What Can Help Me Overcome My Postpartum Depression?

Pregnancy causes significant shifts in your hormone levels, and once the new baby is here, many women experience anxiety and moodiness as those hormone levels return to normal. This is what’s called the “baby blues,” and while it can be unsettling, the good news is, symptoms typically resolve fairly quickly.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is different. If you have PPD, symptoms are more severe and last much longer — and sometimes, they don’t even appear until weeks after giving birth. 

PPD also doesn’t resolve on its own; it requires medical treatment to get better. Some women respond well to antidepressant medication with or without psychotherapy, but unfortunately, these approaches aren’t always effective.

At Revival Infusion Madison in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, Sarah Wilczewski, CRNA, APNP uses ketamine infusion therapy to help women with postpartum depression find long-lasting relief for their symptoms. If you have PPD, here’s how ketamine therapy could help.

Why PPD happens

Despite its name, postpartum depression can begin during pregnancy. As a type of depression, PPD shares many of the signs and symptoms of major depressive disorder, including: 

• Deep feelings of sadness and hopelessness
• Low self-worth
• Anxiety
• Sleep problems
• Changes in appetite
• Problems concentrating
• Moodiness and irritation
• Bouts of crying
• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

Moms dealing with PPD may struggle to bond with their baby, and they can be plagued with worries about “failing” as a mother.

PPD symptoms last far longer than the “baby blues,” and without treatment, they can linger for years. Like other types of depression, PPD requires medical treatment but, as noted earlier, traditional therapies don’t always work. What’s more, it can be weeks before medication and psychotherapy show any benefits.

Ketamine for PPD

Historically used as an anesthetic, ketamine has proven very effective in treating depression and other mental health concerns, like bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s also been shown to be an effective, rapid-acting treatment for women suffering from PPD.

While most antidepressant medicines focus on a neurotransmitter called serotonin, ketamine works by increasing production of a different neurotransmitter called glutamate that plays a major role in depression and mood. Keatmine also supports neuroplasticity, optimizing nerve-to-nerve communication in your brain. 

Ketamine also acts very rapidly, with many patients noticing an improvement in their symptoms after just a single treatment. Finally, ketamine can be repeated as needed for long-term management.

Don’t suffer with PPD

Postpartum depression can take a toll on every aspect of your life, including your emotional and physical wellness. To learn how ketamine can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life, call 608-405-6824 or book an appointment online with the team at Revival Infusion Madison today.