If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD), you may wonder what steps you should take next. There are many different types of treatments for PPD. Medication and psychotherapy are the most common treatment approaches. However, there are also other strategies you can try.

Postpartum depression is very treatable and you can feel better. This article will cover five postpartum depression treatments to help you understand your treatment options.

1. Medication

Medication is a powerful tool for treating PPD. There are a lot of different options for treating PPD with medication. Some medications try to address the cause of PPD. Others, like antidepressants, address the changes that happen in your brain while you’re experiencing depression. It’s important to note that medications can have side effects.

Synthetic Allopregnanolone

During pregnancy, your body produces high levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. After you give birth, these hormones drop down to normal levels. The change in hormones might contribute to developing PPD. Some PPD medications target changes caused by the drop in hormones.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved zuranolone (Zurzuvae), a medication for PPD. It’s a synthetic version of the hormone allopregnanolone, which is made from progesterone. Progesterone levels drop after giving birth, and this short-term treatment often works quickly.

Zuranolone was approved by the FDA in 2023. It is a pill that you take for two weeks. People taking zuranolone may start feeling better in three days.

Antidepressants

The FDA has approved several drugs to treat major depressive disorder. They can effectively treat PPD as well. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). These drugs don’t work on hormones. Instead, they increase the amount of the chemical serotonin available in the brain.

Other types of drugs for depression include tricyclic antidepressants and drugs like bupropion (Wellbutrin).

Antidepressant medications usually take around three weeks to start working. Antidepressants are intended for long-term use.

Estrogen

Because your estrogen level will drop after you give birth, taking estrogen might help your body adjust more easily. Your doctor may give you an estrogen patch to wear on your skin for up to six weeks.

It’s important to note that there isn’t enough conclusive research to know if estrogen patches work. More extensive study is needed to know if estrogen patches are an effective PPD treatment.

Breastfeeding While Taking Medications

Some medications can be passed to your baby through breast milk. Some of these medications have been evaluated to see if they are safe for babies, while others have not. If a medication is safe to use while breastfeeding, it means the medication does not get into breast milk, or if it does, the amount has been evaluated for safety in babies.

Certain SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants are considered safe and are commonly used during breastfeeding. Although zuranolone is not in these categories, it passes into breast milk in small amounts, so you may still be able to breastfeed while taking it. Be sure to talk to your doctor to discuss the risks and benefits.

2. Therapy

Talk therapy or counseling, often known as psychotherapy, is a type of PPD treatment. Psychotherapy will help you learn coping mechanisms for the new stressors that come with caring for a baby. A mental health provider will discuss your feelings, thought patterns, and behaviors. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are two common types of psychotherapy used to treat PPD.

IPT focuses on relationships and communication. You will answer open-ended questions and you may role-play real-life situations with your therapist. IPT can help you improve your communication patterns and relationships with your loved ones.

CBT focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that might be contributing to your PPD. Addressing harmful thought patterns and practicing helpful behaviors can help you feel better over time.

3. Support Groups

Joining a support group for new parents and mothers who are also dealing with PPD can help your recovery. Fathers, non-birthing parents, and trans and non-binary birthing parents can all also experience PPD. You may wish to find support groups for others with similar identities.

Support groups can be found online and in person. They provide social support by allowing you to talk about your experiences with PPD. Some support groups may be run by a mental health provider or other professional and follow a specific structure while others may be less formal.

Many people with PPD feel less alone after attending a support group. Additionally, you may learn techniques and tools from other group members that could improve your daily life.

Your doctor can suggest support groups for you to join.

4. Self-Care

Taking care of yourself is particularly important during this time. Self-care might look different to different people. Make sure to eat nutritiously, stay active, and get enough sleep. Here are some self-care tips:

• Eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
• Get light exercise every day. This could be going for a daily walk or starting to resume your workout regimen.
• Try to sleep when the baby sleeps, or find other times to nap. Ask a friend, family member, or partner to watch the baby for a few hours so you can get some rest.
• Spend time with friends and engage in activities you enjoy.

Avoiding alcohol and illegal drugs can help prevent your mood from worsening. These substances can disrupt your sleep and can also get into breast milk.

5. Electroconvulsive Therapy

Sometimes, medications and other treatments don’t work as well as you want. There may be some cases that require in-patient services, which means you stay at a hospital overnight.

Your health care provider might want to try electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) if all other therapies don’t work for you. ECT uses an electric current to induce a brief seizure. It has been an effective treatment for PPD and postpartum psychosis (another postpartum mood disorder). The more severe the case of PPD, the more effective ECT is. However, not all practitioners agree about using ECT to treat PPD. ECT can have some side effects, such as short-term memory loss.

When To Seek Emergency Services

PPD can make you feel unlike yourself. Sometimes, people with PPD have thoughts of hurting themselves or their baby. If you are worried about hurting yourself or your baby, or if you're having suicidal thoughts, please contact emergency services. If you start experiencing symptoms of postpartum psychosis, you should also contact emergency services. Postpartum psychosis symptoms can include:

• Hallucinations — Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
• Delusions — Believing things that aren’t true
• Paranoia — Thinking people are out to get you when they aren’t

Who Can You Call?

Use the following resources to seek emergency help:

• Call 911 for any emergency service in the U.S.
• Call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. They also have a chat feature on their website.
• Call or text 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262) for the National Maternal Health Hotline. You can gain free access to professional counselors anytime.
• Call or text 800-944-4PPD (800-944-4773) for Postpartum Support International, which offers help in English or Spanish.

You can also go straight to your closest emergency room.

Find Your Team

MyDepressionTeam is the social network for people living with all types of depression, including postpartum depression, and their loved ones. Members come together to ask questions, offer support and advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with PPD.

Did you know about the risk factors for postpartum depression before your baby was born? Do you have any advice for others managing these risks? Share your experience, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.