Postpartum Depression Treatment in Wellesley and Weymouth, MA

Our facility provides a warm and nurturing environment where mothers can feel safe and understood as they begin their journey toward healing. Our team of mental health professionals specializes in postpartum depression and are dedicated to providing individualized care with offices located in Wellesley, Weymouth, Longmeadow, and Arlington. We understand that each woman’s experience is unique, and we take the time to listen, validate, and support our patients throughout their treatment.

Postpartum depression is a common mental health condition that affects many new mothers. It is characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that persist beyond the typical “baby blues” period after giving birth. Colony Care Behavioral Health in Massachusetts offers specialized treatment for postpartum depression, providing new mothers with the care and support they need to recover and thrive.

What Is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a form of depression that occurs specifically after childbirth in which symptoms are more intense and last longer than symptoms of the “baby blues.”. Sometimes, people experience symptoms before and after giving birth, and in these instances, symptoms are referred to as peripartum depression.  These types of depression are very common and affect more than 800,000 women in the United States alone. Postpartum depression often makes it difficult for these women to perform daily activities for themselves or others. Postpartum depression is a not a character flaw or personal weakness. It is an illness, which can be a complication of childbirth, and it can be treated.

Common Causes

Postpartum depression is affected by several different physical and emotional factors rather than by a single source.

After childbirth a woman experiences a dramatic change in her hormone levels, which leads to an alteration of chemicals in her brain. These chemical changes often result in powerful mood swings.

Sleep deprivation is another key contributor to postpartum depression. As the body undergoes an enormous amount of stress during childbirth, it is understandable that it requires an incredible amount of rest in order to fully recuperate. However, many new mothers find it difficult to attain such needed rest, which can heavily impact common symptoms of postpartum depression like exhaustion.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression typically creates feelings of extreme sadness, exhaustion, and anxiety in women for an extended period of time. Additional symptoms include:

• Crying more than usual or for no apparent reason
• Feeling irritable, moody, or restless
• Flashes of anger or rage
• Physical pains such as headaches, muscle pains, or stomach issues
• Changes in sleep habits – either too much or too little
• Loss of interest in activities that were once very enjoyable
• Isolation of self from friends and family
• Difficulty in bonding with the baby
• Significant changes in eating habits – eating too much or too little
• Doubt in ability to care for the baby
• Inability to concentrate, remember specific details, or make decisions
• Fear that you are not a good mother
• Severe anxiety and panic attacks
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

In some cases, mothers can develop postpartum psychosis or postpartum depression with psychosis, which often develops within the first week of delivery and involves more severe symptoms including:

• Feeling confused and lost
• Thinking things that are not real
• Having obsessive thoughts about your baby
• Hallucinating and having delusions
• Having sleep problems
• Having too much energy and feeling upset
• Feeling paranoid
• Making attempts to harm yourself or your baby

Postpartum psychosis is an emergency and someone experiencing these symptoms requires immediate treatment.

Treatment Options

Treatment for postpartum depression is often handled using therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

Many patients that suffer from postpartum depression have found talk therapies to be very helpful. More specifically, patients often find success in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).

Medications such as antidepressants can help to regulate abnormal changes in chemicals of the brain, which lead to a more stable mood. It is important to talk with your care team about such medications, as certain types may or may not be considered safe to take while breastfeeding.

Schedule a Postpartum Depression Consultation

To speak with one of our mental health clinicians in Massachusetts about the diagnosis or treatment of postpartum or peripartum depression, please request an appointment today. You can also speak with one of our team members by calling Colony Care Behavioral Health at (781) 431-1177. The best way to connect with a clinician is to Request an appointment.