Postpartum Mood Disorders include Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, Postpartum Panic Disorder, Postpartum OCD, and Postpartum PTSD.
A Postpartum Mood Disorder can affect any woman after delivery regardless of whether she is a first-time mother or has had previous pregnancies. Because of the severity of the symptoms that accompany any of the above disorders and the potential risk of interference with a woman’s ability to care for herself or her family, Postpartum Mood Disorders typically require treatment.
Baby Blues?
• Describes the feelings of worry, unhappiness, and fatigue that many women experience after having a baby.
• Affects up to 80 percent of mothers.
• Includes feelings that are somewhat mild, last a week or two, and go away on their own.
What are symptoms of postpartum depression?
• Little interest or pleasure doing things.
• Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless.
• Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.
• Feeling tired or having little energy.
• Poor appetite or overeating.
• Feeling bad about yourself—or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down.
• Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television.
• Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite—being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual.
• Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way.
Ketamine therapy is emerging as a promising treatment for postpartum depression (PPD), especially for women who do not respond well to traditional antidepressants.
Postpartum Depression: A Serious Concern
PPD affects 1 in 7 women and can severely impact both mother and baby. Symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Severe fatigue and mood swings
- Suicidal thoughts in severe cases
Traditional treatments, such as SSRIs, take weeks to work and may have side effects, making rapid relief options like ketamine therapy particularly valuable.
How Ketamine Helps with Postpartum Depression
Unlike conventional antidepressants, ketamine works within hours to days by:
✅ Boosting glutamate levels, leading to rapid mood improvement
✅ Promoting neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new, healthier connections
✅ Reducing suicidal thoughts, which is critical in severe PPD cases
Is Ketamine Safe for New Mothers?
- Fast-acting relief makes it ideal for severe cases
- Generally well-tolerated, but must be administered under medical supervision
- Breastfeeding? More research is needed, but some data suggest minimal transfer into breast milk— Your provider will discuss this with you and best/safest practices for both you and your baby during your consultation.
The Future of PPD Treatment
Ketamine therapy is revolutionizing mental health care, offering hope to new mothers struggling with PPD. If you or someone you know is battling postpartum depression, Nervana Medical can help explore treatment options.
References
- Efficacy of Esketamine in Reducing Postpartum Depression:
- Study: A randomized clinical trial published in The BMJ investigated the effects of a single low-dose esketamine injection administered immediately after childbirth. The findings revealed that at 42 days postpartum, 6.7% of participants in the esketamine group experienced a major depressive episode, compared to 25.4% in the placebo group, indicating a significant reduction in PPD risk.
- Reference: Efficacy of a single low dose of esketamine after childbirth in women with severe postpartum depression: a randomized clinical trial
- Ketamine’s Role in Preventing Postpartum Depression:
- Study: Research published in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia examined the preventive effects of ketamine on PPD. The study concluded that ketamine might be a favorable option for treating PPD due to its antidepressant and analgesic effects, short infusion time, and rapid clearance from the maternal bloodstream. However, it emphasized the need for additional clinical research to support its use in this population.
- Reference: Ketamine as potential treatment for postpartum depression
- Impact of Ketamine on Postpartum Depression Scores:
- Study: A study available on PubMed Central assessed the effect of ketamine on preventing PPD. The results showed that the mean depression scores were significantly lower in the ketamine group compared to the control group two and four weeks after cesarean section, suggesting ketamine’s potential in reducing PPD symptoms.
- Reference: The effect of ketamine on preventing postpartum depression
- Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine:
- Article: An article from Lone Star Infusion discusses how ketamine offers the possibility of rapid reduction of depressive symptoms, making it an excellent option for individuals struggling with PPD.
- Reference: Rapid Relief for Postpartum Depression