Just recently, radio presenter Linda Nyangweso admitted to her battle with postpartum depression, now International pop singer John Legend’s wife has come out to talk about hers when she got her baby Luna, last year in April.

According World Health Organization, about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. In developing countries this is even higher, i.e. 15.6% during pregnancy and 19.8% after child birth.

It’s a real problem. PPD has various effects ranging from closing one’s self from the world to thoughts of harming yourself or the baby. (Scary huh?) but just like normal depression, there are three types of ways that you can deal with postpartum depression. However, it’s important to seek medical help before you continue. Read on.

Self-help

Psychological treatment

These are usually the first recommended type of treatment for PPD women. They include the following

Anti-depressants

These are recommended if PPD is extensively severe and you’re not liking the previous suggestions. They work by balancing mood altering chemicals in the brain which in turn cure problematic situations such as excessive laziness, fatigue and irritability.