For women dealing with postpartum depression (PPD), there are a wide variety of treatment options available. As with other forms of depression, the main medical approach is through the use of antidepressant medications, such as Prozac or other so-called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In most cases, health care professionals assert that any risks of taking antidepressants are much lower than leaving the condition untreated.

PPD strikes from 10 percent to 15 percent of new mothers and milder forms of depression can affect more than that. In rare cases, the depression can escalate into psychosis and present a real danger to both the mother and baby, so trying to "tough it out" is not a recommended plan of action. Although psychological counseling also can be effective, drug treatment or drug treatment in coordination with counseling present the best chances of helping a new mother successfully overcome PPD.

Breastfeeding

The main concern many new mothers have is that taking antidepressants can be passed on to the baby through breastfeeding. While it is true that medications taken by the mother are present in her milk, but doctors assert that most SSRIs pose little risk to the baby. In particular, antidepressant medications such as Zoloft or Paxil have little effect on the baby, especially 30 to 60 days after birth.

This is coupled with the fact that antidepressant therapy needs to be continued for six to 12 months to be effective, with nine months being a minimum period often mentioned. Therefore, any decision to suddenly stop such a treatment during pregnancy could have negative side effects that could outweigh any potential risks.

Other Medications

While there are older forms of antidepressants, the SSRIs are considered by doctors to be the best tolerated by both the mother and the newborn. Still, there are other nutritional and medication therapies that can be used to fight PPD. One is the use of vitamins. Although doctors say vitamin deficiencies are rarely the cause of PPD in the United States, they can be valuable in maintaining a mother's health after childbirth and while nursing.

Also effective is hormone therapy using estrogen in combination with antidepressants. New mothers sometimes benefit from thyroid treatment as well. Lastly, some unproven but promising therapies include the use of bright lights or taking nutritional supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids.

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