How to Treat Postpartum Depression Without Antidepressants

The last thing any woman wants when they are breastfeeding is to have to take a prescription medicine that could potentially harm their newborn. Unfortunately, when a woman gets postpartum depression, their health could be at risk if they do not take anything for it. There is another choice for these women. The following steps will show you how to manage your depression naturally so that you will be able to continue breastfeeding without risking your health or the health of your newborn. In fact, these suggestions can be done even if you are not depressed in order to keep your body feeling the best that it can.

Instructions

• 1

  Try changing up your diet. Eliminate food allergens, processed foods and artificial sugars to start. Try buying more organic foods. Add a lot of fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains.

• 2

  Get a lot of omega-3 fatty acids. These are healthy fats found in fish and some eggs. You can also take them in the form of a pill. Your brain is actually made up of these fats.

• 3

  Make sure you get sufficient amounts of all vitamins, especially B-12, B-6 and folic acid. Vitamins are extremely important to keeping your body in good health.

• 4

  Exercise aerobically 4 to 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time. Exercise is not only healthy, but it releases natural chemicals that could help you deal with postpartum depression. A few of these chemicals are serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. Serotonin is found in many anti-depressants and is known to influence mood. Dopamine is known to affect happiness. Endorphins are your body's natural pain killers.

• 5

  Talk to a counselor. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to who will understand what you are going through. Speaking about your problems really help to alleviate some of the weight put on your shoulders. After having a baby, many things change and it is okay to share your feelings of stress and concern.