Does Baby-Friendly Have to Be Mom-Unfriendly?
We’ve all heard it: Breast is Best. We all know what it means. And if you have had a baby at some point over the last ten years, you have been encouraged, and maybe even [...]
Lamotrigine Reduces Risk for Postpartum Relapse in Women with Bipolar Disorder
Numerous studies have demonstrated that women with histories of bipolar disorder are at high risk for postpartum illness. Because of this increased risk for relapse during the postpartum period, we typically recommend that women with [...]
Pilot Study of Telephone-Delivered Interpersonal Therapy for Women with Postpartum Depression
It is clear that screening for perinatal depression substantially improves detection; however, screening alone does not appear to improve rates of treatment or outcomes. What we find is that many, if not most, women with [...]
Brexanolone: Related to Allopregnanolone, Effective for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression
In 2015, we first reported on SAGE-547 (SAGE Therapeutics), a new medication for the treatment of severe postpartum depression. SAGE-547, now called brexanolone, is an allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors. This drug was initially under [...]
In Brief: Maybe Breastfeeding Doesn’t Boost IQ
Over the years, various studies have demonstrated the many advantages of breastfeeding, findings that have led the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend that all mothers breastfeed their children for the first year of the [...]
Perinatal Depression in Fathers: Who is At Greatest Risk?
While perinatal depression is typically considered to be a woman’s illness, a number of studies have suggested that, although men do not experience any of the dramatic physiologic or hormonal changes that go along with [...]
Do DHA Supplements Make Babies Smarter? Yes, No, Maybe…
DHA or docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid which is essential for the growth and development of the brain in infants and is required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. Based on [...]
Dietary Supplements to Prevent Postpartum Depression? Proceed with Caution
Over the last few days, there has been a lot of buzz regarding the use of a nutritional supplement to reduce risk of postpartum depression. Quoting one of these articles: "'Women who take the supplement [...]
Synthetic Oxytocin and Its Effect on Postpartum Mood and Anxiety
Often referred to as the “hormone of love," oxytocin plays an important role in childbirth, maternal behavior, lactation, social affiliation, and sexual pleasure. Levels of oxytocin, a neuropeptide produced by the hypothalamus and released into [...]
Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions for Postpartum Depression in Primary Care
Postpartum depression (PPD) has been identified as the “most under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated obstetrical complication in America”, affecting approximately 10-15% of new mothers. In addition to affecting maternal mental health during a critical time [...]