What medication helped Elizabeth Schreiber with her depression?

The medication Zurzuvae, a fast-acting treatment, helped alleviate Schreiber's symptoms.

How does Elizabeth Schreiber help other mothers now?

Schreiber advocates for other mothers, encouraging them to seek help and normalizing conversations around postpartum mental health.

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Surrogate's Severe Depression After Birth: A New Battle

Q: What led Elizabeth Schreiber to experience severe postpartum depression?

Elizabeth Schreiber experienced severe postpartum depression following a surrogacy journey.

27 Jan

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Summary

She experienced severe postpartum depression after surrogacy.
A new medication, Zurzuvae, offered significant relief.
She now helps other mothers seek help for mental health.

Surrogate's Severe Depression After Birth: A New Battle

Elizabeth Schreiber, a 35-year-old family nurse practitioner, experienced severe postpartum depression following a surrogacy in spring 2025. While initially overjoyed by the pregnancy, a month after the birth, she succumbed to overwhelming sadness and intrusive thoughts. Describing the feeling as a "heavy, weighted blanket," Schreiber experienced uncontrollable sobbing and even questioned her will to live.

Her condition worsened to the point where she felt defeated and considered suicidal ideation, describing her mind as "hijacked." At a six-week postpartum check-up, she disclosed her struggles and was prescribed Zurzuvae, a new fast-acting medication. This treatment began to alleviate her symptoms, and she later started an SSRI to further stabilize her mental health.

Schreiber gradually regained her sense of self over several months. She now works to destigmatize postpartum depression among her own patients, encouraging them to seek help and reassuring them that their feelings are valid and treatable. She emphasizes that hormonal and chemical imbalances are not personal failings but conditions requiring support and care.