Postpartum Depression (PPD) affects nearly 10-20% of new mothers. 70-80% of all mothers experience various forms of PPD, and 1 in 7 women may experience PPD in the year after giving birth. Let that sink in a little bit.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Signs for PPD vary for each woman and may include symptoms such as:
- excessive irritability,
- anger or agitation,
- Intense mood swings,
- loss of interest in everything,
- severe anxiety,
- feelings of guilt and worthlessness,
- fear of not being a good mother,
- fear of being left alone with the baby,
- profound sadness,
- uncontrollable crying,
- inability to sleep/difficulty falling asleep/sleeping too much,
- loss of appetite
- and so much more.
PPD can show up as early as two weeks postpartum to weeks or even months after giving birth..
Postpartum Depression can affect ALL mothers, including mothers who have experienced miscarriages and stillborn births.
Quick Links to the Sections Below
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
Causes of PPD are varied, but some important ones to mention include the erratic changes of hormone levels in the body that contribute to sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and physical discomfort. Genetics may also play a role leaving some to be more vulnerable than others to PPD. Societal pressures that demand mothers to “bounce back” to their prenatal bodies and prenatal self only exacerbate PPD. Lack of support, whether it be emotional, financial, or in everyday challenges, can also play a part in the severity of PPD.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help
Chinese Medicine understands how vulnerable mothers are postpartum and that adequate rest, care, and nutrition play a big part in the recovery process. Here at Cherry Blossom Healing Arts, we offer a no-judgment space in your postpartum recovery.
Through modalities such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary consultation, and conversation, we can help you ease the symptoms of PPD and find balance again. Acupuncture has been shown to have effects on the central nervous system and promotes the transition from a sympathetic nervous system state, “the fight or flight state,” to the “rest and digest” state.
By facilitating this transition, acupuncture helps the body to replenish and renew at a cellular level. Affected hormones and neurotransmitters include melatonin, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and naturally occurring opioids, which affect mood and the feelings of well being. All of these play a significant role in postpartum depression.
Chinese Medicine understands how vulnerable mothers are postpartum and that adequate rest, care, and nutrition play a big part in the recovery process.
When You Nourish the Mother You Nourish the Child
We hope through the art of acupuncture and herbal medicine, we can help mothers replenish and ease into motherhood with grace and amazing support. After all, when you nourish the mother, you nourish the child. We are here to support you.
To get started, head to our booking page and schedule your first appointment. If you’d like us to check your insurance benefits, we’d be happy to take care of that for you. We are in-network with CareFirst/BlueCross and Aetna.
Works Cited:
- The Mother Hood Center of New York:
Acupuncture for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety - Pacific College of Health and Science:
A TCM Approach to Nourishing The New Mother: Acupuncture & Dietary Therapy for Postpartum Healing - Pulling Down the Moon Holistic Health:
Acupuncture for Postpartum Depression - Postpartum Depression:
Statistics on Postpartum Depression Treatment - American Psychological Association:
Postpartum depression
About the Author
I enjoy working one on one with patients in order to provide the best care possible. I like building relationships with my patients because it enables me to further understand what they need most during each session.
