Postpartum Treatment Cleveland, OH

Looking for postpartum depression treatment in Cleveland? Cleveland Medical Institute is the Cleveland, Ohio area’s top ketamine infusion provider.

Childbirth and the following months can result in a mixture of emotions — excitement and happiness, fear and worry. But in some people, childbirth can also trigger a condition called postpartum depression.

Many mothers experience the “baby blues” after childbirth, which is a period of mood swings, anxiety, crying spells, and trouble sleeping. Baby blues usually begin a few days after delivery of the child, and may last up to two weeks before going away on their own.

Unfortunately, some mothers will develop a more severe and long-term form of depression, postpartum depression. Developing postpartum depression should not be taken as a sign of weakness. Carrying and delivering a child can bring about a set of hormonal changes to the human body, and postpartum depression is just a complication of this process. Getting proper treatment early can help you manage your symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

• Symptoms of the Baby Blues
• Baby blues tend to only last a few days to a week after the birth of your baby, but symptoms may include the following:
• Feelings of anxiety
• Feelings of sadness
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Feelings of irritability
• Mood swings
• Bouts of tearfulness
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Changes in appetite

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Many mothers will mistake postpartum depression for the baby blues at first, but the symptoms of postpartum depression are more intense and will last for a longer period of time, and may even get in the way of caring for your baby or taking care of other everyday tasks.

Symptoms usually start within weeks after giving birth, but begin during pregnancy or even develop a year after giving birth. Symptoms of postpartum depression may include the following:

• Sadness or depressed mood
• Mood swings
• Excessive crying
• Having difficulty bonding with your baby
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Changes in appetite (eating too much or too little)
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little)
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Lack of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Irritability
• Anger
• Fear and anxiety
• Hopelessness
• Worthlessness, shame, and guilt
• Trouble concentrating
• Restlessness
• Panic attacks
• Thoughts of self-harm and suicide

Without proper treatment, postpartum depression may last for months or longer.

What is postpartum psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is a rare condition that may develop within the first week after delivery, but with symptoms much more severe than regular postpartum depression. Symptoms may include the following:

• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Thinking obsessively about your baby
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Sleep disturbances
• Excessive energy
• Agitation
• Paranoia
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Postpartum depression may bring life-threatening thoughts and behaviors and should be treated as soon as possible.
What does postpartum depression look like in new fathers?

Despite common misinterpretation, new fathers can also develop postpartum depression. They may feel overwhelmed, fatigued, or sad. They may experience anxiety or changes in their sleeping and eating patterns — if these symptoms seem familiar, that is because they are the same symptoms mothers with postpartum depression experience.

Young fathers or those with a history of depression are the most at risk for developing postpartum depression, as well as those experiencing personal or financial problems. Sometimes called paternal postpartum depression, this type of postpartum depression can have an equally negative effect on relationships and childhood development as maternal postpartum depression can.

When should you seek treatment for postpartum depression?

Many people suffering from baby blues and postpartum depression may feel embarrassed to admit it and seek out the necessary treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the symptoms of postpartum baby blues, depression, or psychosis, reach out for treatment. Symptoms may get worse if left untreated over time.

What causes postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is not caused by any single factor, but is likely a mix of physical and emotional factors.

Physical Factors — Pregnancy and childbirth bring along a dramatic change in hormones. The drop in hormones like estrogen after childbirth may contribute to the development of postpartum depression.

Emotional Factors — Problems like sleep deprivation or stress can worsen the symptoms of postpartum depression, or trigger it outright.
Am I at risk for developing postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression can develop in anyone after the birth of a child. That said, there are some factors that increase your risk of developing:

• You have a history of depression
• You have a history of bipolar disorder
• You previously had postpartum depression
• You have a family history of depression or other mood disorders
• You have gone through stressful events during the past year
• Your baby has health problems
• You had twins, triplets, or multiple births
• You are having difficulty breast-feeding
• You and your significant other are having relationship issues
• You do not have a good support system
• You have financial problems
• If the pregnancy was unplanned and/or unwanted

What are the complications of postpartum depression?

In Mothers
Without treatment, postpartum depression can lost for months or even longer, and can develop into a chronic depressive disorder. Even with proper treatment, developing postpartum depression increases the risk of future depressive episodes.

In Fathers
Postpartum depression can go on to affect everyone close to the baby. If a new mother has postpartum depression, the risk of the father developing postpartum depression increases as well.

In Children
The children of mothers who do not receive effective treatment for postpartum depression are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems of their own.

How do I prevent postpartum depression?

If you previously have struggled with depression or depressive episodes, it is best to let your doctor know if you are or are planning on becoming pregnant.

While you are pregnant, your doctor or trusted healthcare provider can monitor you for the signs and symptoms of depression. If you start to develop postpartum depression, it can be caught early, and the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it will be, generally speaking. After childbirth, you may be recommended to go in and screen for signs of postpartum depression.

Your healthcare provider will try to determine if you are suffering from baby blues, postpartum depression, or postpartum psychosis and will find a treatment plan that is appropriate for each of these.

What lifestyle changes can help postpartum depression?

Make healthy choices — Engage in regular physical activity, practice good sleep routines, eat well-balanced meals, and avoid alcohol or drug abuse.

Set realistic goals for yourself — Treatment can take time. Be realistic about your role as a parent during treatment and do not put all the pressure on yourself.

Set time aside to relax — Spend some time doing things you enjoy or spending time with people you love.

Reach out to your social support system — Do not let your symptoms isolate you from your friends and family. They can provide powerful emotional support to you.

What treatment options are available?

Medication. Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant or another medication to help with your Postpartum Depression symptoms.
Counseling. Participating in talk therapy or an emotional support group may help you learn to manage your negative thoughts.
Ketamine Infusions. An innovative new treatment option, IV Ketamine Infusions at your local Ketamine Infusion Center may help you find relief.

How can Ketamine Infusions treat Postpartum Depression?

Ketamine was first approved by the FDA as an anesthetic, but has been used as a postpartum depression treatment in Cleveland, OH, since 2006. Infused at a low dose from an IV into the bloodstream, Ketamine has been shown to improve depression in 75-80% of patients. Spravato, an antidepressant nasal spray based on Ketamine, has also recently been approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression. If you or a loved one is suffering from Postpartum Depression and has questions about Ketamine treatment, we invite you to call us and schedule a phone consultation to decide if Ketamine infusion therapy for depression treatment is right for you.