What Causes Postpartum Depression?

To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of postpartum depression we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow postpartum depression to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind postpartum depression consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to postpartum depression. Here are three possibilities:

EFA 3 Need
Postpartum Depression
Adrenal Fatigue

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

high sensitivity to bright light

darker/redder skin color

craving for salt

probable miscarriage

unusual vaginal bleeding

sinusitis

adverse reaction to stress

low cold water fish consumption

poor cold weather tolerance

high coffee consumption

suspected adrenal insufficiency

numb/burning/tingling extremities

... and more than 50 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of postpartum depression:

Cause	Probability	Status
Adrenal Fatigue	95%	Confirm
EFA 3 Need	24%	Unlikely
Postpartum Depression	5%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Emotional Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about postpartum depression:

Postpartum Depression. Have you experienced depression after childbirth?

Possible responses:

→ No / not applicable / don't know
→ Mild - I had the 'baby blues', disappeared quickly
→ Moderate - I had some trouble bonding with my baby
→ Serious - it was hard to love/care for my child
→ Severe - I had delusions and/or harmed my child

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either history of 'baby blues' or history of postpartum depression, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Low Adrenal Function / Adrenal Insufficiency

Tendency Toward Postpartum Depression

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™