Postpartum Depression Care Near You in Miramar Beach
Get Treatment for Postpartum Depression With Steady, Caring Support
Having a baby can bring joy, and it can also bring sadness, worry, and tiredness that don’t lift. If you feel low, anxious, or distant from your baby, you’re not doing anything wrong. Postpartum depression is a form of depression that develops after having a baby, and it’s treatable.
Many mothers feel pressure to enjoy each moment, which can make it hard to say how they’re really doing. Talking with a psychiatrist can help you make sense of what you’re feeling and find a path forward.
Dr. Larry De Lay leads psychiatric care at Sea Breeze Psychiatry and has experience from a clinic focused on maternal health. He sees adult patients in person at our Miramar Beach office or by telehealth anywhere in Florida. You can pick the setting that works best with your baby’s schedule. Our team puts the patient first at each visit, and we’re accepting new patients.
When you’re ready to talk about how you’ve been feeling, request an appointment with our team.
Care From a Psychiatrist With Maternal Health Experience Near You
Support for Mood Changes During Pregnancy and After Birth
Is Maternal Mental Health Care Right for You?
Care may help if sadness, worry, or tiredness after having a baby lasts more than a couple of weeks or makes daily life hard. You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for an evaluation. Common signs of postpartum depression include:
- Mood changes: Crying more than usual, feeling angry, or feeling sad, anxious, or empty most of the day.
- Feeling disconnected: Feeling distant from your baby or doubting that you can care for them.
- Everyday changes: Trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, or trouble focusing.
These changes can also begin during pregnancy. That’s why this care is called perinatal, which means the time during pregnancy and after a baby is born.
What to Expect From Your Care
Your visit is a chance to talk through how you’ve been feeling and what kind of support would help most.
- Request an appointment: Choose a time online for an in-person visit in Miramar Beach or a telehealth visit.
- Finish your forms: Please finish your forms at least 24 hours before your visit so your appointment can go ahead.
- Meet with your provider: Talk about your symptoms, your health history, and your goals.
Next, your provider may recommend a psychiatric evaluation, a visit focused on understanding your symptoms, your history, and what has been affecting you. Another option is medication management, which means prescribing medication and checking how it’s working for you over time. Brief psychotherapy (talk therapy) is also available on request. Your provider will go over each option so you can decide what feels right.
Tell your provider if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Then the two of you can decide about medication together.
Why Reaching Out Early Matters
You’re far from alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about 1 in 8 women with a recent live birth have symptoms of postpartum depression(opens in a new tab). The CDC also says depression is treatable, and most people get better with treatment.
Many mothers wait because they think they should manage on their own. Asking for help is a practical step that puts your well-being on the list next to your baby’s. If your low mood began before pregnancy, our depression treatment page explains more. Sea Breeze Psychiatry is accepting new patients, and evaluations are available.
Meet Your Psychiatrist
Dr. De Lay is board certified in psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He’s also a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Florida Psychiatric Society, and the Emerald Coast Medical Society.
Dr. De Lay takes time to listen before explaining each option in plain language. He builds the treatment plan with you, whether you meet in person or by telehealth.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of your visit depends on your insurance plan and the type of visit. Our Insurance & Fees page lists the plans we accept and explains our fees, deposits, and payment options. If you have questions about coverage, call our office at (850) 407-2095.
When to Get Help Right Away
Some symptoms need care right away, including thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. They also include hearing or seeing things that aren’t there, or feeling confused or out of touch with reality.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), or call 911 for an emergency.
We're Here to Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Signs of postpartum depression include a sad, anxious, or empty mood that lasts most of the day. You may cry more than usual, feel angry, or feel distant from your baby. Some mothers also have trouble sleeping or eating, lose interest in daily activities, or doubt that they can care for their baby. If these feelings last or get in the way of daily life, talk with a provider.
The baby blues are mild mood changes that usually fade in the first two weeks after birth. Postpartum depression is more intense or lasts longer. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says that mood changes lasting more than two weeks may be a sign of postpartum depression. NIMH also notes that most episodes of perinatal depression begin within four to eight weeks after birth.
Yes, our team offers telepsychiatry visits if you live in Florida. Dr. De Lay can prescribe medication by telehealth, so you don’t need an in-person visit. Many new mothers like meeting from home, and our Miramar Beach office is also open if you’d rather come in.
Not always, since treatment often includes talk therapy, medication, or both. The right mix depends on your symptoms, your health history, and your preferences. You and your provider decide together, and you can ask questions at any point.
Scheduling is easy, and online scheduling is available for both office and telehealth visits. You can request an appointment whenever you’re ready, and our team will help you pick the setting that fits your baby’s schedule. We look forward to seeing you!