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Postnatal Depression

Basics

Post-birth depression can manifest in various ways, ranging from sudden mood swings and unexpected bouts of crying to feelings of exhaustion, inability to cope, or even guilt or anger about aspects of the delivery that didn't go as planned. When this depression persists, it is often termed "postnatal depression." Signs that it's more than just the "baby blues" include depression lasting more than two weeks, accompanied by symptoms like sleeplessness, loss of appetite, persistent hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, women in the postnatal period are susceptible to imbalances such as Qi and blood deficiency, blood stasis, or invasion of pathogenic factors.

A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis by Li et al. (including 9 clinical trials with 653 women) found that acupuncture had a significantly higher overall effectiveness compared to the control group. Additionally, acupuncture notably increased oestradiol levels compared to the control group, suggesting that acupuncture may be effective for treating postpartum depression in certain outcomes. Reference: Li S, Zhong W, Peng W, Jiang G. Effectiveness of acupuncture in postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2018 Oct;36:295-301.