Postpartum depression is a more severe form of the "baby blues" that strike most women in the days and weeks after giving birth. While you may have heard that cod liver oil is healthy for you during and after pregnancy, it's not a treatment for postpartum depression -- if you're depressed, you need medical advice.
Postpartum Depression
Many women experience a short period of weepiness or emotional volatility after giving birth; this is generally called "baby blues" or "postpartum blues." According to MayoClinic.com, however, in some women, the baby blues can escalate into full-blown postpartum depression, which is a more severe condition. Symptoms of postpartum depression include lasting anxiety, difficulty sleeping, feeling disconnected from your baby, and feeling overwhelmed or hopeless to the point that it affects your enjoyment of life.
Causes
The causes of postpartum depression aren't completely understood, but there are a wide variety of reasons that you could understandably be feeling depressed after giving birth. First and foremost, giving birth is an exhausting process, as is having a new baby in the house. Exhaustion makes depression more likely. Additionally, you go through a very significant hormonal change when you give birth to a baby, which itself can trigger or worsen emotional volatility.
Cod Liver Oil
If you've heard that cod liver oil is healthy during and after pregnancy, you're right -- the oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. The University of California at Berkeley Wellness Guide notes that omega-3 fatty acids are commonly used to help prevent symptoms of inflammatory diseases. These essential fats appear to reduce your risk of heart disease, and may diminish or relieve symptoms of arthritis and asthma.
General Guidelines
While cod liver oil is an excellent source of an essential component of diet, it's not a treatment for postpartum depression. If you're experiencing depression after giving birth, it's a result of physical, mental, and hormonal changes -- not of a nutritional deficiency. As such, you shouldn't attempt to treat your symptoms with cod liver oil. Instead, talk to your obstetrician or ask your child's pediatrician to recommend a therapist or support group who you can talk to.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Postpartum Depression
- U.C. Berkeley Wellness Guide: Cod Liver Oil
- "What You Didn't Think to Ask Your Obstetrician"; Raymond Poliakin, M.D.; 2007
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