Postpartum Depression Treatment in Florida by Telehealth
The weeks and months after having a baby are supposed to feel joyful, and when they do not, many new parents keep it to themselves. Postpartum depression is a medical condition, not a parenting failure, and it is one of the forms of depression Ascend Psychiatry & Wellness treats. Ascend offers postpartum depression treatment through psychiatric evaluation and medication management by secure video, so care can happen from home without arranging a sitter or loading a newborn into the car.
Baby blues or postpartum depression?
Many new mothers have mood changes after delivery. The baby blues bring tearfulness, irritability, worry and mood swings in the first days after birth, and they usually fade within about two weeks without treatment. Postpartum depression is stronger and lasts longer. It can begin during pregnancy or at any point in the first year after birth, and it does not lift on its own schedule. The Ascend article on baby blues versus postpartum depression compares the two side by side.
Signs that point toward postpartum depression include:
- Sadness, emptiness or hopelessness most of the day, for two weeks or longer
- Losing interest or pleasure in things, including time with the baby
- Feeling disconnected from the baby or unable to bond
- Severe anxiety, racing worries, or panic attacks
- Guilt, worthlessness, or a constant sense of being a bad parent
- Being unable to sleep even when the baby is sleeping
- Big changes in appetite or energy
- Trouble concentrating or making simple decisions
- Pulling away from a partner, family and friends
- Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
Thoughts of self-harm or of harming the baby are a reason to get help right away: call or text 988, or call 911. A rare but serious condition called postpartum psychosis, which can involve confusion, hallucinations, paranoia or going without sleep for days, is a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Who can develop postpartum depression
Postpartum depression can affect anyone after a birth, including first-time and experienced parents, people who had an easy pregnancy, and people who have never had depression before. The risk is higher with a personal or family history of depression or bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety during pregnancy, a difficult delivery, a baby in the NICU, little support at home, or heavy stress such as money or relationship strain. Fathers and non-birthing partners can develop depression after a baby arrives, too. For mood and anxiety concerns that start before delivery, the Ascend article on perinatal mental health covers psychiatric care during pregnancy.
Postpartum depression treatment at Ascend
An evaluation that sorts out look-alikes
Treatment begins with a 60-minute psychiatric evaluation over secure video. The psychiatrist asks how you have felt since the birth and during pregnancy, sleep, appetite, energy, anxiety, past episodes of depression or mood changes, family history, medical conditions, and every medication and supplement you take. The evaluation is built to distinguish between conditions that can look alike. After childbirth that means telling postpartum depression apart from anxiety disorders, thyroid changes and bipolar disorder, since a mood episode after birth can be the first sign of bipolar disorder and that changes the plan.
Medication decisions after a birth
Ascend’s medication management page names postpartum depression among the depressive conditions it treats with SSRIs, SNRIs and other antidepressants. Medication choices in the postpartum months often raise questions about breastfeeding, and that is worth bringing up at your evaluation. Ascend selects medications based on your symptoms, medical profile, other medications and your preferences, and discusses the options with you before anything is started. The depression treatment page covers Ascend’s broader approach to depression.
Follow-up that fits a newborn schedule
Follow-up appointments run 30 minutes, about every two to four weeks while treatment is being started or adjusted, then every one to three months once you are stable. Because they are video visits, they can fit into a nap window from your own couch.
Coordinated care
Ascend provides psychiatric care rather than counseling. Its psychiatrists coordinate with therapists and with primary care providers, and patients who would like a therapist can ask for a recommendation.
Why video visits help in the postpartum months
Newborn life leaves little room for a drive across town and an hour in a waiting room. With telehealth there is no car seat to buckle, no feeding schedule to stretch around a commute, and no sitter to book. You join by phone, tablet or computer from anywhere private in Florida, and prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy.
Frequently asked questions
How long after giving birth can postpartum depression start?
Symptoms can begin during pregnancy or at any point in the first year after birth. They do not always appear in the first few weeks, so new symptoms months later are still worth bringing to a psychiatrist.
How is postpartum depression different from the baby blues?
The baby blues are mild mood swings and tearfulness that usually fade within about two weeks. Postpartum depression is more intense, lasts longer, and gets in the way of daily life and caring for yourself or the baby.
Can I take medication for postpartum depression while breastfeeding?
That decision is individual and is made with a prescriber who knows your medical history. Mention breastfeeding at your evaluation; Ascend’s psychiatrists discuss medication options with you before anything is prescribed.
Do I need a referral from my OB-GYN?
In most cases no referral is required, and you can schedule directly with Ascend. Some insurance plans require a referral before they cover specialist visits, so it is worth confirming with your plan.
Can fathers or partners get postpartum depression?
Yes. Depression after a new baby is not limited to the parent who gave birth. Ascend’s psychiatrists evaluate and treat depression.
Insurance, fees and booking
Ascend accepts Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Medicare, Tricare, Oscar, UMR, Surest, UHS, Evernorth, Meritain, UnitedHealth, Allegiance, SureFit and NALC Health. Cash pay is $300 for the 60-minute initial evaluation and $150 for each 30-minute follow-up, and HSA and FSA funds are accepted. See fees and insurance for plan details. Psychiatric care at Ascend is provided by Dr. Cathleen Jane Gomez, MD, the practice’s founder, and Dr. Jack Long, MD. You choose your provider when you book.
In a crisis? Ascend provides outpatient psychiatric care and is not equipped for emergencies. If you are thinking about harming yourself or someone else, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day. For a psychiatric or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
This page is general education, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your own situation.