TMS for postpartum depression, with no medication
Postpartum depression is common, it isn’t your fault, and it is treatable. If you’re breastfeeding, want to avoid adding medication, or antidepressants haven’t helped enough, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-drug option. At Reign-Bow, every course of TMS starts with a qEEG brain map, and we check your insurance before anything is scheduled.
On the call we check your insurance benefits, answer your questions and book your consultation and brain map.
Prefer to write? Request a consultation or verify your insurance.
Can TMS help postpartum depression?
Yes. TMS is FDA-cleared for major depression in adults, which includes depression that starts during pregnancy or after birth. It uses no medication, so nothing enters breast milk, needs no sedation and takes under an hour a session. Reign-Bow Brain Treatment Center in Lombard, Illinois plans each course of TMS from a qEEG brain map and checks your insurance before treatment.
Signs it may be more than the baby blues
Many new mothers feel weepy or overwhelmed in the first two weeks after birth. When those feelings last longer, get worse, or make it hard to get through the day, it may be postpartum depression. It can start during pregnancy or any time in the first year after birth.
- Feeling sad, empty or hopeless most of the day, for two weeks or more
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy, or feeling disconnected from your baby
- Strong guilt, worthlessness, or feeling like you’re failing as a mother
- Anxiety, racing thoughts or panic, or trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. If this is you, use the crisis numbers on this page now.
Postpartum depression can affect anyone who has given birth, including after a pregnancy loss. Partners and adoptive parents can have depression after a new baby too, and we treat adults with depression whatever the cause.
Why some new mothers choose TMS
- No medication. TMS works with magnetic pulses, so nothing enters your bloodstream or breast milk. Talk with your OB or your baby’s doctor about any treatment while breastfeeding.
- No sedation. You’re awake the whole time and can drive yourself home and care for your baby right after a session.
- Short visits. Each session takes under an hour on a weekday.
- It can be added to what you already do. Many people keep seeing their therapist or stay on their current medication during TMS.
TMS isn’t right for everyone. People with metal or implanted devices in or near the head, or with a history of seizures, may not be able to have it. We go through this with you at the consultation. More about how TMS works.
If you are thinking about harming yourself or your baby, or you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911 now. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free and open 24/7: call or text 1-833-852-6262 (1-833-TLC-MAMA). Postpartum Support International’s HelpLine is 1-800-944-4773. Reign-Bow is an outpatient clinic, not an emergency service.
What to expect, step by step
Call and verify insurance
Call 630-448-2721. We take your insurance details and check your TMS benefits, including any prior authorization your plan needs.
Consultation and qEEG brain map
You meet our team, talk through your pregnancy, birth, history and any medications, and we record a qEEG. The recording takes less than an hour and doesn’t hurt.
Your plan in writing
We explain the recommended plan, the schedule and your cost before you decide anything.
Treatment
Sessions are on weekdays and take under an hour. We repeat the brain map every 10 treatment days and adjust if needed.
Insurance coverage
Many plans cover TMS for major depression in adults, including depression that began during pregnancy or after birth. Plans usually ask for a diagnosis of major depression and, often, a record of antidepressants that were tried. If you couldn’t take an antidepressant because you were pregnant or breastfeeding, tell us when you call so we can include that in the request to your plan. Prior authorization is usually required, and we handle the paperwork.
We work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Aetna. Check my coverage.
Self-pay and HSA/FSA
If your plan won’t cover TMS, self-pay is $5,100 for the first two weeks and $4,175 for each additional two weeks. Each block includes 10 sessions, a consultation and a new qEEG brain map. HSA and FSA cards are accepted. See self-pay pricing.
Side effects
TMS has been used in clinics since 2008. The common side effects are mild: scalp discomfort where the coil rests, a headache, or tiredness after a session. They usually ease within the first week or two.
Seizures are rare. TMS isn’t suitable for people with metal or an implanted device in or near the head, such as an aneurysm clip or a cochlear implant. Dental fillings and braces are fine. We review your full history before recommending treatment.
Last updated October 2026.
Common questions
Can TMS treat postpartum depression?
Yes. TMS is FDA-cleared for major depression in adults, and postpartum depression is major depression that starts during pregnancy or after birth. Many new mothers choose TMS because it doesn’t involve medication.
Can I have TMS while breastfeeding?
TMS doesn’t use medication, so nothing from the treatment enters your bloodstream or breast milk. Talk with your OB or your baby’s doctor about any treatment while breastfeeding, and tell us at your consultation.
Is TMS for postpartum depression covered by insurance?
Often, yes, when your plan’s criteria for major depression are met and with prior authorization. We bill Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Aetna and check your benefits before anything is scheduled.
How soon after giving birth can I start?
Postpartum depression can start any time from pregnancy through the first year after birth, and you can call whenever you’re struggling. We go over your recovery from birth and your health at the consultation before recommending treatment.
Do I have to stop my antidepressant?
No. Many people stay on their medication during TMS. Don’t change any prescription without talking to the doctor who prescribes it.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can call us directly to book a consultation. If your insurance needs records from your OB or doctor, we’ll help gather them.
Ask about TMS for postpartum depression
Call us with your insurance card handy. We’ll check your TMS benefits and answer your questions before anything is scheduled.
What happens when you call
- Tell us who the care is for and what’s been going on. No records needed for the first call.
- We check your benefits with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna or Aetna, or walk you through self-pay pricing. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
- We book your consultation and qEEG brain map at a time that works for you.
Prefer to write? Request a consultation or verify your insurance.