Video provides candid info and addresses those who oppose the Mother's Act

Check out the video at youtube HERE...

To show your support of the Mother's Act, click HERE.

Please take five minutes to get involved today. Two calls to your state’s U.S. Senators and an email Susan at susanstonelcsw@aol.com with your name and state asking to be added to the constituent petition will do it!

South Texas Birthing Center to observe quiet time

I had to include this article about a hospital doing great things to help moms get rest and hopefully prevent or decrease the incidence of onset of some postpartum depression or other perinatal mood disorders...I remember during my 4 day stay in the hospital following my unexpected c-section a mixture of emotion, even separate from the trauma and immediate depression and anxiety. I felt so confused about visitors and therefore only once did I have the heart or energy to ask that a sign be put on my door requesting that no one besides medical staff enter. If the hospital had a mandated "down-time" for rest and relaxation perhaps I would have felt less guilty...especially since a visitor did drop by during that one hour, leave a note that once found left me feeling completely guilty and in typical fashion anxious about the possibility of having hurt someone else's feelings.

Here's an article about Texas hospital taking this bull by the horns...

Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in New Braunfels has established a new mother-baby time each afternoon from 1 to 3 during which time visitation will be restricted for mothers of newborns to just husbands/partners.

The period after the mid-day meal will be observed as a rest/nap time for nurturing newborns and postpartum mothers. It will also be a time during which new mothers can bond with their newborns and work on breastfeeding skills.

Oh, and KUDOS! to the writer for including the term "breastfeeding skills!" (it sure is a skill needed to be learned, but we'll leave that topic for a different blog post.)

A sampling of programs across the country which seek to research, educate and support parents

Here's just a short list of programs and research in the world of postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders...
University Community Hospital is implementing a new program that will screen new mothers right after birth and offer support for those at risk. It’s a first of its kind program in Tampa Bay. Readers interested in following up with June Vinyard, RN, Women's Center PPD program, can call her at 813-615-7390.

A new Rochester, NY CCLC program called Mentor Moms that has grown out of the Community of Caring program and is looking for adult women mentors to provide support to pregnant women and new mothers in their teens and 20s. For details about Mentor Moms, call 585-658-4466.

You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Chandler Marrs Ph.D of the Psychology Department at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The purpose of this study is to examine the mood changes and psychiatric symptoms associated with postpartum.

Here's another UNLV study for men who are parents of young children.

In an effort to educate New Jersey women on the signs and resources available for treating postpartum depression (PPD) and other perinatal mood disorders, which can affect women before, during and after pregnancy, The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has produced a palm card to be distributed through beauty salons, YMCAs and Jewish Community Centers across the state.

Project Concern International is a San Diego-based health and humanitarian organization in which a CBHS project has enrolled nearly 300 women and assisted with 129 births. The CBHS project offers an intensive system of core services designed to reduce infant mortality and low birth weight, as well as increase the number of women accessing prenatal care in the first trimester of their pregnancies. These pregnant mothers are provided case management and support to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. In addition to the assistance of a doula, or birth coach, the project offers mothers and infants a continuum of care for up to two years after delivery. Women are also assessed and receive support for postpartum depression and domestic violence.

New mothers and pregnant women looking for support and camaraderie in Massachusetts are invited to a new, free drop-in postpartum support group being offered by Holyoke Medical Center. The MotherWoman Postpartum Support Group will be offered on an ongoing basis on Tuesdays from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. For more information call Lisa Pack, R.N., at 534-2700.

Participate in an exciting research study through FSU & UNC, Chapel Hill, which investigates a prevention program for postpartum anxiety and distress with at-risk moms!

And here's a link to information about the Atlanta Support Group.

Antidepressants and preeclampsia

More news on SSRIs...a 2009 study presents information that taking antidepressants during pregnancy may increase odds of preeclampsia in the 3rd trimester. However, more research needs to be done because of the evidence already uncovered that anxiety and depression also increase preeclampsia odds.

A recent study sought to examine whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants increase the risk of preeclampsia since serotonin may play a role in the etiology of preeclampsia through its vascular and hemostatic effects. Toh and colleagues analyzed data from 5,731 women with non-malformed infants and no history of hypertension who had participated in the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study from 1998-2007. Risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were compared between women who did and did not receive SSRIs during pregnancy....

While the present study suggests that SSRI treatment among pregnant women may be associated with a higher risk for gestational hypertension and, particularly, preeclampsia, the authors addressed potential confounders for their findings, including depression itself. Several previous studies have shown a link between depression and anxiety and risk for preeclampsia, and it has been suggested that both conditions may trigger the pathogenic vascular processes that lead to gestational hypertension (by inducing vasoconstriction and uterine artery resistance). One Finnish study quoted a threefold risk for preeclampsia among women with depression and anxiety.

Here's a link to the MGH blog that posted the study results...

OCD in pregnant and postpartum women

More from the world of perinatal mood disorders: Study from MGH offers insight into OCD and women...

The authors of this study suggest that certain women with OCD seem to be vulnerable to worsening of OCD during times of hormonal fluctuations, as occur during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle and the postpartum period. Therefore, they call for increased monitoring during these periods of increased risk.

There have been at least two additional studies that provide evidence that OCD symptoms are especially common (40-50%) in women with postpartum-onset depression and these symptoms are characterized by particularly intrusive harm-related obsessional thoughts (Abramowitz 2003, Wisner 1999).

Obsessional thoughts are experienced as unwanted and inconsistent with one’s typical personality or behavior, and patients often express fears of even thinking these thoughts, particularly when they involve thoughts of harm. Patients with OCD, and postpartum women with OCD especially, can have a great deal of shame regarding their symptoms and may delay psychiatric treatment for this reason. It is thus important to specifically ask about intrusive obsessional thoughts in all patients, particularly in postpartum women.

Check out the details HERE...

New book addresses PMDs with a faith bent

Check out a book- hot off the presses that tackles educating about perinatal mood disorders such as postpartum depression from a Christian perspective...I have not read it yet, but would love to hear from those of you who have!

From the back cover of the book authored by Paul Meier , Todd Clements and Lynne Johnson

The surprisingly good news about postpartum depression
First of all: You’re not alone. Did you know that 80 percent of women who have had a baby struggle with depression either before or after their child’s birth? Not only is postpartum depression totally normal; it’s almost 100 percent treatable. If you’re feeling tired, blue, guilty, or overwhelmed by new motherhood, The Postpartum Survival Guide holds the answers that will help you make it through.

Written by a team of experts, The Postpartum Survival Guide offers hope-filled solutions for new moms like you who are secretly afraid they may never feel like themselves again. This definitive guide explains why this depression occurs, who is at risk, how to treat it, and where to find God in it all. In these pages, you’ll find answers to the confusion and loneliness you might be feeling, and the tools you need to fully enjoy this special time in your life.

How to help when your friend or family member is ill

Like any serious illness, postpartum depression, anxiety and other perinatal mood disorders are sometimes debilitating and require lots of support from family and friends in order to recover. Here is a short article about how you can help when (not if) you find yourself in this situation.

Your friend has a serious illness. That's a cold fact. So, it seems easy enough. Just pick up the phone and call ... but what do you say? Well, that's the tough part - figuring out what to say. Sometimes we are so uncomfortable with serious illness we just avoid the situation altogether. Avoidance usually makes you feel even worse and can cause hurt feelings on the other end. Not saying - or doing - anything can make it a hundred times worse.

Of course, you can't make the illness go away, but you can support your friend. These are situations that most of us have little experience dealing with so a few tips to get you started can be tremendously helpful. Here's what you can do.

The entire article can be found HERE...

Happy Father's Day...late

Here's a tidbit from a pointedly opinionated yet on target article regarding the importance of a father in the home to both the child and mother. A supportive husband (or partner) is one of the greatest preventive measures and "treatments" for postpartum depression. While each family has it's own makeup, we can all learn lots from reading about how two parents in the home make for happier and healthier children and moms.

Loving fathers are critical to the development of children. And the truth is that every woman is a better person when she has a good man to rely on.

Dads are not an “optional” family accessory to be tossed in the corner like dirty socks or trampled on like a door mat. We should reject the attitudes of women who treat them that way and of any man who has bought the lie and started assuming the loser role. And we need to let our boys know that one of the greatest contributions they can make as adults is to be strong fathers who are committed to their families.

Social science data prove that loving fathers provide a vital dose of security and stability to their children and wives. When fathers are absent, children and moms suffer. For example, teen-age pregnancy rates are up to eight times higher in girls who lack a dad’s presence in early childhood. Children with engaged dads are half as likely to experience depression, and only 25 percent as likely to drop out of school as children without dads. And single mothering is the greatest cause of childhood poverty.

Read more HERE at the Holland Sentinel...

Here's another great article regarding the first 30 days of being a Dad...thanks to Beth for sharing it.

Sleep troubles and their connection to mood

From the UK, more evidence that insomnia, sleep problems, and sleep deprivation all take a serious toll on mental health. Postpartum Depression certainly causes and can be exacerbated by sleep issues. Below is a snippet...read more HERE.

Anyone who has ever had to suffer a sleepless night will know just how disruptive it can be. The following day we're tired, irritable, a little miserable, and generally out of sorts. And the longer sleep problems go on, the more wretched we feel.

The consequences don't end there. It's long been known that people with psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) don't sleep well. Until recently, it was assumed their sleep difficulties were a product of the psychological problem. But research suggests that the process may also work in the opposite direction: persistent sleep problems may help cause and exacerbate a number of common mental illnesses.

Good advice on the early postpartum period and maternity leave

You probably had a long list of projects you planned to get done during your maternity leave. However, you now realize that you forgot one thing: This is not a vacation. Instead, it is a time to heal, to get to know your new baby and to learn how to be a mother. So forget everything except these three things.

The healing part is very important. Your body has been through a massive change over the past nine months; don't expect to return to normal for a while. While our society considers women "healed" at six weeks—when many women get the green light to have sex and return to work—it will really take the next nine months to return to normal. So relax. And follow this advice:
Advice from empowher

The Quest for Sleep: One Mom’s Story for Getting Her Baby to Sleep

Also posted on PP&B...
Since so much of our health postpartum depends on the quality of sleep we and our children are getting this article seemed perfect to share! It addresses one woman's changing experiences throughout the first year of her child's life with refreshing honesty and a balanced perspective. Enjoy!

Allison says, I have an eleven month old little girl named Emerson who, in spite of the nurses at the hospital saying “you’ve got a sleeper”, turned out to not be much of a sleeper. There are worse stories, but mine is a good example of mixing mom’s intuition, dad’s motivation, and a great deal of research to figure out the best path to sanity. Read on HERE...

Atlanta woman sounds off to AJC about Stowe's reprimand

Dr. Zachary Stowe, a prominent and trusted specialist in the area of Postpartum Depression in Atlanta (and nationally) recently received some press for his reprimand from Emory. You can read more about the Emory program HERE and Dr. Stowe's reprimand HERE.

Below is a letter to the editor posted to the AJC website from one of his patients. The sentiment is likely shared by many, some of whom I know personally, and therefore worth reprinting.

Investigation should remember the patients

As a patient of Dr. Zachary Stowe for the past seven years, I was disturbed to read that he received a “letter of reprimand” from Emory University (“Emory professor criticized,” Metro, June 11).

However, I am more disturbed by an investigation that seems completely unconcerned with the patients involved in Stowe’s studies and practice.

At each visit with Stowe, I sit beside women in the waiting room who are pregnant, and hoping for guidance in decisions about how their depression might affect their unborn children.

Stowe facilitates an informed decision about whether or not to continue with medication during pregnancy based on trusted research — information that is often unknown to the average ob-gyn or psychiatrist.

My guess is that these women — the many patients of Stowe — will continue to place their trust in this doctor’s expertise.

As they reprimand Stowe, it’s unfortunate that no one at the National Institutes of Health or Emory seems bothered to care about patient care.

Susan Fikse, Atlanta

Sohrabji wins award for reporting on PPD suffered by immigrant mothers

India-West reporters Lisa Tsering and Sunita Sohrabji and photographer Som Sharma took honors at the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club’s 32nd Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards, held June 6 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here...

Sohrabji’s story, “Postpartum Depression: South Asian Moms Suffer in Silence,” took third prize in the Specialty Story category (non-daily newspapers). In the story, Sohrabji revealed the isolation and depression faced by immigrant mothers far from their families at home in India.

Thanks to these reporters and photographers for bringing much needed awareness.

Read more HERE...

Depression as Risk Factor for Premature Delivery

Researchers trying to uncover why premature birth is a growing problem in the United States have found that pre-pregnancy depressive mood appears to be a risk factor in preterm birth among both blacks and whites.

Black women, however, have nearly two times the odds of having a preterm birth compared to white women, according to Amelia Gavin, a University of Washington assistant professor of social work and lead author of a new study that appears online in the June issue of the Journal of Women’s Health.

“Preterm births are one of the most significant health disparities in the United States and the overall number of these births increased from 10.6 percent in 2000 to 12.8 percent in 2005,” she said.

Read more HERE...

Mary Jo Codey featured at "Coping with Life"

Tom Davis blogs about Mary Jo Codey and PPD...
Postpartum depression nearly killed Mary Jo Codey. Nearly two decades later, however, she doesn’t feel like someone who’s out of the woods.

Rather, the former first lady of New Jersey considers herself “lucky.” She’s lucky to have two grown, healthy sons. She’s lucky to have a house with a loving family.

She’s lucky to be alive. And she’s lucky to have a husband, Richard J. Codey, now the New Jersey Senate president, who’s one of the country’s most celebrated political advocates for mental health causes.

“I could have been in one of those hospitals,” said Codey. “He had empathy for it. I lucked out. He could have dumped me. He happened to love me.”

Read this in it's entirety HERE...

Perinatal Anxiety info

Perinatal anxiety - unhealthy distress experienced during or soon after pregnancy - is the subject of a major new study being conducted by psychologists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Florida State University.

"We call perinatal anxiety the hidden disorder," said Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D., co-principal investigator for the study, associate professor of psychology and director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences. Abramowitz is also a research associate professor in the UNC School of Medicine's psychiatry department.

"This is not new, but it's not been discussed or studied very much, even though it's a lot more common than postpartum depression," Abramowitz said.

Read more HERE...

Estrogen research is insightful into dopamine regulation

Rebecca Alyea and Cheryl Watson of the University of Texas Medical Branch said they investigated how physiological estrogen levels might influence neurochemical pathways, including dopamine signaling.

"The significance of estrogen-coupled regulation of the (dopamine transporter) by both direct and indirect interactions between estrogen receptors … should provide insights into how neurological diseases which involve the (transporter) are related to developmental, gender and life stage issues," Watson said. "Such regulation may suggest new ideas about treatment and prevention of diseases associated with extreme hormonal fluctuations such as in postpartum depression."

Read more HERE and HERE.

Alternative Treatments for PPMDs

It is estimated that around 50% of women suffering from postpartum depression do not come forward for help due to their fear of being put on medication. Either they themselves don’t want to endure the side effects of the medication, they don’t want their breastfeeding babies to experience the effects, or both. Although it’s now clear in the research that if a woman truly needs a medication during pregnancy or postpartum it’s best for all concerned if she takes it, the point is that increasingly women are trying to avoid psychiatric medications during the perinatal period. And, the good news is that using natural treatments is successful either as a complement or alternative to medication.

Among the most important natural treatments for perinatal mood disorders are nutrition, support (emotional and physical), exercise and sleep.

Read more of this article at the American Pregnancy Association website...

New Baby News: Take pride in being a father

New Baby News: Take pride in being a father | recordonline.com

We know how important it is for a father to be present in his children's lives, and how much of a role his involvement plays in their development. Being a father means more than just paying the bills. Men need to embrace the full responsibilities of fatherhood so that their children will benefit the most.
Posted using ShareThis

Video re: Postpartum Depression Screening

Postpartum Depression Screening

Shared via AddThis

Postpartum Support International Conference Registration Info

August 4-7, 2009

Community Partnerships in Addressing Perinatal Mood Disorders: Clinical and Integrative Perspectives

Postpartum Support International & Perinatal Mental Health Task Force of LA County

Aug 4 and 5: Pre-conference Training, Certificate Course in Perinatal Mood &Anxiety Disorders

Aug 6 and 7: Main Conference Presentations, Panels, and Breakouts

Thursday, Aug 6: Annual Banquet with Silent Auction and Entertainment. Tickets can be purchased separately.

Here is the link for online registration, information, and link to hotel:

http://psi.eventbrite.com/

Who Should Attend

Doctors, Nurses, and other Medical Providers, Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, Community Service Providers, Childbirth Professionals, Public Health Professionals, Policy Advocates, Government Representatives, and Community Members concerned about increasing education and integrated access to informed resources and support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Sponsors

Postpartum Support International (PSI) is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth.

The Perinatal Mental Health Task Force of LA County is a network of public and private agencies and organizations, community leaders, consumers, and health care providers dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of pregnant and post-partum women, their children, and their families through the effective prevention and treatment of perinatal mood disorders.

Conference Location: The California Endowment -1000 N. Alameda St - Los Angeles, CA 90012

Hotel Accommodations: The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles will offer a special rate of $145/night to conference attendees.

If only we could travel back in time as the well Mom...

It's funny. Today and this week I have been thinking so much about how I am enjoying motherhood as a well, medication-free mama. The veil of depression has subsided. The anxiety rears its ugly head sometimes, but only interferes with my sleep or concentration, not my ability to engage with my child now. What a blessing. It's hard not to think about the time that I "lost," though. I look at the few photos we have of L.'s first months and wonder what that person who looks ragged, sad, and not even present in her body was thinking or doing at that moment. I am sure it wasn't anything I'd like to experience again. I wish that I would have gotten better more quickly or that I hadn't gotten sick so soon. I wish that I could have a good memory (both in quality and quantity) of the sensation of giving birth and becoming a mother in those early days with the joy and ecstasy I imagine and sometimes see other moms experience on TLC's A Baby Story. But, it was not in the cards for me on Round One. Perhaps if there is a Round Two it will be more like that...I pray it will be and I will be proactive in every area that I can to assist that process. But, the reality is that I found my passion and my gift as a result of a PMD. A sacrifice I would have likely not made given the choice...but I wasn't. God knew better for me and orchestrated a set of circumstances that provided support and healing so that I would be able to make good from the significantly bad.

This article, Post Partum Depression - I Want A Time Machine , addresses one mother's thoughts about her "lost time" and helps to soften the guilt and sadness for all of us. Enjoy this snippet:

I put forth a Herculean effort to be there for them, which is what it took to survive through the depression some days. Yet I seem to have fewer clear memories of their baby days than I would like. I have enough pictures to remind me, but I know I spent so many hours right next to their face doing important things. Why did those years have to be tinged with anguish??

I have thought about this many times. If I had the opportunity to get a hold of a time machine somehow, I would hold my two oldest girls as babies just for five minutes. Five crystal clear minutes to be a sponge and soak it all up. Their smell, their sounds, their tiny veins and fingernails and even my one girl’s non-repaired lip. Just five minutes with nothing but a warm aura around us. Love, hope, joy, and freedom.

Motherhood Mentality

I have often wondered if part of the reason that depression and anxiety rates in moms have become so much more prevalent in the 21st century is because of the different approach to parenting moms of this generation often take.

Check out this post (and the link to the article mentioned) at PP&B about differing styles of mommying and what it means for our kids.

12 Depression Busters for new Moms!

This post, found at Pampered, Pregger and Beyond, is a great source of tips for combating depression.

Truth be told, my baby days were the most difficult and painful hours of my life. I was a hormonal and stress train wreck. Looking back now–my youngest is five–I see that a few alterations in my lifestyle might have helped matters. I’ll share them with you, so that you don’t have to feel so bad … or, you know, all alone.

Check out ALL 12 of the Busters HERE!

Movie about Postpartum Depression wins prize in Germany

By Scott Roxborough

June 4, 2009, 10:55 AM ET

BERLIN -- Emily Atef has won the Studio Hamburg newcomer award, Germany's top prize for new talent, for her sophomore feature "The Stranger in Me."

The dark tale of postpartum depression has already picked up numerous awards, including a sweep of the top prizes at last year's Oldenburg Film Fest.

Post-traumatic stress syndrome is the subject of Johanna Stuttmann's script to "A Hero's Welcome," which took the Studio Hamburg screenplay prize. The film, directed by Brigitte Bertele, looks at a German soldier's return home after a violent tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Studio Hamburg's best producer award went to Matthias Adler for drama "November Child," directed by Christian Schwochow.

The 2009 Studio Hamburg Awards were presented at a gala ceremony in Hamburg Wednesday night.

Mental Health Misnomers

This blog post by Pulius the Geek addresses an important issue in our society. Two excellent points are made here regarding misguided generalizations about mental health issues. One: a mood disorder CAN cause you to be completely unable to recognize that something is wrong, desperately and fatally wrong, and therefore unable to control your actions...even to the point of harming yourself or your children. Two: the reality is that despite the fact that mental illness is not treated with the "respect" and empathy that physical ailments are, these issues are real, are not brought on by their sufferers, and should not be the butt of jokes, or ammunition for one to be brusquely told to "pull up their bootstraps and get over it."

I was pretty skeptical of the claim that insanity could make one murder one’s own children. At some level you would have to know this was wrong.

God, the universe, fate, karma, or whatever was obviously listening. After the birth of our first child my wife suffered from post-postpartum depression. Nothing like that of Andrea Yates and it was treatable by medication. But it was very real and quite the eye-opener.

And then in the ultimate irony a year or two later I found myself with my own issues. I’ve always been something of a worrier. But something shifted. I was no longer a worrier. I was, quite frankly, nuts. I’d begin driving to work and halfway there turn around to make certain I’d turned off the sink. I’d assume a crack in the basement meant we had to tear up the entire foundation. I was convinced that all the trees in our backyard were going to come crashing down into the house. None of this was normal. And here’s the thing. I knew damn well it wasn’t normal to think that way. But I still did.

Read the entire blog post HERE...

THE INFLUENCE OF BIRTH EXPERIENCE ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Not surprising, this study found that a woman's birth experience is directly correlated to her incidence of Postpartum Depression. My difficult, invasive, and disappointing childbirth experience certainly contributed to my postpartum mood issues. Even now, I struggle to overcome the sadness, grief and guilt that I have as a result of an emergency c-section (when I had planned for a completely natural and vaginal childbirth). While this may not change birth outcomes or the occurrence rates of PPD, I think knowing this ahead of time, as well as helping moms realize that specific expectations about birth usually are unachievable, would help to prepare families.

Here's a snippet...It was hypothesized that a.) the more control a woman has (or feels she has) over her birth experience, the less apt she is to suffer from postpartum depression, b.) the more satisfied a woman is with her birth experience, the less likely she is to suffer from postpartum depression, c.) the less invasive the birth experience, the more the woman will feel in control, and the more satisfied she is likely to be. Thus, it was predicted that the lowest incidence and severity of postpartum depression would occur in the home birth sample, and the caesarean group would have the highest incidence and severity of depression.

For the women who gave birth at home and the women who delivered vaginally in a hospital, the findings of this study were consistent with the current literature on an internal locus of control and lower levels of depression. Cohan, Pimm, and Jude (1998) note that informed patients who feel in control of their situation have quicker recoveries and are less prone to depression than patients who exhibit an external locus of control (feel that their fate is determined by others). The results were inconclusive for the caesarean patients. However, these results were consistent with the findings of these researchers that control is abdicated under general anesthesia and in surgery. Thus, the findings that women who had a caesarean (surgical) delivery had the least control over their delivery, and women who had a home birth had the most control (with vaginal hospital patients having a significantly distinct level of control between these two groups) were consistent with the current literature and the predicted outcome for these groups.

For the women who gave birth at home and the women who delivered vaginally in a hospital, findings regarding satisfaction levels and type of delivery were consistent with the current literature on satisfaction and postpartum depression.

Read more HERE...

The many "flavors" of PPD

Amalah at Alpha Mom's "postpartum is not a four letter word" talks about how she only discovered her postpartum issues after having her second child and realizing that she felt different...better...less anxious and more well.

Because I DIDN'T have any of those thoughts. I've had some anxiety issues related to Noah and his special needs, but it's a concrete sort of worry. I don't start shaking and gasping on the highway because I can't stop visualizing a car smashing into the baby's carseat, and THEN start worrying that I had somehow actually glimpsed the future or that my thoughts would actually will the accident into existence. Yeah. Nothing like last time.

Cough.

Perhaps I missed it, but I really didn't know just how many flavors of Postpartum Depression there are, and how many of them don't actually manifest in a classic sort of depression, where you can't get out of bed and fantasize about swallowing pills. For some women, it's anxiety. Panic. Others get something more like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, fretting about hand-washing and germs and toxins in foods and the environment. Some women describe an irrationally short fuse -- anger and rage, usually directed at themselves for "failing," but sometimes they lash out at their partners or strangers. Basically, if there's a mental condition out there, it can take a special hellish form in the postpartum months.

Read the entire article HERE...

What a great opportunity she has taken to speak out...about overlooked postpartum issues the first time and about how PPD does not fit into one less-than-cute little package.

Study shows depressed people see the world differently

"We see with our brain, not with our eyes; the eye is only the tool," says Polat, who studied the brain activity of subjects during the experiment. He found unusual patterns emerging: The brain activity of depressed people looked different from that of the control group. He and his team are now looking at ways to turn brain signals into an objective tool, both in diagnostics and for monitoring the course of treatment. Visual perception tests might give psychiatrists a better way to diagnose depression. Currently there is no non-biased test to assess whether someone is clinically depressed. Diagnostic questionnaires can produce inaccurate results, denying patients medication or hospitalization.

The study may also assist psychiatrists in monitoring the effects of anti-depressants such as Prozac; it could take days instead of the six weeks it now requires to know whether a medication is suitable.

Read the entire article from the Jerusalem Press HERE...

Fox News on Postpartum Depresion: Health Watch reporter Beth Galvin has one mother's story.

New Workbook out today: much needed resource for PPAnxiety...

A new book published today. This book is the first of its kind, as far as I know, and I hope that it will be a great resource because of the scarcity of tools on the topic of PPAnxiety and PPOCD. Once you've checked it out, please come back here and leave a comment with your opinion.

From the Publisher: New moms have a lot to be anxious about, and it's perfectly natural to have some fears during and after pregnancy. The problem is, anxiety can grow, disrupting your daily life and keeping you from enjoying motherhood. The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook provides proven-effective strategies drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for keeping anxious thoughts at bay and getting back to the productive and positive thinking you've been missing. Through a series of easy exercises and worksheets, you'll learn skills for relaxing yourself when you feel stressed. You'll also learn to reduce the frequency and intensity of anxious feelings many pregnant women and mothers of infants face. The book also includes a chapter that offers tips to help fathers understand and support their partners.

Here are a few other good reads on this topic:
Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety by Linda Sebastian
The Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book by Sandra Poulin
This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression by Karen Kleiman and Valerie Raskin

Australia may pave the way with Universal Screening for PPMDs!

EXPECTANT mothers could soon be routinely tested for their risk of suffering postnatal depression (PND).

The national depression group beyondblue is in consultation with the Federal Government to introduce the test and has backed a British study of 1400 women that found mothers of twins or triplets run almost double the risk of developing PND.

Almost 16 per cent of all Australian mothers will experience some form of depression, with the risk significantly higher for mothers of multiples. Beyondblue is calling for all pregnant women and new mothers to be routinely screened for the condition in the same way they are for high blood pressure or diabetes.

Read on HERE...

And HERE's an article about Australia's efforts to be proactive in screening for and treating Postpartum Anxiety and they realize it's prevalence...