[Postpartum] Let’s Talk About Depression

In this episode of the Birthful podcast, we focus on postpartum depression. As many as 1 in 5 birthing parents will become clinically depressed after having a baby. That’s a huge number, and unfortunately it seems to be on the rise. I talk with Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett about why postpartum depression happens, what it looks like, and what can be done about it.

What we talked about:

• Why is there so much postpartum depression?
• Finding support groups that really support
• Online support for postpartum depression
• Risk factors
• Getting rid of the “super mom” trap
• Newer treatments for postpartum depression
• Key symptoms to watch out for
• The benefits of talking
• What do omega-3 fatty acids have to do with postpartum depression?
• It turns out that exercise can be as effective as a pill
• Rewiring your brain: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
• Ways to help prevent PPD in the first place

Related resources*:

• Postpartum Support International has a great many resources and useful links
• Postpartum Progress website
• The Online PPD Support Group website
• Postpartum Dads website
• 8 Types of Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression Treatment article
• Feeling good: The New Mood Therapy and Ten Days to Self-Esteem by David Burns
• Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: self assessment tool
• The Patient Health Questionnaire
• Lara Audelo on breastfeeding during the digital age
• About Salle Webber
• When a New Mother is Depressed, article by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
• U.S. Pharmacopeia website
• The California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative (soon to be 2020 Mom) is a non-profit doing great things to address the current lack of diagnosis and treatment.

More about Kathleen Kendall-Tackett:

• UppityScienceChick.com
• BreastfeedingMadeSimple.com
• KathleenKendall-Tackett.com
• PraeclarusPress.com
• Google Scholar link to Kathy’s articles

Image courtesy of Kathleen Kendall-Tackett

About Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, FAPA

Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Praeclarus Press, a small press specializing in women’s health. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is Editor-in-Chief of two peer-reviewed Clinical Lactation and Psychological Trauma. She is Fellow of the American Psychological Association in Health and Trauma Psychology, Past President of the APA Division of Trauma Psychology. Dr. Kendall-Tackett specializes in women’s-health research including breastfeeding, depression, trauma, and health psychology. Her research interests include the psychoneuroimmunology of maternal depression and the lifetime health effects of trauma. Dr. Kendall-Tackett has authored more than 370 articles or chapters and is the author or editor of 24 books on maternal depression, family violence, and breastfeeding. Her most recent books include: Psychology of Trauma 101 (2015) and The Science of Mother-Infant Sleep (2014).

You can contact Kathleen through any of her websites (UppityScienceChick.com, BreastfeedingMadeSimple.com, KathleenKendall-Tackett.com, PraeclarusPress.com) or follow the conversation on her Facebook pages: facebook.com/kathleen.kendalltackett and facebook.com/PraeclarusPress