Postpartum Depression

Q I've been struggling with postpartum depression for 6 months now. Can I really fully recover? Please tell me honestly.

A. If it has persisted beyond 6 months, natural recovery without professional treatment is hard to expect, but if you receive appropriate treatment from now, most people can return to daily life. Treatment being late does not make recovery impossible.

Q My anxiety is worse than my depression, and I can't sleep at all at night. Are anxiety and insomnia also part of postpartum depression?

A. Anxiety and insomnia very commonly appear together with postpartum depression. Even if anxiety feels more prominent than depression, they all fall within the same treatment category.

Q I can't tell whether I have postpartum depression or sanhupung. My whole body aches and I'm extremely tired, and my mind is also very heavy.

A. Postpartum depression and sanhupung (postpartum joint pain and body aches) often appear together. Because severe physical pain also wears down the mind, it is effective to view and treat the two together.

Q Caring for the baby alone and not getting a wink of sleep has become my daily life. Does lack of sleep make postpartum depression worse? What is the best way to rest?

A. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest factors that worsen postpartum depression. You need a realistic sleep strategy: sleep when the baby sleeps, and share nighttime feedings if possible.

Q During postpartum depression, should I do light exercise or go outside? Or is it better to rest at home?

A. When the weather allows, walking outside in the sunlight for 10 to 20 minutes a day genuinely helps improve mood. Strenuous exercise is to be avoided; try starting with a stroll around the neighborhood with your baby.

Q I keep finding the baby a bother and wishing I could disappear. Are thoughts like these also a symptom of postpartum depression? What should I do?

A. These thoughts are a warning sign of postpartum depression. Never endure them alone. Please contact the mental health crisis counseling line (1577-0199) right now, or go to an emergency room.

Q I'm breastfeeding. Is it safe for my baby if I take herbal medicine for postpartum depression?

A. We can compose a postpartum formula that can be taken while breastfeeding. Traditional blood-nourishing and spirit-calming formulas such as Guibi-tang and postpartum tonics have their components adjusted to account for transfer through breast milk. Please always let us know that you are breastfeeding before taking them.

Q A psychiatrist prescribed me an antidepressant (SSRI). Can I take it while breastfeeding? And is it okay to take it together with herbal medicine?

A. There are SSRIs that can be used while breastfeeding, so if you consult your specialist you can keep nursing while taking the medication. When combining with herbal medicine, inform both clinics that you are taking it and leave a gap of 1 to 2 hours.

Q When does postpartum depression get better? This state won't last permanently, will it?

A. With treatment, most cases improve within a few months. If left untreated it can persist for over a year, but with appropriate care and support, full recovery is entirely possible.

Q I had severe postpartum depression with my first child. If I have a second child, will it happen again?

A. A history of postpartum depression raises the risk of recurrence after the next childbirth, but with advance preparation it can be prevented or caught early. It is important to start monitoring your mental health during pregnancy.

Q This is supposed to be a joyful time after giving birth, so I don't understand why I feel so sad and listless. Why does postpartum depression happen?

A. Right after childbirth, female hormones drop sharply, which destabilizes emotional regulation; combined with sleep deprivation and the stress of caring for a newborn, this leads to postpartum depression. It is a physical change, not a matter of willpower, so there is no need to blame yourself.

Q I haven't been able to stop crying since day 3 after giving birth. How can I tell whether this is the baby blues or postpartum depression?

A. The baby blues are temporary mood swings that begin 2 to 4 days after childbirth and subside on their own within two weeks. If sadness and listlessness continue beyond two weeks and daily life is difficult, it should be considered postpartum depression.

Q I have postpartum depression. Does what I eat make a difference? Are there foods that help or that I should avoid?

A. A diet rich in iron, omega-3, and protein helps restore energy and stabilize emotions. Caffeine and binging on sugar can worsen mood swings, so they need to be moderated.

Q My husband works late often and my parents' home is far away, so I have no one to turn to for help. Does a situation like this make postpartum depression worse?

A. An environment lacking family support is an important factor that worsens postpartum depression. Try not to shoulder everything alone, and actively make use of local postpartum care services and counseling resources.

Q It feels burdensome to come to a Korean medicine clinic with a newborn. How often do I need to come in for postpartum depression treatment?

A. For the first 1 to 2 months, the standard is one visit every two weeks, and the herbal medicine is taken at home. You may bring your baby, and if you live near Dong-gu or Dongincheon in Incheon, we will arrange the schedule so visiting is not a heavy burden.

Q When I first visit Dongjedang for postpartum depression, what process does the consultation follow?

A. At the first consultation, we comprehensively check your physical condition and emotional symptoms since childbirth, combining the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with Korean medicine diagnosis. We then establish a blood-nourishing, spirit-calming prescription and treatment plan suited to your qi and blood state.

Q For postpartum depression, is Korean medicine treatment just taking herbal medicine? Do you also do acupuncture or other treatments?

A. Herbal medicine of the Guibi-tang and postpartum-tonic class is the foundation, combined with acupuncture that enhances the spirit-calming effect. When the body is cold or energy is extremely depleted, moxibustion may also be added.

Q Does Korean medicine treatment actually work for postpartum depression? Shouldn't I just go to a psychiatrist?

A. For mild postpartum depression, Korean medicine treatment can help replenish qi and blood and settle the mind. If it is moderate or more severe, or if you have thoughts of self-harm, we recommend collaborative care with a psychiatrist.