First let’s be clear about one thing, post-partum depression is not caused by a deficiency of drugs.

What just happened? We just gave birth!

Since the beginning of the third trimester of her pregnancy her body has been secreting progesterone abundantly. Progesterone is a “feel good” hormone, hence the cliche of the “radiance of pregnacy” expectant mothers experience near childbirth.

Suddenly the secretion of progesterone stops.

She may already have had low levels before she became pregnant, and  now finds herself without adequate levels of the “feel good” hormone.

How about testing her progesterone level and giving her some?

Isn’t this more logical than anti-depressants?

Also, how much blood did she lose? What if she was borderline anemic or anemic just before giving birth?

The quality of her blood may have become poor. Whenever a new mother comes to me feeling rundown and depressed I address her blood first. I suggest a supplement with Iron, B-12, folic acid and B6. Plus a potent B complex and trace minerals supplement.

For her diet, I tell her to eat blood sausage, rare or medium steaks, plenty of greens, sleep when the baby sleeps and take some fresh air.

A third aspect of post-partum depression is a low thyroid function. I refer you to a previous blog I wrote called The Thyroid Connection. You’ll find it as you scroll down.

So, what do we now know that can help us if we are suffering from post-partum depression or trying to help a friend who is?

There’s a  possibility of three organic causes of post-partum depression: low levels of progesterone, poor blood and low thyroid function. All three can be addressed with proper nutrition and supplementation.

You’ll probably think, reading this, of Andrea Yates, the woman who struggled with post-partum depression and eventually drowned her five children. Her problem at that time was beyond post-partum depression,  she may have become psychotic.

Do you know that one of the side effects of anti-psychotic drugs is psychosis? And if one stops taking these suddenly without proper weaning, one of the documented side effects is psychosis.

Why get so complicated when post-partum depression is actually easy to treat?

I hope this helps you. Talk to your doctor and insist on the proper lab tests so you can be treated adequately.

I feel compelled today to write about food. Last week I examined this beautiful 14 year old girl who suffers from migraine 2-3 times a week. She had scans, MRIs, lab work and even a spinal tap. She was told there was nothing wrong with her.

This is where the medical profession fails a lot of people. They use the big artillery of diagnoses, don’t find any pathology and then send the patient home with a prescription to hide the symptoms. What happened to taking a medical history? What happened to ” going over daily habits”?

Well if anyone would have bothered they would have found she goes to bed between 1 and 2 am, even on school nights. They would also find she hardly eats during the day, no breakfast, hardly any lunch, but spends the evenings eating macaroni and cheese. No wonder!!!! And she’s always tired!!!

With such a diet and life style her adrenals will start giving her problems, then her thyroid and she’ll put weight on, become anemic, maybe diabetic but for sure depressed as she has no energy.

What did the mom have to say? Not much. Have you talked to a teenager lately? She knew all these habits were bad and told her over and over but sometimes it takes a doctor to talk to these kids. YES!!! KIDS!!

So we worked out a vitamin and mineral program, a diet, a normal sleeping schedule and guess what! No headache this week!!!!

There was a time I had 3 teenagers in the house and I sometimes felt I was a drill-master, but one who loved her soldiers very much. As a parent you know what is good for them, ( if you don’t, you can surf the internet, read books and ask for advice) but basically a person that eats well and sleeps well is healthy.

There will be more blogs on basics.

I hope this helps.