Last month, we heard about the sad case of a young mother who jumped from the balcony of her condominium somewhere in the Klang Valley. This tragic incident occurred just 10 days after she delivered her baby.
The police do not suspect foul play, and ruled it as sudden death. According to her husband, the 30-year-old accountant was frustrated because she was unable to breastfeed her child, and was having difficulty adjusting to life at home. Although we don’t truly know the full story of what happened, the case of this young mother shares similarities to individuals who suffer from postpartum depression (PPD), a clinical condition that occurs after childbirth.
According to Dr Dean Raffelock, a certified American nutritionist and lead author of A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health: The first book by doctors that really addresses pregnancy recovery, most patients receive treatment in the form of various psychiatric drugs to trick the brain into thinking that it has adequate amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine, brain neurotransmitters that affect mood and self-esteem.
However, PPD can be treated with more natural methods – a combination of nutritional and hormonal supplements, and support from family and trusted friends. Interestingly, not only do the prescribed medications most commonly used to treat PPD fail to increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels, they may deplete nutritional reserves in one’s body. Common PPD drugs such as fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine and sertraline, are also called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
They act by keeping serotonin in the brain for longer periods of time. Sadly, these drugs have been known to have adverse effects on the already fragile mental health of new mothers. Why do so many people appear to have low levels of serotonin in modern times? The belief is that we face much more stress than our forefathers, and our bodies are struggling to keep up with producing the right balance of hormones to handle that stress.
Only a small percentage of our foods get converted into serotonin, hence, a healthy diet balanced with all the right amounts of nutrients is an absolute must when you are nursing. The brain needs a constant supply of tryptophan (an amino acid) and vitamin B6 from the food we eat to produce serotonin. But when you are overly stressed, cortisol converts tryptophan into kynurenine, a chemical that cannot be converted back into serotonin, and hence, further drains the brain of much-needed serotonin.
Tyrosine, which is the main nutritional precursor for all thyroid hormones, can be found in foods such as meats, fish, eggs, wholegrains, dairy, nuts, seeds and cheese. Photo: Filepic Nursing mothers should be aware that SSRIs may not be right for the nutritional needs of babies who still depend on their mother’s milk. Studies link the maternal use of fluoxetine to colic, a condition that causes episodes of excessive crying in nursing infants.
Even the most patient mother with a colic-inflicted baby may become extremely frustrated, and for this reason alone, it is highly advisable to seriously weigh the pros and cons of SSRIs before taking them. Significant levels of the SSRI drugs have also been found to exist in the brain tissue of babies, and there is no telling how this impacts them in adulthood. A mother could, of course, choose not to nurse, in favour of taking antidepressant drugs. But apart from depriving your newborn of the perfect food, breastfeeding is a very special bonding experience between mother and baby that can actually help a mother alleviate the stress of PPD.
Other unwanted side effects of SSRIs include feelings of numbness and separation from others, muscle spasms like facial and/or body tics, nausea, sexual dysfunction, sleepiness, headaches, trembling, indigestion and nervousness. SSRIs also appear to lift any qualms of committing violence – unimaginable if the victim was her own child – or of having thoughts of suicide. Harvard University psychiatrist and author Dr Joseph Glenmullen, and Dr Peter R. Breggin, psychiatrist, author and director of the non-profit International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, warns that the dangers of SSRIs are “drastically underplayed”.
In his book, Prozac Backlash, Dr Glenmul-len describes studies that indicated that “permanent brain damage could occur due to SSRIs because the constant artificial elevation of serotonin eventually burns out receptor sites in the brain”, even after you stopped taking SSRIs. If you plan to stop taking SSRIs, seek experienced and professional guidance. Do not ever do it abruptly, as you may feel serious adverse effects.
It is also good to remember that low levels of norepinephrine also cause some PPD woes, and in which case, upping serotonin levels using SSRIs will not help. While those with low serotonin levels suffer from anxiety, those with low norepinephrine levels feel a deep sense of hopelessness. Restoring thyroid and adrenal gland function in women with low norepinephrine levels often yield dramatic improvements.
And you can do this quite simply: tyrosine, which is the main nutritional precursor for all thyroid hormones, can be found in over 10 types of food – such as meats, fish, eggs, whole grains, dairy, nuts, seeds and cheese – you can find easily at the supermarket. I hope you never have the misfortune of experiencing PPD, but do not give up hope if you do, and do not resort to drugs first.
With the help of the loved ones around you, adequate nutrition, nutritional supplements and balancing your hormones, I believe that the vast majority of cases of PPD can be prevented and/or treated successfully without resorting to drugs that may harm you and your baby.
Seek professional help.
