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Straight to:
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to calm the areas of your brain that control mood and motivation.
Depression takes away the good things in life – your relationships, your energy, even your dreams for the future.
TMS treatment for depression can give you these things back.
Talk to us about how TMS can help.
Understanding postnatal depression
Postnatal depression is a form of depression that begins in the months following pregnancy. It can feel like a black cloud is surrounding a special time in your life; TMS treatment for postnatal depression can help this black cloud to lift.
Traditional methods of dealing with the symptoms of depression – from medication to therapy – don’t always work. Many medications aren’t suitable to be used during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding because they are systemic – this means that they can affect the whole body and transfer to the baby. Postpartum TMS treatment is targeted on the area of the brain that causes the condition, rather than flooding the body with chemicals and safe for expectant and breastfeeding mothers.
Research has shown that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can reduce the symptoms in those suffering with postnatal depression.
With no anaesthetic, no need for hospitalisation and no recovery time, it’s a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatments, with fewer side-effects than medication.
As many as 1 in every 10 mothers suffers from postnatal depression (PND) in the months and years following the birth of their baby. Postnatal depression affecting fathers and partners is less commonly spoken about, but a very real possibility.
During the first two weeks post-birth, a new mother is likely to be anxious, exhausted and tearful as a result of the massive life changes she’s gone through. These feelings become more of a worry if they persist beyond this point. Symptoms of PND include:
- A persistent feeling of sadness;
- Loss of feelings of enjoyment and interest;
- Difficulty sleeping, even though you know you need to rest;
- Difficulty bonding with the new baby;
- Problems making decisions;
- Scary thoughts – for instance, thinking about hurting your baby.
How does TMS work for postnatal depression?
The treatment works by stimulating the prefrontal cortex – the area of the brain that controls mood, motivation and social skills. Instead of numbing emotions, as medication can do, TMS treatment gets to the root of the problem by resetting brain patterns and pathways using targeted magnetic pulses.
A course of TMS for postnatal depression usually involves 30 sessions of treatment which take place over a period of three to six weeks. Each treatment lasts 30 minutes, and some patients are able to have more than one session a day.
TMS can help you enjoy life all year round.
Continuous care
Dr Neal and his team understand the need to help out patients stay well beyond the end of their TMS treatment. Using research and our own experience, we have designed aftercare packages to provide ongoing care with a planned programme of regular top-up treatments.
Have you had TMS treatment for depression at another clinic? Smart TMS can offer you maintenance therapy, too.
Not sure if TMS is right for you?
Make an informed choice about TMS treatment with our free TMS Info Guide
