Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F53
- Who conducts it
- a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist experienced in perinatal care
- Format
- video consultations from home, at a convenient time between feedings
- Duration
- appointments last 30–60 minutes; treatment runs from several weeks to months
- Anonymity
- confidential, with no information shared with third parties
- When it's urgent
- thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, confusion, hallucinations — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- restored mood, sleep, and connection with your baby
What you should know
Postpartum, or perinatal, depression is one of the most common complications of the postpartum period. In ICD-10, mental disorders associated with the puerperium fall under category F53, and modern classifications emphasize that an episode may begin during pregnancy. The WHO regards perinatal mental health as a major public health priority because it affects both the mother and the child's development.
It is important to distinguish postpartum depression from the so-called “baby blues” — short-lived emotional instability, tearfulness, and anxiety in the first days after birth that resolves on its own within two weeks. In depression, symptoms last longer, get worse, and interfere with daily life. Online help in Rudny is especially convenient for new mothers who find it hard to leave the house with a newborn.
Signs of Postpartum Depression
- feeling low, tearful, and empty for more than two weeks after giving birth
- no joy in time spent with your baby, a sense of detachment
- constant worry about the baby and intrusive fears about their health
- guilt, thoughts like “I'm a bad mother,” a sense of being inadequate
- being unable to sleep even when the baby is asleep and you have a chance to rest
- irritability, outbursts of anger, pulling away from your partner and loved ones
- thoughts that your family would be better off without you, or that life is meaningless
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
After childbirth, a woman's body goes through sharp hormonal changes: estrogen and progesterone levels drop rapidly, thyroid function changes, and sleep is disrupted. In some women, these shifts, combined with individual vulnerability, trigger a depressive episode. The risk is higher with a history of depression or an anxiety disorder, including before pregnancy, and when relatives have had such episodes.
Psychological and social factors include a difficult birth, health problems in the baby, lack of support, conflict with a partner, financial difficulties, isolation, and unrealistic expectations of motherhood. Chronic sleep deprivation on its own worsens mood. Postpartum depression is not a result of not loving your child enough or of “doing motherhood wrong” — it is a medical condition that can be treated.
How to Get Help Online
You can have a video consultation from home, choosing a time when the baby is asleep or someone is there to help; the baby can stay with you. The psychiatrist asks about your mood, sleep, anxiety, thoughts related to the baby, how the pregnancy and birth went, breastfeeding, and the support you get from family. Standardized screening scales for perinatal depression are used. The treatment plan is discussed with feeding and the woman's own preferences in mind.
A gynecological examination and lab tests, such as thyroid function tests, cannot be done online — they are carried out in person. Postpartum psychosis with hallucinations, confusion, or strange behavior is an emergency: call 103 or 112. Help is just as urgent if there are thoughts of harming yourself or the baby. Prescribing medication while breastfeeding requires special caution and is governed by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
How we help
Psychotherapy
For mild and moderate postpartum depression, international guidelines name psychotherapy — primarily cognitive behavioral and interpersonal therapy — as the first-line treatment. Online sessions mean you do not have to find a babysitter or spend energy on travel. The work focuses on reducing anxiety and guilt, restoring your inner resources, and building support.
Medication
For moderate and severe depression, medication may be needed. For breastfeeding mothers, medications with the best-studied safety profile during breastfeeding are chosen, and the decision is made after discussing benefits and risks. Declining treatment for severe depression also carries risks for both mother and baby, and the doctor takes this into account.
Family support and routine
Involving your partner and loved ones is an important part of care: sharing night feedings, giving the mother a chance to sleep at least a few hours in a row, and helping around the house. The doctor can hold a consultation for the family, explain the nature of the condition, and reduce mutual blame. Restoring sleep often brings a noticeable improvement in well-being.
Follow-up and prevention
Women with a history of depression benefit from follow-up during pregnancy and in the first months after birth. Online help for postpartum depression in Rudny at Psychiatry Online includes regular video appointments, monitoring of the effect, and a plan in case things get worse, as well as a discussion of risks in future pregnancies.
Myths and facts
MythPostpartum depression is just moodiness and fatigue
FactIt is a medical condition linked to biological and psychosocial factors. Without treatment, it can last for months and affect the mother's health and the child's development. Seeking help is a way of caring for your family.
MythIf you're breastfeeding, you can't get treatment
FactThere are forms of help compatible with breastfeeding: psychotherapy and a number of medications with well-studied safety. The doctor makes the decision individually, weighing the benefits and risks for mother and baby.
MythA good mother can't have feelings like these
FactDepression has nothing to do with the quality of your mothering and does not mean a lack of love for your child. Many women hide their symptoms out of shame, and this delays help. The feelings that come with depression are symptoms, not a reflection of who you are.
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 Rudny
| 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
Psychiatry Online in Rudny: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 19 Lenina St., Rudny and 35 Kosmonavtov Ave., Rudny. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Kostanay Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
How can I tell the baby blues from depression?
The baby blues start in the first days after birth and pass on their own within about two weeks. If low mood, anxiety, and guilt last longer, get worse, or interfere with caring for yourself and your baby, it is a reason to see a psychiatrist.
Can I have the consultation with my baby in my arms?
Yes, the baby can be present during a video consultation, and you can pause it for a feeding if needed. Ideally, the setting should allow you to speak openly. Sometimes it is easier to choose a time when the baby is asleep or a family member is helping.
Is treatment safe while breastfeeding?
Psychotherapy is safe regardless of how you feed your baby. If medication is needed, the doctor chooses options with the best-studied safety profile and discusses possible risks. The decision about continuing breastfeeding is made together with you.
What should I do if I have frightening thoughts about my baby?
Intrusive, frightening thoughts are common with anxiety and do not mean you intend to act on them. Even so, it is important to tell your doctor about them. If there is an intention to harm yourself or the baby, or if there is confusion or hallucinations, call 103 or 112 immediately.
Can depression start during pregnancy?
Yes, perinatal depression can develop during pregnancy. In that case, treatment is just as important and is carried out with the stage of pregnancy and safety for the baby in mind. Follow-up with a psychiatrist helps reduce the risk of worsening after birth.
How can my partner help?
A partner can take over some of the nighttime care so the mother gets enough sleep, help around the house, listen without judgment, and support her in seeing a doctor. Online help for postpartum depression in Rudny includes a consultation for the partner at the family's request.
Where can I be seen in Rudny?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 19 Lenina St., Rudny and 35 Kosmonavtov Ave., Rudny. 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
