Exercise Helps Treat Postpartum Depression!

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mom-baby-exercise1 When my OB/GYN nurse called to check in with me after I had returned home with my first baby, she informed me (in the nicest possible way) that I really ought to exercise at least 20 minutes a day. To be perfectly honest, I nearly threw the telephone across the room.

I didn”™t realize it at the time, but I was in the middle of postpartum depression and the mere thought of exercise threw me into despair. I struggled through my days on 4 hours of chopped up sleep. How exactly was I supposed to mobilize my resources to move for 20 whole minutes? I think I mumbled something about giving it a try and hung up the phone.

I wept for a while and decided that 20 minutes was completely out of the question, but that 10 minutes might be possible. Although getting some fresh air outside the house would have been good for me, it seemed too hard. Just getting my little one geared up with all the necessary accessories seemed exhausting. I opted to climb onto our rarely used stationary bike and barely managed 10 minutes. It may not seem like much to someone who hasn”™t been there, but it was significant to me. Two days later, I did it again. Later that week, my husband helped me get outside and pushed the baby stroller while we walked at a pace I could handle. At some point I discovered exercise videos with 10 minute fitness routines and thought they were miraculous. I did not exercise every day, and it took me quite a while to get to 20 consistent minutes of movement. It still worked. Even though I didn’t think I would, I began to feel better.

In honor of my new e-book, The Belly Dance Prescription: Shake Your Hips and Depression!, I am posting some links here with more information on the benefits of exercise for prenatal and postpartum women. Enjoy!

Health News from India: Exercise can help mums beat the blues both … – For their study, the researchers surveyed 230 Pennsylvania women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period about their symptoms of depression, exercise habits and feelings about weight, appearance and other aspects of body image. …

Prevent Postpartum Depression – Tips to Prevent Postpartum Depression – There is a growing body of evidence that indicates that exercise can be an effective treatment for depression in the general population. Studies looking specifically at exercise as a treatment for postpartum depression are few, …

Exercise and Depression | MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health – A study by Heh and colleagues (2008) randomly assigned 80 women with a 6-week postpartum EPDS score >10 (signifying postpartum depression) to one of two exercise groups: 3 exercise sessions/week, or the patient”™s usual treatment …

Top 10 Reasons to Exercise During Pregnancy The Green Room – Studies on exercise and depression indicate that exercise provides an anti-depressive effect. Exercise has been recognized in helping women struggling with postpartum depression.

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