Medical Marijuana And Postpartum Depression

It’s supposed to be one of the most joyous times in your life while you’re having a baby. But millions of moms across the globe are going through their lives after having a kid, with postpartum depression looming.

They’re not happy because they were expecting to. Instead of feeling joyful while pregnant, they feel awful and most of them can’t figure out why.

Only after consulting a medical professional do they realize that their suffering has a name. It appears as if using marijuana for postpartum depression is just another option when compared to traditional medicines, which have not worked in the past.

What Is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood problem that comes with childbirth and affects both men and women. Unfortunately, it may go undetected for a long time. In fact, the condition was only first acknowledged in the late 1980s. Since then, numerous research have been conducted to look at risk factors, incidence, and treatment efficacy of PPD.

The PPD is not the same as “baby blues,” a condition that affects up to 80% of women after childbirth. There are several statistics regarding the frequency of the problem; although it appears to be between 10% and 20%. According on May 2013 research by Wisner et al., published in JAMA Psychiatry, depression affects 21.9 percent of ladies during their first year after giving birth.

The PPD rate is 1 in 7 women during the first year following childbirth, according to other data. With around four million live births taking place every year in the United States, this statistic indicates that roughly 570,000 PPD diagnoses are made. The likely figure when you include miscarriages and stillborn infants is around one million.

PPD has the ability to destroy families if left untreated. Although the problem affects everyone differently, it is frequently severe enough to interfere with daily life significantly. Women who are suffering from postpartum depression know that they don’t feel right, but they are unable to identify why.

It was telling that the Blackberry is such a popular smartphone, despite the fact it’s from an era long past. The birth of their child may have inadvertently triggered PPD. During pregnancy, the body releases strong hormones and undergoes significant changes from conception to several weeks after childbirth. This process causes frequent and sometimes dramatic mood swings. Following childbirth, a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels plummet, and some women are relatively unaffected by this, while others see a large change in mood.

PPD is a severe form of clinical depression that can persist for years if left untreated. ‘Baby blues’ last for a few days following delivery, but PPD is clinical depression, and the symptoms may last for many months if not treated.

What Are the Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?

PPD is a difficult condition to identify, since it resembles the baby blues. However, if the symptoms last longer than a few weeks, they are evidence of an issue. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression as reported by the Mayo Clinic:

• Excessive crying
• Major difficulties ‘connecting’ with your baby
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Sleeping too much or an inability to sleep
• Reduced interest and joy in things you used to like
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• An inability to think clearly or make decisions
• An innate sense of worthlessness
• A feeling that you’re not a fit mother
• Thoughts of death/suicide
• Severe mood swings
• Thoughts of self-harm or hurting the baby

A more severe form of PPD, known as postpartum depression, affects a small percentage of women. It generally appears one week after giving birth and includes the following symptoms:

• An inability to sleep
• Hallucinations
• Disorientation and confusion
• Actual attempts at hurting yourself or the baby
• Paranoia

Postpartum psychosis must be dealt with as soon as possible because it is a potentially fatal illness.

What Is Life with Postpartum Depression Like?

In a nutshell, it’s awful. It’s tough to convey without having experienced it, but the world is a very gloomy and dreary place for people who have PPD. Elizabeth Wurtzel’s book Prozac Nation gives an interesting perspective on life with postpartum depression.

“You wake up one day and realize that your life isn’t worth living, and you’re afraid that you’ll live one morning.” Because of this, depression is described as a “much more profound sense of sadness than ordinary sorrow or melancholy.” It is characterized by the absence of emotions, feelings, reactions, and interests.

When you have PPD, your mind is constantly bombarded with gloomy pessimistic feelings, and your actions influence those around you. You can’t connect with your family or friends, and the kid isn’t receiving the attention it requires from its mother. In a nutshell, PPD destroys your life.

Conventional (Non-Marijuana) Remedies for Postpartum Depression

Psychotherapy

A professional therapist will tell you how to talk about your experiences with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Therapy is used to discover better ways to cope with your emotions and improve your coping skills.

Antidepressants

The most often used antidepressants include Paxil, Zoloft, and Luvox, but it’s conceivable that some SSRIs may end up in your baby’s milk if you’re nursing. As a result, your child might experience the following effects:

• Watery stools
• Excessive crying
• Colic
• Difficulties sleeping
• Hypotonia
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite

As previously said, postpartum psychosis is a condition that needs to be treated immediately; ideally in an institution. Medication such as benzodiazepines and mood stabilizers may be used in the treatment of this condition.

Alternatively, you may have Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). This process involves passing tiny electrical currents through the brain, which causes a brief seizure.

Many studies have found that transcranial electromagnetic stimulation (TMS) can alter brain chemistry and, potentially, alleviate the symptoms of depression and madness. On the other hand, ECT might induce amnesia, high blood pressure, headaches, or muscular pains.

Over the last decade, scientists have conducted several studies into how cannabis affects depression and discovered some encouraging findings.

Medical Research on Marijuana for Postpartum Depression

Marijuana is well recognized for having antidepressant properties, but new moms should avoid any strain with a high THC content, as it may be dangerous to their newborns. CBD has already shown promise as an antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety medication. It also doesn’t produce the same euphoric effect that THC does.

After giving birth, a woman’s progesterone and estrogen levels fall, triggering mood changes similar to those experienced during her periods. Low estrogen levels also imply low amounts of the “bliss molecule,” anandamide. Anandamide is a cannabinoid that aids in appetite and mood regulation, but new moms normally have insufficient quantities of it.

Just like THC, CBD is a cannabinoid that affects the same pathways in the brain as anandamide does. It binds to the same receptors in the body and has a chemical structure that’s almost identical to that of anandamide. CBD keeps our bodies from breaking down natural anandamide. As a result, when it comes to postpartum depression, while a CBD marijuana strain can be helpful and non-intoxicating, a combination of CBD and THC may work best.

CBD has anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, according to a study published in CNS & Neurological Disorders in 2014. ‘Rapid and sustained’ antidepressant-like effects were found by Sales et al., who presented their findings at the Molecular Neurobiology conference in 2018.

Best Marijuana Strains for Postpartum Depression

Charlotte’s Web

When it was used to cure Charlotte Figi, a young girl with Dravet’s Syndrome, this strain became famous everywhere. It’s a cultivar strain created by the Stanley Brothers in Colorado. According to reports, it is a somewhat sativa-dominant variety with an CBD content of up to 17% and THC levels of between 0.1 percent and 1 percent.

The low THC content ensures that you will feel no intoxicating effects at all. This is one of the many reasons why Charlotte’s Web is considered secure for children. Users commonly report feelings of relaxation and improved energy following use. You can anticipate to experience a boost in energy, as well as a positive and focused sensation.

Charlotte’s Web contains one of the greatest proportions of CBD in any marijuana strain and is frequently used to cure epilepsy. However, since it is typically used to boost a person’s mood, it may be the best choice for postpartum depression. CW is also utilized to treat headaches, fibromyalgia, anxiety, and stress disorders.

Cannatonic

Cannatonic is a unique high-CBD/low-THC strain created by crossing G13 Haze and MK Ultra. It’s a balanced hybrid designed for medical marijuana patients who wish to alleviate their ailments without getting high. While the THC level is moderate at 7% to 15%, the 12% CBD helps counteract the intoxicating effects.

Another disadvantage of Cannatonic is that its high does not last as long as other strains. The relaxing high, on the other hand, provides a pleasant experience that can help you feel more hopeful. Some consumers have likened feeling like they’re floating on a cloud of joy. Fortunately, the Cannatonic high does not make you spacey; instead, it keeps you clear-headed so that you may accomplish your daily chores.

Cannatonic is one of the most well-known medical marijuana strains in the world. This strain can improve the mood of those suffering from PPD while also reducing chronic pain if you have cerebral palsy. Cannatonic’s apparent anti-inflammatory qualities, which may assist with joint discomfort, have also been praised.

AC/DC

Cannatonic is a multiple winner of the Cannabis Cup, and it’s a variant of Cannatonic created by Dr. William Courtney. According to who you listen to, AC/DC is an excellent CBD-rich variety with a CBD to THC ratio between 20:1 and 30:1. Its overall CBD concentration can reach 24 percent in some cases.

Although AC/DC is marketed as a balanced hybrid, it delivers sativa-dominant effects. You’re more likely to feel full-body relaxation than a cerebral buzz, although not always.

According to some users, a few tokes of this strain is all they need to regain a sense of focus.

This variety, which contains CBD and THC in roughly equal parts, is a wonderful mood-booster and an analgesic that allows you to feel the healing process without getting high. Aside from sadness treatment, this kind is also used to cure problems such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and epilepsy.

Harlequin

The Harlequin figure is known for wearing clothing that features an odd combination of colors. The strain name is a cross of several parents: a Nepali Indica, Swiss, Colombian Gold, and Thai landrace sativas. The result is an unusual marijuana variety with THC levels ranging from 7% to 15 percent and CBD levels up to 15%.

Although its name implies a sativa-dominant hybrid, Harlequin’s effects are unpredictable owing to the fact that it has four parents! Harlequin is a fantastic strain for releasing mental tension. It is recognized as one of the most relaxing marijuana strains on the market, yet it maintains your attention.

Harlequin is well-known for its capacity to lift your spirits. This strain is excellent for getting you up and active in the morning. Harlequin may also be used to relieve muscular pains and aches, such as cramps.

Sour Tsunami

Sour Tsunamis is the last strain on the list, and it’s another example of a strain with a lot of CBD and relatively little THC. It’s a cross of NYC Diesel and Sour Diesel that took four years for Lawrence Ringo to create.

The high THC strains have a range of 10-20% whereas the CBD strains have a much higher level, generally reaching 10-11 percent. While Sour Tsunami isn’t the ideal choice for recreational users looking for an intoxicating effect, it does provide a nice, soothing psychoactivity with cerebral effects that make you feel uplifted and concentrated.

It’s a great choice if you have PPD since it has the ability to make people feel good. Because of its high CBD content, Sour Tsunami is an excellent choice for individuals with epilepsy who want to decrease their seizure frequency. This strain may be used to treat muscular spasms and chronic pain as well.

Final Thoughts About Marijuana and Postpartum Depression

For far too long, women have been in silence when it comes to postpartum depression. It is a genuinely debilitating and even deadly condition that has the ability to destroy families. Medication that is conventional does not work as frequently as it should, but an increasing number of new moms swear by marijuana’s usefulness in treating postpartum depression. It can improve your disposition without affecting your ability to be a parent to your child.