After having a baby, many women have mood swings. They may feel a little depressed, have a hard time concentrating, fatigue, anxiety, lose their appetite, or find they can’t sleep well. If you have any of these symptoms a few days after delivery this is considered a normal part of early motherhood and usually goes away within 10 days after delivery. In about 20% of women, these systems start about six weeks after delivery are more likely to have postpartum depression.
Western medicine thinks that hormone levels change may produce chemical changes in the brain. Counseling and prescription medicines are the common solution.
Chinese Medicine believes that the exertion and loss of blood occurring at childbirth induce a state of Qi and Blood deficiency. From a Chinese Medicine point of view, the heart houses the mind and governs blood, deficient blood fails to house the mind which becomes depressed and anxious. In women with a pre-existing deficiency of Qi and blood this situation may arise even if the blood loss during childbirth is not particularly heavy. For some women who have a pre-existing state of blood stagnation also show mind unsettled and obstructed.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine works very well for postpartum depression. Treatment principle is to nourish blood, lift Qi, strengthen the heart and calm the mind. Majority of cases can be helped in a relatively short period of time, perhaps a few months. Psychotic cases, treatment may have to be combined with Western medication.
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