Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F53.0
- Who leads the session
- a psychiatrist experienced in perinatal psychiatry, with a psychotherapist when needed
- Format
- a video consultation from home, with your baby nearby if needed; audio-only is also available
- Duration
- initial appointment 40–60 minutes, follow-ups every 2–4 weeks; a course lasts several months
- Anonymity
- consultation without your surname; medical confidentiality under the Kazakhstan Code “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- When it is urgent
- confusion, hallucinations, thoughts of harming yourself or your baby—call 103 or 112 immediately
- Outcome
- restored mood, sleep, and energy, and a safe treatment plan that takes breastfeeding into account
What you should know
Why is it important to tell postpartum depression apart from the “baby blues”? In the first days after giving birth, many women experience tearfulness and mood swings—a short-lived state linked to sharp hormonal changes that usually passes within two weeks. Postpartum depression lasts longer, disrupts sleep, appetite, the ability to feel joy, and self-care more deeply, and does not go away on its own. Clinical guidelines stress the importance of early screening.
The online format makes particular sense here. It is hard for a new mother to get to a doctor: someone has to watch the baby, or the baby has to be bundled up and brought along, and in winter—with the frost, wind, and short days—a trip across the whole city with an infant, for example from the right bank to the left, becomes a real ordeal. A video consultation can take place during the baby’s nap without leaving home, and follow-up appointments can be held the same way without disrupting feeding and walk schedules.
Signs of Postpartum Depression
- low mood and tearfulness have lasted more than two weeks after giving birth
- you cannot feel joy with your baby and feel detached
- you feel constant guilt and think that you are a bad mother
- you have intense anxiety about your baby’s health and intrusive, frightening thoughts
- you cannot sleep even when the baby is asleep and you have a chance to rest
- you have lost your appetite and have no energy for basic self-care
- you have thoughts that your family would be better off without you
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Why Postpartum Depression Develops
The biological mechanism is linked to the sharp drop in sex hormone levels after childbirth and to changes in thyroid and stress-system function. In some women, the nervous system is especially sensitive to these fluctuations, which explains why the risk is higher for those who have had depression or severe premenstrual syndrome in the past. Chronic sleep deprivation in the first months further disrupts emotional regulation.
Psychosocial factors include a difficult birth, lack of support, family conflict, financial hardship, and the gap between expectations and the reality of motherhood. Isolation during the long winter, when walks are cut short by the cold and wind and there is little daylight, intensifies the sense of being cut off. It is also important to rule out physical causes: anemia and postpartum thyroid dysfunction.
How Online Help for Postpartum Depression Works
Choose a time when your baby is asleep or a family member can look after them; if the baby is with you, that is fine—the doctor will understand. The psychiatrist asks when the symptoms started, how your pregnancy and delivery went, whether you have had depressive episodes before, and whether you are breastfeeding. A validated postpartum depression scale is used. Have a list of your medications and vitamins ready. The doctor will discuss a plan: psychotherapy, breastfeeding-compatible medication if needed, and how to organize support.
Lab tests and a gynecological examination cannot be done online—the doctor will refer you for them if needed. Prescribing prescription medications depends on Kazakhstan law and the requirement for an initial in-person examination. Postpartum psychosis—confusion, hallucinations, strange ideas, abrupt mood changes—is an emergency: call 103 or 112; an online consultation cannot replace urgent care in this case.
How we help
Psychotherapy
For mild to moderate postpartum depression, clinical guidelines recommend psychotherapy as the first step. Cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy are effective: they address guilt, unrealistic expectations, and changing roles in the family. Online sessions are easy to plan around your baby’s schedule, without spending energy on travel or finding a babysitter.
Medication
For moderate to severe depression, antidepressants are considered. The doctor chooses medications with breastfeeding in mind: for many of them, data on compatibility with breastfeeding have been accumulated. The decision is made together with you after discussing the benefits and risks—both of treatment and of no treatment, which also affects both mother and baby.
Supporting sleep and recovery
Protecting sleep is an important part of treatment: the doctor helps you plan how to share nighttime feedings with your partner or relatives so that you get at least one long stretch of sleep. Morning light, short walks when it is not windy, nutrition, and gentle physical activity that is manageable in the first months are also discussed.
Working with the family
With the mother’s consent, a partner or relatives can join the consultation. They learn what postpartum depression is, how to recognize when it is getting worse, and how exactly they can help. Family support is one of the most important protective factors. Psychiatry Online also offers consultations for fathers: depression after the birth of a child affects them too.
Myths and facts
MythPostpartum depression is just fatigue—everyone goes through it
FactFatigue goes away with rest; depression does not. Brief sadness in the first days is common, but persistent low mood, anxiety, and guilt lasting more than two weeks are a reason to see a doctor.
MythDepression can’t be treated while breastfeeding
FactPsychotherapy is safe during breastfeeding, and for a number of antidepressants there are data on compatibility with breastfeeding. The doctor tailors treatment individually, weighing the benefits for the mother against possible risks for the baby.
MythA good mother shouldn’t feel this way
FactDepression is a medical condition, not a measure of how good a mother you are. It can develop in any woman, and seeking help in time is an act of care for yourself and your baby.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Astana
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
You can book in Astana online or at one of two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana, 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Our coordinator replies on WhatsApp within minutes at any time, and a doctor usually connects by video the same day; home visits are available too — all city districts and nearby settlements.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Astana is first of all about privacy: no clinic visit, no waiting room. A private room and headphones are enough. Data is stored in a secure system with restricted access and does not enter any state registry without legal grounds.
Questions and answers
How can I tell the baby blues from depression?
The baby blues start in the first days after birth, show up as tearfulness and mood swings, and pass within about two weeks. If low mood, anxiety, and loss of joy last longer or get worse, it may be postpartum depression—and you should consult a doctor.
Can I have the consultation with my baby in my arms?
Yes. Many mothers do exactly that: they feed or rock the baby during the conversation. The doctor understands and adapts. If the baby starts crying, you can take a break. What matters is that you can speak openly, without anyone present who makes you feel uncomfortable.
Are medications safe while breastfeeding?
For a number of antidepressants, data on compatibility with breastfeeding have been accumulated. The doctor chooses medications based on these data and discusses the benefits and risks with you. You should not start or stop taking them on your own—this decision is made together with your doctor.
What should I do if I have frightening thoughts about my baby?
Intrusive, frightening thoughts about harm coming to the baby are common with postpartum anxiety and cause intense fear, but they usually do not mean any intention. Tell your doctor about them. If confusion, hallucinations, or a real intention to cause harm appear, call 103 or 112 immediately.
Can depression start several months after giving birth?
Yes, postpartum depression can develop at any point in the first year. It often begins when the initial support from relatives ends and the mother is left alone with the baby. In a region with long winters, the deterioration sometimes coincides with the start of the dark season.
Can you help if the depression started during pregnancy?
Yes. Depression during pregnancy needs the same attention as postpartum depression. A Psychiatry Online psychiatrist will assess your condition, offer psychotherapy, and, if needed, discuss medication with your stage of pregnancy in mind, coordinating the plan with your obstetrician-gynecologist.
Where can I be seen in Astana?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
