due to a series of changes in their bodies. When this disease occurs, most of them will have difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, and slow reaction. If the condition is more serious, there is also a tendency to commit suicide. Therefore, when postpartum depression occurs, it should be treated in time. So how should postpartum depression be treated?

Psycho-psychiatric treatment:

During the delivery process, nursing staff should try their best to accompany and guide the mother, give comfort and encouragement, and teach her how to use relaxation techniques during the intervals between labor pains, so as to eliminate her sense of helplessness and increase her confidence in delivery. Allow family members to accompany, provide care and attention, reduce loneliness and relieve tension. Replenish easily digestible food and water in time to reduce the consumption of physical strength and energy during delivery. Preoperative psychological care should be provided to women undergoing cesarean section to reduce their fear and anxiety about the operation.

Provide a quiet and comfortable environment after delivery

Appropriately limit visits from relatives and friends, concentrate nursing work as much as possible, improve efficiency, and allow the mother to have adequate rest. Give easily digestible and nutritious food to help the mother recover her strength as soon as possible. Actively communicate with mothers, listen to their thoughts and feelings, give encouragement, help them acquire knowledge and skills of breastfeeding, explain to them that keeping a happy mood can promote milk secretion, teach mothers and their families general knowledge and skills of caring for babies, and stimulate their positive psychological responses. Provide key psychological care to mothers who have experienced abnormal pain during childbirth or have adverse pregnancy outcomes, pay attention to protective medical treatment, and avoid mental stimulation. Prenatal education

Provide mental health education to the mother's husband, parents-in-law, parents and other family members, facilitate communication among family members, create a warm family atmosphere, give the mother meticulous care, care about her psychological feelings, and try to avoid sensitive issues that stimulate her emotions. If there is a history of perinatal depression, the mother is severely depressed, or the infant is irritable, sufficient attention should be paid to identify psychological problems in a timely manner to avoid delaying treatment.

Drug treatment:

Tricyclic antidepressants are still the first-line drugs for treating depression. Second-generation atypical antidepressants are second-line drugs. The efficacy of various tricyclic antidepressants is comparable, and they can be selected clinically based on the intensity of the depressive and sedative effects, side effects, and patient tolerance. Imipramine and desipramine have weak sedative effects and are suitable for depressed patients with psychomotor retardation. Amitriptyline and doxepin have strong sedative effects and can be used for patients with anxiety, agitation and insomnia. However, tricyclic drugs have significant anticholine and cardiovascular side effects and should be used with caution. There are many types of second-generation atypical antidepressants, with selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline being the most widely used, with few side effects, good safety, and useful for long-term maintenance treatment.

Generally speaking, when postpartum depression occurs, it is best to undergo psychological and psychiatric treatment while controlling it with medication. The company and care of family members are very important. Provide the mother with a better environment and it is best to keep it quiet. In terms of diet, the mother can eat more sugars, strengthen nutrition appropriately, and communicate more. It is especially necessary for the husband to give the best spiritual encouragement.