For anyone who thinks that all healthcare professionals are now trained in dealing with postpartum depression and that women, in general,receive good and compassionate care, here's a portion of an email I received today from a mom who delivered her baby just last year:
I was clueless on what I was going through, and so was my OB. When I explained to her what were my symptoms and what I was feeling, she told me…" I deliver babies, that's what I do…I don't deal with depression." Her exact words.
We still have a long way to go.
PPD is the result of the baby, how can this OB openly say that. And mean it?
I wouldn't say my OB "deals" with PPD but he at least had the energy to call me in a prescription and refer me to a therapist.
Sheesh!
That's along the lines of when I was hospitalized for two days because of my PPD/PPA and the pyschiatrist told my sons's father "that if I would only stop worrying so much, I wouldn't create such a big problem for myself!" And those were the people I went to for help…thank goodness I have since found a psychiatrist who understands. That poor mama – I'm sending my love her way.
Yeah,I got the same line from my midwife. " We deliver babies, we don't deal with mental illness." Geez, thanks that is so helpful.
I got the same line from my doctor after i begged for help. I said i was having anxiety and she told me that it had nothing to do with giving birth and she does not treat anxiety.
Reminds me of when my OB told me "I can't help you anymore" when he heard about my 1st panic attack and I didn't know what in the world was wrong with me. I thought I was going crazy and he drop kicks me to a doctor that turned out to have the lousiest bedside manner! What a nightmare that whole experience was for me!
What I dream of seeing one day in the not-too-distant future is a move toward a multi-disciplinary approach to treating moms with perinatal mood disorders.
I had a very similar experience as Ivy, although mine told me I was 'just letting the stress of the holidays get to me' (my daughter was born Dec. 15). Because clearly the intrusive thoughts about harming my baby were because I was stressed about stockings and mistletoe hung …
Similar to my experience with son as well. I went to my OB twice because I knew something wasnt right. He told me that I probably just need to change something about my life – like less stressful work, etc….and until I did that, I wouldnt feel any better. No mention of PPD at all. In addition, I went to my internist, a gastro doc, a neuroligist, and rheumatologist – not one mentioned PPD. I wasnt officially diagnosed until my son was 15 months old and I had a panic attack and wound up in the ER…..
It was horrfic I have two different accounts, Was in the throws of ppd/a hell and walked in to the counselor's office and she had PPD up on her computer from the WEBMD sight… she told me she felt sorry for me because she had great times after her birth.. The psych I was referred was a complete and total moron and It is amazing I still had the strength to move forward, i was in the midst of anxiety and i asked him if my hormones play a major role in ppd/a and he said and i quote "i have no idea, why don't you go back in the hospital and lets change your medication, I was like " but i am scared what if i become suicidal or something bad?" he says " I am a phone call away and WHAT'S THE WORSE THAT COULD HAPPEN?"——-are you freaking kidding me…….I got up and walked out……..
I was VERY lucky. My OB discussed post partum issues prior to even having the baby and how they were common. She mentioned on many occasions that if I felt "not myself" to contact her immediately. I didnt get PPOCD till 7 months later and tried to go out on my own to find help (fail!). ultimately, I ended up calling her..she had me come in the next day, talked to me, was SOOO supportive and set me up an appointment with a therapist for 2 days later. She made me feel alot less "crazy". it didnt take much, just a little concern. we pay those doctors oodles..they should show a bit of compassion. Sorry for the ladies who had bad experiences.
Postpartum depression is depression that occurs soon after having a baby. Risk factors include previous major depression, psychosocial stress, inadequate social support, and previous premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
I had a similar experience. My husband was the one who noticed things were not right with me (kudos and thanks to the nurse who handled my discharge at the hospital and told HIM what to look for!) and asked me to talk to my OB at my two-week (c-section incision) checkup. I hesitantly said something, and she dismissed it as "baby blues- most women get them, it's perfectly normal." When I stumbled through saying, "No…I don't think that's all…" she wrote me a prescription for Zoloft and that was it. There was never any follow-up, either.