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Postpartum Depression

Writer's picture: Jessica Kennedy, CFCPJessica Kennedy, CFCP

Updated: Apr 23, 2024


Newborn and mom

I had just delivered my third baby. There I was thinking all I was feeling was the “baby blues”. I was anxious and felt a constant need to check on my baby. This seemed normal, right? After all, I am a nurse so assessing patients is normal to me. And this happened with my last two pregnancies. So I brushed it off and considered it normal. Until the dreaded day I can remember so vividly, I was on my couch and was filled with so much anxiety that I couldn’t move, I could barely speak and had no clue what I was so anxious about. Luckily my husband was there and able to support me and the children.


Postpartum depression is a mix of emotions not just the “baby blues”; it often includes anxiety and in some women can develop into postpartum psychosis. This can include visual and auditory hallucinations and delusion. Fathers can also suffer from postpartum depression and it is important that they get treatment as well. Postpartum depression can start as soon as two weeks after birth or even up to a year after birth. If you or someone you know is having postpartum psychosis or suicidal thoughts they need immediate medical attention and treatment. Postpartum depression can happen to anyone and crosses all barriers. It is not dependent on socio-economic status,race, age, or sex (although this blog is about the women). It can even impact nurses and experienced mothers.


Creighton NaPRO Technology can help with postpartum depression and the treatment works a lot faster than your average antidepressant. With NaPRO they use progesterone, a hormone naturally occurring during pregnancy to help fight postpartum depression. It has been shown that hormones play a role in developing postpartum depression.


My personal experience with the progesterone injection was a success. I personally get very bad reactions from antidepressants and am so thankful there was another choice. After getting my injection I noticed a decrease in my anxiety within the first 15 minutes. It did not instantly disappear but as the day went on, it was relieved. I did receive progesterone more than once as the effects began to wear off. Many of my clients have had similar reactions and were very grateful they did not have to take antidepressants for two weeks and hope they would get relief but rather have a faster relief of symptoms without the side effects that accompany taking an antidepressant. I encourage anyone having symptoms to reach out to your FertilityCare Practitioner or another healthcare provider and consider NaPRO evaluation for the use of progesterone for postpartum depression in women. We are stronger when we ask for help and learn that we do not have to do this alone.


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