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.
Detailed Answer
If you experienced postpartum depression in a previous pregnancy, the likelihood of recurrence after your next childbirth rises to about 40 to 50%. However, knowing this and preparing in advance makes it quite possible to prevent it or catch it in its early stages. The key is to make a plan together with a psychiatrist or obstetrician starting during pregnancy, and to set up a support system from your spouse and family in advance for right after childbirth. Taking a screening test such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) within two weeks of childbirth makes early detection easier.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we recommend prenatal Korean medicine care that replenishes qi and blood in advance, starting from late pregnancy, for those at risk of recurrence. By firmly building up the foundation of qi and blood that childbirth will deplete, we can reduce the state of sudden deficiency-fatigue (heoro) after childbirth and help lower the very occurrence of postpartum depression.
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