Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are common, treatable conditions that can begin during pregnancy or in the first year after birth. Luminous Vitality Behavioral Health provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management for postpartum mood and anxiety symptoms by secure telehealth across Massachusetts — including for parents who are breastfeeding, where medication choices are made through careful, individualized shared decision-making.
Book a free 15-minute consult · $400 initial evaluation / $250 follow-up · adults 18+ · private pay / out-of-network.
What do postpartum depression and anxiety look like?
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are common; commonly cited estimates suggest they affect roughly 1 in 7 people who give birth. They can involve persistent sadness or emptiness, loss of interest, guilt or feelings of inadequacy as a parent, difficulty bonding, intrusive or frightening thoughts, constant worry, racing heart or restlessness, and sleep problems beyond ordinary newborn exhaustion. Symptoms can start in pregnancy or any time in the first postpartum year. These are medical conditions, not a character failing — and many people improve with treatment.
Urgent: postpartum psychosis (confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby) is a medical emergency — call 911 or go to an emergency department immediately. This page and practice are not for emergencies.
Why telehealth fits new parents
Leaving home with a newborn for an in-person appointment is genuinely hard. Telepsychiatry lets you be evaluated and treated from home, with the same board-certified psychiatrist at each visit, anywhere in Massachusetts (you must be physically in MA at the time of each visit). That accessibility is part of why telehealth suits postpartum care so well.
Medication management — including while breastfeeding
Treatment is individualized. SSRIs are a common first-line medication for postpartum depression and anxiety. If you are breastfeeding, medication decisions are made through careful shared decision-making that weighs your symptoms, your goals, and the current evidence about specific medications and lactation. Some medications have more reassuring lactation data than others, and Dr. Lee will discuss the specific options for your situation and draw on authoritative resources such as the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health, InfantRisk, and LactMed. No medication is described here as universally "safe" — the right choice is the one you and your psychiatrist reach together for your circumstances.
We provide the psychiatric medication arm of care. Postpartum recovery often also benefits from therapy, peer support, sleep strategy, and coordination with your OB/GYN or midwife — we refer out for therapy and coordinate care. Certain newer or inpatient-administered treatments for postpartum depression exist but are outside the scope of an outpatient telepsychiatry medication practice; where relevant, we help you understand and access them through appropriate referral.
This is general education, not medical advice — decisions about any medication belong with you and your prescribing clinician. It applies to adults 18 and older.
Postpartum depression and anxiety frequently overlap with other conditions. If depression is the leading concern, see our depression treatment page; if anxiety predominates, see our anxiety psychiatry page.
About Dr. Ronald Lee, MD
Board-certified adult psychiatrist, Harvard-trained in residency (PGY-2 through PGY-4). Dr. Lee personally conducts every evaluation and manages ongoing care. NPI 1841443470.
Getting started
- Book a free 15-minute consult to confirm fit.
- Complete a comprehensive initial evaluation by secure video.
- Discuss options collaboratively — which may or may not include medication, and, if you’re breastfeeding, a specific shared-decision conversation about lactation.
- Continue with follow-up through your recovery.
See Fees & Insurance (private pay; superbills provided for possible out-of-network reimbursement).
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ronald Lee, MD — board-certified psychiatrist, Harvard-trained in residency. Last reviewed: July 5, 2026.
If you are in crisis, thinking about harming yourself or your baby, or experiencing confusion or hallucinations, call 911 or go to an emergency department. You can also call or text 988. See our Massachusetts mental health crisis resources.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take antidepressants while breastfeeding?
Many people are treated for postpartum depression or anxiety while breastfeeding, and some medications have more reassuring lactation data than others. The right choice is individualized and made through shared decision-making with your psychiatrist, drawing on resources like the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health, InfantRisk, and LactMed. No medication should be assumed universally safe without that conversation. This is general education, not medical advice.
Can I be treated for postpartum depression by telehealth in Massachusetts?
Yes. Adults located in Massachusetts can complete a psychiatric evaluation and receive medication management for postpartum depression and anxiety by secure video — which is especially practical for new parents who can’t easily leave home.
When do postpartum depression and anxiety start?
They can begin during pregnancy or any time in the first year after birth. Symptoms that persist beyond the normal adjustment of new parenthood, or that interfere with functioning or bonding, are worth an evaluation.
Is this an emergency service?
No. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or symptoms like confusion, hallucinations, or paranoia (possible postpartum psychosis), call 911 or go to an emergency department immediately. You can also call or text 988.
How much does it cost?
$400 for the initial evaluation and $250 per follow-up. LVBH is private pay / out-of-network and provides superbills for possible out-of-network reimbursement.