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"Many women experience depression in the days (and weeks) following childbirth.Other symptoms include headache, irritability, and sleeplessness. The depression can beincapacitating and prolonged. Research by Brian Harris and colleagues in Wales found that,among 120 women, those with the highest prenatal and lowest postnatal progesterone levelsalso scored highest on measures of postpartum depression scores.
Recall that as pregnancy advances, placental production of progesterone rises to levelsof 350-400mg. a day, and the ovaries' contribution at that point is nil. With delivery,the placenta-derived progesterone is suddenly gone. The only source of progesterone atthat time would be the adrenal glands. It is possible that adrenal exhaustion plays a rolein a woman's inability to provide even a modicum of progesterone in the days followingchildbirth. Postpartum depression is notoriously difficult to treat. It would seemappropriate to measure progesterone levels a day or two after childbirth and, if found tobe low, progesterone could be promptly supplemented. It is possible that this simple andsafe therapy could make postpartum depression much easier to treat. "
"Many of my patients have volunteered that the first benefit they perceived fromusing natural progesterone was an improved sleep pattern. After years of unsettled sleepthey now look forward to retiring each night because they know they will enjoy sound sleepand awake refreshed in the morning. This is one of the reasons I tend to recommend thatprogesterone cream be applied at bedtime."
These quotes are from Dr. John Lee's book called, What Your Doctor May Not Tell YouAbout Menopause.