How to Use Hormone Therapy to Treat Postpartum Depression

During pregnancy, a woman's body produces a high level of progesterone, a hormone often called "the natural antidepressant." After delivery, hormone levels drop dramatically. This imbalance affects many new mothers through symptoms of postpartum depression that include crying, insomnia, loss of appetite and anger. Hormone therapy can treat postpartum depression.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blood tests
• Progesterone supplements
• Estrogen supplements

1. Discuss your feelings of postpartum depression with your doctor. If he thinks you have a hormonal imbalance, he will send you for blood tests to measure your hormone levels. After receiving the test results, the two of you can discuss hormone therapy.

2. Ask your doctor about the methods of delivery she will use for your hormone therapy. Progesterone is widely available in tablets, vaginal suppositories and injections, while estrogen comes in pills, shots and transdermal patches. If you would prefer to use a particular form of medication, let her know before she writes out your prescription.

3. Consider finding a counselor or other mental health provider to talk to in addition to using hormone therapy to treat your chemical imbalance. He can teach you to cope with your symptoms of postpartum depression while your hormone levels are regulating.

4. Learn about the side effects you may experience when you use hormone supplements. These can include nausea, fatigue and breast tenderness. Contact your doctor if any side effects increase in intensity.

5. Take care of yourself while you are undergoing treatment for postpartum depression. Eat balanced meals and sleep when your baby sleeps. If you are having difficulty taking care of yourself or your child during this time, get help, whether it is your spouse or friend staying home with you or hiring a mother's helper for a few hours a day.

6. Give the hormone therapy time to work. When you are feeling low and think life is hopeless, it is hard to be patient. Once your hormone levels rise to healthy levels, you should start to feel more like yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Have your thyroid function tested along with your other hormone levels when you speak to your doctor about your postpartum depression. An underactive or overactive thyroid can cause mood swings and other symptoms that may mimic depression. You can use daily medication to treat thyroid issues easily.