5 Tips to Avoid Postpartum Depression - Supplements and Alternative Therapy

Postpartum Depression, classified as a moderate to severe depression that occurs in a woman after she has given birth, occurs in 10% to 20% of postnatal women. An overwhelming, 80% of women will experience some level of postpartum mood instability, the mildest of which is called the "baby blues". Some symptoms of the baby blues include mood swings, feelings of dependency and crying. In very rare cases, untreated Postpartum Depression can lead to Postpartum Psychosis, a very serious illness that involves hallucinations and delusions. Postpartum Psychosis and severe levels of Postpartum Depression requires immediate medical treatment. Paying close attention to your body can significantly reduce the chances of developing Postpartum Depression.

Here are some tips to help avoid Postpartum Depression:

1. Meditation: This practice is known to have physiological, psychological and physical benefits. It has been proven to lead to deeper physical relaxation, lower blood pressure, decrease muscle tension and increase emotional stability, among other things. If you know how to meditate, this is a great time to do it. If not, check out the Silva Method of Mind Control, developed by Jose Silva. He has a quick and easy method of learning how to meditate and refocus your thoughts. Using this method, one can easily achieve a meditative state within minutes on the very first try. He offers free courses on his website to get you started.

2. Acupuncture & Acupressure: These are very effective method and have been proven to help alleviate various forms of depression, including Postpartum Depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine links the mind to the body and vice versa. This form of medicine treats the body as a whole. If there is something wrong with the mind, acupuncture and acupressure taps into physical points on the body in order to treat the problem. These methods are also beneficial in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, pain management, weight control, migraines and much more. Schedule an appointment with an Acupuncturist. Not only will this treatment prove beneficial but it will also grant you a little bit of time to yourself.

3. Placenta Therapy: This is a relatively new concept to western society but placenta is used regularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine to combat anxiety, stimulate & increase lactation, replace iron lost during childbirth, fight fatigue and to avoid Postpartum Depression. People who have consumed placenta boast of having immediate increased energy, improved cognition, a "clear head" and feelings of elation. Postpartum consumption of the placenta also aids in hormone replacement and balancing. And, being a natural source of iron, the body is able to process it quicker and more efficiently than it can process unnatural iron supplements. Locate a Placenta Encapsulation specialist in your area, who can prepare your placenta into easy-to-take, dehydrated capsules. This allows for you to reap the extraordinary benefits of placenta therapy, while significantly lessening the "eww" factor.

4. Motherwort: This is a perennial plant in the mint family. It has a long history of use in midwifery and in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as a uterine tonic. Often used to alleviate conditions associated with childbirth, hence the name "Motherwort", this herb is useful for promoting lactation, easing the discomfort of cramps, the treatment of rapid heart rate, relieving anxiety and, recently discovered, for the prevention of blood clot formation. Due to its extraordinary abilities to restore "normalcy" following childbirth, it has been called the "Herbal Placenta". It is also known to improve mental outlook and to be a mood elevator. As a home remedy it is often consumed as an herbal tea, a tincture or an herbal extract.

5. Prenatal Vitamins: After growing a baby and giving birth, a woman's body needs to have depleted nutrients and vitamins restored. And, if she is breastfeeding, her daily nutritional requirements are the same or greater than they were while pregnant. In fact, the recommended daily allowances for vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2 and B3 are all higher for breastfeeding women than for pregnant women. Prenatal vitamins are sources of essential vitamins and minerals, especially folic acid, DHA and calcium. It is important to get sufficient amounts of these nutrients because the nursing baby obtains them through their mother's milk. Prenatal vitamins are sources of iron as well. Blood loss during delivery can lead to anemia which results in fatigue. The continued use of prenatal vitamins, along with proper nutrition, can help to restore lost iron.

Jereka Hunt is a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist who believes in the power of mother nature and other alternative cures to common ailments. To get more information on Placenta Encapsulation Services and ways to avoid postpartum blues & depression, visit http://www.Wombmart.com.

3 Tips to Avoid Postpartum Depression - Get Active

Postpartum Depression is classified as a moderate to severe depression that occurs in a woman after she has given birth. 80% of women experience some level of postpartum mood instability, the mildest of which is termed "baby blues". Symptoms of the baby blues include mood swings and crying, which fades relatively quickly. In some cases, baby blues can transition into Postpartum Depression, which occurs in ten to twenty percent of postnatal women. In very rare cases, Postpartum Depression can lead to Postpartum Psychosis, a very serious illness that involves hallucinations and delusions, among other symptoms. Postpartum Psychosis (and severe levels of Postpartum Depression) requires prompt medical treatment. Increasing your physical and social activity can help in reducing your chances of developing Postpartum Depression.

Here are a few tips to help in avoiding Postpartum Depression:

1. Exercise: 30-minutes of exercise per day can work wonders for the mind (not to mention your physical well-being). The psychological benefits of exercise include an increased self-esteem, stress reduction, avoidance of anxiety, improved sleep and much more. How does this happen? When you exercise, the brain releases chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of Morphine (but without the threat of addiction). The positive feeling after a workout is often described as "euphoric" and is typically accompanied by increased energy and a positive outlook on life. Go to the gym, if you have a membership. Take a fast-paced walk while listening to music. Dance with your new bundle of joy to one or two favorite songs. Exercise can be fun. It does not have to be a chore.

2. Social Activities: Get involved with some local play groups or groups of interest. Meetup.com is an excellent site for finding people in your community with similar interest; even such interests as getting children together for play dates. Play dates allow for you to socialize with other mothers of young children (and finally have an adult conversation again) as well as expose your baby to different people and cultures. You can also spend the occasional evening with your girlfriends or attend the social event at a church in your area. Socializing is one that those activities that can even occur at the grocery store, while running errands or at the neighborhood park. Try to get out of the house, with and without children, every single day. The mere encounter with fresh air can often be enough to lift and lighten your mood.

3. See the Light of Day: It is amazing what going outside and stepping into the sunlight can do for your mood. In fact, a lack of sunlight is considered one of the main causes of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of winter blues, as there is less available day light in the fall and winter seasons. People who suffer from this disorder are mentally healthy throughout the year but have depression during fall and winter. Similarly, if you do not leave your home during your postpartum phase, you are exposing yourself to less than desirable amounts of sunlight. So, check the mailbox yourself, instead of sending your spouse. Take out the trash and just linger outdoors, alone, for a few moments. Other activities to consider include jogging, walking, washing the car, gardening, organizing the garage and reading on the porch.

Go to http://www.Wombmart.com for more in-depth information and other studies.

Jereka Hunt is a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist who believes in the power of mother nature and alternative cures to common ailments. To get more information on Placenta Encapsulation, postpartum health and ways to avoid postpartum blues & depression, visit http://www.Wombmart.com