Postpartum Progress

Study busts pregnant and happy myth

Katherine Stone — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 09:53:13 +0000

I got this news from CNN.com yesterday: Study busts pregnant and happy myth. I give it to you here, now, verbatim:

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Pregnant women who stop taking antidepressants run a high risk of slipping back into depression, a study found, busting the myth that the surge of hormones during pregnancy keeps mothers-to-be happy and glowing.

The study offers new information but no clear answers for expectant mothers who must balance the risk of medications harming the fetus against the danger of untreated depression.

"It's important that patients not assume that the hormones of pregnancy are going to protect them from the types of problems they've had with mood previously," said study co-author Dr. Lee Cohen of Massachusetts General Hospital.

The study does not deal with postpartum depression -- the depression that sets in after delivery, and is often blamed on hormonal changes. The research looks only at depression during pregnancy, a condition far less understood.

No one knows how many pregnant women are on antidepressants, but it is safe to say millions of women of childbearing age take them. Medco Health Solutions estimates 8.4 million American women ages 20 to 44 take antidepressants.

Other research has shown risks to the fetus, including possible heart defects, from antidepressant use during pregnancy.

Researchers followed 201 pregnant women with histories of major depression who were taking drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor and Paxil.

Because of ethical concerns, the researchers did not randomly assign the women to either stop or continue medication. Instead, the women decided what to do, then researchers watched what happened.

Sixty-eight percent of those who stopped taking antidepressants slipped into depression. They were five times more likely to suffer a relapse than the women who continued on drugs.

But staying on antidepressants did not shield expectant mothers from depression entirely; 26 percent of those who continued drug treatment became depressed anyway.

Dr. Katherine Wisner of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said the study makes an important contribution by quantifying the risk of relapse. She was not involved in the study but does similar work.

"I was taught in my residency that women don't get depressed during pregnancy," said Wisner, who was a psychiatry resident in the early 1980s. But "I had patients who were depressed. I asked my supervisor, 'You mean I'm really not seeing patients who are depressed?"'

The study appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association and was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Two of the co-authors declared in the paper that they have financial ties to several antidepressant manufacturers.

Other researchers have shown that antidepressant use during the last three months of pregnancy can make newborns jittery and irritable, and sometimes can cause them serious breathing problems. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that Paxil may be linked to fetal heart defects when taken during the first three months of pregnancy.

Dr. Peter Kramer, author of "Listening to Prozac" and "Against Depression," said the study provides information that can help women and doctors decide what to do.

"Ideally, everyone would like to go through pregnancy off all medication," Kramer said. "But these are serious issues, and both decisions can be justified."

Kramer suggested some women might want to get off antidepressants but schedule more psychotherapy while pregnant.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Tag: postpartum depression, PPD research

Research Grant Open for Competition

Katherine Stone — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 12:44:21 +0000

I'm sure all of you would agree that we need more research around postpartum depression -- what causes it, the best ways to treat it, how to educate women, how to lessen the trauma, how to prevent suicide and infanticide, etc. Helena Bradford sent me this information about a $275,000 grant you could be awarded if you provide a compelling case for research in this area. Be warned: you'd be going up against research proposals in all areas of health, not just PPD, so you really need to be able to demonstrate the social and health benefits that would come from choosing your research proposal over others.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Invites Letters of Intent for Investigator Awards in Health Policy (Deadline: March 29, 2006 fior Letters of Intent)

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Investigator Awards in Health Policy Research program supports highly qualified individuals to undertake broad studies of America's most challenging policy issues in health and health care.

Now in its fourteenth year, the program continues to encourage researchers whose cross-cutting and innovative ideas promise to contribute meaningfully to improving health and health policy. The foundation selects a diverse mix of investigators -- from those early in their careers to distinguished senior scholars -- to undertake studies that explore the underlying values, historical evolution, and interplay among the social, economic, and political forces that shape health, health care, and health policy in the United States; apply new perspectives from a variety of disciplines to analyze the organization, delivery, and financing of health care services, workforce issues, and public health challenges; develop innovative ideas that hold promise for contributing to better policy- making; and synthesize existing work in ways that expose its policy significance and advance the understanding of key issues.

Applications are welcomed from investigators in fields such as anthropology, business, demography, economics, engineering, ethics, genetics, health and social policy, history, journalism, law, medicine, nursing, political science, public health, psychology, science policy, social work, and sociology. The program seeks a diverse group of applicants, including minorities and individuals in non- academic settings. Applicants must be affiliated either with educational institutions or with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in the United States.

The program will provide 24- to 36-month grants of up to $275,000 to up to ten highly qualified individuals. Visit the RWJF Web site for complete program and application information at RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10000547/rwjf.

Tag: postpartum depression

A List of Trusted Doctors and Therapists

Katherine Stone — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:21:00 +0000

Recently I have had several psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists reach out to me about creating a list of providers similar to the list I put together of support groups around the country. I've been hesitant to do it for this reason: I haven't had personal experience with each and every one of them, so how could I endorse them?

A lot of healthcare professionals say they treat postpartum depression, but they're really just trying to increase their roster of clients, or start up an area of expertise in PPD. My first psychiatrist ensured me he knew plenty about it, and to tell you the truth I don't think he did. He told my husband I had postpartum psychosis, which he never mentioned to me by the way, even though I clearly had symptoms of PPOCD and not PPP. I feel that the readers of this website trust me, and I would be crushed if I ever recommended a doctor that really didn't have a lot of experience treating postpartum mood disorders.

So, what I'm considering doing is gathering recommendations only from women who have suffered a postpartum mood disorder and recovered and are willing to heartily endorse someone who they themselves were treated by. Not someone they've heard about, but someone they have direct personal experience with. For instance, in my case, there are two doctors in the Atlanta area that have treated me that I fully believe in and trust and would recommend to others -- Dr. Denise Shipman in Smyrna and Dr. Jeffery Newport in Atlanta.

Ladies, what do you think?

The Myth of Wishing Illnesses Away

Katherine Stone — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 10:37:00 +0000

One of the most frustrating things about postpartum mood disorders is the lack of comprehension by those around you. I've been talking lately to a young woman who is currently suffering postpartum OCD and she wrote this to me in a recent email:

It's so hard not being able to talk to anyone about this. My mom doesn't understand why I'm going to see a psychiatrist. All I told her was that I keep having these thoughts about bad things happening to the baby. I wouldn't dare tell her what [I'm really thinking], if she knew she would probably disown me. She says you just have to stop thinking that way, just think about the good things.

Of course, I understand why a loved one would say that. The mother is not trying to be dismissive or overly casual about her daughter's experience. For most people, the belief is that when you're having a bad day you simply need to try to think good thoughts. Turn that frown upside down, as it were. And they're right. But bad days and postpartum illnesses are completely different things.

We don't tell diabetics or cancer patients to "just think good thoughts" or "imagine you're not a diabetic" and suddenly they're cured. These are physical illnesses that must be treated by doctors. Sure, a positive attitude helps, but just try and survive a devastating illness on positive attitude alone, and I think you'd be gambling with your life. Postpartum mood disorders are also illnesses. Let's just take the "mental" part out of the phrase "mental illness", because for some reason adding that word in makes people put such illnesses in a completely different category, as though somehow they could have been avoided or can be wished away. We are NOT deficient because we get these illnesses, just as people with Parkinson's or kidney disease aren't deficient human beings. In each situation, it's a case of some part or system of the body not working the way it should. Period.

I wish that for one day I could physically demonstrate to people that they're really not in control of their thoughts the way they think they are. It's not that I want everyone to suffer as I have -- I just want them to understand how our minds really work so that they'll have empathy for people who are depressed or who have intrusive thoughts. Most people are fortunate that their systems work properly. I've spoken with dear friends who love and support me 1000 percent who simply cannot comprehend having thoughts that they didn't generate themselves. It's not that they don't want to understand -- they just can't. "Well then where are the thoughts coming from?" "How do you have a thought if you don't mean to?" "Why are these kinds of thoughts so scary and negative?"

The unsupportive, judging people of the world take it much further. "She's just selfish and doesn't want to do the work of having a baby." "She's so weak. She should just toughen up. Millions of women have babies and don't have this problem." "If you'd just try harder everything would be fine. What's wrong with you?" "She's just trying to get attention." "Just take some vitamins and go for a walk and you'll be fine."

These things can't be wished away. They must be treated, and the people who treat them are psychiatrists and therapists. Once treated, the majority of people recover just fine. The world needs to know this.

Tags: intrusive thoughts, postpartum depression, postpartum OCD, post partum depression

The Home Stretch

Katherine Stone — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:50:00 +0000

As of the end of this week, I'll be 7 and a half months pregnant. We're getting down to the end here, folks! Only recently I've started to become a little nervous about going through this whole thing again. Of course, I may not, but as you can imagine it's hard to get over the idea that you'll suffer exactly as you did before, if not worse. Since I had a terrible experience with delivery and the hospital, and I'll be delivering in the exact same place, my psychiatrist suggested I go to the maternity ward in the next few weeks and desensitize myself. Just walk in there and experience whatever feelings I have. Probably better to do it now than on the day I'm supposed to have my little girl, right? I think it's a great idea and I plan to do it. My official due date is April 4, but for some reason I've been convinced ever since I found out I was pregnant that she'll be born in late March. I guess we'll soon see.

I'm still taking my Cymbalta and feeling pretty good other than occasional moments of anxiety. Dr. Newport said that, as you get bigger, your body begins to metabolize medication differently, so if I start to feel more and more anxious we'll increase my dosage. I'm all for it, because I want to be as mentally calm as possible before she is born.

There are days I just cannot believe I'm about to go through this all over again. But I'm so excited to meet Madden that it's worth it. All of us who have gone through PPD know it was worth it to have our beautiful children.

Tag: postpartum depression, post partum depression

Washington Conference on PPMD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:34:35 +0000

Postpartum Support International of Washington will be presenting its 2006 conference, called "Beyond the Birth: Current Trends in Treating Perinatal & Postpartum Mood Disorders", on Thursday April 27th in Seattle at the Talaris Conference Center. For more information and registration forms, go to www.ppmdsupport.com.

Spirit Walkers at PPD Awareness Walk/Run

Katherine Stone — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:26:16 +0000

Last year I participated in the annual PPD Awareness Walk/Run in Charleston, SC. My dear friend Crystal and I had a great time walking, and enjoying the fabulous city of Charleston. This year of course, I won't be able to make it because of the baby. But Darlene Gray was kind enough to sponsor me as a "walker in spirit". For those of you who can't make it, you should consider joining me as a spirit walker. Spirit walkers can register at www.ppdsupport.org. For the $20 registration fee, you'll still get the T-shirt, and you'll be supporting a VERY important cause. This can be done in two ways -- either using PayPal or by filling in the registration form and mailing it with a check to the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation (NOT to On the Run as indicated on the online registration form). If you use Paypal, click the donations button on the site and under "payment for", type "spirit walker".

Tag: postpartum depression

Depression Gene May Weaken Mood-Regulating Circuit

Katherine Stone — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:38:33 +0000

Check out this link to an interesting story last year about the discovery of a gene that may impact people's susceptibility to depression and anxiety:
Depression Gene May Weaken Mood-Regulating Circuit, May 8, 2005 Press Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Tag: postpartum depression

Another Senseless Death

Katherine Stone — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 10:41:41 +0000

I just got word from Helena Bradford that we've lost another new mother to the insidious illness of postpartum depression. I had to have a good cry before I posted this because it just crushes me every time this happens. This is an abbreviated version of the information I received:

We just lost a wonderful new mother, a loving devoted wife and a great friend this past week to suicide from severe postpartum depression. Stephanie was a new mother (she just turned 30 in December) who suffered from what appears to be severe postpartum depression and decided to take her life after leaving her 2-month-old son Summit with us to baby sit last Tuesday night so she could go home and compose herself. My wife and 12 year old daughter found her hanging in the basement of their new townhouse the next morning. She and her husband had just moved to Utah after living with family during the birth and early weeks of Summit's life in Kansas.

Stephanie is being buried today. If anyone would like to make a contribution to this family, no matter how small, here is how. Contributions will help with funeral expenses and expenses related to raising her infant son. Make your checks out to The Bank of the West and mail them to:

The Bank of the West

c/o Stan Holmberg

PO Box 519

Marshall, MN 56258

(507) 537-1411

Tag: postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis

Ohio Nurses Say Better PPD Education is Needed

Katherine Stone — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:04:00 +0000

A study of hospitals in the state of Ohio found that most education about PPD provided by nursing staff to new mothers is passive and that there are very few specific educational programs. (The study was conducted by the University of South Carolina's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.) Most of us who have been through this have said that we wished the subject hadn't been glossed over and that we'd had a much clearer idea of what might happen. These study results aren't surprising.

The objective of the study was to assess and characterize health education regarding PPD received by recently delivered women during their postpartum hospital stay by surveying nurse managers for obstetric services at 100+ Ohio hospitals. The results? Most hospitals (89.7%) educate newly delivered women about PPD, most often by passive methods. Specific educational programs were offered by only 14% of hospitals. Most PPD education was provided during hospitalization after delivery; however, 50% of respondents felt that it should be provided at every possible opportunity.

I'm glad to see that the nurses agree with us on the need for better education.

Tag: postpartum depression Ohio

Supplements for Depression

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:40:18 +0000

Here's more info on using Omega-3 fatty acids as supplements for depression. There are actually several pre-natal vitamins out now that include Omega-3s, as well as a supplement for nursing moms that has DHA. I'm taking one of the new pre-natal vitamins and so far, so good.

"Omega-3 fats could be a missing link that brains need to be happy. In a recent study, six out of 10 people suffering from depression got relief after taking fish oil supplements rich in omega-3 fats (Amer. Jour. of Psychiatry, Mar 2002).

'These results were huge, and the improvements were obvious,' says psychiatrist Andrew Stoll, MD, of Harvard Medical School. Those who got the supplements slept better and felt less worthlessness and guilt. 'We think omega-3s help your brain use a feel-good chemical called serotonin,' says Dr. Stoll. 'All cell coatings are made of fats, and when those fats are omega-3s, the serotonin receptors on the surface of brain cells seem to function in a healthier way.'"

The above information came from this article in Prevention magazine.

Tag: postpartum depression supplements

Patients Needed for Clinical Trial

Katherine Stone — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 14:22:09 +0000

Sorry for all the posts today, but when I get time I try to put as much out there as possible for all of you. I figure the more information, the better.

Darlene Gray sent me a link to a clinical trial that is still recruiting participants from what I can tell. It is a study on the effects of hormones in postpartum mood disorders and is sponsored by the National Institute on Mental Health. To participate, you have to have experienced a postpartum mood disorder, been well for a minimum of a year, be between the ages of 18 and 40, not be pregnant currently (I guess I'm out!) and be medication free. If you're interested, contact Linda Simpson-St. Clair at simpsonl@irp.nimh.nih.gov and refer to ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00001481 .

There is also a study in Madison, WI, on Group Therapy for Postpartum Depression. If you live anywhere near there and want to participate you need to be older than 18, currently experiencing a postpartum mood disorder and your baby needs to be under 7 months old. Contact Roseanne Clark at rclark@wisc.edu.

Tags: postpartum depression, PPD research

Brooke Shields & Katie Holmes Deliver Babies

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:26:10 +0000

Brooke Shields had baby number two, another girl, yesterday. We wish her well and our thoughts are with her! I hope she has a PPMD-free experience, but if not we know she will be under good care with lots of support around her.

Katie Holmes, fiance of outspoken antidepressant critic Tom Cruise, also delivered her baby girl yesterday. We also wish her well and hope she has a PPMD-free experience!

Tags: postpartum depression Brooke Shields Katie Holmes

Link Between Postpartum Depression and Colic

Katherine Stone — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 09:05:00 +0000

Here is an interesting story on the link between PPD and colic from Karen Kleiman's blog: click here. I had no idea there was a link, but I can tell you my son had colic and my daughter doesn't, so my personal experience definitely reflects the results of the study.

Tags: postpartum depression colic

ABC's World News Tonight Covers "Controversial" NJ Law

Katherine Stone — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 20:51:50 +0000

Tonight on ABC's "World News Tonight", they covered the new law in the state of New Jersey requiring every new mother to be screened for depression after birth. I'd give you a link to the story directly, but it's not up yet on the ABC website.

The story focused on the fact that physicians in NJ must ask new mothers a set of questions before they leave the hospital and again a few weeks later (I'm assuming at the 6-week checkup). What really burned me up is that the angle of the coverage was that the law is controversial. They interviewed a woman (a professor and physician at Northeastern University, I think) saying that you shouldn't dictate by law which medical conditions doctors should screen for. Playing the devil's advocate, she asked whether PPD is worse than other conditions people may suffer, like thyroid disease, that aren't required by law to be screened. I suppose I can see her point, but the law is less of a medical issue to me than an educational issue. Here's why I think this law is a good one:

Who else is going to inform new mothers about these illnesses but their doctors? Currently, I believe women are not informed properly by their obstetricians about the symptoms of postpartum mood disorders and what can really happen. If it's mentioned at all, they usually just state that you might get weepy and feel extra tired and sad, but that you'll most likely get over it in a few weeks. No one ever mentioned intrusive thoughts to me - not a book, or an ob/gyn or a primary care physician, not a birthing class teacher, not anyone. So instead of thinking I had a postpartum mood disorder, I simply thought I had gone crazy and wasn't meant to be a mother. If we're not educated enough to identify the illness for ourselves, a medical professional has got to do it.
Because of the shame of this illness, even if we were informed we might not tell anyone unless probed by a helpful professional.
This isn't a primary care physician or a general practitioner we're talking about, so the problem of screening for PPD and not screening for other illnesses the general population might experience seems to me to be a strange argument. They're simply asking OB/GYN's to ask about symptoms of an illness mothers may suffer, just like they check our blood pressure and the heartbeat of our babies while pregnant. They watch us for preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, so why shouldn't they watch us for postpartum mood disorders?

I worry that coverage like what appeared on the news tonight will simply serve to muddy the minds of our Congress and retard even further the passing of the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Bill. Is it so controversial that it's not worth potentially saving the lives of a mother from suicide or children from infanticide? It seems to me that New Jersey is simply pushing doctors to do what they should have been doing anyway, but haven't done because they're uncomfortable having to talk about these things. I am grateful to New Jersey for being so proactive.

Grants for Treatment Services of Postpartum Women with Substance Abuse Problems

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:34:00 +0000

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the availability of FY 2006 funds for grants to expand the availability of comprehensive, high quality residential treatment services for pregnant and postpartum women who suffer from alcohol and other drug use problems, and for their minor children impacted by prenatal and environmental effects of maternal substance use and abuse.

It is expected that that $3.4 million will be available to fund up to 8 awards in FY 2006. Annual awards are expected to be $500,000 per year in total costs for up to three years. The actual amount may vary, depending on the availability of funds. The grants will be awarded by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

WHO CAN APPLY: Domestic and public and private nonprofit entities such as state and local governments; federally recognized tribes; state recognized tribes; urban Indian organizations; public or private universities and colleges; community- and faith-based organizations; and tribal organizations.

HOW TO APPLY: Applications for No. TI-06-008 are available by calling SAMHSA's clearinghouse at 1-800-729-6686, or by downloading from www.Grants.gov or www.samhsa.gov. Applicants are encouraged to apply on line using www.Grants.gov.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: Must be received by May 16, 2006

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Applicants with questions on program issues should contact Linda White Young at 240-276-1581 or e-mail Linda.white-young@samhsa.hhs.gov. For questions on grants management issues, contact Kimberly Pendleton at 240 276-1421 or e-mail Kimberly.pendleton@samhsa.hhs.gov.

Thanks to Helena Bradford for sending me this.

Upcoming Satellite Broadcast on Treating Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 12:07:02 +0000

On Wednesday, May 17th, Massachusetts General Hospital's Department of Psychiatry will present a satellite broadcast on psychotropic drug use during pregnancy. The purpose of the broadcast is to discuss the treatment of psychiatric disorders during pregnancy. The program is described as follows:

Though the last decade has brought considerable interest in women's mental health, systematic data informing the clinical decisions regarding psychotropic drug use for women who wish to become pregnant or who are pregnant are lacking. The course of psychiatric disorder during pregnancy has yet to be sufficiently delineated and growing evidence suggests that pregnancy is not necessarily a time of emotional well-being for patients and the prevalence of psychiatric illness in women during their childbearing years is significant. Safe ways to use psychotropic agents including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines need to be developed. [They will also discuss] why delineating the relative risks of untreated psychiatric illness during pregnancy versus the risks of prenatal use of psychotropics is necessary if women and their doctors are to make informed decisions about using these agents during pregnancy.

Participants can listen to the broadcast via telephone, or watch it via webcast or satellite. The event is aimed at physicians, pharmacists and nurses, and participants can receive continuing education credits. To register, use this link.

This is certainly topical for me, as I was treated for depression during my pregnancy to help avoid suffering PPD right now as I raise my brand new baby girl. I would imagine those women who experienced a postpartum mood disorder with their first child will be particularly interested in the results of the discussion as they consider whether to have another one.

Thanks to the Postpartum Progress Network & Updates on Indiana

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 10:34:07 +0000

I know it's not titillating news for me to keep posting updates to the PPD Support Group list, but I feel it's so important to the women out there who need help and understanding from those who know exactly what they're going through. Birdie Meyer, PSI Coordinator of Indiana, was wonderful to send me a complete update of all the groups in Indiana (of which there are many!) - Ft. Wayne and Bloomington are new groups that have been added.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

I really appreciate the help of all of you in the Postpartum Progress "network" in sending me information and news to post on the site. You help make it so much better!

Tags: PPD support groups Indiana postpartum depression

Study Reveals Less Incidence of Depressive Disorders Among Children Whose Mothers Are Successfully Treated for Depression

Katherine Stone — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:48:00 +0000

A new study reinforces the importance of seeking and maintaining medical treatment for moms with postpartum depression. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has found that children of mothers who have received successful treatment via medication for major depression or anxiety are less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, disruptive and depressive disorders themselves, compared to children of women who remain untreated. The study states its conclusion as follows:

Remission of maternal depression has a positiveeffect on both mothers and their children, whereas mothers whoremain depressed may increase the rates of their children'sdisorders. These findings support the importance of vigoroustreatment for depressed mothers in primary care or psychiatricclinics and suggest the utility of evaluating the children,especially children whose mothers continue to be depressed.

Tags: postpartum depression research antidepressants

Updates

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:06:28 +0000

I've updated the support group information for Washington and Florida. The updated list is attached below.

Also, I've added a link to PSI of Washington in the Local & State People Who Care section to the right of your screen.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: PPD support groups postpartum depression Florida Washington

Annual PPD Run in Michigan

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:31:32 +0000

Christine Hughes in Michigan has informed me that she is planning a PPD fundraiser run for Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. The 2nd Annual PPD4PPD 5k/10k/25k Run/Walk, which stands for Pounding Pavement and Dirt for Postpartum Depression, is scheduled for July 29, 2006 at 7:30 am at Independence Park in Canton, MI. Their website, www.dirtroaddivas.com, has all the info about the run, as well as last year's details, and people can register to participate at www.active.com. The registration fee is $10.

Last year's event succeeded in raising more than $2000. They're hoping to beat that this year, with all proceeds going to the Postpartum Support Group of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Health System's Social Work-OB Department.

Tags: PPD events Michigan

Free Continuing Education Program on Perinatal Depression for Healthcare Providers

Katherine Stone — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 12:19:13 +0000

The Virginia Department of Health, in cooperation with the University of Virginia, has launched a website to help healthcare providers get more education about perinatal depression (also known as postpartum or postnatal depression). The new site is www.perinataldepression.org. Physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, registered nurses, pharmacists, social workers and others can log on to the site to earn continuing education credit through the UVA School of Medicine by completing the perinatal depression curriculum, which is currently being offered for free.

I am thrilled to learn through Helena Bradford of this great service provided by the state of Virginia. I hope many of you will be able to take advantage of it.

Self Magazine Covers PPOCD

Katherine Stone — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:37:24 +0000

Sonia Murdock says there there is an article on PPOCD in the April issue of Self magazine. I haven't had a chance to see it yet, because I'm a little busy with burping and changing if you know what I mean. But I'll try to pick up a copy today. It's always so nice to hear when the major media covers these issues ... I hope it wasn't sensationalized ...

Tags: postpartum OCD intrusive thoughts

Ann Arbor Support Group Added

Katherine Stone — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:24:40 +0000

The PPD Support Group list has been updated again, adding a group in Ann Arbor, MI. Keep 'em coming!

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: PPD support groups Michigan postpartum depression

Postpartum Progress Switching to Feedblitz Subscription Service

Katherine Stone — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:51:27 +0000

Ladies:

The Bloglet subscription service I have been using to send emails out to you about new posts has not been working properly - you haven't gotten the last two posts I wrote. I have had problems with Bloglet in the past as well, so I'm switching to a new service called FeedBlitz. You don't need to re-enter your email and subscribe to Postpartum Progress again because I simply imported all the subscribers from Bloglet over to FeedBlitz. The only difference you should experience is that you'll get emails that say they're from FeedBlitz instead of Bloglet. Let me know if you experience any difficulty or don't like this new format. I didn't really have a choice -- otherwise, you wouldn't be getting any of the new stuff I'm writing. Thanks for your patience.

-- Katherine

See You In New Jersey

Katherine Stone — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:00:03 +0000

The annual PSI (Postpartum Support International) Conference is being held this summer, June 7-10, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jersey City, New Jersey. Several of you have asked if I plan to attend. With the newborn I can't envision attending the whole thing, but I'd like to go for at least a day, and my husband is okay with holding down the fort, so at this point I'm planning to come on Friday, June 9th. I'm hoping to finally get the chance to meet some of you!!

If you have not already registered and would like to attend, click here to register. For the event schedule, click here. The cost to attend for members is $310 - I finally joined PSI today (I know, I know ... it took a while to get to it!) so I could get the member rate. I know $310 is a lot of money for most of us, so if you can't attend don't fret. I'll be sure to blog about it afterwards.

Great article on PPOCD and Intrusive Thoughts

Katherine Stone — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 14:24:31 +0000

Bill Meyer, facilitator for the pregnancy/postpartum support group at the Duke University Medical Center, sent me this article today from the Washington Post that appeared on March 7 about postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder (PPOCD). The article is called "Scary Thoughts" by Stacey Colino. (You may have to register to see the article - registration is free.) I suffered PPOCD during the birth of my first child and the article is definitely on target. Here are quite a few highlights that I think are important (the underlining is my emphasis):

"Indeed, some women ... develop clinically significant symptoms of OCD during pregnancy or the postpartum period -- a phenomenon that is vastly under-recognized, experts say.

While reliable statistics on postpartum OCD are lacking, the lifetime incidence of OCD in the general population is believed to be 2 to 3 percent. What distinguishes OCD symptoms from normal intrusive thoughts is partly the extent to which these ideas are anxiety provoking, irrepressible and persistent.

'To have a real obsession, it's an intrusive, unbidden thought, idea, or image that comes to your mind that you do not want and actively try to resist,' explains Gerald Nestadt, a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore. 'You can't get rid of the thought' ...

Some experts believe postpartum OCD occurs primarily in women who already have the condition, sometimes in a mild and undiagnosed form.

Complicating matters, postpartum depression and OCD often go together, but many women and their clinicians focus exclusively on the depressive symptoms. Yet a study at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found that postpartum depression is accompanied by obsessive thoughts in 57 percent of new mothers.

The extensive media coverage of mothers who kill their kids (as in the widely reported 2001 incident where Andrea Yates drowned her five children) makes some new parents with intrusive thoughts worry whether they're headed down a similar path. In most cases they are not. But just being exposed to such stories can fuel the thoughts, Abramowitz says. 'You read things in the news, and it's normal to incorporate that into your experience' ...

There are key differences between obsessive thoughts and postpartum psychosis, explains Shaila Misri, a reproductive psychiatrist and director of the reproductive mental health program at BC Women's Hospital and Health Center in Vancouver, B.C.

Obsessive symptoms tend to be 'repetitive, unwanted thoughts that the person is aware are not normal even though she is unable to stop them,' she explains. With psychotic symptoms, 'the repetitive, unwanted thoughts are actually delusional, and the person who is having them believes they are real.' While women with OCD rarely harm their children, Misri adds, 'those with postpartum psychosis are in very real danger of doing so' ...

Yet there's often a 'don't ask, don't tell' dynamic surrounding this subject in the physician's office, experts say. While many doctors screen for postpartum depression these days, few ask about intrusive thoughts, Misri says. Meanwhile, new mothers often feel guilt and shame and stay silent.

'A lot of times people are afraid to mention these symptoms because they think if other people knew, they'd lock them up or take the baby away,' Dell says. 'When I ask [new mothers] if they're having unwanted, intrusive thoughts, they are often quite relieved to hear that this happens to other people and that there are probably some biological reasons for this' ...

Says Nestadt, 'The very sad thing is that many people who have experienced an onset or exacerbation of OCD during pregnancy or the postpartum period and didn't receive or respond to treatment may be unwilling to have other kids after the experience. . . . To have OCD and worry constantly day after day is dreadful.'"

That about covers it!! I had horrible thoughts; I knew they weren't real but they scared me to death; I thought I would never be the same; I was afraid to tell anyone because I thought they'd lock me up and throw away the key; When I finally got help I was relieved to find out what was really happening and that I would be ok; It turns out I probably had mild OCD my whole life, and it was simply exacerbated by pregnancy; I was very afraid to have another child, etc., etc. I hope you find this article helpful.

Tags: intrusive thoughts postpartum OCD postpartum psychosis PPOCD

Depression During Pregnancy

Katherine Stone — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:22:56 +0000

Thanks to Katherine Cruise for sending me the link to this article in USA Today a few days ago about depression during pregnancy: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-03-12-depression-pregnancy_x.htm

In terms of taking meds during pregnancy, I can only share my own experience. As you know, I was on Cymbalta during pregnancy. My daughter did not develop any heart defects or lung defects as far as I know, and she did not experience withdrawal. She seems like a perfectly healthy and happy 1-week old.

This, of course, doesn't guarantee your outcome. Each person and their situation is different. It's important to talk to your doctor.

Northern VA/DC and Hawaii Support Groups

Katherine Stone — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 08:33:00 +0000

Ladies, the Support Group list has been updated again. I've now been able to add groups in Hawaii and the Northern Virginia/DC metro area, thanks to hearing from the people who run those groups!

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: PPD support groups Virginia Hawaii

Welcome to the world Madden!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 08:13:10 +0000

My baby girl, Madden, was born on Monday, March 6 at 11:04am. She weighed 6 lbs and 5 ounces, and is 19 1/4" long. Her due date was April 4, so it was quite a surprise that she came so early but a happy surprise just the same. I was on the couch, just settling down to watch the Oscars on Sunday night when my water broke. She had a rough time of it for the first few days, but seems to be doing very well now and gets to come home from the hospital today. I am so excited to bring her home and get started on her new life. Thanks to everyone who has supported my pregnancy and watched out for me. The next several weeks are crucial -- I hope I can make it through them without any signs of postpartum mood disorder. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Important Updates

Katherine Stone — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 13:55:15 +0000

Here's an update on a few things you should know about:

I've updated the PPD support group list, this time with a group at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Thank you so much for keeping me updated on the support groups out there. Last night I had to tell a woman who called me that I wasn't aware of any support groups in her area. What a devastating thing to have to tell someone who is in the throes of a perinatal mood disorder ... Download ppd_support_groups.doc
I've separated out the "People Who Care" listing on the right side of the page into National organizations and State & Local groups. I did this because I know how important it is for people to feel they can find help and support in their own backyard, and I want to make it as easy as possible for them to find it. The first groups I've listed in the State & Local section are Baby Blues Connection in Oregon, the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, the Postpartum Resource Center of Kansas, South Carolina's Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation, and Mother to Mother in St. Louis. For your information, I will list a group in that section only if it is non-profit, if it has a website available to all, and if most if not all of its services are free to those who need them (this might include brochures, seminars, a local hotline, support groups, etc). As always, if you have a group you want me to list, email me at stonecallis@msn.com.
I have gotten several fabulous photos of happy moms for the new Surviving and Thriving photo album. Thank you so much to those ladies who are proud to be displayed there. I hope to get more pics, so please send me your snapshots!
I am 36 weeks pregnant as of today. I had been hoping to keep the stress level down as much as possible to help head off any postpartum mood disorder, but that all went to hell over the last two weeks. First, last week my beloved cat disappeared and we've been unable to find him. Then, I ended up in the hospital on Saturday with a kidney stone. I had to have a stent put in my kidney on Tuesday. I went into labor from all the stress and they had to give me some awful medicine to stop it, but it worked. I'm now at home and basically on bed rest until I have my sweet little girl. Soon after I have her I'll have to go back into the hospital to have the stones discovered in both my kidneys broken up so I can pass them. I am still holding on to some modicum of calm and I'm hoping to stay that way.

Effects of Medication on Infants at Delivery

Katherine Stone — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 11:57:00 +0000

The following study provides helpful information about the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy and its effects on infants after delivery. I find the results of this study comforting -- not that I think any ill effects on babies are a good thing -- since the possible withdrawal symptoms are so short-lived and don't have any long-term effect.

MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant women who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft could boost the risk of withdrawal symptoms for their newborns, a new study suggests. However, the Israeli researchers add that these symptoms are usually gone within 48 hours and appear to pose no long-term threat to the infant's health.

Another expert noted that stopping antidepressant therapy during pregnancy poses its own risk to the health of a mother and her child. "At present, probably the effect of not treating the women's clinical depression is a much bigger issue for mothers and their infants," said Dr. Tim Oberlander, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and a developmental pediatrician at Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

In the study, published in the February issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a team at the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel studied the health of 120 newborns. Sixty of these babies' mothers took an SSRI to treat depression during their pregnancy, while the other 60 mothers did not.

The researchers assessed each infant's behavior two hours after birth and again at regular intervals to see if they displayed withdrawal symptoms.

Among the 60 infants exposed to SSRIs in the womb, 18 displayed what experts call "neonatal abstinence syndrome." In a minority of cases, this syndrome "may be severe enough to cause seizures," said senior researcher Dr. Gil Klinger, a neonatologist at the hospital. Of the 18 cases noted, eight were severe. The most common symptoms were tremors, gastrointestinal problems, an abnormal increase in muscle tone, sleep disturbances and high-pitched cries.

However, Klinger added that "signs of neonatal abstinence subside usually within a few days," he added, noting that none of the babies required treatment.

Based on the findings, Klinger advises that "infants born to mothers treated with SSRIs must be observed for a minimum period of 48 hours or longer if signs of a neonatal abstinence syndrome are evident."

Both mothers and their doctors should become aware of the possible effects of SSRIs on newborns, Klinger said. However, he said the findings don't mean women shouldn't take the drugs to ease depressive symptoms. "It must be made clear that depression during pregnancy entails risk to the mother and her fetus, thus we are not suggesting cessation of medication," Klinger said ...

Oberlander agreed that women who need them should not stop taking their SSRIs during pregnancy. "These findings are consistent with what others have found," he said ...

In his own research, Oberlander found that a mom's emotional state seems to be the biggest predictor of her child's long-term behavior. "It's the mother's mood that seems to have the greatest long-term effect, not prenatal exposure to SSRIs."

Tags: depression antidepressants pregnancy effects on infants

MOTHERS Act introduced by Senators Durbin and Menendez

Katherine Stone — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 11:07:40 +0000

On June 16, U.S. Senators Durbin and Menendez introduced new legislation called the MOTHERS Act, which stands for The Mom’s Opportunity To Access Help, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act. Finally, maybe we'll get some legislation passed. Someone please tell me what we need to do, aside from contacting our state senators, to get this pushed through!! Following is the press release about the introduction of the new bill:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) today announced legislation that aims to eradicate the devastating effects of postpartum depression on American families. The legislation, introduced in the Senate earlier this week, proposes grants to better increase education and access to screenings for new mothers and to increase research into this difficult illness. The bill also proposes grants to health care providers, to facilitate the delivery of healthcare to those suffering from postpartum depression.

“We must attack postpartum depression on all fronts with education, screening, support, and research so that new moms can feel supported and safe rather than scared and alone,” Menendez said. “Many new mothers sacrifice anything and everything to provide feelings of security and safety to their innocent, newborn child. It is our duty to provide the same level of security, safety and support to new mothers in need.”

The MOTHERS Act was introduced in response to a recently passed, first-of-its-kind New Jersey law requiring doctors and nurses to educate and screen expectant mothers about PPD. This state bill was introduced by State Senate President Richard Codey whose wife, Mary Jo Codey, suffered from PPD.

A major part of prevention is informing new mothers about the symptoms and providing them with the services that are available in their community. This bill helps mothers by providing important education and screening on postpartum depression that can lead to early identification and treatment. The two grants help health care providers educate, identify and treat PPD.

Because the exact cause of PPD isn’t known, research continues to be the key to unlocking the mystery of this condition. This legislation incorporates House legislation, the Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, which would expand and intensify research at the National Institutes of Health with respect to PPD and psychosis, including increased discovery of treatments, diagnostic tools and educational materials for providers.

“Many women have successfully recovered from postpartum depression with the help of therapy, medication, and support groups,” Menendez said. “By increasing education and early treatment of postpartum depression, mothers, husbands, and families, will be able to recognize the symptoms of this condition and help new mothers get the treatment they need and deserve.”

This legislation is supported by a wide range of medical professional and health advocacy organizations, including: Postpartum Support International, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Family Mental Health Institute, Inc., American College of Nurse Midwives, National Mental Health Association, The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Illinois Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Psychiatric Association, and the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

New Support Group in Corvallis, OR

Katherine Stone — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:13:00 +0000

I've updated the support group list with a new group in Corvallis, Oregon. Check it out in the updated list attached.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

"Down Came the Rain" Now In Paperback

Katherine Stone — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:48:56 +0000

Brooke Shields's book "DOWN CAME THE RAIN: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression" is now available in paperback (ISBN: 1401308465). If you don't already have a copy, now would be the time to get one! It's a great book to help remind you that you're not alone and no different from all the other women who go through this!

Back from New Jersey

Katherine Stone — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:24:27 +0000

I got back from the Postpartum Support International Conference a few days ago and have been meaning to write to let you know how it went. It was SO GREAT to meet people face to face with whom I've been talking over the Internet. I got to meet Wendy Davis, Benta Sims, Karen Kleiman, Sonia Murdock, Jane Honikman, Meeka Centimano, Birdie Meyer, Joan Mudd, Teresa Twomey, Virginia Williams, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Charlotte Gould and so many others I can't list them all. These are women who are dedicated to positively impacting the identification and treatment of women with antepartum and postpartum mood disorders. Such a gathering gives me great hope.

Unfortunately I was only able to attend one day of the conference because I didn't want to leave my infant for too long, but what I was able to attend was very interesting and I'll be sharing some of the information with all of you readers in the next several days.

The Art of Psychiatric Medication

Katherine Stone — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:25:14 +0000

One of the most frustrating things about getting treated for a postpartum mood disorder is the fact that you can't take one single magic pill and get better the next day. When I first went to see my psychiatrist, I had the expectation that he would give me something that would begin working immediately. I was pretty surprised to find out that prescribing psychiatric medication is both a science and an art. ("You mean to tell me I have to wait two weeks to see if something will even work????!!!!!!" )

Each of us has a different brain, and thus different medications work for different people. If I took a medication and it didn't work, or worked but had unpleasant side effects, I became concvinced that I'd simply never get better. Of course, when you're depressed, it's easy to become convinced that you'll never get better. Now I know that is simply not true. You WILL get better. You simply have to find the strength within yourself to accept that treatment is a process and expecting to get better in a week is unrealistic. What you can expect is to get less sick over time until you get back to who you were before you got sick. For some people that takes a couple of months, for some people longer. However long it takes you has nothing to do with the kind of person you are -- it's just biochemistry. My psychiatrist gave me seven different medications, partially because he didn't know what he was doing and partially because some of them didn't work for me. When I finally found a trained doctor, wedeveloped a plan that worked, including one antidepressant and weekly therapy.

The most important thing you can do is to take charge of your health and march into your doctor armed with all of the information that physician might need to fine tune your medication. If you're not eating, tell the truth. If you fall asleep well, but wake a lot in the middle of the night, tell them that. If you can't fall asleep to begin with, tell them that. If you're having intrusive thoughts, or they've gotten worse, lay it on them. If you feel jittery, or alternatively you feel sluggish, let them know. If you feel like you want nothing to do with your husband or your children, don't be embarassed to say it. Nothing you can say is going to shock them or me -- I know exactly what you're going through because I've been through it myself. I remember I used to drive right through stop signs (with my baby in the car!) -- it's like I was in some kind of dream world and I had delayed reaction time to everything. I made sure to mention it. Every detail is important and you can't hold back. In this way, you help both yourself and your doctor, no matter what treatment path you decide to take.

You will find the righttreatment for you, and you will get better.

Changes to Support Groups in MN and NJ

Katherine Stone — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:02:40 +0000

I've updated the support group list with some recent changes to groups in New Jersey and Minnesota, so if you're from either of those areas you should check out the changes.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Dinner and Drinks Afterwards at The Union Square Cafe

Katherine Stone — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:13:25 +0000

Thursday night, June 8th, I'll be having dinner with a few of you at the Union Square Cafe in Manhattan, at 21 East 16th. Dinner is at 8:30pm. If you're not coming for dinner, then please join us later for drinks. It will be a nice place to hang out and chat and enjoy each other's company. All are welcome. If you do decide to come, look for a woman with shoulder-length red hair -- it serves as a beacon to all those who are looking for me!!

Insecure Attachment Style and Colic

Katherine Stone — Wed, 31 May 2006 10:05:00 +0000

According to a Reuters article on May 25, "Postpartum maternal depressive symptoms may be associated with insecure attachment style and infantile colic, according to results of a study published in the May issue of the Archives of Diseases in Childhood."

In a study conducted in Turkey, mothers whose infants had infantile colic had a significantly higher mean Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale score than mothers of infants without colic. (In English, I assume that means they suffered from some level of postpartum mood disorder.)

"A larger number of mothers had insecure attachment style when their infants had infantile colic compared to the mothers whose infants did not have infantile colic ... That finding was statistically significant."

I looked up "insecure attachment style" and found out it refers to "parents of insecure children [who] tend to be less responsive to their children’s signs of distress. These parents are unavailable either physically, psychologically, or emotionally and tend to be insensitive or unpredictable in their response to attachment needs." I don't know if I met that definition, but I'm sure I wasn't completely available to my son psychologically, and I know that he had terrible problems with colic.

"The authors note that screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of postpartum depression may improve both the mother's and the infant's health. They call for further studies to determine the effect of treatment of maternal depression on the occurrence of infantile colic."

Yet another reason to get treated right way at the first signs of postpartum mood disorder. What a vicious cycle that PPD may lead to colic, which I can tell you from my own experience can, in turn, worsen PPD.

Washington State Launches "Speak Up When You're Down"

Katherine Stone — Tue, 30 May 2006 21:06:55 +0000

This great bit of news was sent to me at the beginning of May but I'm just now getting around to posting it because my little pumpkin pie has been keeping me very busy. (She's now three months old and quite entertaining!) Anyway, my apologies to Washington for being so late in sharing the great news:

The state of Washington has launched a new "Speak Up When You're Down" PPD public awareness campaign. It focuses on providing basic information about the signs and symptoms of postpartum mood disorders, offering a toll-free phone number (1-888-404-7763) and a website (www.speakup.wa.gov) for more information. The phone line is handled by Postpartum Support International of Washington.

A law passed in 2005 by the state legislature authorized the campaign. That law was largely driven by Washington resident Thomas Soukakos, owner of a popular Seattle cafe, who led a grassroots effort after losing his wife to PPD in 2003. Thank you, Mr. Soukakos, for turning a personal tragedy into a positive resource for women all across Washington.

Prescription Assistance for Psychiatric Medications

Katherine Stone — Fri, 26 May 2006 10:47:59 +0000

Someone recently pointed me to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance program. I've seen the commercials on TV, of course, but for some reason it never hit me that this would be an excellent program for those people who have little or no insurance and cannot afford the psychiatric medications they need to help recover from a postpartum mood disorder. In the six months since the program began, more than 1 million qualified people have been able to get no cost or low cost prescriptions. I went on the website myself, and saw that Eli Lilly, the maker of Cymbalta and Prozac, participates in the program. So does GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Wellbutrin, Wyeth, the maker of Effexor, and Pfizer, the maker of Zoloft, as well as other pharmaceutical companies. Qualifications vary by program so I can't tell you whether you'd individually qualify -- you'll have to go to the site and fill out the necessary forms or you can call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.

Thanks to Helena Bradford for the heads up!

On Experiencing What It Should Be Like To Be A New Mom

Katherine Stone — Thu, 11 May 2006 16:43:23 +0000

I've been thinking a lot lately about the differences between experiencing new motherhood with a postpartum mood disorder and without one, which seems to be my current state. (Knock on wood.) It's like night and day. The joy I feel mothering my baby girl Madden serves to both free me from the bonds of my postpartum OCD experience, and make me angry and sad that I missed out on this joy with my beautiful boy Jackson.

While experiencing postpartum OCD, every minute, no, every second of every day was excruciating. I had such anxiety I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it through the next hour. I begged my husband to come home for lunch and to leave work early in the evenings. Simply because of a chemical imbalance in my brain, I was convinced I couldn't handle being a mother. I felt I didn't know how to keep Jack entertained at all times, as if an infant needs to be entertained at all times! I felt sure that if I put him down, or wasn't showing him colors and making animal noises and working on making sure he could hold his head up and meet all his milestones properly that I would be failing him as a mother. I had a piece of paper on which I obsessively tracked every hour of the day, writing down when and how much he ate, how long we played and how long he napped. If I didn't write it down, I felt like I wouldn't be able to remember and wouldn't know when to do what. Maybe it gave me some false sense of control ...

I loved my son so deeply at that time, just as I surely do now, but there was no joy because I was too busy being scared to death of myself. All of the sudden I had no idea who I was. Who was this person who constantly kept wondering what it would be like if I drowned my son, or smothered him or dropped him? Who was this person who felt like she was walking around inside a strange bubble, watching the world go by but not able to connect or communicate with it? I even remember freaking out over turns of phrase that normally wouldn't make me think twice. I would casually say to my husband "he's dead asleep" and almost immediately nearly have a heart attack for saying it that way, as though that meant something dark and terrible was building in my subconscious that could at any moment rise to the surface.

I knew I had a horrible experience, but I don't think I knew exactly how horrible until now. Now I have a baby again, a beautiful girl that I also love deeply, and I'm happy and free. I write absolutely nothing down, because there's no need. I trust myself that I'll know what to do when it's time to do it, whether napping or feeding or playing. And as for playing, I just don't have an agenda. We just hang out. Can you imagine?! This time I'm okay with silence, with no plan in place, with no activity to do, without anyone else around. I can just sit and look at her delicate face and an hour might pass. I wish so much that my body would have let me have that same feeling with Jackson when he was so small. I was so ill that I couldn't experience the beauty of a newborn. Now I look at my baby and think how fleeting infancy is and how sad I'll be when it's over and I can't hold her all bundled up against my chest.

I'm grateful we can get better and experience the wonder of our children. For those of you experiencing a postpartum mood disorder right now, you CAN get better and your child will love you no less deeply than any other child loves their mother. How do I know? My husband and Jack went for a nighttime walk on the beach during our vacation a few weeks ago. They laid down on the sand so they could look at the stars. My husband then asked Jack if he'd ever seen anything so beautiful. Jack answered, "My mom."

Happy Mother's Day.

PPMD Moms Dinner in Manhattan on June 8th

Katherine Stone — Wed, 10 May 2006 16:47:01 +0000

I'm looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible that will be attending the PSI Conference in June. I'll be there on Friday the 9th. Would anybody like to have dinner with me on the evening of the 8th? Say 8pm in Midtown? I couldn't get a reservation at the Hyatt so I'm staying in Manhattan, which is just across the Holland Tunnel. Whoever wants to come can hop in a cab together and meet me at my hotel and we can go out somewhere great to eat. A gathering of women and great food ... Email me at stonecallis@msn.com if you're interested.

P.S. If you're not used to going into NYC and are nervous about it, don't be. I go there all the time and I'll take good care of you!

Advocates to Lobby Capitol Hill on May 12

Katherine Stone — Wed, 03 May 2006 10:05:38 +0000

Associated Press' writer David Crary recently wrote this article on the steps being taken by more and more states to screen new moms for postpartum mood disorders.

The article states that on May 12 advocates for more ambitious federal action will lobby on Capitol Hill. I wasn't aware of that. I wish I could be there ... those Congressmen and women wouldn't know what hit them ...

Christian-Based Website Offers Comfort to PPD Sufferers

Katherine Stone — Wed, 03 May 2006 09:56:52 +0000

For those readers who are Christians and find comfort in their faith, there is a new website called Out of the Valley Ministries that was created to provide Christian encouragement and support for women suffering from postpartum mood disorders.

Created by Tara Mock, who suffered severe postpartum depression after the birth of her son last year, it features community forums and Bible-based inspiration. Mock created the site because she discovered a need during her own recovery for a Christian ministry dedicated to supporting women just like her. You can find the site here.

READER SURVEY -- Take the Postpartum Progress Reader Survey to Help Improve This Site

Katherine Stone — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 10:21:22 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is VERY IMPORTANT. I need your help. Now that we're coming up on the 2-year anniversary of Postpartum Progress, I'm conducting a reader survey to find out how to improve the site and make it better for you. PLEASE, please participate by taking the survey. If I don't know what your opinion is, I can't make the site as valuable as possible for you.

The survey is only 10 questions. It takes approximately 3 minutes to complete, so it shouldn't put any burden whatsoever on your busy schedules. Your identity will NOT be tracked, so all responses are completely anonymous (you have my word on that!).

Click here to take the Postpartum Progress Reader survey

Mothering Magazine Hosts Live Chat on Maternal Stress & Depression

Katherine Stone — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 15:43:00 +0000

Mothering Magazine will be doing a Live Chat with Cynthia Good Mojab on Maternal Stress and Depression on April 27th at 10am Pacific time (1pm Eastern). In this Mothering Live Chat, “The Hardest Job You’ll Ever Love: Myths and Facts about Maternal Stress and Depression,” Cynthia will talk about depression and its symptoms, myths that can keep mothers from getting the help they need, strategies for coping with the everyday stresses of mothering, and resources for support and more information. Although her talk focuses on mothers, much of the information is also relevant to fathers as they cope with their own or their partner's stress or depression.

Go to http://mommychats.com/mothering/index.htm to go to the chat on Thursday, April 27th at 10 AM Pacific, 11 AM Mountain, 12 PM Central, and 1 PM Eastern.

Ohio Support Group

Katherine Stone — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 11:38:54 +0000

Ohio has now been added to the list of states with support groups with a group in Columbus. They say Cleveland will be coming soon ...

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

I've also added their website to the list on the right of your screen of State & Local Organizations. Thanks for reaching out to me, POEM!

Tags: PPD support groups Ohio

MGH Center for Women's Mental Health Spring Newsletter

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 20:20:00 +0000

Attached below is the Spring issue of Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Women's Health Newsletter. It's an email newsletter, so I can't give you a direct link -- you'll have to download it. This month's features are:

* Relapse of Major Depression during Pregnancy

* SSRI's and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn

* Withdrawal Symptoms in Newborns Exposed to SSRIs

* Patient Corner: Use of Paxil During Pregnancy

Download spring_issue_mgh.doc

Baltimore TV Reporter May Have Suggested Jewelry as the Remedy for PPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:50:00 +0000

Melisa Keimig reached out to me this morning to let me know that a reporter named Marty Bass on WJZ, the CBS affiliate in Baltimore, remarked on the air this morning that “buying women jewelry” was the answer for women suffering from postpartum depression. Keimig sent the following message to the station with a copy to the local newspaper:

"As a young mother who has suffered from the devastating effects of a postpartum illness, I am outraged that he would make such a comment on the air that is absolutely belittling and degrading to all those who have suffered traumatically and their families from this type of illness. Mr. Bass should be ashamed of himself for making such a comment that would offend any woman who had gone through this ordeal. I believe he should apologize for this comment and for all those he has offended with his insensitive remarks. Maybe he should do a little research and read some stories of young women who killed themselves or their children because of their suffering from this very serious illness. Maybe then he would think twice before making his "comments" about something he obviously knows very little about.”

Bravo Melisa! Mr. Bass' response was as follows:

I did not say it is the answer to PPD. I said after birth, as a guy, you best help the healing process begin, and after watching your wife work her hardest for 9 months you better have something more in your hand than a handshake.

A big difference between what happened, and was said, and what you believe you heard. But it happens, no offense taken.

He goes on to say he understands the reality of PPD. I would love to get my hands on a tape of the story to see whether he was simply saying men should give their wives gifts, or that men should give women with PPD jewelry so they'll get over it. Since I haven't seen it myself, I can't say for sure he was denigrating women with PPD. Either way, Melisa sent him the perfect response:

Mr. Bass: You would have to understand how this could be misunderstood by women sufferers. There was a story about postpartum depression being told, and Brooke Shields. You in turn said three words, buy her jewelry. In any case whether you meant it or not in that context, it was poor taste to say when discussing a very serious topic such as postpartum depression.

Minnesota Has PPD Support Group

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:32:39 +0000

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

The PPD Support Group list has been updated with a group in Minnesota. Glad to add Minnesota to the list!

Tags: postpartum depression Minnesota support group

New Support Groups in Maryland

Katherine Stone — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 07:46:00 +0000

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

I have now added the state of Maryland to my support group list, with one group in Annapolis and several in Baltimore. Please check out the list if you're looking to meet with people like you in you're area. I try to keep it as comprehensive as possible.

Note: If you run a group, please make sure my information is correct. If you closed a group down, please let me know so I can remove it from the list. Thank you.

Maryland Launches "Healthy New Moms" Campaign

Katherine Stone — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:34:11 +0000

Maryland has launched a new statewide campaign called Healthy New Moms: Maryland's Campaign to End Depression During & After Pregnancy. It's a public information and provider education campaign that promotes mental and physical wellness in new mothers and their families. The campaign features what looks like a very comprehensive and easy-to-use website that is split into four main categories: What Causes Perinatal Depression?, How is Perinatal Depression Treated?, You Will Get Better and Provider Resources. It provides information on support groups in Maryland, and includes some helpful contacts for sufferers with low incomes or no insurance. WAY TO GO, MARYLAND!!!!!!!

PSI Launches New Website

Katherine Stone — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:38:00 +0000

PSI has just relaunched its website and it is looking much better!! Very nicely done ... although I have to admit I'm completely bummed that there is no link to Postpartum Progress in their links section. Anyway, I suggest you stop by the site if you haven't been there in a while.

Thank You CBS for Caring!!!!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:29:56 +0000

Congratulations to Postpartum Support International for a great new partnership helping to get the word out about postpartum depression. PSI is working with CBS Cares to launch a public service announcement and an online education campaign. The PSAs will debut during an episode of the CBS show "Cold Case" on Sunday, October 15 (9pm EST) and will feature show actors Kathryn Morris and Danny Pino. The PSAs will include warnings about the severity of postpartum depression, including the negative emotional and physical effects on the mother, infant and family if the mother is not treated. To help with early detection, the PSAs will highlight symptoms such as tearfulness, mood swings and difficulty connecting with one's baby. Each PSA will remind new mothers and family members that no one is to blame and that this is an easily treatable medical disease.

The CBS Cares Website (www.cbs.com/cbs_cares/.com) will provide additional information such as interviews with field experts discussing the symptoms of perinatal illness and treatment options. The CBS Cares site will link to the PSI website, which lists local resources available and includes a helpline number -- 1-800-944-4773. Additionally, for the first time, CBS Cares will make available a Spanish-language version of the PSAs featuring Danny Pino to any broadcaster or cable operator wishing to run them, and will do so without the CBS Cares logo, allowing entities to brand them as their own. The CBS Cares website will include the English and Spanish-language versions.

On November 17, PSI is honoring both CBS Cares and COLD CASE for their commitment to this illness with PSI's Excellence in Media Outreach Award. Further information on this gala event is available on PSI's website.

This postpartum initiative builds on CBS Cares' commitment toward highlighting underserved health issues, including a campaign on depression that was hailed as network televisions "most expansive" campaign on the disease.

Kudos to CBS. I may have to spend more of my television viewing time with that network from now on!!

Insurance Companies Add to Suffering of Women with Postpartum Mood Disorders

Katherine Stone — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:54:36 +0000

Susan Paynter, columnist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, wrote a great column on Monday about the problem with insurance companies refusing to pay for certain antidepressant medications prescribed to treat postpartum mood disorders. To read the entire column, click here. Paynter uses the example of a new mother named Jessica Lane whose insurance company Group Health required her to try several other drugs before agreeing to pay for the one she was prescribed and knew would work after using samples from her psychiatrist. As you know, it takes a couple of weeks to find out if a medication works, so on the outside chance none of these other drugs work, a patient would have to continue to suffer for at least two more months if not longer just to save the insurance company money, which is absolutely awful.

Here is an excerpt:

"Meanwhile, what happens to my family?" Lane asked. "I could spend the next year of my life experimenting with different side effects just so they don't have to pay for the one (drug) that already works for me. That's not only absurd, it's cruel."

Group Health's director of clinical pharmacy services is Jim Carlson, who reasons that it's not a matter of Group Health second-guessing Lane's physician.

"I wouldn't call it second-guessing because the patient can still get the medication."

That is, if the patient pays for it herself.

"In general, most of the drugs used for depression have been shown to be equally effective and tolerated equally well in large populations of patients," he said.

That leaves the only thing left to define, and that is the cost effectiveness of care. It makes sense, Carlson said, to sequence the use of medications in order of cost.

In some rare cases, Carlson said, drug A may not work or be tolerated. Say drug F is on the high end of the cost spectrum. "We don't try to micromanage a physician's prescriptions or use of anti-depressants," he said. "But, if there are several (drugs) that are comparable in cost, then let's try the other three or four first."

A patient doesn't have to go from A to B to C. She can try C, then D and then B.

But can't that take an awful lot of potentially troubling time?

"Indeed," Carlson said. "But there is no real evidence to support that leap (from drug A to the more expensive drug F) based on literature. No way to predict it will be best."

How about the fact that it already IS working, Lane asks?

I don't know what Group Health's research shows, but I know that I had to try many different drugs and they all had very different effects on me -- I've taken Celexa, Serzone, Effexor, Luvox and Cymbalta. I certainly hope that what I was being prescribed by my psychiatrist wasn't being dictated by some cost-effectiveness schedule of my insurance company. I didn't to deserve to continue to suffer, nor did my child, simply to save money. Paynter sums this up so well that I'll leave the last word to her:

Still, we need fewer hoops and more help for moms who may lack the coverage and the navigational skills that Lane does have. "It's as if the insurance company is telling the woman and her doctor that they know best," she said.

"This is the very attitude that leads women to feel weak and ridiculous for even considering they might need help. When I got off the phone (after calling the insurer for an explanation), I just sat on the floor and cried. It seems like it's cheaper for them if I'm nuts or if harm comes to my children. What about women who don't have the resources and the wherewithal to fight this?"

Headlines or not, what happens to them, and to their kids, should matter to us all.

PPD Studies Underway at NIMH

Katherine Stone — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:29:00 +0000

Here is a link to studies being conducted by the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health). It is always good to check in and see what research they're doing and whether it's something in which you might like to participate. We have to help these researchers on their quest to get better information about our illnesses so that even better treatments can be developed.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is Just Around the Corner!

Katherine Stone — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:15:58 +0000

National Mental Illness Awareness Week is the first week in October. Events include National Depression Screening Day on Thursday, October 5th. The screenings are held across the country and are confidential and free, and postpartum mood disorder screenings are included. (Click here to find out where screening events will be held across the country.) Also, the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Awareness, Recovery and Understanding is Tuesday, October 3. In addition, I believe there are a variety of events going on around the country hosted by state chapters of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). (Click here to find them.)

Any of us who have been through postpartum mood disorders can hardly ignore the plight of others who are mentally ill. Today I picked up the phone and called my county's NAMI-Georgia office to volunteer. I hope some of you will consider doing the same in whatever capacity you can. We must continue to work hard to help erase the stigma of mental illness.

Tom Cruise Has Another Apology to Make

Katherine Stone — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 10:43:15 +0000

So Tom Cruise has now apologized to Brooke Shields, and she accepted his apology (see story here). Good for them both.

I, on the other hand, have not forgiven Tom Cruise. It hurt all of us when he dragged our illness into the spotlight and essentially made us feel awful for having taken medications that were prescribed to us by legitimate physicians in order to recover. It wasn't only his comments that hurt, but also the echoing, more destructive comments from so many ignorant people around the country when this story arose because of Cruise. It was very hard to read the words of many citizens online and in print about how we're crazy and stupid and drugged up, etc.

When he apologizes to all women who have suffered or are suffering from postpartum mood disorders, I'll accept. Until then, I don't plan to spend my box office dollars on his movies.

It's okay with me that he doesn't believe in antidepressants. No problem. But don't judge me because I do believe in them. Don't make me look bad in the public eye because I had to take them. They saved my life.

Edinburgh Scale May Not Be Broad Enough to Identify Women With Postnatal Anxiety

Katherine Stone — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 11:00:14 +0000

A study recently conducted at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia has found that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), while fairly accurately identifying women suffering from postpartum depression, often misses those women suffering postnatal anxiety without depressive symptoms. As so much discussion lately has focused on the importance of requiring ob/gyns to screen women at the 6-week postnatal checkup, I think this study is highly important. We must ensure that we use the best screening tool available once we are finally able to get screenings conducted with all women who've given birth. As postpartum mood disorders cover a wide spectrum, we can't use a tool that may miss out on identifying certain women who are suffering.

According to the study, "... postnatal depression has received considerable research and clinical attention, however anxiety and stress in the postpartum has been relatively ignored. Along with the widespread use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), depression has become the marker for postnatal maladjustment. Symptoms of anxiety tend to be subsumed within diagnoses of depression, which can result in anxiety being minimized or overlooked in the absence of depression. Some researchers have identified the need to distinguish between postnatal depression and anxiety, and to discern cases where depression and anxiety co-exist ... [Using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), a broader scale than the EPDS], found that 10% of the women in the study showed symptoms of anxiety and stress without depression ... The prevalence of anxiety and stress in the present study points to the importance of assessing postnatal women for broader indicators of psychological morbidity than that of depression alone. The DASS-21 appears to be a useful instrument for this purpose."

Regarding Public Reaction to the Yates Verdict

Katherine Stone — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:42:10 +0000

I cried tears of relief when Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the drowning deaths of her five children. As someone who has experienced mental illness, I felt gratitude for the jurors, who were able to recognize that she was clearly very sick when this tragedy occurred. My satisfaction was quickly tempered by sadness, however, as I continued to follow coverage of the verdict. On one live cable news program, the hosts and audience shook their heads in disgusted disbelief as the verdict was announced.The featured pundit expressed anger that the insanity defense even exists.A quick review of blog commentary and the vitriol grew – many wish Yates had received the death penalty and would be happy to serve as executioner.One of the milder writers complained that Yates “had plenty of time to snap out of it.” This made me physically shake. How could they be so smug?How dare the audience sit there looking as if they know everything, convinced that there obviously has been some huge mistake? How dare those bloggers sit in judgment of something they most likely knew nothing about? I think it is because they believe that things they can’t imagine must not exist.They can’t imagine not being in control of their actions.They can’t imagine that the thinker might not be thinking the thoughts.It’s just not possible. Unfortunately, I can imagine not being in control of my thoughts, as can many of you. We know it is possible, and it does happen.Nearly five years ago, when my first child was born, I suffered from postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder. I remember the exact moment the illness reared its ugly head.While burping my infant son one night, I suddenly had the thought “What if I smother him with the burp cloth?” There are no words to describe my terror and confusion at that moment.Can you imagine having a thought come into your mind as clear as a bell that is in your voice but isn’t yours? Most people can't. More thoughts followed over the coming weeks: “What if I drop him down the stairs?” “What if I drown him in the bathtub?” These thoughts were joined by the inability to eat or sleep, constant crying and the belief that I was not capable of being a mother. I had never suffered from mental illness in my life prior to that time.I was a competent, educated and successful young woman.These things just didn’t happen to people like me.Wrong.The truth is everyone has the same capacity to experience what I did, or worse, what Andrea Yates did.You can sit there and shake your head, completely assured there’s not a chance in hell, but you do. I was treated and recovered and am now the happy mother of two wonderful children.But my heart continues to break every time I see the suspicion of and ignorance about women with postpartum mood disorders.Many assume we are simply weak, defective or selfish.How can so many Americans show such a lack of compassion for the mentally ill? Pete Earley, former Washington Post reporter and author of the fabulous book on mental illness called “Crazy”, helps me make some sense of it.In his book, he writes, “We lock up the mentally ill because they terrify us.We are afraid of them and even more frightened of what they symbolize.We want to believe they did something to cause their insanity … The federal government says mental illness is a chemical imbalance and not something … that anyone seeks or wants or deserves to get any more than he seeks, wants, or deserves to get a cold.But deep down, we really don’t want to believe that’s true.Because if we did, we would have to admit:It could happen to us.It could happen to me … And that is such a frightening thought that we quietly search for explanations to prove that the mentally ill really aren’t like us and they somehow deserve the torment they suffer.” People would like to believe Yates was a devil rather than a normal person stricken with a terrible illness.They forget that all of this could have been avoided if society demanded better care of the mentally ill.Women need to be clearly educated during pregnancy about postpartum mood disorders.They need to be screened for symptoms after birth.We need trained doctors to treat them properly.We need to demand they not be released from the hospital if they’re a danger to themselves or others, regardless of stingy insurance companies.We must stop assuming they can just snap out of it.We owe it to the souls of those lost children.

Perinatal Depression Conference in Indiana

Katherine Stone — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:52:15 +0000

The Indiana Regional Perinatal Depression Conference and Certificate of Completion Course will be held at Bloomington Hospital on August 25 and 26. The conference will focus on identification, intervention, treatment and support/prevention for perinatal mood disorders. For more information, click here.

El Paso Times Article on Insanity Defense & Postpartum Psychosis

Katherine Stone — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:23:33 +0000

Wendy David sent me the link to this great article on the insanity defense and postpartum psychosis from the El Paso Times. It's worth reading.

Andrea Yates Found - Not Guilty

Katherine Stone — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:06:15 +0000

The jury in the retrial of Andrea Yates has delivered its verdict -- not guilty by reason of insanity. If you read my post yesterday about the insanity defense, this is somewhat of a surprise. But I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. Thank you God. And bless the souls of those children.

Yates Retrial: The Insanity Defense in America

Katherine Stone — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:35:12 +0000

I haven't been writing about Andrea Yates' retrial thus far because, to be honest, it gives me a heavy heart. I feel such sadness for those children, and such sadness for Andrea. But, as the jury considers her fate, I thought I'd share with you what seems to be a major obstacle in Andrea's way when it comes to being found not guilty by reason of insanity.

At the Postpartum Support International Annual Conference this year, Dr. Margaret Spinelli, Director of Maternal Mental Health at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and author of an award-winning book on infanticide, explained that most U.S. states use one of two different laws concerning the insanity defense. The first is called the M'Naghten rule, and is also known as the "right or wrong" test. Did the defendant suffer a mental disease that caused her to not know right from wrong or to fail to appreciate the nature of her actions? This is the law Texas uses. From the Encyclopedia of Everyday Law at Enotes.com:

"The M'Naghten rule states: 'Every man is to be presumed to be sane, and . . . that to establish a defense on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, the party ACCUSED was laboring under such a defect of reason, from disease of mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong.'

The test to determine if defendants can distinguish right from wrong is based on the idea that they must know the difference in order to be convicted of a crime. Determining defendants' ability to do so may seem straightforward enough, but in practice in cases in which the M'Naghten standard is used dilemmas often arise. One of these is what constitutes the defendants' 'knowledge.' Some questions concern defendants' knowledge that their criminal acts are wrong and their knowledge that laws exist which prohibit these acts.

Criticism of the M'Naghten test focuses on the test's concentration on defendants' cognitive abilities. Then, too, questions occur about how to treat defendants who know their acts are against the law but who cannot control their impulses to commit them. Similarly, the courts need to determine how to evaluate and assign responsibility for emotional factors and compulsion. Finally, because of the rule's inflexible cognitive standard, it tends to be very difficult for defendants to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. Despite these complications, M'Naghten survives and is currently the rule in a majority of states in regard to the insanity defense ..." (note: the highlights are my emphasis)

Other states use the Model Penal Code, which considers both the cognitive and volitional states of the defendant. Did she know right from wrong, but also did she suffer from a mental disease that caused her to lack capacity to appreciate the criminality of her conduct or fail to conform her conduct to the requirements of the law? From the Encyclopedia of Everyday Law at Enotes.com:

"In response to the criticisms of the various tests for the insanity defense, the American Law Institute (ALI) designed a new test for its Model Penal Code in 1962. Under this test, 'a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct as a result of mental disease or defect he lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.'

The penal code test is much broader than the M'Naghten Rule ... It asks whether defendants have a substantial incapacity to appreciate the criminality of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the law rather than the absolute knowledge required by M'Naghten and the absolute inability to control conduct required by the Irresistible Impulse test.

The ALI test [Model Penal Code] also requires that the mental disease or defect be a medical diagnosis ..."

If Andrea lived in a state that used the Model Penal Code, I believe she would be found guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a mental institution rather than prison. She may have called 911, indicating knowledge of right from wrong, but from what I understand there is enough data to show that she was delusional. According to this 2003 article from the Dallas Morning News:

"Mrs. Yates' mental health almost immediately was at issue. Her husband told of years of mental illness, beginning with a severe bout of postpartum depression after the birth of their fourth child.

Medical records released two months after the deaths detailed two suicide attempts and four hospitalizations in mental health facilities. Mrs. Yates' most recent hospital stay ended less than a month before the drownings, even though she was rarely sleeping and eating, and showing other signs of severe mental illness. In an outpatient visit two weeks before, her doctor took her off Haldol, a powerful antipsychotic drug that had helped her in the past.

In her confession to police, and in interviews with psychiatrists, Mrs. Yates said that she killed the children to spare them from Satan. At times she said she was Satan herself and that the only way to keep her kids from going to hell was to kill them when they were still young so that God would have mercy on their souls. She also told of vivid hallucinations, such as receiving messages from television and seeing the devil in her jail cell."

Did you know that her father and brother are bipolar and her mother suffers from depression? It is such a shocker to look at her heredity, and her medical history, and come up with the conclusion that she was mentally ill? And for anyone reading this who thinks being found not guilty by reason of insanity means a walk in the park for Andrea Yates, they should read this recent article from the Associated Press on what it means to be committed to a mental institution.

This whole event and everything following from it causes me such sadness and distress. Those children should be alive -- they, and their mother, were let down by the medical community, insurance companies, child protective services and so many more. What should come of their death is a renewed vigilance among all parties to prevent this from ever happening again. Postpartum psychosis is a serious and dangerous psychiatric emergency that should be properly diagnosed and treated with the utmost in care by parties well-trained in the arena of reproductive psychiatry.

postpartum psychosis postpartum depression Andrea Yates insanity defense

Indman To Host PPMD Seminars in 6 Cities Next Month

Katherine Stone — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:12:36 +0000

Dr. Pec Indman, author of Beyond the Blues and PSI coordinator for Northern California, will be hosting the seminar "Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Assessment and Treatment" in various cities in August.

As described on the website, attendees will learn how to assess and diagnose postpartum depression/anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and psychosis. The consequences of untreated maternal illness will be reviewed. Specific, researched, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies and psychotherapies will be discussed. Screening for risk factors and mood disorders and current preventive modalities will be reviewed. The participant will gain valuable insight into the many risk factors and symptoms for each of the postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, as well as treatment options. Note: Continuing Education credits are available.

Upcoming sessions including the following:

08/02/2006
CHARLESTON, WV

08/03/2006
LEXINGTON, KY

08/04/2006
LOUISVILLE, KY

08/23/2006
CINCINNATI, OH

08/24/2006
DAYTON, OH

08/25/2006
COLUMBUS, OH

To register, click here.

New Women's Mood Disorders Clinic at University of North Carolina

Katherine Stone — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:27:00 +0000

A new clinic focusing on women's mood disorders has just been established at the University of North Carolina. Dr. David Rubinow, the chairman of UNC's psychiatry department, established the clinic.

I reached out to Dr. Rubinow via email to ask him about the new center. He told me he established and was the chief of the Behavioral Endocrinology Clinic at the National Institutes of Health, where he conducted research for more than 25 years on the role of reproductive steroids in mood disorders related to reproductive function: premenstrual dysphoria, perimenopausal depression, and postpartum depression. He moved to UNC as the Chair of Psychiatry in January with the intent of continuing his research and both educating the public about mood disorders in women and providing clinical expertise in the treatment of these disorders. He said he was fortunate enough to have in his department a young investigator, Samantha Meltzer-Brody, who had already established wonderful ties with the OB-GYN community and who had considerable experience in the evaluation and treatment of depression during pregnancy and postpartum.

He said the new clinic is very active and provides individually tailored treatment and education for women with perinatal mood disorders. It also has research protocols that will hopefully tell them more about the relationship between stress sensitivity and the susceptibility to PPD. His goal is to provide world class care, to encourage legislation for the mandatory screening of perinatal mothers, and to identify predictors of the susceptibility to reproductive endocrine-related mood disorders that will permit prevention, early detection, and individualized treatment.

I just love this quote from him in a story from the Associated Press about the new clinic: "'I think it does an enormous disservice to women to say that those who become depressed ... should simply learn to live with it,' he said. 'It's a barbaric notion to suggest that people should not get treatment. It's unconscionably stupid.'"

Hooray, Dr. Rubinow! I feel great hope whenever a new clinic is created that focuses on our illnesses and offers well-trained and highly knowledgeable staff. I had the great fortune to be treated by the Emory University Women's Mental Health program, and the level of treatment I received was so much better during and after this pregnancy. The women in North Carolina should be thrilled!

Researchers Had Ties to Pharmaceutial Companies in Antidepressant Study

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:44:00 +0000

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has announced it was misled by researchers who failed to reveal financial ties to drug companies in a study showing that pregnant women who stop taking antidepressants risk slipping back into depression. From the Associated Press:

Most of the 13 authors [of the study] have financial ties to drug companies including antidepressant makers, but only two of the them revealed their ties when the study was published in February.

Antidepressant use during pregnancy is controversial and some studies have suggested that the drugs could pose risks to the fetus.

"For readers to be able to make informed judgments about potential biases in this study, they should have been made aware of all of these associations and potential conflicts of interest," Dr. Adam Urato of Tufts University-New England Medical Center, wrote in a letter to JAMA editors ...

The authors of the depression study defended their research in a separate letter to the editor published Wednesday. Lead author Dr. Lee Cohen, of Massachusetts General Hospital, who is on the speaker's bureau for eight drug companies, disputed that such ties could influence the findings.

The business ties were not disclosed because "we did not view those associations as relevant" partly because the research was funded by the government, not industry.

This announcement doesn't mean the study was flawed, of course, but it does make you feel nervous about the outcome, doesn't it? I don't want ANYTHING, a subconscious bias or something more nefarious, influencing the results of a study on the effects of antidepressant use during pregnancy. We're talking about the safety of ourselves and our children here, and we need to feel confident about the results of these studies when we make decisions about how to be treated.

Insulin & Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:33:53 +0000

The Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan is now researching whether there is a connection between insulin levels and postpartum mood disorders. According to the abstract:

The drop in the insulin level during the postpartum period appears to be more sudden and abrupt than the rise of insulin level during pregnancy. Recent studies have showed that insulin affects the secretion of serotonin in the brain. While serotonergic nervous system is well known for its important role in the development of mood disorders, decreased insulin level may induce mood disorders through the mechanism of affecting serotonin secretion in the brain. In the current paper, we propose that the rapid decrease in insulin level during the postpartum period may be one of the causes of postpartum mood disorders. If the hypothesis is valid, clinicians may be able to prevent postpartum mood disorders by carbohydrate-rich food during the postpartum period to stimulate the secretion of insulin.

Wouldn't that be great if that was it? We could all just eat lots of cookies and ice cream and get better! Anyway, as Helena Bradford pointed out, this is interesting. It's the first I've seen of any suggestion to a connection with insulin.

2nd Anniversary of Postpartum Progress

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 20:55:00 +0000

Tomorrow, July 13th, is the 2nd anniversary of Postpartum Progress. I can't believe I've been doing this for two years now - the time has certainly flown by. Anyway, I hope you're still reading and that I haven't bored you to tears. The biggest favors you can do me are the following:

1) Tell other women about this site. The more the readership grows, the bigger the community of women we can create.

2) Send me your news. If it's appropriate to what I write about here, I may be able to write about it. Even if you think I probably already know about something, send it my way anyway, because you never know.

3) Take care of yourselves. Take time for yourselves. Recover and keep yourselves healthy and strong. We need you to bear witness to all the other mothers who will someday suffer so that they'll have hope.

Happy birthday, Postpartum Progress readers!

New Book Offers Advice & Comfort from Survivors Around the World

Katherine Stone — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 07:56:00 +0000

There is a new book out for women suffering from postpartum mood disorders. Titled "The Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book: Real Stories from Women Who Lived Through It and Recovered", it features stories from real women around the world who have recovered from postpartum mood disorders and share a passion to help other mothers get through it. Author Sandra Poulin recovered from PPD herself and decided to write the kind of book that she herself had wanted to read when she was going through it - but could not find.

As the press release explains, "Until now, virtually all postpartum depression books have been written from a clinical perspective by medical professionals. Here, in a first of its kind collection, are stories of women's battles with PPD, with intimate details about the symptoms, the struggles, and the strategies that helped them emerge victorious ... Mothers share their challenges with sleep deprivation, anxiety, colicky and ill babies, and other issues that sent them into a downward spiral. Offering hope and reassurance, readers will find support from 'everyday' mothers who've 'been there'." (Note: In my opinion, I consider chemical brain imbalances to be the source of sending us into a downward spiral, not colicky babies and sleep deprivation as the press release seems to infer. Those things just make the experience worse. Anyway ...)

I think the book sounds good -- it is so helpful to see what others go through and realize you're not alone and you don't have to hide what's happening to you. I haven't had the chance to read the book yet, but I can't imagine it could be anything other than reassuring to those who go through postpartum mood disorders. If you're interesting in ordering it from Amazon.com, look to the right of your screen, scroll down to the "Read Up" list, and click the link to the book.

NM and NY PPD Support Groups

Katherine Stone — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 12:42:00 +0000

Again, an updated postpartum depression support group list, with new groups in Santa Fe, NM and Brooklyn, NY.

Updated Support Group List

Katherine Stone — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:44:04 +0000

Two PPD support groups have been added to the list: one in Joliet, IL, and one in Ft. Worth, TX

Download ppd_support_groups_1307.doc

Happy New Year!

Katherine Stone — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:03:49 +0000

Happy New Year to all of you fabulous moms and PPD advocates out there! I hope you had a good holiday.

This year it is my goal to widen my work as an advocate for postpartum depression. I hope to generate even more readership for Postpartum Progress, the most widely read blog in the U.S. on postpartum mood disorders. I hope you'll let other women know about it so they have access to all the information I've been compiling over the last 2+ years. And I hope you find it helpful. If not, or if you have suggestions, email me ASAP! at stonecallis@msn.com.

I also hope to start a support group for the Southside of Atlanta. I wanted to start it in the fall, but I procrastinated. Now that Madden is 10 months old, I think I can handle it. I just need to get started and put the word out.

I'd also like to ask that you be patient with me as I get quite a large number of emails from individuals. It may take me a few days to get back to you but it is NOT because you are not important. Each of you is VERY important and I love to hear from you and hear your stories and try to be supportive in whatever way I can. Hearing from you is my favorite part of what I do. It's just that, with the baby, I'm not able to check email every single day. I try to do it two or three days a week and spend a couple of hours on it -- I've spent two hours this evening, for instance. So please, please continue to email me. Lay it on me! Whatever you've thought or experienced, don't worry -- I've heard it all and I'm not shocked. However bad you feel, it's okay with me. Whatever help you need, I'll try and see if I can find someone somewhere who knows where you can get it.

I feel like 2007 is going to be a great year for us. Let's hear it for passage of the MOTHER'S ACT very soon, for more support groups to be started, and for an enormous reduction in the number of deaths from 2006. Love you all!!

-- Katherine

PPD Sufferer Kidnaps Kids After Giving Them Up For Adoption

Katherine Stone — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:19:32 +0000

The Toronto Sun had a very interesting story on January 3rd about a woman who gave up her twin babies for adoption while suffering from postpartum depression, and has now attempted to kidnap them a year and a half later.

" ... [Allison] Quets was arrested Friday in Ottawa, accused of kidnapping 17-month-olds Tyler Lee and Holly Ann Needham. An FBI warrant had been issued after the children were not returned to their adoptive parents after a scheduled visit in Raleigh, N.C., Christmas Eve.

Quets gave them up for adoption in 2005 shortly after they were born. At the time, she was suffering from severe postpartum depression. She tried to reverse the adoption hours after signing the papers and has been fighting for custody since."

So she kidnaps them and takes them from North Carolina across the border to Canada. I'm in a quandary about this one. I hate that she was allowed by those around her to make such a grave decision as giving up her children for adoption when she wasn't in the right mind to make such decisions. And I hate that the adoption wasn't reversed immediately before much harm could be done to anyone involved. But now that they've been with their adoptive parents for so long it's hard for me to imagine them being given back, and she didn't help matters with the kidnapping although I can understand her desperation. If I somehow didn't have my kids I would certainly go to great lengths to get them back. This is such a sad story all the way around and another example of the havoc that PPD wreaks.

State Senator Pushing Screening Legislation for NY

Katherine Stone — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:07:44 +0000

From The Journal in the state of New York on postpartum depression legislation:

"Legislating postpartum depression screening could help destigmatize a threat to many new mothers, and encourage treatment.

State Sen. Thomas Morahan, head of the Senate's Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, is pushing legislation that mandates postpartum screening for all new mothers and calls for educational/informational programs about PPD for new moms, dads and other family members as they leave the hospital.

We applaud his efforts to treat what is an illness, not a weakness ...

We are not talking about the common baby blues. These are illnesses that are as deserving of medical attention as gallbladder problems or a heart murmur."

Thank you, NY State Senator Morahan!!

15% of New Moms Experience Mental Problems

Katherine Stone — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:00:16 +0000

I'm sure you've all heard by now and all I can say is "Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!!!!!!!!" The new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association about postpartum mood disorders confirms what so many of us have believed for so long. And just so you know, if 15% of new moms have PPD, that means that 600,000 women in the U.S. alone are experiencing these illnesses every single year. This means there are millions and millions of women like us out there.

From the Associated Press: New moms face increased risks for a variety of mental problems, not just postpartum depression, according to one of the largest studies of psychiatric illness after childbirth.

New dads aren't as vulnerable, probably because they don't experience the same physical and social changes associated with having a baby, the researchers and other experts said.

The study, based on medical records of 2.3 million people over a 30-year period in Denmark, found that the first three months after women have their first baby is riskiest, especially the first few weeks. That's when the tremendous responsibility of caring for a newborn hits home.

During the first 10 to 19 days, new mothers were seven times more likely to be hospitalized with some form of mental illness than women with older infants. Compared with women with no children, new mothers were four times more likely to be hospitalized with mental problems.

New mothers also were more likely than other women to get outpatient psychiatric treatment.

However, new fathers did not have a higher risk of mental problems when compared with fathers of older infants and men without children.

The prevalence of mental disorders was about 1 per 1,000 births for women and just .37 per 1,000 births for men.

The problems included postpartum depression, but also bipolar disorder, with altering periods of depression and mania; schizophrenia and similar disorders; and adjustment disorders, which can include debilitating anxiety.

The study underscores a need for psychiatric screening of all new mothers and treatment for those affected, according to an editorial accompanying the study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. [my emphasis]

"Mental health is crucial to a mother's capacity to function optimally, enjoy relationships, prepare for the infant's birth, and cope with the stresses and appreciate the joys of parenthood," the editorial says.

Two of the editorial's three authors reported financial ties to the psychiatric drug industry. The study researchers said they had no financial ties to the industry.

They examined national data on Danish residents from around 1973 to July 2005. About 1.1 million participants became parents during the study.

A total of 1,171 mothers and 658 fathers -- none in whom any previous mental health issues had been diagnosed -- were hospitalized with a mental disorder after childbirth.

Lead author Trine Munk-Olsen, a researcher at Denmark's University of Aarhus, said similar risks for psychiatric problems likely would affect new parents in other developed nations including the United States. However, differences in screening practices and access to health care might influence whether parents elsewhere are hospitalized, she said.

Physical changes after childbirth might partly explain why women are vulnerable, including fluctuating hormone levels, Munk-Olsen said. These, alone or combined with sleep deprivation and the demands of breast-feeding could trigger mental problems, she said.

Hard data on the number of women worldwide affected by postpartum mental illness are scant, but postpartum depression alone affects about 15 percent of U.S. women.

The condition made headlines last year when actress Brooke Shields acknowledged taking antidepressants after her first child was born -- and Tom Cruise publicly criticized her for it.

It also has been cited as a factor in shocking cases of mothers killing their children, including Andrea Yates' drowning of her five children in Texas in 2001.

Dr. Nada Stotland, a psychiatry professor at Rush Medical College in Chicago, said gender differences in postpartum mental illness are not surprising.

Mothers generally bear the brunt of sleep deprivation, and many new mothers are socially isolated or live far from relatives who could provide support, Stotland said.

She said the study likely will provoke mixed reactions.

"There may be people who say, 'My mother raised eight children and she never needed to have mental health care,' and others will say, 'Finally somebody has noticed just how stressful this is and what people go through,"' Stotland said.

Nationally-Recognized Author/Social Worker Karen Kleiman Sounds Off

Katherine Stone — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:28:00 +0000

Karen Kleiman has written an excellent response to the ignorant Ms. Shore on her Postpartum Stress Center blog:

Katherine Stone (and her wonderful Postpartum Progress Blog) has called our attention to the words of Tricia Shore , a writer who, when she isn't stirring up trouble, is a comedian (someone should tell her this isn't funny) who has declared her comments on PPD for all to see. On behalf of women with postpartum depression, I feel compelled to clarify a few things:

It's a shame that so many ill-equipped and opinionated writers have such an expansive audience to whom they can further spread their misconceptions. In the past, when someone found a forum to preach misinformation, it could be dismissed as an isolated aberration or an individual’s distorted interpretation or simply unbridled discourse at a cocktail party.

But today, as we continue to seek or be bombarded by Internet-available information we may or may not want or ask for, sometimes something seeps through cracks. We are then forced to spend what little available time we have wondering why someone actually spent the energy and bandwidth to put forth a particular message. The reason we have to respond is because there is now, more than ever, greater access to these unsupervised communications and more lives potentially impacted.

So I reluctantly confess that I spent superfluous time reflecting on the piece written by Tricia Shore that Katherine so responsibly brought to our attention.

In what might, at first glance, be a not-so-popular posture, I must admit that I agree with her opening opinion which raises a concern of my own: Has our media-soaked attention to a devastating illness, somehow diminished its worthiness in the medical and mental health community? Is there so much hype surrounding postpartum depression that in addition to promoting much needed awareness to this underdiagnosed illness, it might actually dilute the impact and sabotage our own efforts?

I hope not.

Those of us who treat this illness know only too well how excruciatingly painful and potentially deadly it is. Quite frankly, we should not be the least bit influenced by the misguided insights of a bystander who claims to have a worthwhile opinion. But for the sake of those who have been disturbed by this very well-written commentary, and on behalf of women who struggle with postpartum depression, let me do my best to respond to some of her specific points with a few of my own opinions:

--Postpartum depression does not make strong women appear weak. It makes strong women sick.

--Claiming that Brooke is "prostituting", Oprah is "enabling" and Mary Jo is "victimized" is inflammatory and simply unmerited.

--"Little pills that supposedly cure depression" can save lives and improve the quality of life. This is not a belief, it is evidence-based information that may or may not be significant to Ms. Shore or anyone she loves.

--Breastfeeding may indeed facilitate a pre-pregnant hormonal state. Breastfeeding may also be contraindicated if a woman is sick and unable to adequately care for herself and/or her baby. Breastfeeding can be associated with increased fatigue, depletion of personal resources and guilt that renders a mother virtually frozen with ambivalence. Pressuring a woman to breastfeed when she is in the throes of a major depressive episode and feeling suicidal can have catastrophic consequences.

--If a woman is fortunate enough to be surrounded by family and friends to "help hormones return to normal", she is likely to feel less isolated, less agitated and far more comforted. The presence of her loving family and friends cannot, however, prevent nor treat a major depressive episode.

--She makes a good point regarding the thyroid and it's worth repeating by one of the "supposed experts" who understands and treats women with postpartum depression: Before a definitive diagnosis of postpartum depression is made, depression caused by medical conditions such as thyroid dysfunction or anemia must always be ruled out.

--It’s okay for her to be skeptical about our mental health industry. She should be. We all should be. Women who are sick should be especially skeptical about misdiagnoses, mistreatment and misinformation. No one should be prescribed medication if they do not need it. And no one should question the use of medication by someone who does.

--"I even wanted to be a social worker… my plans have changed about becoming a social worker…"

This point, Ms. Shore, is very good news for all of us.

Sheer perfection!

Article in Parent Guide News, Twomey on CNN, & PPD Support Page on NBC

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 11:09:26 +0000

Lots of PPD in the news ...

Download postpartumrevised2.pdf

Above is a link to an article about PPD in Parent Guide News, the oldest and largest local parenting publication covering New York City, Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey. The article features myself, Susan Dowd Stone and Jane Honikman of PSI, Dr. Alexis Menken and Molly Padulo.

Teresa Twomey was interviewed for a piece on postpartum mood disorders on the Paula Zahn Now show Tuesday evening, 8pm EST. Also, tommorow night (Tues. Dec. 5th) Jessica Banas of the PPD Support Page will be on NBC Nightly News. Wow! Good for them!!

Changes in FL, SC, NC and WA in PPD Support Group List

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 04:24:00 +0000

Here is the updated postpartum depression support group list with changes in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Washington ...

Download ppd_support_groups_120106.doc

Another Great Piece from MomSquawk about PPD

Katherine Stone — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:35:00 +0000

The following is a great post called "The Shame of Postpartum Depression" written by Momma Steph over at MomSquawk:

According to an article in Psychiatric Times, postpartum depression and psychosis are often missed by practitioners. Around 10-15% of new mothers will be diagnosed with postpartum depression (not to be confused with “baby blues”, which affects around 80%), and less than 1% of new mothers reportedly experience postpartum psychosis.
But postpartum depression may be more prevalent than thought, because women are reluctant to reveal the symptoms, Dr. [Phillip J.] Resnick said. Fearing of falling short of society’s ideal of motherhood, women may hold back from telling their husbands. And many fear that if they tell a doctor or social worker about their depression, their baby might be taken away, he said.
Gee… women who are blindsided by postpartum mental disorders aren’t likely to fill anyone in voluntarily? YA THINK?! “You know, honey, I can’t seem to stop obsessing about putting the baby in the dishwasher. Isn’t that odd? I guess we should get takeout. Why are you looking at me like that?”

I wonder if other undiagnosed women got hit with PPD as I did - in such a bizarre and scary fashion that it didn’t even occur to me that I’d been hit. I thought women with PPD hated their babies, or cried all the time, or didn’t feel like leaving the house. I loved my baby fiercely, didn’t cry much at all, and didn’t at all shy away from leaving the house - many evenings I headed down the road, clutching the baby, making a beeline for my husband’s office, if only to intercept him partway through his walk home and hand off our spawn so that I’d know he was safe. Safe from the dishwasher.

Had I known that intrusive thoughts are a fairly common symptom of PPD, I probably would have told someone. And I’m certain that the obsessions would have been much less severe, more easily laughed off and dismissed. As it was, I just thought I was going crazy, and that admitting it would make it worse, and might cost me my child. So I decided to just use all my mental strength to keep it together. And I made a pact with myself that if I ever found myself in real danger of harming the baby, I’d kill myself first, as a pre-emptive move.

Yes, the unclouded bliss of new motherhood, indeed!

Some facts on infanticide, from the article:
About 40% of mothers with postpartum depression have thoughts about killing their child, Dr. Resnick said. And for depressed mothers of “colicky” babies-babies not soothed even when fed, changed, and held-that figure climbs to 70%, he said.
Of the mothers whose depression develops into psychosis, as it did with Yates, about 4% will harm their children if the psychosis is not treated, Dr. Resnick said.
This is why education and screening are so important. I’m a well-read person, I pored over all the pregnancy books I could get my hands on, but nothing prepared me to recognize PPD. For me, bad thoughts = Andrea Yates. My only available coping mechanism (so I believed) was denial.

I’m praying that the MOTHERS Act gets out of committee and onto the floor of Congress. Its stated purpose:
To ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services, and to increase research at the National Institutes of Health on postpartum depression.
I had great healthcare, by all obvious standards, and I was in the dark about the signs of postpartum depression. How many other women are uninformed? How many mothers and babies are at risk?

If and when the legislation makes its way onto the floor, we should be ready for idiotic hissy fits like this: “PPD is made up by whiney mothers and screening is a grand conspiracy by the patriarchy” essay (link courtesy of Katherine at Postpartum Progress). Debate over the proposed law is one thing. But denying the existence of PPD, and further shaming women who may be suffering from it by calling them weak, is unconscionable.

Postpartum Women Respond to Ignorant Writer

Katherine Stone — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:29:05 +0000

Regarding my post yesterday about that insulting woman who wrote a very uninformed piece about postpartum depression, Postpartum Progress reader Sandra Wolf, M.A. LMFT, wrote a great response:

Here is the e-mail I sent this self-righteous you-know-what:

I just read your article and I have to say that I am appalled by your level of ignorance and non-compassion for your fellow women. I am so happy you never experienced postpartum depression. No woman should ever have to experience that and that is precisely why it is extremely important that women be screened for this disease. Yes, Virginia, it is indeed a disease. I was absolutely overjoyed and over the moon when I discovered I was pregnant with my son. But, not once did my OB/GYN during my pregnancy ask me how my mood was (which, looking back was mildly depressed throughout the pregnancy despite my initial elation at discovering I was pregnant), or ask me if I had a history of previous depression, or ask me if I have a familial history of depression. If she had, then I could have been notified I was in a high-risk group for developing postpartum depression. After the birth, I knew something did not feel right. And despite my trying to tell people something was wro ng, I was dismissed and told it was just the "baby blues", even after the initial 2 week period when "baby blues" should have subsided. I didn't tell ANYONE about the thoughts I had of harming my baby, even though I knew in my heart I would never do it...that is the defining difference by the way between a mother experiencing psychosis who will likely kill her infant when having such thoughts and a mother who simply has OCD and depression and is appalled and terrified of having such thoughts. I didn't tell anyone precisely because I was frightened someone would take my child away from me and my husband. Had I could have been assured that I would have been helped rather than judged negatively or harshly or labeled as "evil", I would have spoken up and therefore not have had to suffer for as long as I did (6 months before I finally sought help). That is why I think it is extremely important for women to be screened and specifically asked about possible symptoms of this disorder. If you don't have it, which fortunately, the majority of women do not, great for you! However, if you fall within the 10-20% of women who do experience such symptoms, then you should not have to worry about others trying to silence you due to their fear and ignorance. This disorder is VERY TREATABLE. There is MORE THAN ONE successful means of treatment and each woman should decide with a professional upon the level of treatment that will work best for her. Not everyone needs medication, but for those who do, then so be it if it means a WELL mother! If you are such a proponent of motherhood and children, then you should realize a WELL mother is what is best for a child, not a mother suffering in silence, afraid to speak up about her experience for fear of being chastised by women like you! As for your tirade about breastfeeding being the best "medicine", that is not always the case. I breastfed my son for 13 months, and y et, I STILL suffered from postpartum depression! And no, the mental health profession is not seeking to "brainwash" people as you suggest...I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and not ONCE did it occur to me that I was suffering from postpartum depression, though I did know something felt terribly wrong and not right. I didn't realize this is what I was suffering from because no Dr. bothered to screen me for it and it wasn't taught when I was in graduate school. I would come home and cry after spending an afternoon with my best friend who would state to me that her son was "the joy of her life". I cried from the depths of my soul because I so DESPERATELY wanted to feel that for my son, but I didn't and I couldn't understand why or what was wrong with me. Lucky for me, once I sought therapy and became well again, I have subsequently discovered what that feeling is like as I can now say assuredly that my son IS the joy and love of my life! Unfortunately, this disorder ROBBED me from feeling that for most of the first year of his life and I ache thinking I can never go back and change that for him. But now, after having received treatment, I can feel assured that he knows what it feels like to have a WELL mohter now who takes pride in being his Mama! But, when I was experiencing this disorder, I never dared say a word for fear of coming across people with small, judgemental minds like yourself. Shame on you!...You seem to tout yourself as a Christian....aren't Christians supposed to feel compassion for others, even when their experiences are not the same as yours or fall along your way of thinking??!!! At least that was what I was taught growing up in a religious school for 12 years!

Sandra

California Mom's Thought on "Whining" Mary Jo Codey, "Questionable" Antidepressants & "Trumped Up Illnesses Like Postpartum Depression"

Katherine Stone — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:16:00 +0000

This article by a mom who clearly has absolutely no idea what she's talking about really annoys me. Thank goodness I have her to tell me about an illness that she doesn't think exists since she's never experienced it. Genius. (I wonder if she believes in cancer or diabetes?) Let me give you a few highlights:

" ... With the newfangled Brooke Shields-mental-health-prostitution, many new moms read her book and say, "That’s me!" And then the moms jump on the post-partum depression bandwagon themselves, along with the little pills that supposedly cure the depression ..." " ... As trumped up illnesses such as post-partum depression continue to make women feel as though we’re victims, we will spend our time talking in support groups instead of fighting for our dwindling freedoms ..."

I share this, of course, because it's an example of the stigma and ignorance that exists about mental illnesses, and in this case perinatal mood disorders. It makes me sad. I have a hard time accepting the smugness of people who are convinced they have complete control over their mental state, or that a good walk will shake off a deep depression. Perhaps Ms. Shore has a medical degree that we're not aware of?? I agree with the premise that every illness doesn't require medication. But the truth is, no doctor or mental health industry or advertisement or any other such thing made me think or do anything. I made the choices about being treated, working with my doctor, and I recovered. I am neither weak nor uneducated. Ms. Shore, I'd be more than happy to compare my intelligence level and accomplishments in life with yours. I think, despite my experience with postpartum depression, you'd be quite surprised. Being concerned about the government's involvement with medical screenings is one thing, but making light of postpartum mood disorders? Not very cool.

More Sad News & Something You Can Do About It

Katherine Stone — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 09:55:31 +0000

More sad news to share. But first, let me explain something. I don't share this news with you to make you feel bad or scare you when it comes to your own situation. If you're reading this blog, it means you're doing something to get yourself better. You're reaching out to learn more, and hopefully you're getting treated. At minimum, I'll be here for you if you need me. I share sad news because it's extremely important that everyone be informed about the most dire consequences of our illness. This is real life, and people need to be confronted with it so that they might be urged on to act, and act quickly.

PLEASE write your senators and congressmen and women and tell them to pass the MOTHERS Act. I know it seems futile - I myself had never done it until now. But we've got to do something. Click here and look on the left side of the screen where you can enter your zip code. Feel free to print out my story from the other day and this one so that you have proof to share that more people could get harmed if something isn't done.

Here's the news, from yesterday's Fayetteville Observer (NC):

"By the time detectives got to the two-story brick home in northern Cumberland County on Tuesday, Faye Johnson Vick and her two children had likely been dead for several days.

Detectives found their bodies inside Faye Vick’s vehicle, which was parked in the two-car garage and had run out of gas.

On Wednesday, investigators said Faye Vick killed herself and her children, 2-year-old Jason Vick and 3-month-old Madison Vick. A state Medical Examiner’s Office report said the three died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

No one can be sure what went through Vick’s mind before she climbed inside the vehicle with her two children and turned on the engine.

Debbie Tanna, a spokeswoman for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, said Faye Vick, who was 39, had a history of postpartum depression ..."

Father in Kansas City Shares Poignant Perspective on Wife With PPMD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:41:52 +0000

The following is a very poignant letter from Jim, a new father in Kansas City whose wife is experiencing postpartum depression:

At first hearing about postpartum depression, I will be the first to admit I thought that it was a fictional event created by women to explain or excuse their behaviors after the birth of a child. I was irritated that Andrea Yates was allowed to walk after drowning her five beautiful children. Then it hit home by attacking one of the strongest people I have ever met: my wife, a woman with a master's degree plus forty hours and an accomplished teacher. This illness transformed her into a withdrawn, hollow person who had so much self-doubt that she could not even muster up the words to describe what she was feeling. It was then that I came face to face with this horrible illness and realized it is very real. There is not any information that comes to you in pregnancy classes or even a pre-evaluation to see if you're susceptible, and the OB/GYN doesn't even see their patients for six weeks after delivery. This seems convenient since most women have symptoms in their first month of being a mom and that way it is some other doctor's problem. The fact that this was told to me by an OB/GYN should show society that this is a VERY common illness that they have no clue how to treat. How can a doctor deliver a baby and not be there with the necessary tools to help cure the mother to protect her, the child and the family as whole and guarantee that this remains the happiest times of their lives?

It all started out innocently enough. We were leaving the hospital when a nurse told us that this illness was out there and if we see it to get help right away. This is the same nurse my wife blamed for her breastfeeding problems. According to my wife she said the baby lost 9% of his weight and she was not breastfeeding right. I was not there at the time, and thinking back on this illness I wonder if that is really what transpired. Maybe this experienced nurse saw something in K. that made her think K. had had the onset of this illness. When we got home K. was quiet. I thought it was due to her recovery from her c-section and nothing more. In my mind this woman was too strong to have postpartum depression. Then she thought the baby was not getting enough breast milk when, in fact, he had the required diapers to prove that he was sufficiently fed. She went to pumping and bottles to assure her that he was getting the required ounces. This was not enough to quell her irrational thoughts. From there the next item of irrationality was how much sleep the baby was getting. According to her, he was getting too much but according to her pediatrician and books he was sleeping the normal amount. Part of the problem was that K. never met a goal that she did not surpass and then some, but this baby did not come with a to-do list and it was eating her up inside.

K. is brilliant and loves kids. She is the chosen person that my brother and her sister had decided to take care of their children in case something happened to them. She also runs an infant room at our church and has taken care of her nieces and nephews from a very early age. In short, she has a lot of experience with babies and infants. That made it even more shocking when she first uttered the phrase that our son would be better off with a different mommy. My heart sank and I knew we were in for the fight of our lives. She later confessed to me that she thought of harming herself.

Then all of a sudden one Saturday night she was her old self for about four hours and then the roof caved in. In the early stages of this illness she would get up and pace all over the house and get the baby out of the bassinet no less than ten times. I thought that she was just a very nervous first mom, dealing with a lot of anxiety. Well, this Saturday night was no different; she got up and I mean got up a lot. Her mom and sister called her because they were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch with her nephews and our son that morning. I was asleep when my mother-in-law came into my room and said "Get up, we need to do something about K". When I found her she was almost catatonic with our son on her lap. What followed was a ten-day hospital stay where most of what she would say was, "yes, no or okay." I talked to her doctor twice to figure out what was going on with her and what is sad is the conversation was initiated at my request and my phone calls. Is there not a need to ensure that there is a solid support team set up for these women when they come home and face their fears all over again?

Prior to this illness it was a joke of mine that if K. wanted to talk and no one else was around, she would talk to a mannequin. It was hard for me because I knew less about babies than anyone ever placed on this green Earth. I was about to get a crash course as the only care giver and full time worker. I have a new-found admiration for single moms. Luckily for me, my parents and mother-in-law helped me with day-to-day events and even watched our baby some nights. This was a big help.

We are still dealing with this illness and K. has shown some improvements but not a lot. I came to the realization that doctors either don't know much about this illness or they don't care enough to learn more about it. That is when I found my own help (the Kansas PPD group, Helena Bradford [who is a Godsend], Postpartum Dads, Dr. Ronald Rosenberg, Carol Blocker, Katherine Stone and others too many to mention). It is strange to me that regular people are leading the way to learn more about this illness and that there is not a bigger push from the medical community. We, as a society, are all about protecting children, so it is hard to understand the lackadaisical approach we have about this illness that effects so many and has a potential for such dire consequences. [AMEN, Jim!]

Where we are today: K. still thinks she is a bad mom and thinks she will never feel better -- no matter what I tell her. We are lucky to talk to her doctor once a week. Her mom took off work to help us out, and I could not imagine what we would do without her help. If this can happen to K. it could happen to anyone. Think about that the next time you are with a group of people. Look at them and think, "They could suffer from this illness sometime in their life". It could be a CEO of a company, a teacher, a doctor, a secretary or a senator. Postpartum Depression is not prejudiced and attacks the strong and weak with the same vigor. One quote I read about this illness is the most accurate: "A mother lion will fight to the death to save her cubs, and this illness is what happens if that lioness turns that same ferocity on herself." Lastly and most importantly this could have been your mother, sister, daughter or scariest of all, your wife. If it is then know you will be in my prayers because as Helena told me,"I would not wish this on my worst enemy". These are my notes from the battle -- from the front lines, and not after the war is over. Believe me when I say "War is hell!!"

Murders & Attempted Murders in California, South Carolina and Connecticut Should Move Congress to Pass the MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:25:30 +0000

There are WAY too many cases in the past couple of months where children are getting injured or killed. WAY too many. Hello, Senators and Congressman???!!!!!! Are you seeing this? Are you beginning to understand the necessity for better treatment for and research into postpartum psychosis? Why are you still shuffling around? What is the problem?

I am absolutely incensed. Make a stand, Congress. Pass the MOTHERS Act so we don't lose any more women or children!!!!!!!!!!!

It's happening in Connecticut --

According to the Hartford Courant, "The young mother accused of stabbing her children early Saturday may have been suffering from postpartum psychosis, a respected Hartford psychiatrist speculated Sunday ... Dr. Harold I. Schwartz, psychiatrist-in-chief at Hartford Hospital's Institute of Living, said ... it is reasonable to assume that Carmela Ortiz, 22, was suffering from the rarest and most severe form of postpartum depression when, police say, she critically wounded her 2-year-old twins and 7-month-old baby ... Ortiz used a knife to stab her three sons in their apartment ... Police said the children were critically injured but are expected to survive ... Postpartum psychosis does not happen suddenly, so there is time to intervene before a new mother hurts herself or her children, Schwartz said. One impediment to care has been that after a baby is born, doctors rarely ask new mothers about their frame of mind ..."

It's happening in South Carolina --

From the Associated Press: "A mother accused of killing her twin sons has postpartum depression and should be released from jail to receive treatment, her attorney told a judge. Lakeia White, 20, was being held Friday on two counts of homicide by child abuse ... Berkeley County sheriff's detectives said White admitted smothering her 9-month-old sons Devion and Trevon Wilson last month because they were crying and she didn't feel well." From the Charleston Post & Courier: "White already has been evaluated by a psychiatrist in Columbia and was subsequently admitted to the private facility Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health in North Charleston for treatment. That was at Davis' behest, and he said doctors concluded that White had postpartum psychosis."

It's happening in California --

From the San Diego Union-Tribune: "Kristen Lawson, now 30, gave birth to her third child, a girl, five months ago. When news spread among Lawson's friends that she'd been arrested for trying to kill both daughters, everyone assumed, without being told, that she had been struck low by another postpartum episode. [She experienced postpartum depression with the birth of her first two children.] There was simply no other explanation for why Lawson – whom one friend calls 'the epitome of what a mom should be' – reportedly tried to drown the girls in a bathtub ... Even the police say postpartum depression – or some sort of mental collapse – appears to be the culprit for Lawson's behavior." Thank God she didn't succeed, but now Ms. Lawson is forbidden from ever going near her children again.

Do something, Congress!

Genetic Test Can Predict Impact of Antidepressant Side Effects

Katherine Stone — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:58:48 +0000

Wendy Davis sent me a VERY interesting article called "The Right Drug?" from the Mayo Clinic website, which first appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in November 2004. Psychiatrists at the Mayo Clinic have found that they can use genetic tests to predict which people will have side effects from certain antidepressants. This could be huge! Here is much of the article verbatim:

"Psychiatrists at the Mayo Clinic have come up with a new way to help people avoid some of the nasty side effects of antidepressants and other drugs.

They're using genetic tests to predict which patients are likely to get headaches, nausea or other problems from medications such as Prozac and Paxil. And they're changing their treatment accordingly.

The tests are among the first in a new wave of genetic tools that, experts say, will transform the way doctors make decisions about treating their patients.

'At this point in time, the test really can't tell you what drug will work,' said Dr. David Mrazek, Mayo's chief of psychiatry, who has led the charge for genetic testing. But 'it will identify drugs that don't work.' And that, he says, can help reduce side effects and failure rates.

In effect, the DNA tests look for faulty genes that can interfere with someone's ability to process drugs normally. Doctors can use the information to adjust dosing levels or steer people away from drugs that may harm them or can't help them ...

At Mayo, Mrazek and his colleagues have focused on genes for a family of enzymes known as cytochrome P450. Those enzymes control how the body processes dozens of medications, including some antidepressants, heart drugs and cancer drugs. If those genes don't work right, the body's ability to metabolize drugs -- to use them and dispose of them -- goes haywire.

For some patients, this translates into years of frustration, searching for a drug that works and won't make them sick.

By the time one woman came to see him, Mrazek recalled, she had spent about 10 years seeking help for her depression. She claimed that every antidepressant she tried caused excruciating headaches or other problems. Her doctors would roll their eyes and scold her for not taking her medication.

When she had the DNA test, Mrazek said, he discovered that she was a classic 'poor metabolizer.' Because of faulty genes, she couldn't produce a key enzyme, known as 2D6, which helps break down certain drugs in the body. Without the enzyme, the antidepressants built up in her bloodstream like a toxic overdose, triggering the side effects.

He switched her to a different drug that didn't need that enzyme to function. And her relief was palpable. 'This is the reaction I have over and over again -- We're not crazy. We're not hypochondriacs,' Mrazek said. 'They feel like they've been sort of mishandled by doctors who haven't listened to them.'

Many depressed people simply stop taking their drugs because of side effects, experts say.

So for patients, this kind of test could be a dream come true, according to Sue Abderholden, executive director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Minnesota chapter. 'If we could reduce the side effects -- boy, that would be huge.'

At the other extreme, some patients don't benefit at all from certain antidepressants, at least at standard doses. In those cases, Mrazek says, they may have too many copies of a certain gene, which results in a surplus of enzymes working overtime to clear the medicine out of their bodies. They may need a bigger dose than normal, or a different drug.

This kind of test won't prevent all side effects, he notes. For example, antidepressants have been linked to an increase in suicidal thoughts, and he said genes may have little or nothing to do with that. But genetic differences are clearly to blame for other types of side effects, such as impotence or loss of sex drive.

Generally, most people tolerate these drugs well, he adds. Only about one in 10 people may have a genetic variation that causes a problem, though the rates vary by race, geographic origin and the type of drug involved.

The DNA test Mrazek uses is a simple blood test and needs to be done only once in a lifetime. But some worry about the costs. At the Mayo Clinic, it's about $650 to test just two key genes.

That's one problem psychiatrists at the Veterans Medical Center in Minneapolis are wrestling with as they prepare to start offering the tests. 'Depression is such a common thing. If you start doing this indiscriminately, it's a lot of cost,' said Dr. Adityanjee, a VA psychiatrist who is part of a committee studying the DNA testing. For now, he said, they'll probably limit it to certain patients, such as those who have had problems with medications in the past. 'It's too early at this point in time for this to be part of, let's say, gold-standard treatment,' said Adityanjee, who uses only one name.

But as costs drop and more tests become available, he predicts, 'It will become part of our day-to-day treatment" ...

Mayo is also offering the test commercially, to doctors and clinics around the world.

Eventually, Mrazek hopes to fine-tune the tests to be able to predict which drugs will work best for each patient. 'We're not there now,' he said. But he's optimistic: 'I think it will happen in the next five, 10 years.'"

Carolyn Brink, who experienced postpartum depression and eventually became a patient of Mrazek, found the right medication thanks to Mrazek's cytochrome p450 test. Her new book "Mommies Cry, Too" chronicles her experience. You can learn more about it here. I have a copy (thanks Carolyn!) but haven't had the chance to sit down and read it yet.

Washington Post article on PPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:24:37 +0000

Click here to read an article from a few days ago in The Washington Post about another woman just like us and her experience with postpartum depression.

Perinatal Depression Conference in Chicago on Nov. 8

Katherine Stone — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 11:48:20 +0000

Joan Mudd gave me a heads up about a great conference coming up. Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago will be presenting the Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Perinatal Depression Conference, a medical conference featuring leading experts on PPD, on November 8, 2006. Mary Jo Codey, former first lady of New Jersey, will be the keynote speaker. If you haven't seen her speak, you should, because she's GREAT. ACME credits are available for physicians, and Continuing Education credits are available for registered nurses.

The conference will be held at the University Club of Chicago, at 76 East Monroe St., from 8:30 to 3pm. Call 312-567-5470 for more information.

Study on Postpartum Mood Assessment at UNLV

Katherine Stone — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 02:38:00 +0000

This comes from Karen Kleiman's Postpartum Stress Center blog about an online study being conducted by the University of Nevada:

The UNLV Maternal Health Lab www.maternalhealthlab.com is currently conducting an internet study on postpartum mood assessment, approved by the UNLV Institutional Review Board. We would greatly appreciate if you would add a link to our homepage on your website. We need 500 participants to complete the study. The questionnaire is completely anonymous and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. To participate, go to the above website and scroll down until you see the picture of a pregnant belly.

PPD Support Groups List, Take Two

Katherine Stone — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:31:08 +0000

Several of you have let me know that you tried to open up my list of support groups and it didn't work. Sorry. I'm not sure what's wrong so I'm going to reattach it to this post and see if it works this time!

Download ppd_support_groups1.doc

Mental Health Ministries Needs Your Donation to Complete PPD Video

Katherine Stone — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:01:33 +0000

Mental Health Ministries is putting together a video resource for postpartum depression. They have already taped interviews and their production partner, Pacific Media Ministry, is currently editing the tape to be shown on the Hallmark Channel and other cable channels. They need an additional $1500 to "re-purpose" the material from Pacific Media Minstry so that they can use it as a Mental Health Ministries Resource. This money would cover editing, graphic design, printing of a discussion guide, replication and other expenses. You can help by making a donation. All tax deductible donations are welcome, but donations of $500 or more will be included in the credits so that they can educate churches on how to recognize the signs of PPD and provide appropriate support.

To donate, click here. Be sure to tell them you heard about it from Postpartum Progress!

Info For Practitioners on Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy & Postpartum

Katherine Stone — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:04:24 +0000

For all you practitioners out there, below you can download a postpartum bipolar disorder paper chock full of information called "Collaborative Management of Women with Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Pharmacologic Considerations" by Sheila Ward and Katherine Wisner.

Download sheilawardbipolardisorderinpregandpostpartum98061.doc

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation a Potential Treatment for PPD

Katherine Stone — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:19:32 +0000

My inbox is flooded, flooded, flooded with stories on postpartum depression, including more and more stories on research and new discoveries, which is so exciting. Today I'll share with you a story from KSDK-TV in St. Louis, Missouri. But you have to PROMISE to keep in mind, there are no magic bullets yet to fix PPMDs, and there are no complete answers as to what causes it. We can't say for sure whether the following postpartum depression treatment will really work for everyone, or what long-term side effects it may cause:

"Local doctors may be on the verge of a breakthrough for women who suffer from postpartum depression.

It's a treatment that doesn't even require new moms to take a pill. Doctors are using magnets to stimulate the brains of moms who are depressed after giving birth.

It's still in the testing phase, but it's helped Erin White so much, she wishes she had talked about her depression much sooner.

Every day for the past four weeks, she's had her brain stimulated by a magnet. The hope is the treatments will loosen the grip of her postpartum depression.

'I waited almost five months to say something and I kept thinking well maybe I'm just overwhelmed maybe I just need to get used to my new schedule,' said White.

The treatment is called transcranial magnetic stimulation. Discovered by accident, it actually changes the physiology of the brain and improves the mood.

So how does it work?

'The fact is, we don't know,' said Dr. Keith Garcia, a psychiatrist at Washington University School of Medicine.

But the preliminary findings of this research are promising. Magnetic stimulation of the brain does appear to be working in women with PPD.

'So far I think the findings are going to be pretty positive. In major depression it seems to be an effective treatment,' said Garcia.

Candidates for the study are carefully screened. Those selected get 40-minute treatments, five days a week for a month.

White said it's been time well spent and urges other new moms struggling with depression to reach out for help.

'Don't be embarrassed get help as soon as possible and that way you can enjoy your baby as much as you can!' said White.

Besides a tapping feeling, some women may also get a slight headache following treatment, but side effects are said to be minor.

Postpartum depression affects 15 percent of women who deliver babies. Symptoms include poor mood, lack of sleep, appetite, and concentration.

For more information, call Washington University's Volunteer for Health Office at 314-362-1000."

Profoundly Alone: The Disconnection of Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:44:19 +0000

When you suffer from a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder like postpartum depression, you walk around in a haze while trying to seem as normal as possible. You try to make yourself feel as connected as you can to your child and those around you. Perhaps your dearest friends and family can tell that you don't seem like yourself, but then they just brush it off as normal baby blues. And you soldier on, trying to pretend -- sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully -- that everything is cool.

When my son was a little over two months old and I was in the throes of postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder I tried to host a ladies' luncheon at my house. It was mid-December, and I guess I thought it would make me feel better to have a half-dozen women over and make them a nice little Christmas lunch. I decorated the house. I made goat cheese salad and butternut squash soup and little lemon tarts with sugared blueberries for dessert.

When the women came over, I'll never forget having one of the oddest feelings I've ever had. I felt like I was inside of a bubble. Or like I was hovering over the party watching it but that my guests couldn't see or hear me. I was shocked out how disconnected I felt from the world, and it seemed like it didn't really matter whether I was there or not. I tried to make small talk, but it seemed like the sentences just didn't come out right and that I wasn't making any sense -- it was almost like the air had been replaced by water that blurred my vision and muffled my sound. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and they were chatting and eating away. I kept trying to connect with them, to feel present, but no matter what I did it didn't work.

To this day, I don't think they had any idea what I was thinking or feeling. They seemed to have a lovely time. After everyone had left and my son went down for a nap, I remember laying down on the couch in my family room and sobbing. I had tried to do something to make myself feel better, to be a part of the world, and it only broke my heart. I tried to be close to others and it only made me feel further apart.

One of the truly awful feelings you experience during postpartum mood disorders is that sense of disconnection from the world, from your friends and family, from your baby, and most of all, from yourself. I felt so deeply, deeply alone.

Profoundly alone.

This is why it's so hard for us to say anything. We're ashamed, of course. But we're also disconnected. I didn't think anyone would hear me, or believe me, or perhaps even care. I didn't even have myself to talk to anymore. Myself had up and left and this new person I had become was clearly NOT my friend. I had lost my ability to speak clearly and calmly and with reason. I felt like I couldn't even communicate love to my own child. How could I have been expected to understandably explain THIS?

I hope the people we love can try to understand why it is so easy for us to turn away. It's much easier to run and hide, or give up, than to try and speak through the cement wall that life just erected between us and the world. We try our best, but you may have to fill in the blanks for us until we find our words, and ourselves, again.

Copper Levels in Blood May Be Tied to PPD

Katherine Stone — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:03:51 +0000

According to the following story, which was released this past Friday by Reuters, high copper levels in blood may be linked to postpartum depression. Keep in mind this is just an initial study, and much more research is needed, but the results are certainly interesting.

"Women with a history of postpartum depression tend to have unusually high levels of copper in their blood, a new study has found -- suggesting the mineral may play some role in the disorder.

While many women go through a short spell of the "baby blues" after giving birth, about 15 percent suffer full-blown postpartum depression. It's not clear why some women are more vulnerable than others.

The new findings suggest that the body's regulation of copper levels may be involved, researchers report in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology.

They found that blood copper levels were significantly higher among 78 women with a history of postpartum depression compared with non-depressed women and those who'd suffered depression unrelated to childbirth.

"This could very well be the missing link in the mystery of postpartum depression," said Dr. William J. Walsh, a co-author of the study and director of research at the Pfeiffer Treatment Center and the Health Research Institute in Warrenville, Illinois.

The center focuses on treating various mood and behavioral disorders by finding and treating "biochemical imbalances" they believe are at the roots of the problem.

In the case of postpartum depression, Walsh explained in an interview, the theory is that some women have a problem in the body's built-in system for clearing excess copper

During pregnancy, Walsh said, a woman's copper levels normally go up, more than doubling, before normalizing after childbirth. But he and his colleagues speculate that in women who develop postpartum depression, copper levels do not normalize for some reason -- most likely, they suspect, because of a genetically determined flaw in the protein that regulates copper levels.

Persistently high copper levels might contribute to postpartum depression because of the metal's role in brain chemistry, according to Walsh. Excess copper in the brain, he said, can alter the balance of dopamine and norepinephrine, two mood-regulating chemicals.

For their study, Walsh and colleague Dr. John W. Crayton examined data on a group of patients seen at the Pfeiffer center between 1990 and 2002. They focused on blood copper levels among 78 women with a history of postpartum depression, 148 with a history of depression but no postpartum symptoms and 28 with no history of depression.

The average copper level for the postpartum group was 131 micrograms per deciliter of blood, versus 111 mcg/dL in the depression group and 106 mcg/dL among non-depressed women.

These differences do not prove that high copper levels caused the women's postpartum depression, Walsh acknowledged.

But he said that in his clinic's experience, women with postpartum depression have responded to therapy with supplements that "normalize" their blood copper levels.

However, there have been no rigorous, controlled clinical trials to prove such treatment works. That, Walsh said, is the next step in the research.

SOURCE: Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, February 2007.

For more stories on the potential causes of postpartum depression, click here.

Help Important Research by Taking Online Survey

Katherine Stone — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:20:49 +0000

Karen Kleiman is working with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on a new screening tool for women with postpartum depression/anxiety. You can help them with their research into the use of this tool by clicking the link below and taking a survey. You must be over the age of 18 and have a baby under the age of 1. Your answers will be COMPLETELY anonymous. I hope you'll help out. I just took the survey a few minutes ago.

Click here to take survey

Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope: Helena Bradford

Katherine Stone — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:13:46 +0000

Today, Postpartum Progress is launching a new monthly feature called the "Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope". Each month, I will honor a worthy individual who invests his or her time and energy working to help women who are suffering or have suffered from postpartum mood disorders. The honoree will be someone who has been impacted by PPMD and has since chosen to let their light shine by educating and helping others. And now (drumroll please) ... introducing the Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope for February 2007:

Helena Bradford

Helena started the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation for Postpartum Depression Awareness in South Carolina after the needless death of her daughter Ruth on December 5, 1999, just two and a half months after the birth of Ruth's first child. After learning about the illness that caused Ruth to end her life at age 33, and learning that it was totally treatable, Helena and two friends (Elaine Earl and Mary Anna Mullinax) created the foundation in March 2000 because they didn't want other families to suffer the same pain they have. As a result of their work, there are now four PPD support groups in the state of South Carolina. (There were none when Helena's daughter died.) They also host an annual 5k walk/run every year in Charleston. Among all of her accomplishments, Helena is most proud of the individual lives that have been saved and the families that have been given back their mom, wife, sister or aunt as a direct result of Ruth's death. She says that helps take a little of the sting away from the intense pain of losing Ruth. As for the future, Helena would like to see routine screening of all pregnant women for perinatal depression conducted once per trimester by ob/gyns, in addition to national screening of new moms for PPD soon after delivery. She would also like to see birthing classes include more in-depth information about these illnesses -- symptoms, risk factors and where to find help should PPD surface.

Congratulations Helena, and thank you so much for shining a light on postpartum mood disorders!!!!!!

If you would like to nominate someone to be a Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope, email me at stonecallis@msn. Provide me with the person's name, contact information, and why you think they should be chosen as a Beacon of Hope. Thanks.

One-Day PPMD Workshop in Seattle Coming in March

Katherine Stone — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:46:57 +0000

Heidi Koss-Nobel is offering a one-day PPMD workshop called "Diagnosis and Treatment of Postpartum Mood Disorders" through the Seattle Midwifery School on Monday, March 26th. The target audience is healthcare providers. Some CEUs will be available. Tuition is $125 and space is limited. To register, please contact the Seattle Midwifery School directly at 1-800-747-9433 or 206-322-8834 or info@seattlemidwifery.org.

Indiana Launches PPD Awareness Campaign

Katherine Stone — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:39:33 +0000

From the Ft. Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel:

“Something’s Not right” is ... the theme of a statewide postpartum depression awareness campaign that starts Thursday [in Indiana] ... The phrase “Something’s Not Right” will be seen in Fort Wayne bus huts, on signs inside city buses, and on billboards, public service announcements, posters and printed literature, in English and Spanish.

A local coalition that includes Neighborhood Health, St. Joe Behavioral Health, the Postpartum Depression Support Group of Lutheran Hospital and Healthier Moms & Babies received a $7,000 grant to develop an awareness and education campaign from the Indiana Perinatal Network, a consortium working to improve the health of pregnant women. A 24/7 hotline will be available for moms and mothers-to-be – and concerned fathers – who want more information on postpartum depression or who recognize help is needed (425-3113).

More PPD Support Groups in Arizona & Illinois

Katherine Stone — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:31:03 +0000

I've added 2 more postpartum depression support groups in Illinois and one in Arizona to the list -- please check it out if you're looking for help in those areas.

New PPD Site Full of Resources for Professionals

Katherine Stone — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 21:38:18 +0000

There is a cool new website that just came out (thank you Wendy Davis for sending me a heads up!).

MedEdPPD.org was developed with the support of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to provide education about postpartum depression (PPD). It has two sections. The section for professionals has interactive presentations and case studies, expert panel discussions, diagnostic tools, research updates, a comprehensive slide library and more. For those of you who've emailed me in the past looking for more info about introducing screening into your practices or where to get more training, this is a GREAT site for you. The events section lists all kinds of conferences for people involved in this field.

The section for "Mothers and Others" is similar to what you might find on other sites, like PSI, but is still helpful. You never know what site people might land on, so the more that offer great information on perinatal mood disorders, the better! Please be sure to check it out.

New Georgia & Indiana PPD Support Groups

Katherine Stone — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:32:21 +0000

More postpartum depression support groups ... hooray! The more the better. I've now added Athens, Ga and Hobart, IN groups to the list. You can find them at the link above.

Postpartum Stress Center Holds Clinician Training

Katherine Stone — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:46:14 +0000

The Postpartum Stress Center in Rosemont, PA, is holding a quarterly training for clinicians in private practice who are interested in specializing in perinatal mood disorders. The event is March 2-3. For more information, click here: http://postpartumstress.com/professional_training.html

Mom Shares Her Postpartum Depression Story

Katherine Stone — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:44:36 +0000

This is from a mom out there who shared her postpartum depression story with me, and I thought you'd want to read it. I highlighted my favorite sentence, since it is so descriptive about how many of us feel while we're experiencing postpartum mood disorders. Many of you will recognize yourselves in her:

I found this website the other day. I too have had a hard time talking to anybody about this. I have 3 very young childen (ages range from 3 months to 3.5 yrs). I was diagnosed early thanks to the pediatrician who insisted I go see my dr for PPD. I reluctantly went and now am ever so grateful because while I am not 100% yet I feel soooo much better than I did 3 months ago today. I was put on Paxil and at first I did not get any better. It turns out that the dosage was too little for me so I had to double it. I can tell you that getting help for this disease has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I had to admit to myself and others that I no longer had control of my feelings and actions on a regular basis. At first I was ashamed. I did not want to admit that at any point I could sink to such lows that I did not feel I would ever get back up again. I used to lay on the living room floor wishing that I would get sucked into it so I could disappear. I wanted to climb into bed and lay there until I disappeared. I would stay in bed for hours during the day. It would take me 4-5 days to change my clothes and take a shower. Sometimes when it was time to make dinner I would lay on the kitchen floor for over an hour until I would be able to stand up and cook. I have had thoughts of suicide. I have put a knife to my wrist with a full hand of pills. My subconscious was reaching out to my husband but the right words for him to understand still have not come out of my mouth. He still does not understand exactly what goes on inside of me. He has tried many times but just can't. I think that the only people who truly understand are the ones that visit this website to post their own experiences with this disease. I used to get so tense that I would try to reach into my arms to pull the bones in my forearms out. I would get in the car and drive to get away. I could not focus. When I went back to work I would lay my head down on my desk for sometimes an hour at a time. I just could not get my act together. I have been seeing a therapist who has helped me tremendously. Since my kids are so young and so close to each other in age I have a tremendous fear of being alone with all 3 of them. I can't face the responsibility for taking care of all 3 of them. I am so afraid that I will be busy with the baby and something will happen to the other 2...they will fall and get hurt, they will do what kids their age do and just get into kid-type trouble. I have been slowly getting better. It helps tremendously that my baby is a very calm baby. She does not easily cry. She will cry and fuss with a dirty diaper and/or when she is extremely hungry. In the beginning of my depression I felt so guilty...I thought that God had given me such a good baby because he knew I was going to have a hard time and that I would not be able to handle a generally fussy baby on top of my 2 and 3 year olds. That guilt still stays with me. I have been lucky that I have not had too many thoughts/feelings of hurting the kids. When it comes to those feelings my mind focuses on myself. I just want the depression to go away. Last week I convinced myself that I wanted the feelings to go away so bad that I almost didn't care about whether my family missed me or not. Today as I was getting my daughter ready for her first dance recital I looked around the house as I was trying to get all 3 kids dressed and thoguht out aloud..."this family could not survive without me". My husband instantly agreed knowing that the responsibility of work and taking care of all 3 kids and their numerous trips to dr's for checkups and dance class and soon preschool would be too much for him to keep up with. I admitted to him that I had put together a calendar loaded with all activities (regular and sporadic) as well as the birthdays of all our extended families' birthdays so that he would be able to carry on in case I did commit suicide. He didn't say it in so many words but I could tell that he was shocked, confused, and touched all at the same time. He doesn't understand me...my mother tells me to "hurry up and get over your baby blues"...and in the meantime I feel like a sinking ship. I was quietly laying on the living room floor tonight...resting, not because I was having a meltdown moment. My husband asked if everything was alright. I responded with..."yeah, just tired". He said he was asking because he did not think I was having a meltdown but wasn't sure if something was wrong. For the first time in forever it felt like he might be slowly picking up on my feelings. He went on to state..."usually if you are having a meltdown you have a blank stare..like you are an empty shell". My response was..."that's funny...that is exactly how I feel when I have a meltdown". Meltdown is what I call it when I am having a hard time dealing with my depression. I feel like I am on the way up the ladder back to who I once was. I think that I may even end up better for having this disease. It has changed how I view things. I think I manage the kids and their behavior better now. I'm not sure if it is the antidepressants or if it is just me maturing as a woman. My 10-11pm obsessive cleaning sure has left my house in the best shape it has ever been in. I have started exercising. I have lost all the baby fat but still would like to lose another 60 pounds.

I know this was a long comment. I know that every woman's experience is different. I just hope that some of the words I have left tonight may help somebody else in the future. Good luck to all of you who suffer from a form of PPD or whose partners suffer. The best advice I was given during the past 3 months has been..."if everything else is too hard to face...focus on making it through the day. Whatever it takes to physically get through the day. Don't worry about anything else than ending the day with the same headcount you started it with".

Upcoming Events & Conferences

Katherine Stone — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:19:00 +0000

There are some perinatal mood disorder trainings coming up that you may have not heard about yet, so here they are:

El Camino Hospital and PSI International will be hosting "Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders: Assessment and Treatment" in San Jose, California, February 2-3, 2007. CME/CEUs are available for MDs, RNs, PhDs and CSW/MFTs. For more info, click here.

Also, the Spectrum Health Perinatal Depression Conference and Certificate of Course Completion will be held February 8-9 in Grand Rapids, MI. For additional information please contact Amber Kelly at 616-391 1422 or Nancy Roberts at 616-391-1771.

NIMH Looking for Women in Greater DC Area for Important PPD Research

Katherine Stone — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:02:00 +0000

The National Institute of Mental Health needs women living in the greater Washington DC area (including Maryland and Virginia) to consider participation in PPD research to help determine the cause of postpartum depression. I myself have participated in a research study with Emory University here in Atlanta, and I think it is so important to do it if you can in order to help all the women who come after us.

NIMH is currently conducting several studies of PPD, including assessment of the role of genetic factors in the vulnerability to experience PPD, the role of hormone levels or changes in hormone levels as a trigger for PPD, and the antidepressant efficacy of estradiol in PPD. Anyone interested in learning more about these studies should contact Linda Simpson St. Clair, M.S.N. at 301-496-9576.

I have attached a document below with specific info on each study. Please check it out and help if you can.

Download currentstudiesofpostpartumdepression2.doc

NBC Comedy "Scrubs" Includes Storyline on PPD

Katherine Stone — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:45:18 +0000

Many thanks for the heads up from Genara about the PPD storyline on the NBC sitcom "Scrubs". I like to keep track of mentions of postpartum depression in the media.

In the upcoming episode this Thursday, January 11 (9pm EST), Carla, one of the main characters (played by Judy Reyes), is struggling to admit that she may have postpartum depression and Turk (played by Donald Faison) encourages her to seek help. Even though Scrubs is a hit comedy on NBC, I have been assured by NBC Entertainment Sr. Press Manager Tracy St. Pierre that the subject of postpartum depression is taken very seriously in the storyline. Good for them for helping to provide more awareness on this issue!!!! Be sure to tune in, Ladies!

Support Group in Maine

Katherine Stone — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:53:50 +0000

This is the first postpartum depression support group from Maine on my list. I'm sure the women in Maine will be happy to see it. Check out the list for all states with the above link.

Contact Congress about Melanie Stokes Act

Katherine Stone — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:24:14 +0000

Postpartum Support International (PSI) is making a major push to get people to contact their congressmen regarding the Melanie Stokes Act. If you're a regular reader of Postpartum Progress, you've heard this from me before and hopefully have already done it, but if not, NOW'S THE TIME.

This from Susan Dowd who heads up PSI:

Yesterday, January 4, 2007, Congressman Bobby Rush reintroduced the Melanie Stokes Act to the 110th Congress as H.R. 20. It is crucial that we generate additional momentum for passage of this bill by placing calls to our local Congressmen encouraging their support of the legislation.

Please, without delay, determine your local Congressman by clicking on the link below and immediately placing a call to their office, strongly requesting their support for passage of H.R. 20. We have a window of opportunity to finally enact protections for all women which will include assessment, treatment and education about perinatal mood disorders. Your call could elicit the deciding vote.

Contact Congress

Heidi Koss-Nobel of PSI Washington makes an important point:

It only takes 10-20 messages from constituents for a legislator to consider a topic "significant" by their constituents.

So if you've been putting it off because you think your call really won't matter, you're wrong. You and 10 or so of your closest friends and family could make an enormous difference.

Orange County Registers Covers Impact of Perinatal Mood Disorders on New Fathers

Katherine Stone — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:28:00 +0000

This is an excellent story from the Orange County Register by Theresa Walker about how postpartum mood disorders impact new fathers. It is sometimes easy to forget the toll these disorders take on our husbands, who are completely unprepared for the role they have to take on in caring for their new babies and their sick wives. Here are some highlights:

" ... Left to deal with his wife's condition, the baby's care, his job and maintaining their household, Alex suffered, too. Only he didn't realize it until weeks later, when he found himself bouncing between his own bouts of tears, anger and emotional numbness ...

But Alex had to ask for and accept help, something men in his situation are typically reluctant to do.

'Alex is a good example of someone who could see he was in the middle of it as well, and that it was not just about Elisabeth,' says Vivianna Schilpp, a licensed clinical social worker with St. Joseph who provides individual and group therapy for the postpartum program.

'I would love to see more men do that – to participate, ask questions, be honest about how it affects them and admit that they don't know what to do when she falls apart.'

The dads can become depressed and angry over what's happened to their families. They can physically exhaust themselves.

The dads' first inclination is to fix it – a common male response. But they don't know how.

'They take on this tremendous role, especially initially,' Schilpp says. 'There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about postpartum depression, and if he doesn't have a place to ask questions and talk about how it's affecting him, there often is a huge strain on a marriage.'"

Need Help Creating List of Centers Specializing in Treatment and Research of Perinatal Mood Disorders

Katherine Stone — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:47:41 +0000

I've decided to create a new resource for Postpartum Progress. I want to create a list of centers across the U.S. that specifically specialize in researching and treating women's perinatal mood disorders. I want a list of places where women can go and be assured that these centers are on the forefront of treating perinatal depression and discovering its sources -- they're the best of the best. Often, when people find out they have cancer, they conduct research to find out the absolute best places to go for treatment. This list will provide that type of information for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders, including postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder.

To be included, centers must employ postpartum depression specialists, conduct research on perinatal mood disorders, offer clear and accessible web-based information on the types of treatment offered and how women can become patients, and also be accepting new patients for treatment. Examples of such places would include:

* The Emory Women's Mental Health Program at Emory University in Atlanta

* The Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Women's Mental Health in Boston

* The University of North Carolina's Center for Women's Mood Disorders in Chapel Hill, NC

I personally was treated at Emory during my second pregnancy and I loved it for two reasons:

1) They knew EXACTLY what they were doing, as this is what Doctors Stowe and Newport treat every day of the week. It's not just a side job for them -- it's their life. I believe you get better treatment from physicians who focus intensely on postpartum mood disorders. And, they're more likely to be able to refer you to the best therapists in your area for these disorders as well.

2) I was able to participate in a research program that will contribute to increased knowledge about the treatment of these disorders in the future. I think that is extremely important. The more information we have, the better the treatment will be and the less potential harmful side effects (hopefully) to ourselves and our children. We need to be willing to contribute to the amount of data that is available on these illnesses.

Please email me at stonecallis@msn.com with your recommendations and their related website addresses, and, if appropriate, I'll add those centers to my list and keep it available on Postpartum Progress for all readers.

San Diego Mother Gets Five Years Probation

Katherine Stone — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:13:26 +0000

Here's a link to an article from the San Diego Union-Tribune about a mother who attempted infanticide but was (thankfully!) unsuccessful. These types of stories are tough to read, but they help reinforce the importance of treatment.

Understanding Impact of Race on Resistance to Seek Counseling

Katherine Stone — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:52:00 +0000

Here's a link to a very interesting column from the New Jersey Record by columnist Lawrence Aaron about what he sees as the reluctance of African-Americans to seek mental health counseling. It helps to remind me that there are many reasons -- including resistance from family members, worries about effects on insurance and social pressures, among others -- that prevent people from reaching out for help. This is something we need to respect and to keep in mind as we try to get help for women who need it, regardless of their race, origin or creed.

PPD Conference in Denver on May 5

Katherine Stone — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:01:33 +0000

The Kempe PPD Intervention Program and Denver's Children's Hospital will host their inaugural postpartum depression conference on Saturday, May 5th, at the Children's Hospital Vestal Education Center in Denver. The fee to attend is $150 and CMEs are available. Click here for a link to the conference brochure and information on how to register (scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the link).

PPD on Parents.com

Katherine Stone — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:44:43 +0000

Here is a link to Parents Magazine's parents.com take on postpartum mood disorders.

New PPD Awareness Campaign in Ontario, Canada

Katherine Stone — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:48:00 +0000

The province of Ontario in Canada has launched a new public awareness campaign on postpartum depression. Here's some info from the Toronto Star:

"A new public awareness campaign launched this month is aimed at bringing the topic of postpartum mood disorders out of the closet to help struggling mothers ... find the support and treatment they need. And to let them know they aren't alone.

One of its slogans: 'Life with a new baby is not always what you expect.'

The campaign, launched by Best Start, an Ontario-government funded resource centre for mothers and young children, includes subway posters, shopping mall ads, television and radio clips, a 12-page brochure with information, strategies and resources for getting help, and a website (lifewithnewbaby.ca). Telehealth Ontario is also a partner, providing phone consultation and links to services and treatment for mothers needing help.

Hiltrud Dawson, health promotion consultant with Best Start, said several tragic deaths of women with postpartum mood disorders and their children over the past few years highlighted the need for more public information.

A survey by Leger Marketing last year showed that 80 percent of Canadians had heard of postpartum mood disorders, which affect one in five women and are treatable and in many cases preventable. But Dawson said there are still many misconceptions about the illness and many spouses and family members don't know what to do or how to seek help.

Campaign resources will help them distinguish the difference between 'baby blues' which affect most mothers but fade in a couple of weeks, and postpartum depression, which doesn't pass and can become debilitating. And it explains postpartum psychosis, a serious disorder that has generated headlines but is very rare, causing mothers to lose touch with reality and think about harming themselves and their babies."

Charleston Run/Walk Postponed

Katherine Stone — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 20:33:00 +0000

Unfortunately, the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation's 5th Annual PPD Run/Walk in Charleston, SC, has been postponed indefinitely. That's a bummer because it's really fun to go to Charleston and attend -- what greater place is there to support the PPD cause and then go out for great food and shopping?!!!!!

Anyway, the foundation needs assistance from someone who can coordinate the event who is passionate about PPD awareness and who has working knowledge about organizing a run. If you or someone you know is interested in this very important service, please email Helena Bradford at BuzerHel@aol.com. (My Note: Please don't call her if you're trying to make a buck off of this. She really needs people who can donate their expertise and services for this very important cause.)

Register NOW! for the PSI Conference

Katherine Stone — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:06:17 +0000

The 21st annual Postpartum Support International Conference is scheduled for June 20-23 in Kansas City. The conference brochure is now available online at http://www.postpartum.net/kansascity.html and you can register to attend there as well.

The title of the conference is: "Supporting Families: Fostering Perinatal Emotional Health and Reducing Vulnerability". I'll be attending and I hope you will too. It's a very interesting conference to attend, whether you're a practitioner (social worker, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, ob/gyn, RN) or someone who suffered because it helps you get active in the cause and meet other women who've been through it. I highly recommend the experience, and I'm looking forward to going!

Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope: Mary Jo Codey

Katherine Stone — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:46:31 +0000

Announcing the Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope for March 2007 (drumroll please) ... Mary Jo Codey!!!! If you haven't heard about the impact the former first lady of New Jersey has had on the issue of postpartum mood disorders, then you've missed a LOT!!

Mary Jo Codey was first introduced to postpartum mood disorders 22 years ago after she experienced postpartum depression with the birth of her son Kevin. Prior to that, she had no idea that PPD even existed or that she might be at risk. She also went through PPD again four years later with her second son, Christopher. Even though she had all the signs of PPD, no one seemed to know what was wrong with her. She checked herself into a mental institution for a month but found no help there. Eventually she began to see a psychiatrist who did know about PPD and was able to help Mary Jo. She began to experience scary, intrusive thoughts about hurting her son. For months she worked with the psychiatrist tying different antidepressants, but the intrusive thoughts increased until she finally decided to "just end it all". Fortunately, the psychiatrist had decided to try an MAO inhibitor as a last-ditch effort, and within a few weeks the intrusive thoughts began to decrease and finally disappear. All in all, it took a year for Mary Jo to get better.

She became angry, as so many of us do, that it took so long for her to get the help she needed, and that until then no one recognized the signs. She realized that people needed to know and care about this disorder, and she didn't want anyone else to have to go through the self-blame and shame she experienced. To that end, she became an advocate extraordinaire. She has publicly shared her story with a wide variety of audiences, from health care and mental health professionals, to women's groups, PPD support groups, the general public and the media. During her husband's tenure as governor, New Jersey created a comprehensive postpartum depression awareness campaign called "Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You're Down". The campaign -- which made New Jersey the first state to commit resources to uninsured new mothers for PPD screenings and treatment -- features a 24/7 helpline and a bilingual website with valuable information and contacts for women and their families, as well as for medical professionals. The campaign includes literature and radio and TV PSAs. Mary Jo is very proud to be the spokesperson for that campaign, and was instrumental in its development.

Of all the work she has done, she is most proud of New Jersey's Postpartum Depression Screening and Education law, which took effect in October 2006 and is an outgrowth of the efforts that began during her husband's administration. Now every pregnant woman in New Jersey is educated about maternal mood disorders before giving birth; the mother of every baby born in the state will be screened for postpartum depression; and all licensed health care professionals who provide pre- and post-natal care will be educated about maternal depression. There is a budget of $4.5 million for education and screening.

As for the future, most of all Mary Jo wishes for New Jersey's law to become national law. The MOTHERs Act is actually based on the New Jersey law and is soon to be reintroduced in the Senate. She says it's time for it to come out of committee and get passed!!

Her biggest concern is that too many women are slipping through the cracks and going untreated. PPD is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, and progress is being made on raising awareness and increasing screening, she says. But the latest study published by JAMA shows we need to do more. There are lives at risk, she explains, and we owe it to women and their families to provide more education, screening, treatment and support.

Thank you, thank you Mary Jo Codey for your willingness to speak out, your courage, your honesty and most of all for your commitment to women like us! You are definitely a Beacon of Hope!

The MOTHER's ACT Soon To Be Reintroduced in the Senate

Katherine Stone — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:51:42 +0000

Download onepageronmothersact1.doc

Susan Dowd Stone, president of Postpartum Support International, just gave me the heads up that Senator Menendez's office indicated the reintroduction of The MOTHER's Act will take place this week or next. This would be a GREAT time for you to call your Senators and encourage endorsement/sponsorship of The MOTHER's Act. Susan provided me with a concise one-page description from Senator Menendez's office regarding the bill, which I've attached above.

E! Online Covers Britney's Possible PPD

Katherine Stone — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:46:06 +0000

Click here to see the story by E! Entertainment News about Britney Spears' potential postpartum depression. Sandra Poulin (author of The Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book), Susan Dowd-Stone (president of Postpartum Support International) and myself were all interviewed for the story.

For more stories from Postpartum Progress on celebrities with postpartum depression, click here.

Reluctance to take Meds: What If It Was Diabetes or High Blood Pressure Instead?

Katherine Stone — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:44:00 +0000

I get so many comments and questions from women who want to know how to get over postpartum depression without taking medication. I'm NOT judging them or questioning their reluctance one bit, because truthfully I didn't want to take medication for PPD either. But all these concerns have led me to wonder what our reluctance really is. As I said in an email to one of these women earlier today, if I was diagnosed with diabetes I wouldn't think twice about taking medication prescribed to me. If I was told by my doctor that I had high cholesterol or high blood pressure, I'd take the medication prescribed to me. Sure, I'd need to change my lifestyle as well to address the underlying problems causing the high blood pressure or cholesterol -- I'd exercise more, I'd eat better, I'd develop better coping mechanisms for stress -- but I'd also take the medication to address the current crisis until my other activities kicked in and my blood levels were safe enough that I could discontinue the meds.

Isn't it the SAME THING with postpartum mood disorders? Aren't meds ok to help resolve the immediate crisis, while at the same time we can use exercise and/or talk therapy and support gropups and whatever else works to resolve any contributing underlying factors and to recover and get back to our old selves? And when we do recover, we can reduce them until it's okay to stop taking them altogether.

It seems to me that psychiatric medication, where appropriate and prescribed by an experienced professional, is simply addressing a physical medical crisis. Our bodies don't differentiate between psychiatric illnesses and other physical illnesses. Only society does. It's society, and the damn insurance companies, that make us feel like psychiatric illnesses are some how different and highly questionable. Who the hell is some insurance person to tell me how many damn doctor visits I'm allowed to have to get better from postpartum depression? Are you kidding? ... sorry ... it just incenses me that we're given hard limits on what treatment we can have to get better as if (wink, wink) we're probably not really sick in the first place, now are we??

Anyway, I'm sure there are people who have recovered from postpartum mood disorders without taking medication. And I say more power to them, seriously. Potentially, through continued research into various hormones and brain chemicals and genes and levels of various things in our blood we may get to a point where there is a more direct treatment for these illnesses which may or may not involve medication. Until then, I can only tell you that I, myself, would not have recovered without the medication I took. As Oprah says, that's one thing I know for sure.

P.S. On the same topic, click here to go over to The Perinatal Project blog to read about some recommended changes in the way mental illnesses are covered by insurance.

New Support Groups in Maine and Washington

Katherine Stone — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:15:09 +0000

I've added new postpartum depression support groups in Maine and Washington to the list. Check it out by clicking the link.

New Bill Introduced in Maine for Postpartum Mental Health Education And Screening

Katherine Stone — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:04:06 +0000

It looks like postpartum depression legislation has been introduced in the state of Maine to make PPD screenings mandatory at 6-weeks post birth and to require doctors to educate women on postpartum depression during their pregnancy. The bill (LD 792, An Act Concerning Postpartum Mental Health Education) is sponsored by state Senator Nancy Sullivan (D). On Feb. 15 it was referred to the Maine Senate's Committee on Health and Human Services. Ladies in Maine, contact your local representatives to get this passed!!

Laughing at Mental Illness - Britney Spears, Lisa Nowak & Anna Nicole Smith

Katherine Stone — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:39:02 +0000

There has been some discussion about whether Britney Spears is suffering from some form of postpartum depression. It certainly doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility, given the number of stressors in her life (divorce, paparazzi, two children under the age of 2, growing up in public). She is only 5 months postpartum. I really feel for her and I hope she gets the support she needs and that people BACK OFF and stop making fun of her. It's not funny when you're going through some sort of breakdown as we all know -- imagine how much worse it would be to have it drawn out in public. Here's a link to a piece from the Chicago Tribune website: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/02/does_britney_ha.html

It amazes me how free people feel to laugh at mental illness. There has been so much collective giggling about the female astronaut Lisa Nowak (who drove across the country in diapers to confront another woman), about Anna Nicole Smith (who seems to have relied on prescription drugs to get through her days), about Britney (who has just shaved her head) ... millions tune in gleefully to watch people who are clearly troubled get made fun of on "American Idol". There's nothing funny about it. Everyone has the potential to suffer from a bout of depression or some other illness, and some people fight against it their entire lives. Most get help and live regular lives like the rest of us.

Could we please stop having a laugh fest at the expense of people who are clearly suffering? It's just. not. funny.

Profoundly Alone: Take 2

Katherine Stone — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:29:25 +0000

I posted this the other day, but because of a glitch none of my subscribers got it. So I'm posting it again because I think it's important.

Profoundly Alone: The Disconnection of Postpartum Depression

When you suffer from a postpartum mood disorder, you walk around in a haze while trying to seem as normal as possible. You try to make yourself feel as connected as you can to your child and those around you. Perhaps your dearest friends and family can tell that you don't seem like yourself, but then they just brush it off as normal baby blues. And you soldier on, trying to pretend -- sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully -- that everything is cool.

Profoundly alone.

Telephone Screening A Reliable Method to Identify PPD

Katherine Stone — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:30:00 +0000

Here's an interesting tidbit: Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, conducted a study on the reliability of telephone screening for identification of postpartum depression. Eight weeks after discharge from the hospital, 106 women participating in the study were screened over the phone using the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS). The results found that, as compared to in-person screening, telephone screening is a reliable method to screen for postpartum symptomatology that may occur later than the 6-week office visit.

For more on postpartum depression screening methods, click here.

Upcoming PPD Events & Conferences

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:32:00 +0000

Indiana: On March 8-9, Clarian Health will host "Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care", PSI's 2-day certificate of completion program. It will be held in the conference center of Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Featured speakers include Christina Hibbert, Birdie Meyer, Sara Pollard and Laura Miller. For more information, call 317-962-8028.

South Carolina: On March 24, the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation will host the 5th Annual Postpartum Depression 5k Walk/Run in Charleston. (I went a couple of years ago, and am hoping to go again this year.) For more info, go to http://www.ppdsupport.org/

West Virginia: On April 18-19, the Mingo County Partners in Prevention will host a two-day conference on Postpartum Depression at Chief Logan Conference Center. Free CEUs will be available. Workshops include Identification, Intervention, Support and Prevention. For more information, email gfitchpatrick@ablefamilies.org.

Screening Bill Introduced in IL State Legislature

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:47:00 +0000

Postpartum psychosis survivor Mary Howorth has shared with me that she has been working with members of the Illinois state legislature to get postpartum depression legislation passed to require perinatal mood disorder screening. The bill, called the Postpartum Mood Disorders Prevention Act, has finally been introduced by state Senator Don Harmon (D). (If you click on the link and then click on full text, you can read it in its entirety.) It also has a new co-sponsor, Illinois Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D). Let's hope it gets passed! Residents of Illinois, please contact your local representatives! Thank you, Mary.

Postpartum Depression Deserves Attention No Matter Who Gets It

Katherine Stone — Wed, 23 May 2007 15:28:50 +0000

This is a link to a story from United Press International, from the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that was held earlier this month. (Sorry it took me this long to get to it!) Here's what I loved about it:

"'Unfortunately, it seems that pre-natal and post-natal depression only gets attention in tragedies or when celebrities are involved," said Stanley Zinberg, vice president for practice activities for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"We screen for many diseases that occur far less often than peri-partum depression," Sharon Phelan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, told United Press International."

I noticed this recently with the hearings on Capitol Hill about the Mothers' Act and the Melanie Blocker Stokes Act. News outlets from as far as away as the Middle East wrote about Brooke Shields testifying at the recent hearing. Everyone wants to talk about it because Brooke Shields was there. No offense to Brooke, who I'm so pleased was willing to testify along with others, but why the frenzy over her appearance and not over the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of women and children who suffer yearly from postpartum mood disorders. Why not a frenzy over the children who've been killed or the women who've committed suicide? Can we really not get excited about doing something about this issue unless Brooke Shields shows up??! And I would bet Brooke would agree with me. I would imagine she doesn't want this to be about her, but about helping women get better treatment. Congress needs to do something, regardless of who shows up to tell their story. There are countless stories, and every one of them is heartbreaking.

A Roundup of Major Stories & PPMD News

Katherine Stone — Wed, 23 May 2007 15:13:31 +0000

You should see my inbox these days! I can't keep up! There is a LOT going on.

This is a link to a good article that just came out of the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association this week. No real new news, but it's nice to see the recognition of perinatal mood disorders as a spectrum disorder, and the fact that onset can occur anytime throughout the first year postpartum.

This is a link to a new book called "Crazy In America: The Hidden Tragedy of Our Criminalized Mentally Ill". It sounds like it could be good, and similar to Pete Earley's book called "Crazy", which I absolutely loved.

I've added another beautiful survivor mom to our Surviving & Thriving Mothers' Photo Album. Thanks Shannon for sending me the picture.

Here's a link to a great editorial from Newsday by Sandra Wolkoff. One highlight that reminds us we just don't get over this in a day:

"Frequently, women convince themselves that any slight improvement is a sign that recovery is around the corner. When the black clouds of despair return hours or days later, or another medication seems to prove ineffective, they feel like failures."

Here's a link to a recent story that appeared on the NBC affiliate in San Diego about the Michael Spangler, husband of Annie who committed suicide three years ago after suffering from postpartum depression. I'm so sorry for his and his little boy's loss, especially when we all know these tragedies are completely unnecessary.

Here's a link to a story from last week in Chicago about Tonya Vasilev, who was found mentally insane for the killing of her two children. She had suffered depression since childhood, and had been diagnosed with postpartum depression. The judge said he felt comfortable finding her insane because of the expert medical testimony, thus Tonya will now receive lifelong commitment to a mental health facility rather than prison or the death penalty. (Trust me, this doesn't mean I'm comfortable with those sweet children being killed. I can think of nothing more awful and tragic. But we need to work harder to treat and protect the mentally ill so that things like this don't happen.)

Margaret Trudeau, the ex-wife of the late prime minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, spoke up about mental health recently and the importance of mental health check-ups to all Canadians. Trudeau herself suffered from postpartum depression. Here is a link to the story.

3 New Books About Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:34:18 +0000

There are lots of new books coming out that are about postpartum mood disorders. Here are three to look for:

1) Wiped! by Rebecca Eckler. Eckler is a parenting columnist for the Globe & Mail daily newspaper in Canada, and shares her experience with postpartum depression, as well as funny accounts of the highs and lows of being a new mom.

2) The Journey to Parenthood: Myths, Reality and What Really Matters by Diana Lynn Barnes and Leigh Balber. Barnes, a past president of Postpartum Support International, and Balber help couples run through a "psychological dress rehearsal" of what life will be like once the baby is born and address issues in advance of the baby's arrival.

3) The Lifter of My Head by Susan McRoberts. McRoberts writes about how God sustained her during her bout with postpartum depression, and she shares scriptures and prayers that were helpful during that time.

Illinois State Senate Passes Postpartum Depression Legislation

Katherine Stone — Mon, 14 May 2007 11:37:18 +0000

Postpartum Progress reader Mary Howorth has been keeping me up to date on the llegislative happenings in the state of Illinois, and she tells me that the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 15 - "The Perinatal Mental Health Disorders Treatment & Prevention Act" by a vote of 55-0 at the end of last week. Congratulations! I think that it now has to pass in the state's House and they'll be good to go in Illinois!

PSI Offers Free Info Sessions on Wednesdays Via Conference Call!!!!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:11:00 +0000

There is SO MUCH GOING ON!!!!!!! This is very exciting for those of us who have survived these horrible illnesses. Postpartum Support International has started to offer free Perinatal Mood Disorder Informational sessions via 800 teleconference line. This new program began Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 3pm EST and will continue weekly on Wednesdays, alternating between 3pm in the afternoon and 9pm in the evening EST. The sessions are limited to the first 15 callers. They are informational only and will offer participants an opportunity to ask questions and obtain information from PSI healthcare professionals. They are open to women who feel they may be suffering from a pregnancy related mood disorders, as well as to concerned family members and friends.

This is a HUGE, free resource for people all over the country. You will be getting information from people who REALLY know what they are talking about. I would recommend this to anyone who isn't sure if they have a postpartum mood disorder, who isn't sure if they are getting the right kind of help, or who isn't sure how to provide the best support for someone they love who is going through this!

Participants must call 1-800-944-8766 five minutes before the call begins. After the 15th caller joins the call, no other callers may join. (I think this is a good idea because it lets those who are on the phone get more in-depth information.) Check the PSI website for dates, times and facilitators.

Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope: Wendy Davis

Katherine Stone — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:06:19 +0000

I would like to announce our Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope for May and June (drumroll please): Wendy Davis. She is as deserving as one could possibly be to be recognized for all her many contributions to the women who suffer perinatal mood disorders. In addition to maintaining a private practice as a therapist, she has been deeply, deeply involved as a volunteer for many years. Wendy writes:

"I got a crash course in postpartum mood disorders when I fell into one after the birth of our first child in 1994. I had no idea there was a name for what I was experiencing; the names I gave it at the time were 'failure' and 'mistake'. I thought I had just found out that I never should have been a mother. I couldn't believe that any good mother would feel such crushing dread and hopelessness. I was sinking fast and isolating myself. A dear friend convinced me to call a postpartum doula and after much resistance, I called her. She listened to my quiet request for help with the dishes, and asked me the question that saved my life: 'Have you been depressed or anxious?' It was enough to open the floodgates and I felt that I was confessing to her. She came over the next day and sat with me for hours while I cried, leaving me with some excellent articles about PPD and recovery and a promise that she would be back the next day.

"As soon as I understood that I had postpartum depression and anxiety, I was astonished that I had never learned of it. I had already been a therapist for 14 years and I had never had a class or workshop on the subject. At first I was angry. Then I got busy. I was compelled to learn all I could and to talk to anyone who would listen about postpartum suffering and recovery. My own experience led me to develop a mom-to-mom support network here in Portland, Oregon, called Baby Blues Connection. It has been going strong for 12 years now and I am so grateful and proud of having been part of this resource. I continue to serve as their clinical consultant and coordinate the volunteer training team.

"I also became a member of PSI, and then a support coordinator for Oregon in 1998. I have seen this organization develop so much, and have become more and more involved. In 2005, I agreed to be the Coordinator for the Support Coordinators around the world and then I joined the PSI board. This has been an amazing organization to work with. The volunteers are passionate, knowledgable and caring and the board members are extremely sensitive and hard-working. Jane Honikman was a wonderful mentor to me.

"I know that every voice of truth can make change for the better, and that it doesn't take that much for women and their partners to feel heard, acknowledged and cared for. I know that PSI's advocacy will make a difference in the lives of mothers, their partners and their children. I remember how much it helped me to have people around who knew what I was going through, who encouraged me when I wanted to give up and who trusted in me. I adore my son and my daughter (after whose birth I had no PPD) and I just wish that I had been able to see that I was bonding with my son all along.

Wendy's volunteer work also includes writing magazine articles, as well as appearing on documentaries, radio shows and local news reports providing her expert opinion and commentary. She is also a frequent public speaker, AND, she was pleased to be asked by the Oregon Department of Health & Human Services to write a page on perinatal mood disorders for a booklet given to all new moms in Oregon.

She is proud that she spoke up with honesty and heart, and that she is able to provide a picture of hope to others. She is also very proud of the work she has done nurturing new volunteers, and being able to connect frightened moms and their families and friends with so many resources around the world. She is a perfect example of the power of speaking up, of working together with people and asking for help.

Her biggest concern these days is that people have too much of a little information, and become afraid that PPD is always dangerous. (Thanks in part, I think, to the sensationalization of TV news and the tendency for them to only discuss perinatal mood disorders when there is an infanticide). She says this is part of what causes women to feel panicky and suicidal. She wants people to know that these illnesses are always treatable. She would ultimately like to see pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders discussed in 6th grade health class, and revisited in childbirth education classes and providers' offices. She wants people to understand that symptoms of depression, anxiety, mania and psychosis are common, treatable and faultless.

"I want people to understand what my son understood when he was only 10. He got on the phone with my friend who had just had a baby, and said to her in the most sweet and loving voice, 'If you are having any sad or bad feelings, that is okay. And just remember, when you think you're not being a good mom, you usually are.' I was very, very proud of him and of all the work we have done."

Wendy, you are a wonderful and clearly loving human being and we are lucky that you are one of us and have dedicated so much of yourself to our cause. Congratulations!!

Shields, Menendez, Rush & Codey to Introduce MOTHERS Act in Senate Friday

Katherine Stone — Wed, 09 May 2007 14:59:11 +0000

This just in from Senator Menendez' office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:

On Friday morning, leading into Mothers’ Day weekend, actress Brooke Shields will join U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Mary Jo Codey, wife of former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey, and others to announce the introduction of The MOTHERS Act in the Senate. The legislation would initiate new federal investment in postpartum depression education, detection and treatment programs for new mothers. Similar legislation – the Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Act – has been introduced in the House by Rep. Rush.

WHAT: In lead up to Mother’s Day, introduction of anti-postpartum depression legislation in Senate

WHO: Brooke Shields; Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ); Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL); Mary Jo Codey, longtime postpartum depression awareness advocate, wife of former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey; and Carol Blocker, whose daughter, Melanie Blocker Stokes, took her own life after battling postpartum depression

OTHER SENATORS/SPEAKERS TBA

WHEN: FRIDAY, May 11, 10am

WHERE: 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building (Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing Room), Washington, DC

New Blog Tracks Pregnancy for PPOCD Survivor

Katherine Stone — Wed, 09 May 2007 14:53:05 +0000

Lauren Hale, the PSI co-coordinator for the state of Georgia, has started a blog in which she will write about her current pregnancy. This is her third, it was unexpected, and she has already experienced PPOCD twice with her first two children. If you'd like to follow along, go to www.unexpectedblessing.wordpress.com.

Parnham Receives Award for His Work

Katherine Stone — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:45:37 +0000

George Parnham, the lawyer who represented postpartum psychosis sufferer Andrea Yates, recently received the Jefferson Award from KPRC-TV in Houston. The award, which is part of a national program of the American Institute for Public Service, honors unsung heroes and their personal contributions to public and community service. Parnham was recognized for all the awareness he has brought to the issue of postpartum mood disorders and his work on behalf of the Yates Children Memorial Fund and other related organizations.

According to KPRC-TV, two bills sit before the Texas Legislature this year -- one seeking better insurance coverage for those with postpartum depression and another seeking a change to the insanity plea that would cover those with postpartum depression.

Great Commentary on May 1 Hearing

Katherine Stone — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:17:05 +0000

Read this post from the Perinatal Project -- click here! It's right on about the May 1 Congressional hearing about the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Act. Rep. Nathan Deal (who is from my state, no less) is a JACKASS.

PPD Event in Chicago June 14

Katherine Stone — Tue, 01 May 2007 10:10:45 +0000

For those of you in Illinois, an event called "Healthy Moms, Healthy Children" will be held June 14 at the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville, IL. The event will feature a panel discussion about how maternal depression impacts families and communities. The panelists include Joan Mudd of the Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Foundation. A reception will start at 7pm, with the program starting at 8pm. Space is limited, so call 312-456-0600 to register by June 8. The event is free.

Update on May 1 Congressional Hearing

Katherine Stone — Tue, 01 May 2007 10:02:45 +0000

Here's information from Congressman Bobby Rush's office:

The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will conduct a hearing entitled "H.R. 20-The Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Act", aimed at curbing postpartum depression, an illness that affects new mothers. With an estimated 400,000 new cases by the end of this year, postpartum depression is the single most frequent serious complication of pregnancy. Unfortunately, research and treatment for women of color remains disproportionately ignored.

Who: Carol Blocker, founder of the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Foundation, Dr. Nada Stotland MD of the American Psychiatric Association; former New Jersey first lady Mary Jo Codey

What: Subcommittee hearing on postpartum depression

When: Tuesday, May at noon

Where: 2123 Rayburn House Office Bldg.

New Perinatal Mood Disorders Counseling Program in South Bend

Katherine Stone — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:06:00 +0000

The Family & Children's Center in South Bend, Indiana, launched a new Perinatal Mood Disorders Program this past January. The program, run by the counseling branch of the center, has three therapists specially trained in postpartum depression. FYI, for those of you in Indiana!!

Hearing on Melanie Blocker Stokes Act To Be Held May 1st

Katherine Stone — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:25:03 +0000

PSI President Susan Dowd-Stone informs me that there will be a hearing on the Melanie Blocker Stokes Act on May 1st.

In addition, The MOTHER's Act is scheduled to be reintroduced in the Senate soon. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has now signed on as the lead Republican Co-Sponsor, which was a very important step. If you have not yet written or called your Senators and local Congressman, or even if you already have, call and write them now and urge others who care to do so as well. For more information on these bills and how to reach your state's legislators, click here.

If you are a Republican, it is even more important to reach out, as they have lagged behind in supporting these bills. I reached out to Republican Senators Saxby Chambliss and Jonny Isakson in Georgia with the following letter:

Please support the MOTHER'S Act, which has now been co-sponsored by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Me). As a Republican and a past sufferer of postpartum depression, for the life of me I can't understand why more Republicans don't get on board with this issue. You should understand the importance of healthy moms in the first year of their children's lives and thereafter. Please, PLEASE support this legislation. Thousands of women in Georgia each year suffer from postpartum mood disorders, and Georgia even has one of the top treatment/research facilities at the Emory Women's Mental Health Program. Georgia should be a leader in this effort!

Sponsorship Opportunities Open for PSI Annual Conference

Katherine Stone — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:12:53 +0000

There are still sponsorship opportunities available for the Postpartum Support International Conference, June 21-23 in Kansas City. Some of those opportunities include:

Banquet Sponsor -- $10,0000
Luncheon Sponsor -- $6,000
Break Sponsor -- $2,000 each (four available)
Awards Banquet Table Sponsor -- $1,000 each (12 available)
Silent Auction Item Donation

These donations are, of course, tax-deductible. For more information on the benefits of each sponsorship and how to donate, contact PSI at psioffice@postpartum.net

San Diego's Postpartum Health Alliance Seeks Volunteers

Katherine Stone — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:01:02 +0000

The Postpartum Health Alliance in San Diego is looking for volunteers. If you care about women who are suffering from postpartum depression, live in the area and have some time to spare, please contact them about the following activities:

* Staffing the Warmline, responding to calls from moms in need of information and referrals.
* Writing a column or article for Crib Notes.
* Selling ads or sponsorships for Crib Notes.
* Set up and clean up for May 17th MamaFest fundraiser in Cardiff.

There is a GREAT need for Spanish-speaking volunteers, to support San Diego's Spanish-speaking moms!!! Also, there are two Board of Director Openings: Fundraiser Chair and Secretary. The Board of Directors meets once a month. Please attend a meeting and meet us all.

For more information, contact (619) 685-7458.

PHA is a non-profit, San Diego based organization dedicated to raising awareness about postpartum depression and related disorders and providing treatment referrals to women who are struggling with them.

Queens NY Hospitals Now Screen for PPD

Katherine Stone — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:52:00 +0000

Hooray for Queens, NY! According to the Queens Tribune, Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals are now working to combat the stigma of postpartum depression and educate moms-to-be, according to Seeth Vivek, the Department of Psychiatry Chair at both hospitals.

The Neonatal Units and psychiatric departments at Flushing Hospital and Jamaica Hospital have created a program where all mothers are screened for postpartum depression prior to discharge from their hospitals, and they also conduct a follow-up evaluation during the first prenatal checkup..

HRSA Offers Free Booklet on Perinatal Depression

Katherine Stone — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:17:00 +0000

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released a new booklet on depression during and after pregnancy (perinatal depression). The booklet contains tips on identifying the condition in mothers and offers six steps to help treat it successfully. (Note: HRSA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)

Called "Depression During and After Pregnancy: A Resource for Women, Their Families, and Friends,” the 22-page booklet is designed to increase awareness among women and clinicians of perinatal depression’s impact and pervasiveness. It also contains information for family members and a list of print and Internet resources. A new Web site, www.mchb.hrsa.gov/pregnancyandbeyond/depression, provides easy-to-understand, downloadable tools for women, their families and health care professionals.

To order a free paper copy of the booklet or to download it, click here.

PPD Symposium in Chicago on May 12

Katherine Stone — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:07:33 +0000

On Saturday May 12, I am looking forward to appearing in Chicago on a panel discussing postpartum depression. The panel will be part of an event called the "Operation Blue Lady PPD Symposium", which is being held at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago from 11am to 2pm. My fellow panelists include Dr. Shoshanna Bennett, Carol Blocker, Tann Moore, Dr. Sarah Allen and George Smith.

At the event, the inaugural Melanie Blocker Stokes Leadership Award will be presented to Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) for his work on the Melanie Blocker Stokes Act, bill H.R. 20. Congressman Rush will be a keynote speaker, as will Carol Blocker and Susan Dowd-Stone, president of Postpartum Support International.

The event will also feature a book signing by Sylvia Lasalandra, author of "A Daughter's Touch", and a presentation of the stage play "Cries of the Blue Lady" by Tann Moore.

To register to attend, click here.

Washington Fully Funds Awareness Campaign

Katherine Stone — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:43:38 +0000

Many, many congratulations to Heidi Koss-Nobel and everyone else involved in the state of Washington in working to get the Postpartum Depression Awareness Campaign fully funded by the state legislature. Thank you, Washington, for providing resources for such an important cause!!

Nebraska Launches PPD Awareness Campaign

Katherine Stone — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:41:00 +0000

The Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services has launched a postpartum depression awareness campaign called Moms Reach Out. The campaign features a website, a toll-free "Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies" helpline, and downloadable posters and brochures in English and in Spanish. Kudos, Nebraska!

Postpartum OCD & Anxiety Get The Focus

Katherine Stone — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:06:00 +0000

Here's a link to a good story from the Ann Arbor News about postpartum OCD and postpartum anxiety. Following are highlights from the article by Jo Mathis:

"Postpartum depression has gotten all the press, grant money, and research, and relatively little is known about other mental health conditions in the perinatal period (the weeks before and after pregnancy), according to Michelle Van Etten Lee, training director for cognitive behavioral therapy at the University of Michigan's Psychological Clinic.

Onset of conditions such as OCD is most common during stressful times, said Van Etten Lee. About 30 percent to 40 percent of treatment-seeking women with OCD in their childbearing years date the onset of their disorders to pregnancy or the postpartum, she said.

There is also evidence that hormones play a role in anxiety conditions showing up during pregnancy or postpartum, Van Etten Lee said ...

Van Etten Lee said that just as there's not a lot of research on perinatal disorders, there's not much that looks specifically at treatments for anxiety disorders in perinatal women. ...

Women whose symptoms are significantly distressing or impairing to them, or for whom anxiety is taking significant amounts of time in their lives, should seek treatment, Van Etten Lee said."

SC PPD Run/Walk To Be Held Sept. 22 in Charleston

Katherine Stone — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:55:00 +0000

The Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation for Postpartum Depression Awareness' 5th Annual 5k Run/Walk benefiting PPD is back on! It has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 22 at 8am at Hampton Park in Charleston. To register for the event, click here. If you haven't been to Charleston, may I put in a little plug? It's a fabulous little town -- good food, great shops and lovely homes -- and the weather should be quite nice there in the late fall. If you can make it, consider going to support the women in South Carolina suffering from postpartum mood disorders.

BBC Reports Research on Possible Identification of Gene for Postpartum Psychosis

Katherine Stone — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:34:00 +0000

The BBC reported on July 5 the results of a study at Cardiff University in Wales to locate genes related to postpartum psychosis. Here's the story:

'Researchers at Cardiff University have helped locate the genes which can make women more vulnerable to severe mental illness just after childbirth.

The discovery could lead to new treatments for the condition, known as postpartum psychosis, scientists said. The condition is one of the most severe forms of mental illness and there is an increased risk of suicide.

Women with bipolar disorder are often affected with one in three deliveries followed by an episode of the illness.

Postpartum psychosis is not the same illness as postnatal depression [called postpartum depression here in the U.S.]. It comes on in some women within a few days of giving birth. It is also a less common disease than postnatal depression, affecting approximately one woman in 500, but is more severe in its effects.

The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, and involving a collaboration between Cardiff University, Birmingham University and Trinity College, Dublin, has helped pinpoint the genetic cause of the disease.

The team examined the DNA of families in which at least one woman had suffered with an episode of postpartum psychosis.

The researchers found the location of the genes involved in the illness and are now homing in on the genes themselves. The research will help pave the way towards improved identification of women at risk and better treatments for women who suffer episodes following childbirth.

It can take some women a long time to recover completely, although many recover within a few weeks.

Co-leader of the research, Dr Ian Jones from Cardiff University School of Medicine, said it was vital that women at high risk of severe postpartum illness were aware of the condition.

'Although a lot of work still needs to be done, this study will lead to significant benefits for women vulnerable to becoming ill following childbirth,' he said. 'Many of the medications used to keep women with bipolar disorder well can be a problem in pregnancy. Finding these genes will allow us to better identify bipolar women at very high risk and will help them and their doctors make the difficult decisions about taking medications through pregnancy.'

The team's findings have been published this week in the American Journal of Psychiatry."

Two New Studies Suggest Antidepressant Use Poses Minute Danger To Babies

Katherine Stone — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 21:26:10 +0000

One of the biggest issues for all of the women who need to be treated for postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as antenatal depression, is that of medication: Why do I have to take it? How long will I have to take it? Will it hurt my baby if taken during pregnancy? Will it hurt my baby if taken while I'm breastfeeding? What is the tradeoff between taking the medication and getting better but possibly harming my child (due to potential birth defects), and not taking medication and not getting better and still possibly harming my child (due to potential learning disabilities and behavioral problems, etc.)?

It's all SO MURKY, and so difficult, and I find that whatever choice women make, it NEVER feels like a win/win situation. Something seems to lose out either way. Below is an article about the results of two new studies that found that antidepressant use poses very little risk to babies. I have put the entire article here verbatim for you to see for yourself (the highlights, however, are mine).

Does this mean we should all run out and chow down on some Zoloft??? Of course not! Taking medication is still and issue for each individual and her doctor to discuss and decide on together. For mothers, even a .0000000001% risk is a lot. But at least the results of these studies are encouraging ...

Wednesday, June 27, from HealthDay News: Pregnant women who use antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are not increasing the risk of most birth defects for their newborns, new research suggests.

Drugs within this class -- which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft -- may increase the risk for certain defects, but, even then, the absolute risk is extremely small, concluded two studies published in the June 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"It's a fairly reassuring message for women who need antidepressants and are pregnant or who plan on becoming pregnant," said Carol Louik, lead author of the first paper and an assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center. "We saw no large risks, and the fewer elevated risks that we did see would only lead to very small absolute risks."

"This is a valuable contribution," added Dr. Jon Shaw, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. "It substantiates the need to always be prudent in prescribing antidepressants."

The issue of maternal use of antidepressants, particularly those known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is a charged one.

Last November, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that women avoid the SSRI Paxil if they are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, due to a potential heightened risk of birth defects.

The guidelines come a year after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about possible birth defects associated with Paxil when the drug is taken during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The initial FDA warning came in September of 2005. In December of the same year, the FDA instructed Paxil's maker, GlaxoSmithKline, to reclassify the drug from a Category C to D (a stronger warning) for pregnant women. Category D means studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus.

Other reports had indicated that SSRIs may cause newborns to have withdrawal symptoms.

To complicate matters further, yet another study found that pregnant women who discontinued their antidepressant medication were five times more likely to relapse into depression than women who continued with the medication.

Women of reproductive age have the highest prevalence of major depressive disorders, with experts estimating that about one in 10 will experience a bout of major or minor depression sometime during pregnancy or the postpartum period.

The first study, conducted by Louik's team of Boston researchers, looked at almost 10,000 infants with birth defects and close to 6,000 infants without birth defects. The researchers wanted to see if there was an association between defects that had been previously linked to SSRIs and the use of these drugs by mothers during their first trimester of pregnancy.

Overall, SSRI use was not associated with significantly increased risks of craniosynostosis (when connections between skull bones close prematurely), omphalocele (when intestines or other abdominal organs protrude from the navel) or heart defects.

There were, however, associations between maternal use of Zoloft (sertraline) and omphalocele and septal defects (defects in the walls that separate the chambers of the heart) and between Paxil and defects that interfere with blood flow to the lungs.

But even if a certain drug increased rates by a factor of four, the risk of having a child affected by the problem would still be less than 1 percent, the researchers said.

The study was funded by grants from the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, as well as drug companies Aventis, Sanofi Pasteur and GlaxoSmithKline (maker of Paxil).

A second study, this time conducted by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, found that the use of SSRIs during the first trimester of pregnancy was not associated with any increased risks of most categories of birth defects, including congenital heart defects.

The researchers looked at four SSRIs: fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), Paxil and citalopram (Celexa).

There were some associations between maternal SSRI use and anencephaly (a brain defect), craniosynostosis and omphalocele, but, again, the absolute risk was very small. These defects had not previously been associated with SSRI use during pregnancy, the study authors noted.

Louik said she did not anticipate any labeling changes based on these studies, but that she did anticipate more research.

"These studies make a large contribution to the field, but they're not the final word by any means," she said.

Gov. Blagojevich Needs to Sign PPD Legislation in Illinois

Katherine Stone — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 20:25:53 +0000

Here's a link to a story about Mary Howorth, who was instrumental in getting legislation passed in Illinois calling for screening of women for postpartum mood disorders. The legislation is awaiting signature from the governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. Here's hoping the governor gets with it, and soon! The women of Illinois need him to put pen to paper!

Montana Psychiatrist Receives National Award For Treating Postpartum Psychosis

Katherine Stone — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 20:19:53 +0000

I'm so sorry for taking so long to post. My computer system went haywire for a while (DSL, Wireless router, etc.), and I had to figure out how to get back online. Whew!

Congratulations to Dr. Bruce Whitworth of Billings, Montana, for being one of only 18 psychiatrists from throughout the U.S. to receive the 2007 Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), for his work with postpartum psychosis patient Angie Allard. Here's a link to the story from the Billings Gazette.

Just Back From PSI Conference

Katherine Stone — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:39:39 +0000

Last week I went to Postpartum Support International's annual conference on postpartum mood disorders. As usual, I'm so glad I went. It is very exciting to see so many women in one place who are so committed to working towards better education, treatment and support for the women who go through this. So many of us who were there are survivors, or people close to those who have suffered, and we know what an important cause this is! Ladies, you should feel very good about all the work that is being done to support you out there!! My head is swimming with all of the info and ideas I got from the conference, and I'll try and share some of them with you this week after I get myself organized. Thanks to everyone in Kansas and Missouri for their hard work on putting the conference together, thanks to everyone at PSI and hello to all my new friends!

More Moms Join The Surviving & Thriving Photo Album

Katherine Stone — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:02:05 +0000

I am completely gleeful to let you know that I've posted two more photos in the Surviving & Thriving Mothers Photo Album -- Melissa N. and Kristin G. The album is getting bigger, which is fabulous because it means there are more and more happy faces to show those who are suffering that you CAN get through this and become a fullfilled, happy and healthy mom. I know you don't believe it's possible, but just look at all these beautiful, shining faces who are living proof!!!!!!! If you want to be part of the album, email me at stonecallis@msn.com.

NJ Catholic Churches Launch PPD Program

Katherine Stone — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:49:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, the Catholic Church in New Jersey announced a statewide program to educate priests and parishioners about postpartum depression.

The program was unveiled during a news conference in Newark that brought together Archbishop John J. Myers, community health professionals and former victims of postpartum depression. The program aims to make each of the state's 684 Roman Catholic congregations a source of assistance for women stricken with the illness. The archdiocese will begin training priests, deacons and lay ministers next month, teaching them about the symptoms, and resources for referring mothers for treatment. Amen to that!

For more on spirituality, including Christianity, and postpartum depression, click here.

Canadian Entertainer Amy Sky's Story of PPD

Katherine Stone — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:34:00 +0000

For all of you Canadians out there, here's a link to a story from St. Catharine's Standard about singer/songwriter Amy Sky and her experience with postpartum depression. Sky is a campaign spokesperson for the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, which is encouraging people to get a Check Up from the Neck Up in a province-wide campaign.

For more on celebrities with postpartum depression, click here.

Upcoming Event in Asheville Features My Psychiatrist!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:21:44 +0000

The Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville, NC is hosting an evening for prescribing clinicians called "Postpartum Mood Disorders: A Systemic Approach to Biopsychosocial Treatment" on Thursday, August 16, from 5:30 to 8pm and an all-day conference on Friday, August 17, from 8:30am to 4:45pm.. The key speaker will be Dr. Jeffrey Newport, associate director of the Emory Women's Mental Health Program here in Atlanta and also my psychiatrist!!!! I have firsthand knowledge that Dr. Newport rocks. Dr. Judy McKay, a psychiatrist specializing in perinatal mood disorders from Columbia, SC, will also present. Continuting education credits will be available, and the program is aimed at physicians, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists and physicians' assistants. The fee to attend on the 16th is $65.00 and includes dinner, and the fee for the 17th is $99. To register, go to www.mahec.net.

Postpartum Depression Resources Just For Dads

Katherine Stone — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:02:45 +0000

While it is crucial that women have as much information as possible when suffering a postpartum mood disorder like postpartum depression, I think it is equally important for family members to understand the role they can play in supporting these women -- especially husbands. Having a supportive husband who understands what you're going through and provides the right kind of help plays a big part in recovery. I've been meaning to let all of you know about a great resource for new dads with wives/partners going through postpartum mood disorders -- Postpartum Dads. You can go to the Postpartum Dads website by linking here. This site features information to help dads understand what women with perinatal mood disorders are going through, what they themselves are going through and what can be done about it. It also features personal stories of men who have made it through this experience and how they dealt with it. I think this is a wonderful resource, because men are very much affected by their partners' illnesses, often unsure what to do and unsure about their own feelings and how to deal with them. I also often point people to Karen Kleiman's book, The Postpartum Husband, which offers practical solutions for living with postpartum depression. We can't forget that the men are going through this with us, and they need help too!

For more on how dads can help moms with postpartum depression, click here.

Feisty PPD Segment on This Morning's FOX

Katherine Stone — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:13:47 +0000

I planned to tell you that a PPD segment was going to air this Friday on FOX so you could be ready to watch, but unfortunately it got moved up to this morning, so I missed it and you may have too. Anyway, it appeared on the nationally syndicated "Morning Show with Mike and Juliet."

The interview featured Melissa Noga, a mom who experienced postpartum anxiety, Dr. Meg Spinelli, Peter Breggin and PSI President Susan Stone. You can, and SHOULD, watch the whole thing here. Melissa was great, Dr. Stone was great, Dr. Spinelli was great, and Peter Breggin was a real ass. He made the whole thing an argument about the "needless use of medication" and said that there was no evidence that antidepressants were related to hormones.

I'M EVIDENCE, SIR.

I and thousands of other women like me are evidence that, when in postpartum crisis, antidepressants can save lives and restore families. May I point out that no one in the PPD arena has ever said that:

1. Every woman who suffers a postpartum mood disorder should take medication; or

2. Every woman who takes medication should remain on it forever.

I don't know where these people come up with this stuff. Most PPMD advocates, myself included, support whatever works, be it exercise, supplements, medication, therapy or a combination of all of the above. What they do say is that women need to get themselves out of the crisis, and if it's meds that do that, then fine. I used meds, and yes it took me several to find the one that worked for me, but once it did it was GREAT. I'm proud of the choices I made. I wouldn't change them for a second. How dare he or anyone else question me, and try to make me feel ashamed of my choice.

Ladies, please listen to people like Meg Spinelli and Susan Stone and Shoshanna Bennett and others who have specifically treated hundreds and hundreds of women with postpartum depression and know the latest information in the field, rather than old men like Peter Breggin, who has been in practice for many decades and seems not to have advanced his understanding of these disorders since the 1950s.

Barnes to Appear on CBS Monday June 11

Katherine Stone — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:50:00 +0000

Wendy Davis of PSI gave me a heads up that PSI's past president Diana Lynn Barnes will be interviewed on the CBS Early show on June 11. She will be discussing her new book, "The Journey to Parenthood: Myths, Reality and What Really Matters." CBS has a good history of positively covering the issue of postpartum depression and the need for more research and treatment.

Registration Opens for PSI Washington's Annual Conference

Katherine Stone — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:57:00 +0000

Registration is now underway for the PSI Washington annual conference, "Beyond the Birth: Current Trends in Treating Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders", to be held September 21, 2007, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington. The target audience for this conference includes OB/GYNs, pediatricians, psychiatrists, family practitioners, midwives, nurses, doulas and many more. The fee for the conference is $130 without CEUs and $180 with CEUs. After August 1st, registration fees will increase by $25. To register, go to www.ppmdsupport.com, or contact Debra Shelden at 425-681-0736. Reserve early, as seating is limited!!

Postpartum Progress To Be Part of BlogHer '07

Katherine Stone — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:32:00 +0000

I'm very excited that I've been invited to speak at the BlogHer '07 conference in Chicago this July. I will be in a session titled "Blogging: the Voice for Silenced Communities" on Saturday, July 28, and will be talking about Postpartum Progress, the blog you're reading this very minute. BlogHer is an organization of thousands of women bloggers from around the world, and BlogHer '07 is a very popular conference. I look forward to meeting lots of powerful women and sharing what we talk about here on Postpartum Progress.

War Wives At Greater Risk for PPD

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:57:44 +0000

Staff writer Denise Gellene of the Los Angeles Times reports on research finding that women married to deployed soldiers are at a much higher risk for experiencing postpartum depression:

"Women with spouses on military deployment during their pregnancies face a nearly threefold higher risk for postpartum depression in initial screening tests, researchers reported this week.

The findings mean that military wives should be informed of the risk and aggressively screened for depression during their postpartum medical exams, said lead author Dr. Jeffrey Millegan of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego ...

The study, presented Monday at a American Psychiatric Assn. meeting in San Diego, looked at 415 women who received preliminary screening tests for the condition approximately six weeks after their children were born.

One-quarter of the 90 women whose husbands were deployed at any point during their pregnancy screened positive, according to the study, compared with 11% of the women whose husbands were not deployed.

Researchers found that women whose husbands were deployed during their pregnancies had 2.7 times the risk of screening positive.

The women who screened positive were referred for further mental health services. The study did not follow those women to learn whether they were ultimately diagnosed with postpartum depression.

Still, Dr. Vivien Burt, director of the Women's Life Center at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, said the results underscored the need for action because previous studies had shown that a mother's depression could leave lasting scars."

For more information on postpartum depression risk factors, click here.

Houston Chronicle Editorial on Postpartum Psychosis

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:30:58 +0000

Here's a link to the great editorial written by the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle about the recent infanticide/suicide in Texas. This is an awful, awful tragedy, of course. I'm glad the Chronicle commented on the work that needs to be done to help women with postpartum psychosis.

New Study Says Docs Not Probing for Signs of PPD

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:24:43 +0000

From WRAL.com in North Carolina:

"A new study suggests a majority of doctors are not probing new mothers for signs of postpartum depression.

Of the 228 physicians responding to the survey who said they had seen women for postpartum visits in the previous three months, 79 percent said they were unlikely to formally screen the patients for depression ...

'We believe that it is very important that physicians work some type of depression screening into postpartum visits,' said Betsy Sleath, lead author of the study and a professor in UNC's School of Pharmacy. 'Perhaps even more important, women shouldn't be afraid or embarrassed to raise this issue with their doctor. We're expected by society to be happy when we have a child so sometimes it's hard to talk about the fact that women feel sad, or that it's hard being a new mother.'

Physicians and other health care professionals use a variety of tools such as a patient health questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to determine a woman's risk of postpartum depression.

Dr. Bradley Gaynes, one of the study's co-authors and a psychiatrist with UNC Health Care, said checking for signs of depression can be as simple as asking a new mother two questions:

Has your interest in your usual activities changed?
Do you feel depressed or hopeless?

'We recognize that physicians must cope with many demands on their time,' Gaynes said. 'But depression is one of the most common postpartum complications, and a postpartum depression needs to be identified before it can be treated. We encourage clinicians to always check for signs of depression during postpartum visits. These questions represent the core symptoms of a major depressive disorder.'

An estimated 13 percent of new mothers are affected by postpartum depression. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will be published June 6 in the North Carolina Medical Journal."

PPD Support Groups in the U.S. & Canada

Katherine Stone — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:53:43 +0000

Postpartum Depression Support Groups Around the U.S. & Canada If you are a new momlooking for people in your area who understand what you are going through, you've come to the right place. Scroll down below to find postpartum depression support groups in your state or province. It doesn't matter whether you have PPD, or postpartum anxiety, or postpartum OCD or whatever, as these groups welcome all moms with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Oh, and if you're not sure whether you or someone you love has postpartum depression or anxiety and even needs a support group, check out the symptoms here: The Symptoms of Postpartum Depression & Anxiety (In Plain Mama English) and The Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis (In Plain Mama English). If you'd like to sign up to receive daily supportive emails from Postpartum Progress that will encourage you through your illness, learn more about Postpartum Progress' Daily Hope by clicking here. Note: You are welcome to link directly to this page from your site. Please do not copy and paste it. Copyright 2011 Postpartum Progress/Katherine Stone ONLINE SUPPORT If you can't find a group in your area from the list below, visit the Online PPD Support Group at http://www.ppdsupportpage.com/ ALABAMA Montgomery -- Postpartum Depression Support Group meets 1st Tuesday of every month from 7-8pm at the Capitol Heights United Methodist church; contact Greta Chambless at 260-9381 for info ALASKA Anchorage -- PPD Support Group at the Maternity Education Center at the Children's Hospital at Providence on Monday afternoons from 2-3pm; contact 907-261-2065 or visit http://www.providence.org/resources/alaska/classes/classes.asp?Cat=101&Submit=+GO+ ARIZONA Chandler -- PPD Support Group, Wednesdays from 1pm to 2:30pm, contact Ann Marie Casey at 480-728-5617 Flagstaff -- Postpartum Adjustment Support Group, Mondays from 11:30am to 1pm, contact Christina Hibbert at 928-774-7997 Gilbert -- Postpartum Depression support groups, Mondays 6-7:30pm; children are welcome; contact Ann-Marie Casey at 480-728-5617 Glendale -- PPD support group at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, meetings are bimonthly, contact 602-865-5908 Prescott -- Mother to Mother Support Group, meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 5-6:30pm in the Elsea Conference Room at Prescott Library, contact 928-777-1500 Sierra Vista -- Postpartum Support Group of Sierra Vista, Wednesdays at 6pm, contact Amy at 439-9043 or email sierravistapostpartum@yahoo.com Tucson -- Mother to Mother PPD Support Group at Northwest Medical Center, meets Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30am, contact Alison at 520-877-4149 Tucson -- Postpartum Adjustment Support Group at St. Joseph's Hospital, meets Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30pm, contact Carole Sheehan or Terry Scallon at 520-873-6858 or 520-218-7404 CALIFORNIA Berkeley -- North Berkeley Postpartum Stress Support Group, Saturday mornings bimonthly, contact Lee Safran at 510-496-6096 Chula Vista -- Spanish speaking PPD Support Group, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month from 5:30 to 7pm, contact Scripps Mercy Chula Vista Well Being Center at 619-691-7273 or 1-800-SCRIPPS Clairemont -- PPD Support Group at North Clairemont Rec Center, Tuesdays from 7 to 8pm, contact Gretchen Pound at 858-663-7285 Glendora (20 mins east of Pasadena) -- PPD Support Group Call Andrea Schneider, LCSW 626-241-6812 or e-mail andrea@EmbraceMotherhood.com Hermosa Beach -- PPD Support Group at Recovery Now, meets Wednesdays, contact Alisa MacGowan at 310-508-5931 Hermosa Beach -- PPD Support Group meets on Mondays from 1pm-2:30pm, contact Dr. Jennifer Chrisman at (310) 740-0294 or drjenniferchrisman@gmail.com Kensington -- Mothers Supporting Mothers PPD Support Group, meets Tuesdays from 12 to 1:30pm, contact Mary Obata at 619-220-4680 Laguna Hills -- PPD Support Group at Saddleback Memorial Women's Hospital, meets 10:30-11:30 on Tuesdays, contact Cynthia Hiles at 310-428-2088 or ceshiles@yahoo.com La Jolla -- PPD Support Group at Scripps Memorial Hospital, meets Thursdays from 2:30 to 4pm, call 1-800-SCRIPPS La Mesa -- PPD Support Group at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, meets Thursdays from 3 to 4:30pm, contact 619-740-4906 Los Angeles -- Cedars Sinai PPD Support Group, contact Marilee Harthing for dates and times at 310-423-1510 Mission Viejo -- Postpartum Adjustment Support Group at Mission Viejo Hospital, meets Tuesdays from 10am to 11am, contact Sue Harrison at 949-365-3818 or email sharriso@mhr.stjoe.org Newport Beach -- PPD Support Group at Hoag Hospital, meets Mondays at 6pm, contact Laura Navarro Pickens, LCSWfor more information at (562) 882-7901 Oakland -- Alta Bates Summit Postpartum Stress Support Group, Tuesday mornings, contact Lee Safran at 510-496-6096 Orange -- PPD Support Group at St. Joseph Hospital, meets Thursday at 10:30 for new moms, Thursday at noon for ongoing moms who have attended the new moms group; contact 714-771-8000 ext 17891 Pacific Grove -- Postpartum Wellness Support Group at Parent's Place, meets 2nd Thursdays of each month from 10am to 11:30am, contact Meg Grundy at 831-601-7021 or email meggrundy@yahoo.com Redwood City -- PPD Support Group, contact 408-718-2112 Sacramento -- PPD Support Group hosted by Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, contact 916-688-2317 San Diego -- PPD Support Group at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, meets Wednesday evenings, contact 858-939-4141 San Francisco -- Newborn Connections PPD Support Group at California Pacific Medical Center, contact 415-600-2229 San Francisco -- Emotional Wellbeing in Pregnancy & Postpartum Group; open to Kaiser Permanente members only and free of charge; meets Mondays at 11am, contact Kaiser San Francisco Dept of Psychiatry at 415-833-2292 Santa Cruz -- PPD Support Group at Sutter Maternity Hospital, meets Mondays from 10am to noon, contact Kate Bell at 831-475-2494 or email justkateb@comcast.net San Jose -- PPD Support Group, meets at the Almanden Valley Athletic Club, Tuesday mornings, contact Tiffany Benton at 408-309-3427 or tiff_benton@yahoo.com Serra Mesa -- PPD Support Group at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, meets Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30am, contact 858-939-4141 Sorrento Mesa -- PPD Support Group, contact 858-442-2421 Tarzana -- PPD Support Group at the Center for Postpartum Health, contact Diana Lynn Barnes at 818-887-1312 or Cathy Dore at cdore@postpartumhealth.com Vista -- PPD Support Group meets at 1988 Hacienda Dr in the classroom of "Babies in Bloom" on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month from 11:45AM-1:15PM; contact Holly Herring, at 760-814-1421 or see the website at www.passnc.org COLORADO Boulder -- PPD Support Group, contact Mary Jo Manydeeds at 303-817-9843 Denver -- Kempe PPD Support Group, contact 303-864-5845 DELAWARE Newark, Wilmington & Dover -- MOMs HEAL: Perinatal Mood Disorder Support Groups, contact 302-733-422g x302 or email mo'hara@christiancare.org Wilmington -- The Birth Center PPD Support Group, contact Rebecca at 302-294-2365 FLORIDA Coral Springs (Broward Co.) -- Center for Postpartum Adjustment PPD Support Group, contact Ilyene Barsky at 954-752-0460 or email ppdsupport@aol.com Daytona Beach -- A New Day Peer Support Group for Moms with PPD, held every 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 6-7pm at Vertical Life Church; contact 386-795-0728 or anewdayppdsupportgroup@live.com Miami -- Shades of Blue Support Group, contact Dana at 419-356-3338 or email dana.quick@yahoo.com GEORGIA Athens -- PACE PPD Support Group, contact Lauren Hale at 706-410-1925 or compassion@ppdacceptance.org Atlanta -- Atlanta Postpartum Support Group, www.meetup.com/PPDAtlanta, meets monthly, contact Amber Koter at atlantamom930@gmail.com or call 914-261-8182 Atlanta -- PPD Support Group at Dekalb Medical Center, meets Thursdays, call 404-501-WELL for more information Stockbridge -- PPD Support Group at the Henry Medical Center Women's Center, meets Wednesdays, contact Patricia McAfee for more info at 678-604-4968 HAWAII Oahu -- PPD Support Group, Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11am, contact Diane at 808-392-7985 IDAHO Boise -- PPD Support Group at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, contact 208-367-7380 Ketchum -- PPD Support Group at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center, contact 208-727-8800 Montpelier -- PPD Support Group at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital, contact 208-847-1630 Moscow -- PPD Support Group at Gritman Medical Center, contact 208-883-6385 Soda Springs -- PPD Support Group at Caribou Memorial Hospital, contact 208-547-3341 ILLINOIS Aurora -- PPD Support Group at Rush-Copley Healthplex, contact 866-426-7539 Champaign -- Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Group at Family Service (405 State St.), 1st and 3rd Mondays from 5:45pm to 6:45pm and 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 1-2pm; contact Helen McDonald at 217-378-8575 or hgmcdona@hotmail.com or Sue Osborne at 217-202-0943 Chicago -- PPD Program at Healthcare Alternative Systems; for info on programs contact jnovak@hascares.org; free services in English and Spanish Chicago -- PPD Support Group at Mercy Hospital, meets 1st Thursday of each month, contact 312-567-5420 Chicago -- Transitions to Motherhood program at Northwestern Memorial's Prentice Women's Hospital; meets Wednesdays from 10:30 to noon; register by calling 312-926-8400 Downers Grove -- PPD Support Group at Good Samaritan Hospital, Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3pm, contact Catherine Phillips at 630-208-3871 Elk Grove -- Alexian Brothers Medical Center PPD Support Group, contact Leslie Lowell Stoutenburg at 847-981-3594 or Susan Adler at 847-956-5142 Geneva -- PPD Support Group at Delnor Community Hospital, meets Tuesdays from 10am to 11:30am, contact 630-232-1070 Highland Park -- PPD Support Group, contact 847-831-7731 Joliet -- PPD Support Group, meets Fridays from 6:30-7:30pm, contact Provena Health Connection at 815-725-9438 Oak Lawn -- PPD Support group, meets at Advocate Christ Conference Center, contact Jenefar Slusher at 708-684-5843 Oak Park -- PPD Support Group at Parenthesis Parent Child Center, contact Mary Strizak at 708-848-2227 or email mstrizak@parenthesis-info.org Peoria -- PPD Support Group, contact Irma Robbins at 309-683-6617 or email irma.robbins@osfhealthcare.org Springfield -- "Out of the Blue" PPD Support Group at St. John's Hospital, meets 2nd Wednesdays from 5 to 6pm, contact Barbara Maley at 217-535-3696 or email barb.maley@st-johns.org Winfield -- Central DuPage Hospital PPD Support Group, meets Mondays from 7pm to 8:30pm, contact Sophia Bowerman at 630-933-1964 INDIANA Online Support Group -- hosted by Sara Pollard every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8pm at www.indianaperinatal.org/chat.aspx Bloomington -- Bloomington Area Birth Services PPD Support, contat 812-337-8121 Elkhart -- Elkhart General Hospital PPD Support Group, contact Michaela Nufer at 574-294-2621, x 5610 Ft. Wayne -- Lutheran Hospital PPD Support Group, contact JK Wagner at 260-435-7069 Hobart -- Postpartum Peer Support Group of NW Indiana, meets at 11am every other Friday, contact Sarah at 219-947-9646 Indianapolis -- Clarian Health PPD Support Group, contact Birdie Meyer at 317-962-8191 Indianapolis -- Community Health Network PPD Support Group, contact Marcia Boring at 317-621-7828 or email mboring@ecommunity.com Indianapolis -- St. Vincent's Hospital PPD Support Group, contact Lisa Hill at 317-415-7676 South Bend -- South Bend Memorial Hospital PPD Support Group, contact Karen Sandock at 574-647-7511 or email ksandock@memorialsb.org South Bend -- PPD Support Group at Family & Children's Center Counseling & Development Services, contact 574-232-2255 or Kathy James at kjames@fcccds.org IOWA West Des Moines -- A Saving Grace PPD Support Group at West Des Moines Public Library; contact www.postpartum.meetup.com/cities/us/ia/clive. KANSAS Lawrence -- PPD Support Group at Lawrence Memorial Hospital (newborns welcome) on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30pm; contact Melissa at 505-3081 prior to attending Overland Park -- PPD Support Group, meets Tuesday evenings, contact the Postpartum Resource Center of Kansas at 913-677-1300 South Jackson County -- PPD Support Group, meets Monday evenings, contact 913-677-1300 Topeka -- "Finding the Joy" PPD Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Mondays from 6:30 to 8pm, contact Denise Mead at 785-266-8347 KENTUCKY Ft. Knox -- PPD Support Group on Tuesdays, hosted by Kellie Haworth, contact 502-624-9940 Louisville -- PPD Support Group at Ten Broeck Hospital, meets Thursdays, contact 502-896-0495 Louisville -- Postpartum Support Group, meets Mondays from 4-5pm, contact Amy Greenmayer at 502-394-9900 MAINE Biddeford -- Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group at Southern Maine Medical Center, contact Lauren at 207-283-7143 or Cheryl or Kathy at 207-283-7350 Brunswick -- New Moms Support Group at Mid Coast Hospital, contact 373-6500 Portland -- Postpartum Adjustment Support Group at Back Cove Midwives Office, meets Thursdays from 10:30 - 11:30am, contact 829-6181 or email Linda Boardman at linda@coyotees.com MARYLAND Annapolis -- Anne Arundel Medical Center PPD Support Group, meets once monthly, contact Ali Tiedke at 443-481-6130 or email atiedke@aahs.org Baltimore -- Sinai Hospital PPD Support Group, meets 2nd Thursday of each month, contact Lisa Kelly at 410-601-9057 Baltimore -- Greater Baltimore Medical Center, meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month, contact 443-849-6262 and leave a message for DeeDee Frank Olney -- Postpartum Support Group, meets Mondays from 10-11:30am at Montgomery General Hospital, FREE but must register before attending, contact 301-774-8881 and press 3 MASSACHUSETTS Beverly -- PPD Support Group at Beverly Hospital; meets first Friday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30; call 978-922-3000 x 2716 Concord -- PPD Support Group at Emerson Hospital, held monthly, contact Ellen Weisstein at 978-287-0221 Greenfield -- Franklin County Postpartum Support Group, held on Fridays from 10 to 11:30am at the Community Action Family Center; contact Pam Baldwin at 413-774-1000 x2015 or Sandy Clark at 413-475-1566 Plymouth -- Jordan Hospital Postpartum Support Group, contact Gerri Piatelli at 781-837-4242 or call 508-830-2929 Northampton -- Motherwoman's Postpartum Stress Support Group, meets Tuesdays from 10:15am to 12:15am at Community Action Building, contact 413-253-8990 Waltham -- "This Isn't What I Expected" PPD Support Group, meets Wednesdays from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at JF&CS, 1430 Main Street, Waltham. To register contact Debbie Whitehill at 781-647-5327 x1925 or email dwhitehill@jfcsboston.org; online at www.jfcsboston.org/MomsGroups MICHIGAN Ada -- Life After Baby Posptartum Support Group, meets 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays each month from 7 to 9pm, contact Jenna Scott at lifeafterbaby@gmail.com Ann Arbor -- Greater Ann Arbor Postpartum Depression Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Mondays from 10:30am to noon, contact 734-418-2683 or visit http://www.ppd-annarbor.org/ Bay City -- Depression After Delivery Support Group, meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month, contact Sherry LaMere or Kelli Wilkinson at 989-895-2240 Commerce Valley -- PPD Support Group atHuron Valley-Sinai Hospital, meets 6:45 p.m. on Thursdays; contact 248-937-522 Flint -- PPD Support Group at Hurley Medical Center, meets Wednesdays at 5:30pm, no contact info available Grand Rapids -- Spectrum Health PPD Support Group, meets weekly, contact Nancy Roberts at 616-391-1771 or 616-391-5000 Grand Rapids (Kent County) -- Moms Bloom Postpartum Support Group, visit www.momsbloom.org Lansing -- PPD Support Group, meets 2nd and 4th Mondays from 11am to 12:30pm at Ingham Regional Medical Center's McRee House, contact 517-367-5477 Rochester Hills -- Tree of Hope PPD Support Group at Oakland Macomb Obstetrics & Gynecology, meets Mondays from 7 to 8:30pm, contact http://www.treeofhopefoundation.org/or call Kelly at 248-551-0197 St. Clair Shores -- Tree of Hope/Beaumont PPD Support Group at St. Joan of Arc Parish Center, meets Thursdays from 7 to 8pm, contact 877-467-3311 Troy -- Tree of Hope PPD Support Group at National City Center meets Tuesdays from 10-11:30am, contact http://www.treeofhopefoundation.org/or call Kelly at 248-551-0197 West Bloomfield -- Tree ofHope PPD Support Groupmeets Wednesdays from 7pm to 8:30pm, contact http://www.treeofhopefoundation.org/ or call 248-898-3234 Wyoming -- Moms Bloom PPD Support Group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 9:30am to 11am at Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming, MI; contact 616-828-1021 or visit www.momsbloom.org MINNESOTA Minneapolis -- PPD Support Group at Abbott NW Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, meets weekly on Tuesdays, contact 612-863-4770 Edina -- Circle of Moms PPD support group, click here for dates and times Riverside -- PPD Support Group at University of Minnesota Medical Center, held Wednesdays, contact Sara Biewen at 612-672-2142 or Intake at 672-6999 West St. Paul -- PPD Support Group at Dakota Co. Northern Service Center, held Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3pm, contact Jennifer Johnson at 612-863-4770 MISSOURI Creve Coeur -- St. Louis Mother to Mother Postpartum & Pregnancy Adjustment Support Group held Fridays at Women's Healthcare Partnership, contact 314-644-7001 toll free-1-877-644-7001 or visit www.mothertomothersupport.org Springfield - Beyond Baby Blues Support Group at The Women's Center at Cox Health, contact 269-LADY MONTANA Missoula -- PPD Support Group, meets 4th Monday of each month at 10:30am, contact Lara Mattson Radle at 406-370-7747 or email laborandlove@bresnan.net NEVADA Las Vegas -- Beyond Birth Postpartum Support Group, meets Wednesdays at 1pm at Family to Family at 4412 S. Maryland Parkway, contact 631-7098 Las Vegas -- PPD Support Group at Barbara Greenspun Women's Care Center West, meets Mondays from 10-11am, contact Megan Keith at 702/351-0752 or keithfazolis@earthlink.net Las Vegas -- PPD Support Group at the OBGYN Specialists, meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7-8pm, contact Vanessa Delorenzis at 702/577-8039 or delorenzis2002@hotmail.com Las Vegas -- PPD Support Group at Pinkpeas Pregnancy and Parenting Care Center, meets every other Thursday from 2-3pm, contact Vanessa Delorenzis at 702/577-8039 or delorenzis2002@hotmail.com NEW HAMPSHIRE Concord -- PPD Support Group, meets Tuesdays from 10:30am to noon, contact Gerry Mitchell at 603-227-7000 x 4927 Keene -- Rohana Peer-to-Peer Postpartum Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month at 7pm at Sophia's Hearth Family Center. Contact 603-357-3755 for more information. Manchester -- Postpartum Emotional Support Group, meets Mondays from 10:30am to noon at Elliot Hospital's Elliot Childcare Center; contact Alison Palmer with any questions at 663-8927 or palmer1@elliot-hs.org. Portsmouth -- Seacoast Postpartum Adjustment Group meets Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. For information or to register, call Liz Gaudette at (207) 363-1379. NEW JERSEY Denville -- PPD Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 7-8pm at St. Clare's Behavioral Health Center, contact 1-888-626-2111 and ask for moms support group Englewood Cliffs (Bergen County) -- Socialization & Skills New Mothers Group, meets Wednesday evenings at 7pm, contact 201-567-5596 and press 3 for more info Flemington -- PPD Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Mondays from 1-2:30 at Hunterdon Medical Center Hackensack -- PPD Support Group at Hackensack University Medical Center, meets every other Tuesday, contact Denyse Addison at 201-996-2631 Hoboken -- PPD Support Group at Hoboken University Medical Center, meets Tuesdays, contact Robin Petrick at 201-418-1015 Jersey City -- PPD Support Group at Christ Hospital Women's Resource Center, contact Michael Barmak at 201-795-8375 Livingston -- PPD Support Group at St. Barnabas Medical Center, meets Tuesdays, contact Lauren Meisels at 973-322-7309 Long Branch -- Monmouth Medical Center New Moms Support Group, meets Mondays from 11am to noon, contact Lisa Madden, RN to register for this free group at 732-923-6990. There's also a Moms of Multiples Support Group which meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 11 to 12:30pm. Mt. Laurel -- TLC for Moms PPD Support Group, meets 3rd Tuesday of the month from 3:30-5pm at Oceans and Motions, contact Virtua Health at 866-380-2229 Neptune -- PPD Support Group at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, meets every 3rd Tuesday, contact Pat Vena at 732-363-5400 Newark -- PPD Support Group at UMDNJ, meets Fridays (Spanish speaking), contact Sarahjane Rath at 973-972-6216 Paramus -- PPD Support Group at Valley Hospital Luckow Pavilion, meets every other Tuesday, contact Trudy Heerema at 201-447-8539 Red Bank -- PPD Support Group at Riverview Medical Center, meets every 1st Thursday, contact Pat Vena at 732-363-5400 Ridgewood -- PPD Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 11am at Valley Hospital, contact Trudy Heerema Rocky Hill -- Princeton/Mercer CountyPostpartum Support Group at Mary Jacobs County Library, meets 3rd Saturday of every month from 10:30am - noon, contact Joyce Venis at 609-683-1000 (day) or Gail at 732-248-4921 or email joycevenis@yahoo.com Somers Point -- TLC for Moms PPD Support Group, meets Mondays 1-2:30pm at Shore Memorial Hospital, contact 609-926-4229 Teaneck -- PPD Support Group at Holy Name Hospital, contact Ann Anderson at 201-833-3124 Toms River -- PPD Support Group at Babies R Us, meets every 2nd Wednesday, contact Pat Vena at 732-363-5400 Turnersville -- TLC for Moms PPD Support Group, meets Wednesdays from 11-12:30pm at Kennedy Health System, contact 856-582-3098 Voorhees -- TLC for Moms PPD Support Group, meetsWednesdays from12-1:30at Virtua Health, contact 1-866-380-2229 For even more New JerseyPPD support groups,callthe New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouseat 1-800-367-6274 or visit www.njgroups.org, click on "Find a Group Near You" and then click on the "Depression/Bipolar/Postpartum Depression"box.

NEW MEXICO

Santa Fe -- Postpartum Mother's Support Group, meets 11am to noon, contact 982-9375 NEW YORK Circle of Caring PPD Support Groups in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester Counties, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and the Capital Region, contact the Postpartum Resource Center of New York at 631-422-2255 Brooklyn -- PPD Support Group, contact www.brooklynppdsupport.org or Molly Peryer at 917-549-6012 or email molly@peryer.org Manhattan (Upper East) -- PPD Support Group, meets Mondays from 1 to 2:30pm, contact Anne Smith at 212-289-7335 or email mumpers1@aol.com Sayville -- Circle of Caring PPD Support Group at the Mother's Center of the South Shore at the United Methodist Church of Sayville, meets Thursdays, contact Nicole Piervencenti at 631-218-1552 Troy - PPD Support Group at 3 Sister's Birth, meets 4th Wednesday of every month and 2nd Saturday of the month, pre-register for free group by calling Amy Breese at 518-469-8704 or emailing abbreese@yahoo.com Wantagh -- PPD Support Group at the Midshore Mother's Center; meets Wed am; contact Nicole Piervencenti at 631-218-1552 Westchester -- PPD Support Group, contact Joan Jacobus at 914-419-5806 Williamsville -- PPD Support Group at Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital, meets 2nd Thursdays of each month from 7 to 8pm, contact Nancy Owen at 716-568-3628 or email nowen@kaleidahealth.org For more resources in NY, visit the Postpartum Resource Center of New York's resource page here. NORTH CAROLINA Cary/Raleigh -- "Moms Support Moms' PPD Support Group, held weekly in two locations, contact 919-454-6946 for more info or email Anne Wimer at awimer@postpartumeducationandsupport.com. Chapel Hill -- PPD Support Group hosted by UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders, meets bimonthly, call 919-966-3115 Cornelius -- PPD Support Group, contact Carol Peindl at 704-947-8115 Durham -- Duke Postpartum Support Group, meets twice weekly, contact William Meyer at 919-681-6840 or email william.meyer@duke.edu Elizabeth City -- PPD Support at First Baptist Church in Elizabeth City, Wednesdays at 6:30pm, call Julie LeMond at 312-7072 Goldsboro -- HEARTS for Mom PPD Support Group, meets 4th Monday of each month at Goldsboro Pediatrics, contact Melissa Harrell at 778-5598 x310 Greensboro -- Feelings After Birth PPD Support Group, contact Nadine Tamborino at 336-832-6682 or email tamborino@mosescone.com Greenville -- Hopeful Beginnings PPD Support Group, call 252-847-8263 or email tamborino@mosescone.com High Point -- Mother Baby Foundation hosts a support group called "PEP Talks" onThursdays at the YWCA High Point; contact 336-812-3937 Raleigh -- Rex Hospital hosts support group, contact 919-454-6946 Wilmington -- PPD Support group hosted by Shirley Halvorson, contact 910-791-5731 or sdhalvor@bellsouth.net OHIO Cleveland -- PPD Support Group meetings held on both the East and West side of Cleveland, for more info call 216-373-0302 or email amyr@poemonline.org Columbus -- Pregnancy/Postpartum Support Group, meets twice per month, contact 614-315-8989 or email amy@poemonline.org Dayton -- Telephone support and resources are available by calling 866-848-3163 or email debdances@sbcglobal.net Northwest Ohio/Toledo area-- PPD Support Group meetings held on the first Monday of each month, for more info call 419-360-0169 or email margo@poemonline.org OKLAHOMA Tulsa -- PPD Support Group at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, meets 1st Mondays each month from 7 to 8:30pm, contact Anita Campbell at 918-865-2824 or Eva Marie Campbell at 918-699-0120 OREGON Corvallis -- Postpartum Mood Support Group, call for details, contact Debra Carriere at 541-754-0070 or email perinatalmoodsupport@gmail.com Eugene -- PPD & Anxiety Support Group, meets Tuesdays at 4:30pm, contact 541-231-4343 Portland -- Baby Blues Connection PPD Support Group, contact 503-797-2843 or email info@babybluesconnection.org PENNSYLVANIA Hershey -- PPD Support Group atLois High Berstler Community Health Library at Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center, meets every second Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm, contact 717-531-3908 Lancaster Co. -- PPD Support Group, contact 717-397-7461 or email heathers24@aol.com Lemoyne -- Mom's Place PPD Support Group sponsored by Holy Spirit Hospital, meets Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30pm, contact 763-2200 Philadelphia -- The Postpartum Stress Center PPD Support Group, contact Karen Kleiman at 610-525-7527 Phoenixville -- Postpartum Adjustment Support Group, meets 4th Wednesdays of each month from 6:30pm to 8pm, contact 610-983-1288 SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston -- Charleston PPD Support Group, meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30pm, contact Helena Bradfordat 843-881-2047 or email buzerhel@aol.com Columbia -- PPD Support Group, meets 1st Thursday of each month from 11:30 to 1:30pm, contact Virginia at 803-296-3715 or email virginia.peacock@palmettohealth.org Florence -- PPD Support Group at Florence Christian Church, held 1st Saturday of each month, contact Brenda Cooper at 843-600-1318 or email scdoulasforlifeinc@yahoo.com Upstate SC-- PPD Group of the Upstate, meets 1st Thursday of every month at Baby Impressions in Greenville, contact Susan at 864-419-3289 TENNESSEE Memphis -- PPD Support Group at Lakeside Cresthaven Center, held Tuesdays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, contact 901-377-4794 Nashville -- Hope Clinic for Women's PPD Group Counseling, Thursday evenings, contact Ashley Colclasure at acolclasure@hopeclinicforwomen.org or call 615-321-0005 TEXAS Austin -- PPD Support Group at Any Baby Can in Austin, meets Thursdays from 10am to 11:30am, contact Kelly Boyd, PhD at 512-454-3743 or email drkellyboyd@yahoo.com Dallas -- Dallas Ass'n for Parent Education PPD Support Group, meets 2nd Sat of each month from 10-11:30am, contact Shiela McComas at 972-276-2016 Houston -- Mother to Mother support group, sponsored by Texas Children's Hospital; meets 10am to noon on Fridays at the Meyer Building; parking is free; contact 832-824-2410 Houston -- The Women's Hospital of Texas PPD Support Group, meets Mondays from 12:30pm to 2pm, contact Barbara Crotty at 713-791-7404 or email barbara.crotty@hcahealthcare.com Houston -- Beyond Birth Postpartum Adjustment Support Group, meets Saturdays from 4:30pm to 5:30pm, contact Peta-Gay Rhinehart at 713-254-4140 or email petarhinehart@sbcglobal.net Houston -- Loving Infant Care Motherhood Center PPD Support Group, contact 713-963-8880 Houston -- PPD Support Group at The Motherhood Center; meets Wednesdays at 11:30am; http://www.motherhoodcenter.com/index.php/postpartum-support-group Plano -- PPD Support Group held on Thursdays at 6pm; contact Christina Spinler at 469-688-8592 San Antonio -- Methodist Women's Center PPD Support Group, contact 210-575-0355 UTAH Salt Lake -- PPD Support Group at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, meets Wednesdays from 7:30pm to 9pm, contact daveanddebshea@comcast.net VIRGINIA Alexandria -- Pre and PerinatalSupport Group at the Kingstowne Library, 2nd Friday of each month from 10:30 to noon, starting Nov 2009, contact Terri Lear, 703-313-9789 or ppnsupport@cox.net Arlington -- PPD Support Group, Wednesday mornings at the Virginia Hospital Center, contact Adrienne Griffen at 703-243-2904 or email adrienne.griffin@gmail.com Fairfax -- Fairfax PPD Support Group, meets Tuesday evenings, contact Benta Sims at 703-244-9232 or email j-bsims@comcast.net Fredericksburg -- PPD Support Group, Thursday mornings, contact Michelle Clemovich at 703-300-1436 or mclemovich@yahoo.com Ft. Belvoir -- PPD Support Group Thursday afternoons, contact Army Community Services at 703-805-4590 Leesburg -- Postpartum Support Group at Innova Loudon Hospital's Cornwall Campus, held 2nd and 4th Thursday afternoons; contact Leslie Mckeough at 703-909-9877 or email lamckeough@gmail.com Roanoke -- Postpartum Stress Support Group, meets Wednesday evenings, contact Sandra Cothran at oval1954@cox.net or Melody Mills at sevenmills@verizon.net Virginia Beach -- PPD Support Group at Virginia Beach Central Library, meets Thursday evenings, contact Cameron Tempest at 757-621-8311 or camerontempest@gmail.com Warrenton -- Postpartum Support Group held by Toddlin' Time of Warrenton, meets last Tuesday evening of the month; contact Michelle Kelley at 540-347-0613 or Langdon Harris Johnston at langdonharris@strollerstrides.net WASHINGTON DC (also see Virginia & Maryland) DC -- PPD Support Group, meetsWednesday evenings at Wisconsin Avenue Baptist church,contact Lynne McIntyre at 202-744-3639 or emaillynne@lynnemcintyre.com. DC -- PPD Support Group at Sibley Hospital, meets Wednesdays from noon to 1 on 3rd floor, contact Erin Brindle at 202-537-4773 WASHINGTON Bainbridge -- PPD Support Group for Kitsap County, held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 12:30 to 1:30pm at Grace Church, contact 206-755-6066 Bellevue -- "Beyond the Baby Blues" PPD Support Group at Eastgate Public Health Dept., held 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from noon to 1pm, Spanish speaking group held on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from noon to 1pm, contact Veronique Burke at 425-453-7890 ext 268 or Sylvia Kurin at 425-453-7890 ext. 375 Bellevue -- "Balance After Baby" PPD Support at Overlake Hospital, held 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, contact 425-688-5259 Kirkland -- "This Isn't What I Expected" PPD Support Group at Evergreen Hospital, contact Tracy Van Den Boomen at 425-899-2652 or tvandenboomen@evergreenhealthcare.org Longview -- PPD Support Group for Cowlitz County, contact Lisa Loeb at the Family Health Center at 360-423-7740, ext 109 Moses Lake -- The Mommy's Club Support Group at Crossroads Resource Center, meets 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1:30pm to 3pm, contact Christy Youngers at 509-765-4425 Port Angeles -- PPMD Support Group for Clallum County, 10-week support groups, contact First Step Family Support Center at 360-457-8355 Puyallup -- "This Isn't What I Expected" PPD Support Group at the Puyallup Library, held the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 11:30am to 12:30pm, contact Christy Christian at 253-370-7970 Seattle -- Understanding the Moods of Motherhood Group at Swedish Hospital, held Mondays from 4pm to 5:30pm, facilitated by Mia Edidin and Margaret Bergman-Ness; contact 206-551-4824 Shoreline -- Shoreline Postpartum Support Group, meets Thursdays from 7-8pm at Dale Turner Family YMCA Community Meeting Room; contact 888-404-PPMD Sunnyside -- PPD Support Group for Yakima County at Sunnyside Community Hospital, contact Sandra Linde at 509-837-1313 Tacoma -- This is Not What I Expected PPD Support Group, meets 2nd and 4th Fridays from 2-3pm at The Birthing Inn; facilitated by Sara Atchison and Kathleen Pantoja; contact 253-222-0178 Tumwater -- PPD Support Group for Thurston County at Tumwater Timberland Library, held every Wednesday from 11:30am to 12:30pm, facilitated by Tammy Putvin, contact 360-349-2346 Vancouver -- Baby Blues Connection PPD Support Group, contact 360-735-5571 WISCONSIN Fort Atkinson -- PPD Support Group at Fort Healthcare Behavioral Health Center, meets Thursdays, contact 920-563-9542 Mequon -- Beyond the Baby Blues PPD supportgroup meets every Tuesday 10-11:30am at Columbia Center in Mequon, Wisconsin (Milwaukee area); contact Rose at 262.241.7778 or visit www.columbiacenter.org for more information. CANADA Calgary (Alberta) -- Families Matter hosts PPD support groups, contact 403-205-5177 for times and locations Cambridge (Ontario) -- Cambridge Memorial Hospital, contact Nancy Makela at 519-621-2330 ext 4361 Castlegar (BritishColumbia)-- The Mom's Support Group of Castlegar Community Services, contact Sandi McCreight at 250-365-7678 Kitchener (Ontario)-- Support Group with Irene Tiegs at Grand River Hospital, 519-749-4300 ext 2267 Milton(Ontario)-- Moms Supporting Moms PPMD Support Group at Our Lady of Victory School in Milton, Thursday evenings, contact Halton Region at 905-825-6000 or TTY 905-827-9833 Mississauga/Brampton/Caledon (Ontario) -- Postpartum Support Line, contact 905-459-8439 ext 4 Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan)-- Postpartum Support Group at KidsFirst in Moose Jaw; contact Carla at info@thesmilingmask.com Ottawa (Ontario) -- PPD Support offered by Family Services A La Famille, contact 613-725-3601 ext 117 or email intake@familyservicesottawa.org Regina (Saskatchewan)-- Postpartum Support Group at the YMCA of Regina, contact Sally Elliott at 306-757-9622 x 242 Sarnia-Lambton (Ontario)-- Postpartum Adjustment Program, click here for more info Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) -- PPD Support Group, contact 306-221-6806 Sunshine Coast -- Mama2Mama offers an online forum and support groups, visit www.mamalove.org for details on times and locations of groups Toronto -- PPD Support Group at St. Joseph's Health Centre, contact whcgroup@stjoe.on.ca or 416-530-6850 Toronto -- East Toronto Postpartum Adjustment Program, contact 416-469-7608 Vancouver (British Columbia)-- The Pacific Post Partum Support Society offers telephone support, weekly support groups and more, visit www.postpartum.org or call 604-255-7999 for the lower mainland Vancouver area or 1-855-255-7999 for other British Columbia Note: I compile this listbyreceiving direct contact from those who run groups or know of groups as well as from press reports.Please contact me if you are aware of a group that is not on the list. Also, if you are a mom who calls a group on this list and are told it no longer exists, please email me so that I can remove it. You can email me atpostpartumprogress@gmail.com. Also, if you are an organization you are welcome to link directly to this page as a resource. Please do not copy this list to your site.

FSU Conducting Study on PPOCD

Katherine Stone — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:44:00 +0000

Here is a link to a story from the Tallahassee Democrat on a study being conducted by Florida State University on the occurrence of obsessive compulsive symptoms after women give birth.

Guest Author: Theresa Borchard of Beliefnet

Katherine Stone — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:55:00 +0000

Therese Borchard, who writes the Beyond Blue blog at Beliefnet, shares her postpartum anxiety story with Postpartum Progress today:

Although I can’t remember a time in my childhood or adolescence that I lived without depression and anxiety, I guess you could say that I officially joined the elite mentally ill club in 1989, my freshman year at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, when I went by the Counseling and Career Development Center to inquire about local support groups (I was just a few months sober). One of the therapists politely invited me back.

A few months later she rattled off a handful of diagnoses: obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression. She strongly suggested antidepressants, but I resisted. Like fellow twelve-steppers, I thought they would compromise my sobriety. And with my Catholic friends and mentors, I regarded them as a crutch and a short cut from the pain that was necessary for spiritual growth.

“Life doesn’t have to be this hard,” my counselor told me, giving me a copy of Colette Dowling’s book, You Mean I Don’t Have to Feel This Way. A year and a half later, when I was experiencing suicidal thoughts, I finally cried uncle, clinging to the lifeboat (or prescription) God sent me. After a few trial and error experiments, my doctor and I stumbled on the combination of Prozac and Zoloft, which allowed me to concentrate enough to study, and relax enough to tell a dirty joke (one of my favorite things to do).

Then I got married, in 1996, and made small people (David and Katherine are now 6 and 4). After the two births, my hormones huddled together to ask each other what the hell they were supposed to be doing now that no baby was in the womb or on the breast. My neurotransmitters (the good guys responsible for feelings of well-being) caught an express train to another brain (the one content with instant oatmeal). Brain cells began to shrink (and I suspect croak) in my prefrontal cortex. A tumor grew in my pituitary gland (also in the brain). And I had a bona fide, genuine mental breakdown. There was nothing mini about it.

I lost twenty 23 pounds (I could wear an Ann Taylor size 2! That was the only perk.) because I had no appetite (this alone signaled a serious crisis, given my love of all things edible), I contracted one urinary tract infection after another because my immune system was breaking down, I breathed into a paper bag every morning during a panic attack, and I trembled and flailed like Linda Blair in the “Exorcist” because my anxiety was so acute.

Oh yeah, and the endless sobbing: in the deli line at the grocery (“No, it’s not the chicken salad, I just got my period”), in the waiting room at my gynecologist-obstetrician’s office (“I’m sorry, pictures of babies make me cry”), on the hayride at David’s class trip to the pumpkin patch (“I’m allergic to hay”), at Eric’s company dinners (“Please give him a raise”), at Katherine’s physical therapy sessions (“Will she ever walk?”), during sex (“Are you almost done? I have to blow my nose”), in church (twice as hard if we sang “On Eagle’s Wings” or “Be Not Afraid”), and yada yada yada.

It took two trips to the psych ward, seven different psychiatrists, one endocrinologist, 23 different medication combinations, and several MRIs over two years’ time to get me well again. In other words, I upgraded to the platinum club membership in Club D. Diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, I graduated beyond the casual, my-primary-care-physician-can-prescribe-me-my-meds to the critical, regular check-ins with a head doctor.

Although I have cussed out God too many times to count, asking him what kind of marijuana he was smoking the day he designed my brain, I agree with Kay Redfield Jamison, author of An Unquiet Mind, that “tumultuousness, if coupled with discipline and a cool mind, is not such a bad sort of thing. That unless one wants to live a stunningly boring life, one ought to be on good terms with one's darker side and one's darker energies.”

Top Women's Postpartum Mood Disorder Treatment/Research Programs in the U.S. and Canada

Katherine Stone — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:31:41 +0000

I have created a new page, which you can find to the left of your screen underneath the "Pages" link, that features a list of the top treatment and research programs in the United States and Canada for postpartum mood disorders. I have compiled the list from my own research, so it reflects my opinion, of course, but I have to say I think it is pretty accurate. For those women who need care and live in the vicinity of the hospitals and clinics where these programs are located, you are very fortunate to have the opportunity to be treated by people who truly specialize in our illnesses. I will add additional programs to this resource whenever appropriate. Here is the link to the page: http://postpartumprogress.com/?p=1551 or http://postpartumprogress.com/top-womens-postpartum-mood-disorder-treatmentresearch-programs-in-the-u-s-and-canada The programs featured include: Emory Women's Mental Health Program, Atlanta, Dr. Zachary Stowe & Dr. Jeffrey Newport Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Women's Mental Health, Boston, Dr. Lee Cohen, Dr. Ruta Nonacs Payne Whitney Women's Program at Weill Cornell, New York, Dr. Catherine Birndorff New York University Reproductive Psychiatry, New York, Dr. Shari Lusskin Yale Program for Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health, Dr. Cynthia Neill Epperson University of Illinois at Chicago Perinatal Mental Health Project, Chicago, Dr. Laura Miller UCLA Women's Life Center, Los Angeles, Dr. Vivien Burt Women's Behavioral HealthCARE at the Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Dr. Katherine Wisner Reproductive Mental Health Program at St. Paul's Hospital and BC Women's, Vancouver, Dr. Shaila Misri Iowa Depression & Clinical Research Center, Iowa City, Dr. Michael O'Hara and Dr. Scott Stuart Women's Mental Health Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Dr. Marlene Freeman

Women's Mental Health Treatment Programs & Specialists, US, Canada & Australia

Katherine Stone — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:43:13 +0000

The following are links to some of the hospitals and clinics in the United States, as well as other countriesincluded at the bottom of this page,that have specialized programs to treat women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.

How do I decide which programs are listed here? These organizations or individual practicesare specifically geared toward women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. They focus on reproductive psychiatry. They are comprehensive programs,offering treatment, hosting support groups and/orconducting research into these illnesses. Their clinicians are specialists. If you think your hospital or university's program should be included in this list, email me at postpartumprogress@gmail.com.

(Note: This list is in alphabetical order by state. Specialized programs outside of the United States are listed at the bottom. This list does not serve to endorse any particular program.)

UNITED STATES

California: UCLAWomen's Life CenterLos Angeles(LA), Lori Altshuler,MDand Vivien Burt, MD; El Camino Hospital Maternal Outreach Mood Services(Mountain View), Kristina Peterson, MFT; The Center for Postpartum Health(Tarzana), Diana Lynn Barnes, PsyD; Pec Indman, EdD, MFT (San Jose); UCSD Maternal Mental Health Clinic(San Diego), Katie Hurst, MD, 619-543-6932; Kaiser Permanente San Francisco (SF), Chris Eaton, MD and Kerry Savola-Levin, LCSW, 415-833-2292

Colorado: Perinatal Mental Health Program at The Children's Hospital(Denver), Brian Stafford, MD; Perinatal Mood Disorder Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital's Anschutz Medical Campus, Elizabeth Brass, MD, Cheryl Chessick, MD(Aurora); Kate Kripke, LCSW (Boulder)

Connecticut: Yale Program for Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health, Kimberly Yonkers, MD

Georgia: Emory Women's Mental Health Program (Atlanta), Zachary Stowe, MD,Jeffrey Newport, MD,Toby Goldsmith, MD

Illinois: University of Illinois at Chicago Perinatal Mental Health Project (Chicago); Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Perinatal Depression Support Services (Oak Brook), Dr. Diane Semprevivo; Northwestern University Women's Behavioral Health Services Program(Chicago), Sonya Rasminsky, MD, Jackie Gollan, PhD

Iowa:University of Iowa Women's Wellness & Counseling Service, Scott Stuart, MD, Robin Kopelman, MD

Kansas: Meeka Centimano, LCSW

Kentucky: University of Louisville Women's Mental Health Program(Louisville), Dr. Joyce Spurgeon, Sheila Ward CNM

Massachusetts: Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Women's Mental Health (Boston), Dr. Lee Cohen, Dr. Ruta Nonacs, Dr. Marlene Freeman, Dr. Adele Viguera; Brigham & Women's Hospital Women's Mental Health Program(Boston), Laura Miller, MD; University of Massachusetts Medical School Women's Mental Health Program, Dr. Rebecca Lundquist, Dr. Nancy Byatt, Dr. Kristina Deligiannidis (Worcester)

Maryland: Johns Hopkins Women's Mood Disorders Center, Baltimore, MD, Jennifer Payne, MD, Patricia Roy, MD, Jennifer Meuchel, MD

Michigan:University of Michigan Perinatal Mood Disorders Team, Ann Arbor, MI, Sheila Marcus, MD, Heather Flynn, MD, Maria Muzik, MD, Juan Lopez, MD, Kate Bullard, LMSW

Minnesota: Hennepin Women's Mental Health Program, Minneapolis, Helen Kim, MD

Missouri: Women's Healthcare Partnership(St. Louis), Diane Sanford, PhD

New Jersey: The Rocking Chair(Englewood), Naomi Greenblatt, MD; Blue SkyConsulting LLC, Susan Stone, MSW; Postpartum Stress Center(Vorhees), Karen Kleiman

New York: Payne Whitney Women's Program at Weill Cornell, New York, Margaret Altemus, MD; New York University Reproductive Psychiatry, New York, Shari Lusskin, MD; the Women's Mental Health Consortium, New York, Catherine Birndorff, MD; Columbia University Women's Program, New York, Eileen Kavanagh, MD; Sparks Center

North Carolina: University of North Carolina Center for Women's Mood Disorders, Chapel Hill, NC, David Rubinow, MD,Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, Elizabeth Bullard, MD, Chris Raines RN; The Prenatal & Postpartum Center of the Carolinas

Ohio: Lindner Center of Hope Women's Mental Health Program, Mason, OH

Oregon: Cedar Hills Hospital Mother Infant Outpatient Program, Beaverton, OR

Pennsylvania:Women's Behavioral HealthCARE at the Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Katherine Wisner, MD; Penn Center for Women's Behavioral Wellness, Deborah Kim, MD, Jessica Kovach, MD; The Postpartum Stress Center, Karen Kleiman, MSW

Rhode Island: Women & Infants Hospital Day Program, Providence, RI, Margaret Howard, PhD,Terri Pearlstein, MD

Tennessee: Dr. Margot Feintuch, Nashville, 615-269-0525

Texas: The Menninger Clinic/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Lucy Puryear, MD; UT Southwestern Women's Mental Health Center, Dallas, Neysa Johnson, MD, Anna Brandon, MD, Geetha Shivakumar, MD; Texas Health Springwood Program for Mothers, Bedford

Washington DC: Georgetown University Women's Mental Health Program, Dr. Barbara Byers, 202-687-0794

CANADA

Reproductive Mental Health Program at St. Paul's Hospital and BC Women's, Vancouver, Shaila Misri, MD

PerinatalMental Health Program at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ariel Dalfen, MD

University of Toronto Women's Mental Health Program, Toronto

Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Claudio Soares, MD

Royal Ottawa Women's Mental Health Program, Ottawa

AUSTRALIA

Perth Clinic Mother Baby Program, Perth

Royal Women's Hospital Centre for Women's Mental Health, Victoria

This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

New Atlanta Area Support Group

Katherine Stone — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:22:52 +0000

I'm very excited to say that I'm starting a PPD support group for women in Atlanta. (We need one around here!!) It will serve mainly moms on the South side of the city, but women from all over are welcome to attend. It will be held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month at the Starbucks in Peachtree City located at Rt. 54 and Broken Bow Ct from 10am-11am. This Starbucks has conference rooms, and we will be in a conference room and not out in the retail space. (Note: You are not required to buy coffee.) The first meeting will be held on Monday, August 27th. The meetings are free and open to women who are up to one and a half years postpartum and are suffering or think they may be suffering from a postpartum mood disorder. I also welcome survivors who'd like to be part of helping the group. Babies are welcome for those who don't have childcare. Call 404-538-4649 if you need more info or plan to attend.

Top Hospitals in U.S. for Psychiatry

Katherine Stone — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:33:00 +0000

U.S. News & World Report has its Best Hospitals feature in this week's issue. They also rank hospitals based on specialties, including Psychiatry. I think it is important for women to know which hospitals in the U.S. excel in Psychiatry, given that we need to know where we can go for the best treatment. I know some of them excel in the treatment of postpartum mood disorders, like Massachusetts General Hospital, New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, Emory University Hospital, NYU and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. I'm going to look into the others to find out what reproductive psychiatry programs they may have and report back to you. In the meantime, here is the list of the top 22 hospitals in the United States in the area of psychiatry, as reported in U.S. News & World Report. Rankings were determined solely by reputation.

1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

2. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

3. McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA

4. New York-Presbyterian Univ. Hosp. of Columbia and Cornell, New York, NY

5. UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Los Angeles, CA

6. Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, Baltimore, MD

7. Menninger Clinic, Houston, TX

8. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

9. Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT

10. Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, CA

11. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

12. Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA

13. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

14. Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, MA

15. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis, MO

16. NYU Medical Center, NY

17. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

18. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

19. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

20. Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX

21. Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT

22. Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY

PPD Workshop in Athens, GA on Aug. 24

Katherine Stone — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:41:00 +0000

On August 24th, there will be a 3-hour Postpartum Depression Workshop entitled: When Joy Finds Sorrow: Clinical Treatment of Perinatal & Postpartum Depression. J. Kip Matthews, Ph.D. will be presenting. He is a licensed psychologist in the state of GA.

To learn more about the seminar and for registration information, click on the following link:

http://www.akcconline.com/ppd_workshop.html

Need Help? PSI Offers Free and Anonymous PPD Info Sessions Via Phone

Katherine Stone — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:43:00 +0000

If you have questions about PPD, either because you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, or want to know more as a provider, there is a wonderful free service offered by Postpartum Support International. You can talk with a postpartum depression expert about resources, symptoms, options and general information about perinatal mood disorders from the privacy of your own home, thanks to toll-free informational sessions. You won't need to pre-register or even give your name, if it's important to you to remain anonymous.

These sessions are held on Wednesdays at either 3pm or 9pm EST. They are limited to the first 15 callers. For the call schedule and access codes you'll need to participate, visit www.postpartum.net or call 1-800-944-4773. And if you do call, let them know you heard about it on Postpartum Progress!!

Surviving Moms, Send Me Your Pics!

Katherine Stone — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:37:00 +0000

The Surviving & Thriving Mothers Photo Albuma is an online photo album of strong, competent, fabulous mothers who have recovered from postpartum mood nd anxiety disorders like postpartum depression. The women pictured in this album show countless others that you can recover and live a vibrant and happy life. I am so indebted to all of the moms who have added their pictures, including the most recent mom, Samantha G. Ladies, if you want to add yourself, please email me a jpeg of you and your child or children to stonecallis@msn.com!!

Postpartum Progress Blogroll & Other Pretty Cool Peeps

Katherine Stone — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:01:37 +0000

This is a list of blogs and a few websites that I think you may find helpful and comforting. My criteria:

blogs focused on postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety/OCD, antenatal depression/anxiety, postpartum psychosis, etc. (this is what you write about primarily, or you have a category dedicated to it that houses several posts on the subject)
blogs that are current, with a track record of active posting
blogs that are fully supportive of the women who suffer, supportive of all types of treatments for these illnesses and factually correct (they use real research to back up any claims)

You will also find listed below some general blogs on mental health that I like, as well as blogs of other women in the blogosphere who I hold in high regard. You go, girls!

If you think you should be on thisblogroll and you're not, it's most likely just an accident. It's hard to keep track of all you wonderful people. Just email me. Also, if you have a button you want me to add to your listing, please email me the code. ALSO, will you check & see if Postpartum Progress is on your blogroll? Hmm? It isn't?!? If you'd like to add us please do, and if you need Postpartum Progress bling, look here. Link: http://www.postpartumprogress.com

Survivor Bloggers aka Warrior Moms (in no particular order):

My Postpartum Voice

Dooce (postpartum depression archive link)

Beyond Postpartum

Pretty Swell

Heir to Blair

Band Back Together (link to PPD section)

depressionsandconfessions (PPD archive link)

Ivy's PPD Blog

Laughing Through The Chaos

Go Erin Go (PPD archive link)

The Mummy Chronicles

Surprisingly Sane

All Work & No Play Make Mommy Go Something Something (PPD archive link)

O My Family (PPD archive link)

Arms Wide Open

Moosh in Indy

Living the Self-Care Challenge (Diane Sanford & Ann Dunnewold)

Welcome to the Nuthouse

Not Super, Just Mom (PPD archive link)

Sluiter Nation (PPD archive link)

Sophie in the Moonlight (link to PPD archive)

I Can Grow People (link to PPD archive)

2 Much Testosterone (link to PPD archive)

Minky Moo

I Thought I Loved You Then (PPD archive link)

Roxane's Days

The 818

Mommy Vs. Madness

Ohana

Musings, Musings, Musings

Mood-Disordered Mama

Postpartum Dads Project (for dads whose wives/partners are suffering)

Don't Call Me Mother (on post-adoption depression)

Dig Toes In (PPD archive link)

Tea and Brie: You Are Not Alone

TheMommyblog.net

The Mommy-Muse Blog

Just Gliding Along (PPD archive link)

Rebuild from Depression (nutrition-focused)

PPD In Paradise

The Adventures of Anxiety Girl

In The Trenches of Mommyhood

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder Specialists' Blogs:

Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Women's Mental Health Blog

Postpartum Stress Center Blog: Karen Kleiman, author of "This Isn't What I Expected"

Perinatal Pro: the blog and website of Susan Stone, reproductive mental health expert and past president of Postpartum Support International

Who Says?: the blog of Ann Dunnewold, author of "Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box"

Dr. Shosh: Dr. Shoshanna Bennett, author of "Postpartum Depression for Dummies"

Websites (Not Blogs) Related to Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders:

Postpartum Support International

PPD Support Online: an online support group for people with postpartum mood disorders

MedEdPPD

Health.com's section on postpartum depression (with videos)

PBS' This Emotional Life

Mental Health Ministries: offers resources to faith communities on reducing the stigma of mental illness, including specific resources on postpartum depression

PTSD After Childbirth: Jodi Kluchar's website on postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder

Center for Postpartum Adjustment(Florida)

Center for Postpartum Health(California)

Mama2Mama(British Columbia)

I'm Listening: the website of Jane Honikman, founder of Postpartum Support International

TABS: Trauma & Birth Stress

Postpartum Men: for men with PPD

Pregnancy & Parenting Sites that are friends of Postpartum Progress - Thank you for your support!!!!

Mamapedia

ParentDish

Fit Pregnancy

Scholastic Parent & Child

The Today Show's Today Moms

Babble: Ceridwen Morris' Being Pregnant

Great Women Bloggers/Sites Who Have Consistently Supported Postpartum Progress and/or Women's Mental Health -- Thank You, Too!!

Catherine at Her Bad Mother

Rita at Surrender Dorothy

Mrs. Flinger

Deb at Missives from Suburbia

Annie at PhD in Parenting

Megan at Velveteen Mind

Janice at 5 Minutes for Mom

Heather at The Extraordinary Ordinary

Becky at Mommy Wants Vodka

Elisa, Lisa, Jory, Rita, Jenna and Denise at BlogHer

Meagan at The Happiest Mom

Tiffany at Mom Nom

Chrysula Winegar

One Bored Mommy

Allie at No Time for Flash Cards

Lindsay at Birds iViews

General Mental Health/Psychology Blogs Worth Reading:

Psych Central's World of Psychology: Created by Dr. John Grohol, this site and the World of Psychology blogovers a lot of great information on all mental illness issues

McMan's Depression & Bipolar Web: John McManamy is an award-winning mental health journalist with bipolar disorder. His blog Knowledge is Necessity is found here.

Beyond Blue at Belief.net: written by Therese Borchard, who experienced PPD and covers depression for Beliefnet, which offers features on religion, spirituality, faith, health and prayer

Webicina's Depression 2.0: a guide to blogs, social bookmarks, search engines and other Internet 2.0 sites related to depression

Mental Health Anti-StigmaWebsites:

Bring Change 2 Mind

No Kidding Me Too

Cause Bloggers I Support #blog4good

Friends of Maddie

Violence Unsilenced

Cora's Story

Linking policy

Postpartum Progress does not assume any responsibility or liability for any communications or materials available at the sites to which it links, including responsibility or liability for their accuracy. No link on Postpartum Progress is a referral or endorsement of any product or service. Such links are provided for convenience only. Postpartum Progress can remove a link at any time for any reason.

Bloggers: I Need A Favor

Katherine Stone — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:30:44 +0000

If you are a blogger and you like Postpartum Progress, then do me a favor ... Click through to this link: http://technorati.com/blogs/tag/postpartum+depression. Then find where Postpartum Progress is on the list (in the number two spot) and click on the little heart to add me to your Technorati Faves. For those of you who aren't techno geeks, this will make little sense, but Technorati tracks the world's blogs.

Ladies, Send Me Your Blog & Website Addresses So I Can Link To You

Katherine Stone — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:49:21 +0000

I am going to create a new page in Postpartum Progress that links to women who have blogs or websites that are either specifically about postpartum depression, or have included stories about experiencing postpartum depression. If you have one of those blogs or sites, please email me at stonecallis@msn.com. Tell me about your blog or website, and give me your URL web address. Thanks! I look forward to linking with you!

Back From BlogHer '07 With Great News

Katherine Stone — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:32:18 +0000

I just got back from BlogHer, the largest blogging conference in the world, attended by approximately 800 women bloggers (and a few men). Anyway, it was FANTASTIC and it gave me so many ideas about how to improve Postpartum Progress and make it even easier to use and more helpful. I also hope to work with some of the people I met to help get more information out to women around the world on postpartum mood disorders. Just a few of the many interesting people I got to talk with about PPMDs include the manager of online strategy and programs for Planned Parenthood, the women who are launching themotherhood.com, the depression writer for Beliefnet.com, the people at Revolution Health, a blogger for Yahoo!, the editor for Urban Baby, and the president of the National Organization for Women. There is so much great work to be done, so keep tuning in so that I can let you know what progress is made.

PPD4PPD Run This Weekend in Canton, MI

Katherine Stone — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:32:06 +0000

Christine Hughes contacted me to let me know that this Saturday, her running club is holding its 3rd Annual Pounding Pavement and Dirt 4 Postpartum Depression (PPD4PPD) run at 7:30am in Canton, Michigan. The race, which is held at Independence Park, is a 5k, 10k and 25k, and also offers a kids' fun run. Christine has already been interviewed by WDIV (Ch. 4 in Detroit) about her experience with PPD. The run benefits a PPD support group in Ann Arbor. The money raised from previous runs has allowed the group to create a website, get a telephone line, get a new location for meetings and to afford more mailings to local physicians. For more information, click here. Great job, Divas!

Boston Globe Covers Antepartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:11:03 +0000

At the Postpartum Support International conference, I was reminded over and over that ours is a spectrum disorder. In a spectrum disorder the symptoms and characteristics can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. As many of you know, you can experience postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder and postpartum psychosis. One size does NOT fit all.

One area that has gotten less focus, but is now beginning to get more attention, is antepartum depression, or depression during pregnancy. Click here for a link to a good story on this by Jody Santos in the Boston Globe.

Click here for more stories about depression during pregnancy.

Registration Opens for NYU Reproductive Psychiatry Conference

Katherine Stone — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:19:00 +0000

The 6th annual NYU Reproductive Psychiatry Conference will be held on Saturday, October 6th, from 8am to 4pm in the Farkas Auditorium of Alumni Hall at the NYU School of Medicine. The conference will provide information on the latest in research, premenstrual mood disorders, perimenopausal mood disorders, perinatal depression and bipolar disorder and the latest in prenatal diagnostic testing. It is being sponsored jointly by NYU and the North American Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynecology, and in cooperation with Postpartum Support International. The target audience is psychiatrists, ob/gyns, pediatricians and other health professionals who care for women. CMEs are available. For more information, and to register, go to www.med.nyu.edu/cme.

P.S. This just in! Dr. Shari Lusskin tells me that Dr. Manny Alvarez of FOX News will be the keynote speaker.

New Support Group in Memphis

Katherine Stone — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:28:22 +0000

I've added a new postpartum depression support group in Memphis, TN to the support group list.

University of Michigan Needs Qualified Participants for Two Perinatal Mood Disorder Studies

Katherine Stone — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:54:00 +0000

For those of you living in Michigan, the University of Michigan is conducting two studies related to perinatal depression. This would be a great opportunity to participate in important postpartum depression research and also to benefit from the care offered by a wonderful medical school. If you know anyone who might be appropriate, please let them know.

The first is a study looking at the affect of interpersonal therapy on depression and/or anxiety in pregnant women. It is open to women who are currently pregnant, and have a history of depression or anxiety disorders or are currently experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. You will receive up to 16 sessions of interpersonal therapy free of charge as part of this study. The locations for the antenatal depression study are Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Click here for detailed info.

The second study is designed to learn more about communication between moms and babies and children's social development during early childhood. They are studying mother’s health issues during pregnancy, baby’s development, and how mother and baby interact with one another during baby’s first year. They will also be looking at hormones in blood and saliva to see how stress impacts mothers and babies both positively and negatively...and how healthy moms cope with stress. This study is open to women who are less than 26 weeks pregnant and live within 60 miles of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Click here for detailed info.

To Georgia PPMD Survivors & Practitioners

Katherine Stone — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:43:14 +0000

Calling ALL women in Georgia who have survived a postpartum mood disorder, including postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD!!!! (Or if you're a Georgia practitioner who treats a lot of these women.) Please email me at stonecallis@msn.com. It's very important. Will explain later! Thanks.

-- Katherine

Help Choose The Postpartum Progress Tagline

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:47:13 +0000

Ladies, the new look is coming to completion here at Postpartum Progress. I added the new pages on the left, and we now have a new logo. Next is the slogan, or tagline. I have two and I want you to choose. Please email me at stonecallis@msn.com with your preference. This would be the kind of thing that would go on the back of a tshirt or on a bumper sticker, along with the logo. Here are your two choices:

Postpartum Progress. Survive and thrive.

This is a play on the name of the photo album, which was given the name Surviving & Thriving Mothers Photo Album because I wanted to show that we DO get through this and we DO become happy and fabulous moms who thrive in our roles as mothers. Certainly one goal of Postpartum Progress is that women who come to the blog find the strength and information they need to survive and thrive.

Postpartum Progress. Together, stronger.

I like that this has. multiple meanings. 1) Families can and will remain together and be even stronger after going through the ordeal of postpartum illness; 2) Survivors working together will feel stronger and feel more able to speak up and end the stigma; 3) Nothing is more helpful to those who are going through it when those who have survived stick around, stick together and help out the next one, which is why Postpartum Progress was started in the first place. I decided when I got better I wouldn't just move on to the next thing, because I owe it to the women who come after me to be of some help 4) I hope that the women who read and add their input to Postpartum Progress feel this is a place where we can come together and find personal strength and strength as a group of people who have or are going to make it through a struggle that very few people understand.

Okay ladies (and gents lurking out there). Whatever you choose will be the official slogan of Postpartum Progress from here on out, so make your preference known!! Email me at stonecallis@msn.com. And thanks so much to Erin O'Connor for helping me with her fab copywriting skills.

Update to People Who Care - State & Local Orgs List

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:45:41 +0000

It came to my attention this morning that my list of state organizations to the right of your screen (People Who Care -- State & Local Orgs) was somehow dropping half of the states off of the list. Technology! Anway, sorry to states like Arizona and Washington and New York. It's been fixed!!

Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Perinatal Depression Conference To Be Held October 17 in Chicago

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:08:22 +0000

The Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Perinatal Depression Conference will be held in Chicago on October 17 from 7:15am to 4:15pm at the University Club of Chicago. It is being presented by Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. The event will help healthcare providers improve identification of patients with perinatal depression, explain current research and methods available for management of patients diagnosed with perinatal depression and describe the steps involved with organizing a comprehensive perinatal depression program. The target audience for this event includes attending physicians especially in the fields of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Emergency Medicine, APNs, RN/LPNs, social workers and mental health professionals. Continuing education credits will be available for RNs and physicians.

Faculty for the conference include Dr. Laura Miller, director of the Women's Mental Health Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Shaila Misri, director of the Reproductive Mental Health Program at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Dr. Zachary Stowe, director of the Women's Mental Health Program at Emory University, Dr. Jennifer Payne, assistant professor in the department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Lisa Rone, assistant professor in the department of Psychistry at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, Susan Stone, the president of Postpartum Support International, and Tina Zahn, author of "Why I Jumped: My True Story of Postpartum Depression, Dramatic Rescue and Return to Hope". For more information, or to register, click here.

And don't forget all of the other upcoming fall conferences (thanks Wendy Davis for the reminder list!):

Postpartum Support International of Washington on September 21 (http://www.ppmdsupport.com/intro)
NYU Reproductive Psychiatry Conference on October 6 (https://tools.med.nyu.edu/Cmecourses/index.cfm?fuseaction=courses.DisplayWelcomePage&CFID=189654&CFTOKEN=14963082)
"Social-Cultural Influences on Maternal Depression in Manitoba, Canada on October 4 and 5 (http://www.womenshealthclinic.org/public/whats_new.html)
Arizona Postpartum Wellness Coalition and PSI Arizona's Prenatal & Postpartum Mood Disorders: Assessment & Treatment on October 18 & 19 (www.postpartumcouples.com)

National Depression Screening Day To Be Held October 11

Katherine Stone — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:50:00 +0000

National Depression Screening Day is Thursday, October 11, 2007. For more information on where screenings will be held, or on how to host a screening yourself if you are a qualified professional, click this link.

PSI Annual Fundraiser October 20 in New Jersey

Katherine Stone — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:41:00 +0000

Postpartum Support International will hold its annual fundraiser on October 20, 2007 -- the day that has been designated as Postpartum Depression Awareness Day in the state of New Jersey. The event will be held in North Caldwell, New Jersey, at the Greenbrook Country Club. For the second year, it is being sponsored by author Sylvia Lasalandra and her husband, Michael Frodella. The evening will feature wine and food tasting tables and a silent auction to benefit the world's largest nonprofit organization devoted to the eradication of postpartum depression worldwide.

Three honorees will be recognized for their outstanding contributions and support of maternal/child health:

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is being honored for his tireless advocacy and sponsorship of The MOTHERS Act, federal legislation that is gaining momentum and is expected to pass the Senate this year. This act will ensure that every women nationwide will be given an assessment for postpartum depression prior to leaving the hospital and will provide funding for treatment, research and education.
Brooke Shields, a former New Jersey resident and Princeton graduate, is being honored as a long-time advocate of education and protections for new mothers. Brooke recently lent her star power to the promotion of federal legislation by participating in a Mother's Day Senate press conference on the MOTHERS Act.
Donna A. Sanzari of Hohokus, New Jersey, who is being honored because her generosity and concern for women's issues led to the formation of the Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. The facility regularly hosts women's conferences and health-related events, and its services include antenatal and postnatal programs.

Last year's event resulted in funding for a new program called "Open Forum Sessions for Moms", in which mothers or concerned family members can call PSI's toll-free bridge line on Wednesdays to participate in live information sessions about postpartum depression and related illnesses with mental health experts.

Tickets for the October event are $150 per person, a portion of which is tax deductible. Opportunities for tax-deductible donations/silent auction items or event sponsorship are also available. Please email vino1020@aol.com for further information or to purchase tickets. Or, to hold a place, send your check to PSI Fundraiser, 24 West Railroad Avenue, PMB 183, Tenafly, NJ, 07670.

Postpartum Progress Appears on CNN.com

Katherine Stone — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:00:27 +0000

Today, Postpartum Progress was featured, however briefly, with a link on CNN.com. Health correspondent Elizabeth Cohen did a story on 5 mistakes parents make with newborns, and then offered quotes from 3 different blogging moms, including one from me on postpartum depression. Click here for the link, and then click on the postpartum depression tab once you get there. I'm so glad they were willing to include a little something on postpartum mood disorders!!

Postpartum Progress Gets New Image

Katherine Stone — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:24:45 +0000

Above, you will see that Postpartum Progress has a brand-spanking new image! I've been wanting to create something that would symbolize what this blog is all about, and here it is -- our new logo!! I chose this design because:

the mother and child suggest that, collectively postpartum mood disorders are a disease of parenthood
the raised arms of the mother and child show that we can survive the devastation that is a postpartum mood disorder, and truly thrive as mothers
the rays of sunshine in the background symbolize hope

I really hope you like it!! Please let me know what you think!

It's Time To Stand Up For Ourselves With CBS Radio & WFAN

Katherine Stone — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:02:43 +0000

Radio station WFAN in New York, which is owned by CBS, has decided to replace Don Imus, the "shock jock" who was fired for making racist comments about black female basketball players at Rutgers, with Craig Carton. This is the same Carton who made fun of Mary Jo Codey's mental illness on air, suggesting, as recounted in an article in USA Today, that "women who suffer from postpartum depression should relax by smoking marijuana 'instead of putting their babies in the microwave.'" Lovely.

When firing Imus, CBS issued a statement from CEO Leslie Moonves saying, in part: "We are now presented with a significant opportunity to expand on our record on issues of diversity, race and gender. We intend to seize that opportunity as we move forward together.”

Wow. I can't say I'm impressed with that record. In fact, I think you are obviously FULL OF CRAP. Apparently CBS thinks it is not okay to make fun of the athletes at Rutgers, but it is okay to outrageously denigrate new mothers with mental illness who are black or white or any other color for that matter. Not to mention Carton's record of racist and inflammatory comments made about people from Latin America and Asia ... Talk about saying one thing and then doing another. WFAN and CBS obviously pretended to be concerned by firing Imus, but the fact that they truly couldn't care less is reflected by their actions in hiring Carton.

What really kills me about all of this is that CBS Cares has done such great work on postpartum depression. Do they really think that makes up for the fact that they've hired a major on-air personality who just makes the stigma we all face even worse?

Thankfully, the New York Times agrees that WFAN has made the wrong choice. Click here for their opinion. Now we need your opinion voiced as well.

Ladies, reach out to WFAN and let them know what you think. Even better, have your husbands join you in your outrage. You can jointly send a letter to Eric Spitz, Programming Director, at:

WFAN-AM
34-12 36th Street
Astoria, NY 11106

You can also let CBS Radio know how much this sucks. Direct your comments to Chris Oliviero, the VP of Programming, at:

CBS RADIO
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
212-846-3939

Or perhaps it would be more interesting to reach CBS through the CBS Radio PR folks ...

Karen L. Mateo
Vice President, Communications
( 212) 846 7638

Dana McClintock
Senior Vice President,
CBS Communications Group
(212) 975 1077

We need to speak up for ourselves and not let this hypocrisy go unnoticed.

Women's Health Matters Blog Covers Light Therapy

Katherine Stone — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:08:00 +0000

This is a nice post from the blog Women's Health Matters, written by Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons, about light therapy as a potential for treating PPD.

Vote for Postpartum Progress in the Blogger's Choice Awards

Katherine Stone — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:09:16 +0000

*****Reader Alert!***** I need your help. Please, PLEASE click this link to vote for Postpartum Progress as the Best Health Blog for the Blogger's Choice Awards! It will only take a second -- just click the little yellow vote button. What would I win? Nothing probably, except we could say that a blog about our illness won an award for Best Health Blog, which would be completely and totally awesome.

Could The Side on Which You Cradle Indicate PPD?

Katherine Stone — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:50:26 +0000

Fascinating news just in from Englad about some research showing that which side you cradle your baby on may indicate postpartum depression. Here's a link to the full story from United Press International, and a couple of highlights below:

"The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, found that mothers who cradle their baby to the right are more often suffering extreme stress than mothers who cradle to the left.

Nadja Reissland, of Durham University in England, built on previous findings showing the majority of mothers prefer to cradle their baby to the left regardless of whether they are left or right handed ...

Eighty-six percent of the mothers who expressed little sign of stress or depression, cradled to the left."

Of course at this point I wouldn't lend too much credence to this ... although I did in fact cradle to the right (I'm left-handed). Hmmmmmm ...

P.S. Here's a link to the same story on Forbes.com, but this one has slightly more info.

Great Piece on FOX About PPD Among New Dads

Katherine Stone — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:26:36 +0000

Click here to see Dr. Shari Lusskin from NYU doing a segment with Dr. Manny on FOX about postpartum depression among new fathers. Scroll down and click on the Postpartum Dads story in the Features section. Great detailed segment!

Nitza & the Israel Center for Maternal Health

Katherine Stone — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:00:26 +0000

Even though this blog is U.S.-focused, I like to share bits and pieces of information I come across about what other countries are doing about postpartum depression. I just came across an interesting organization called Nitza which is based in Jerusalem and has established the Israel Center for Maternal Health, the only one of its kind in the country, to help women with postpartum mood disorders. I believe several of the group's advisors are from here in the U.S. Anway, if you're interested, here is the link: www.nitza.org

New Service For Women Who Need Childcare

Katherine Stone — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:15:46 +0000

Many of us who experience postpartum mood disorders are in desperate need of childcare. It helps if you have a friend or family member who can watch the baby while you attend a support group, meet with our psychiatrist, exercise, etc. But many of us don't. I know there have been times when I've had to miss something important because I just didn't have anyone to watch the kids.

At the BlogHer conference I went to recently, I met Sheila Marcelo, founder and CEO of care.com. Her service connects people who need caregivers -- including babysitters, pet sitters and people who care for seniors -- with the people who provide those services. Care.com pre-screens all of their provider profiles, and will provide free background checks for anyone who buys an upgraded membership ($25 monthly membership, $40 for 3 months, or $120 annual membership). You can also join for free, but you'll get limited access to their providers and no background check.

Here is Care.com's official description from their website:

Care.com is an online marketplace connecting people seeking care services with a national and local network of trusted providers. The company provides a simple and safe way for families and individuals to manage their care needs. Care.com offers a full breadth of subscription-based services - child care, pet care, senior care, tutoring, and soon other services - to address the lifecycle of specific care needs while providing free background checks and a suite of tools and resources for selecting the best care possible. The company was founded in 2006 and is funded by Matrix Partners, with a mission to help people to achieve a life more balanced through smart care connections.

I have yet to use their services so I can't vouch for them personally, but I thought this would be a good resource for you. They have providers in most major metropolitan areas.

PSI Open Forum This Wednesday

Katherine Stone — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:33:54 +0000

Postpartum Support International is holding its next free open forum session this Wednesday, August 22nd at 3pm, for people who are interested in talking to experts about this illness and have questions for which they'd like to get answers. The forum is held via phone and the call is free. This is a wonderful resource, and participants can remain anonymous if they choose. Click here for all the details.

Postpartum Progress on Yahoo! Wahoo!

Katherine Stone — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:06:06 +0000

I'm very excited to share with you a post that appeared on Yahoo! last week, written by Dory Devlin, about Postpartum Progress. Each one of you really makes this blog what it is and I thank you for your presence and your readership!! Check out the link here ...

P.S. The story links to the Postpartum Support International website as well!

Guest Author: Aliza Sherman of Babyfruit

Katherine Stone — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:04:48 +0000

Below is a blog post about experiencing postpartum depression that first appeared in Aliza Sherman's Babyfruit blog:

When It Hit Me, It Hit Hard

I ended up with knock down drag out post partum depression around 4 months [postpartum] but even before that, there were signs.
Maybe the time I threw a dirty plate from the dinner table up in the air because I was so angry could have been a clue. Or when I screamed at my husband to "give me the baby, you can't keep her from me!" then ran through the house slamming doors and cursing at him to leave me alone. Or the time I ran from the house screaming with the car keys, thinking I'd drive away (where? somewhere, anywhere) and he had to chase after me, wrap his arms around me tightly, lead me back into the house.
When it hit hard, it wasn't depression in the way I had thought about depression. I wasn't sad. I was angry. I was seething. I was absolutely furious. Everything set me off. In my mind, as long as I didn't want to hurt my baby, then I would be okay. But I didn't think twice about wanting to hurt myself.
When it looked like I was going to be put on anti-depressants, I couldn't go there. I had heard too many stories about people who went on them and then committed suicide and knowing how sensitive I am to anything I put into my body, I feared that they'd send me over the edge.
So I turned to a naturopath and in one 2 hour visit, she pinpointed exactly what I needed. She said that the hormone imbalance I was feeling included large amounts of adrenaline and epinephrine pumping into my system sending me into "fight or flight" mode. This definitely explained my state of constant panic. The only way I could describe it was that I was screaming inside, constantly.
She gave me supplements to help my adrenal glands to not overproduce adrenaline and an amino acid to spray under my tongue when I would start to feel panicky. Within a few days, I felt...as normal as one can feel after having a life changing and body changing event happen at age 41 (having a baby, of course).
I can't say normal because I'm not who I was before baby. I'm another person, totally changed, and half the time I'm not sure who I am. I've seen a therapist a few times to explore this aspect of motherhood. Nobody told me I would lose my identity and have an identity crisis that would only add to my PPD.
In the 2 months since I started getting treatments for my PPD, I haven't had any out of control, irrational outbursts. And I'm not screaming inside. When I feel something creeping in, I spray the amino acid under my tongue a few times and then take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I have only had to do that one time in the last 3 weeks.
I still don't know who I am, although when I went to a friend's birthday party last month with my husband and baby, we had to wear name tags. I put my name, then under it, I wrote "NG's Mom." After the party, I stuck it on the inside of my coat and it is still there, a little worn around the edges, but there to remind me at least who I am in part. I need that reminder.

And here is Aliza's update, as of this month:

About 5 months after I wrote this blog post, my naturopath sent me to a colleague - a nurse practitioner - who muscle tested me for an antidepressant. She determined that Effexor would be right for me. I started on the lowest dose - 37.5 mg - and immediately - and I mean immediately - felt different. I slept soundly and deeply the first night and woke up the next day refreshed. Within a few days, I felt calmer. The jagged edges of anxiety were smoothing out. Within a week, I felt...like me. Like the me I remembered me to be.
Because the effects were so immediate and positive, I have remained on the lowest dose and am only supposed to take it for 3 months. Life at home is so much more calm. I feel capable of coping with everything, including being a mom. I'm trying not to worry too much right now about getting off the medication. I'm just enjoying having a normal life, something that I thought I'd never have again.

New Home for the Completely Updated Nationwide Support Group List

Katherine Stone — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:09:26 +0000

I have moved the U.S. PPD Support Group Listing to the Pages Section of this site, which you'll find to the left of your screen. From now on, this is where this listing will be housed at Postpartum Progress. It is completly updated and has many more listings now. I encourage you to click here if you're looking for a group in your area that will offer you moral support as you go through this illness!

Also, please take an active part in this site by letting me know if any of the information on these lists changes. If a group stops meeting, tell me. If you call a phone number or send an email and it doesn't work, tell me. If you start a new group, tell me. It is CRUCIAL that the information be correct so that suffering women can get the help they need as quickly as possible without having to make a lot of phone calls. Thanks everybody!!

Meetup.com Lists Postpartum Meetups

Katherine Stone — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:00:50 +0000

Meetup.com is a place where people can find groups created around common interests in their local areas. There is a postpartum section that lists Postpartum meetups that are already happening, as well as people looking for a meetup in their area. I've just listed my new Southside Atlanta support group on the Meetup website. I'm placing a link here so that you can check it out if you're looking for groups in your area.

Guest Author: MommaSteph of MomSquawk

Katherine Stone — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:05:00 +0000

Following is a very honest piece about intrusive thoughts and postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, written by MommaSteph, a blogger at Mom Squawk.

I would never put my baby in the dishwasher.

But I've thought about it.

I've thought about putting the baby in all sorts of major household appliances: the washer, dryer, fridge, microwave, oven. I don't have a trash compacter, but if I did, well, that probably would have occurred to me, too.

And I'm not particularly unusual in this regard.

I remember the first time I had a violent intrusive thought about my first baby. It happened shortly after I had brought him home. My brother and his children were just leaving from a visit. I stood at the window holding Henry up and waving goodbye. My brother turned to wave and smile back. And suddenly I thought, "What if I dashed Henry's head against the radiator? How quickly would what happened register on David's face? How quickly could he get in here to get the baby away from me? When would his kids realize what had happened?"

It all occurred to me in a flash. I started to sweat, my heart started to beat quickly, and I moved away from the radiator. I was horrified, ashamed, disgusted, and scared. Was I one of those crazy women? How could I have such an awful thought? And how could I protect my baby?

From there, it just got worse. And I told no one -- how could I? What if they took my baby away?

For the rest of this EXCELLENT article, click here to go to Momsquawk!

Amy Grant Discusses Her Postpartum Depression in New Memoir

Katherine Stone — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:55:00 +0000

Here's a link to an article that just appeared in the Nashville Tennessean about singer Amy Grant's new memoir, "Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far". Apparently, Amy speaks out for the first time about suffering postpartum depression in her new book. From the article:

In Mosaic, Grant, 46, speaks publicly for the first time about the cyclical onset of depression when the winter days grow shorter. She also mentions postpartum depression, a miscarriage and being "too wrecked and too ashamed" to say nightly prayers with her young children when her first marriage fell apart.

Melanie Blocker Stokes Act Passes in U.S. House!!

Katherine Stone — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:07:06 +0000

On Monday, October 15th at 4:15pm, perinatal mental health history was made as H.R. 20, the Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 382 to 3!! "What a thrill it was to watch from the Congressional Gallery as Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) made his final, victorious push for American, children and families," said Susan Stone, president of Postpartum Support International.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Congressman Bobby L. Rush, Carol Blocker (who lost her daughter Melanie to this terrible illness), Susan Stone and Postpartum Support International, and all the other people who have toiled for years to get this passed.

This is huge. Now we just have to get the MOTHERS Act passed and we'll be IN BUSINESS! Money for research! Screening for new moms! Training for healthcare providers! Wahoo! Get your telephones ready on October 24th to make those calls to Senators!!!

Not A Blogger? How To Participate on October 24th to Help Pass The MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:55:34 +0000

I have heard from many concerned women, mothers, family and friends who want to see the MOTHERS Act passed in the Senate but are not bloggers, and thus are not sure how they can help on October 24th for "Blog for the MOTHERS Act" Day.

Please know that you DO NOT have to be a blogger to participate in Blog for the MOTHERS Act Day. What is most important is that as many people as possible call their Senators on October 24 to urge them to support the MOTHERS Act. Put together an email list of EVERYONE you know. Go to www.postpartum.net and click on the "welcome bloggers" button at the top to go to the page that gives instructions on how to call your senator and what to say. Copy those instructions and paste them into your email or text message or fax or WHATEVER! to everyone you know and tell them that you are personally asking them to participate on October 24th. Tell them it only takes a minute or two to pick up the phone and make the call. It's easy.

Please believe me that all of the offline participants in this day will have just as much impact as the online ones!!!! We NEED your participation!!

Help Mothers Everywhere: Join Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act on October 24th

Katherine Stone — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:34:10 +0000

(crossposted at BlogHer and Postpartum Progress)

A beautiful young mother of two has been missing in Rhode Island now for more than a month.

Her name is Katie Corcoran and she is suffering from postpartum psychosis. She was supposed to be released from the hospital to her family, but on September 5th, in some kind of mix-up, she was sent off in a taxi instead. Her husband, small children, family and friends haven't seen or heard from her since. This week, a friend of the family emailed me the following letter from Katie's mother, Nancy, to publish on my blog Postpartum Progress:

Katie,

This is your mom - please call home. I want to know if you are safe. I think about you all the time. I worry about you. I want to take care of you - with love and understanding. You have always been my pride and joy.

Please. Please call.

This story and so many others like it fill me with deep sadness and regret. Women who commit suicide. Women, like my mother, who don't know what's wrong with them, don't get treated and become alcoholics to escape the pain. Women who reach out for help but are ignored or stigmatized and feel that hurt for the rest of their lives. I regret that in this day and age we still don't know enough about dealing with postpartum mood disorders that something like Katie's disappearance could happen. She is out there somewhere, hopefully alive, most likely delusional and alone. And it's not her fault. Before this she was a perfectly normal person. She just happened to draw the short straw for postpartum mood disorders, and now she's lost.

You and I can do something about this. Maybe we can't just drop everything, go off in a plane to parts unknown with a picture of Katie in hand and search for her, but we CAN do something ... for Katie and for all the other mothers past and present and future who have suffered or will suffer from these illnesses.

On Wednesday October 24th, BlogHer, Postpartum Support International and Postpartum Progress are joining together to host Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act. We're asking bloggers from around the country to write about the MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression on the 24th and to encourage their readers to pick up the phone that day, call their Senators and urge them to endorse this critical legislation. I hope you will join us in this effort, which is part of the overall BlogHers Act 2007-2008 initiative to improve maternal health.

What is the MOTHERS Act? The Moms Opportunity to Access Help, Education, Research and Support for Postpartum Depression Act, or MOTHERS Act (S. 1375), will ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms and provided with essential services. In addition, it will increase research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for postpartum depression. The bill is sponsored by Senators Menendez and Durbin.

Postpartum depression is a serious and disabling condition that affects up to 20 percent of new mothers -- as much as 800,000 American women each year. Yet only 15 percent of these women will receive any assessment or treatment. Let me repeat. With all we know and as smart as we are, only 15% of 800,000 women will get diagnosed and treated. That is so wrong on so many levels. Women are not being diagnosed because they're not being educated and they're not being screened. Untreated, the consequences of maternal mood disorders range from chronic, disabling depression to death. The impact of untreated maternal depression on infants/children ranges from behavioral and learning disabilities to depression and, in the worst case scenarios, death from infanticide.

Specifically, the MOTHERS Act will help new moms by:

Providing important education and screening on postpartum depression (PPD) that can lead to early identification and treatment. The legislation includes two grants to help healthcare providers educate, identify and treat PPD.
Expanding important research to improve and discover new treatments, diagnostic tools and educational materials for providers. Since the exact cause of PPD isn't known, research continues to be the key to unlocking the mystery of this condition.

The bill is currently with the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee of the Senate. If the majority of the HELP Committee members endorse the MOTHERS Act, the bill will move forward for consideration by the Senate. Without Senate sponsors, the bill could languish in committee and await reintroduction at a future date. The moms of America can't wait for that.

Most Senators rarely hear from mothers (and others!), and phone calls from you and your readers will cause them to sit up and take notice on a specific issue. Writing or sending emails has much less impact. With your support, Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act can truly have a measurable impact.

Here's what to do on October 24th:

Grab a Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act button from BlogHer here and display it on your blog now.
Tell your fellow bloggers about Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act so they can participate too.
Visit the Postpartum Support International website and click the Welcome Bloggers button at the top to get all the information you need about the bill, how your readers can call their Senators, what to say, etc.
Publish your post on postpartum depression and the MOTHERS Act on Wednesday, October 24th and don't forget to tag your post with: Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act, BlogHers Act, BlogHer, Postpartum Progress, Postpartum Support International, postpartum depression
MAKE THOSE CALLS!!
Once you've blogged, be sure to go back to the BlogHer page and leave your URL so others can link to you.
I also welcome you to visit me at Postpartum Progress and leave a link to your blog or a message to my readers, most of whom are sufferers and the people who care for them. If you have a question, email me at stonecallis@msn.com.

By the way, if you're not a blogger, I still encourage you to participate by calling and asking those around you to call their Senators to galvanize support for passage of the MOTHERS Act. The more calls the better!!!

Postpartum mood disorders are a disease of motherhood -- they can affect any woman who becomes a mother, regardless of who she is. If we don't do something to better educate and treat the mothers who may suffer, we are doing a disservice to all mothers, children and families everywhere. All it takes is a phone call to let the Senate know that the women of America want the MOTHERS Act to pass.

PPD Among Latina Women To Be Addressed At November Conference

Katherine Stone — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 09:47:00 +0000

Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital will be hosting "The Latina Woman: Self Esteem, Postpartum Depression and Mental Health Issues" on Friday, November 9th, from 8:30am to 12:30pm at the Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. The event offers free registration and CEUs.

The focus of the workshop is to highlight physical, emotional and spiritual issues relevant to today's Latina women. Expert speakers will examine current research and provide practical information on how to assess and treat issues with this population. For additional information or to register, email Donna.Siegler@abbhh.net or call 847-755-8006.

For more on the topic of postpartum depression and Latina women, click here. For information in Spanish, click here.

Vancouver Mother Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Murdering 20-Month-Old

Katherine Stone — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:01:00 +0000

AGAIN???!! This happens again??!! When will people wake up and see that postpartum psychosis is no joke? When will we develop better ways to treat and care for women with psychosis so that they aren't in a position to harm themselves or others? My heart breaks all over again every time I read about another family destroyed due to postpartum psychosis. From The Columbian:

"A Vancouver mother was sentenced Tuesday to 24 years in prison for murdering her youngest child.

Kelly N. Meining, 32, pleaded guilty Sept. 12 to first-degree murder in the May 19, 2006, stabbing death of Bryce J. Meining, age 20 months ...

Meining's husband and parents told Clark County Superior Court Judge Diane Woolard on Tuesday that doctors and child protective services had failed Bryce and his mother, because they knew she was mentally ill.

Every time his wife saw a doctor about her hallucinations, insomnia and paranoia, we left the hospital with nothing more than a bottle of pills,' Kris Meining said.

Sandy Reed said that in the years leading up to her grandson's death, her daughter had been diagnosed with illnesses from bipolar disorder to schizophrenia to postpartum psychosis. She was prescribed 22 different medications, Reed said.

I love you, Kelly,' Reed said before returning to her seat in the courtroom.

When it was the defendant's turn to speak, Meining told Woolard she was tired of people making excuses.

'I murdered my son, and there are no excuses,' Meining said. 'He was supposed to be safe with me, his mom.'

She said she knows her family is just trying to help, 'but I deserve to be in prison' ...

The one request she made of Woolard was to allow contact visits with her daughter, 7, and son, 4. She has seen them every other month while incarcerated at the Clark County Jail, but only through a glass panel.

Woolard, after consulting with Kris Meining, agreed to supervised, contact visits so the children could hug their mother and attempt to maintain a relationship while she's in prison.

I know it isn't easy to treat people with psychosis. If they don't take their medication they won't get better. If they or their families refuse hospitalization, what can be done? If the people around them look the other way or if there is no one to care for them, how can they be monitored? How long should they be kept hospitalized?

I realize I don't have all the facts of the case, and that Meining herself says that much of the responsibility lies with her, but couldn't we do more to prevent this? Shouldn't we?

Postpartum Progress: Together, stronger.

Katherine Stone — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:44:00 +0000

The votes are in and you've picked the official tagline of Postpartum Progress: Together, stronger. Did we need a tagline or slogan, you're asking? Perhaps not, but since I spent 15 years doing marketing and PR I just can't help myself! (Doesn't everything need a slogan? ;>) ) Thanks so much for giving me your input. And thanks to Erin O'Connor for creating it for me.

Postpartum Progress. Together, stronger.
1. Families/parents/children are still together and now stronger after surviving PPMDs (see the Surviving & Thriving Mothers Photo Album for proof!)

2. As a united group of concerned moms, we have more strength to increase awareness and legislation

3. the readers of Postpartum Progress can connect with and support each other

Your Prayers Are Needed For Missing Rhode Island Mom

Katherine Stone — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:30:10 +0000

I have a request for those who are the more spiritual among us: please pray for the safe return of Katie Corcoran of Rhode Island. Katie, mother of two boys, has been missing since September 5th. As I understand it (and I may not have all of the details exactly correct), Katie was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was released from the hospital to a cab instead of to her husband. The cab took her to a local shelter, but she never went inside and hasn't been heard from in almost a month. Of course this is terribly concerning. She is suffering from a very serious mental illness and most likely has no access to medicine or treatment. We need to send out a collective prayer that she comes to no harm and is found and returned to her family safely. But for the grace of God, every single one of us could be in exactly her position.

Results Out on Kaiser Permanente Study on Depression Before, During & After Pregnancy

Katherine Stone — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 08:50:41 +0000

According to a new study from Kaiser Permanente, more than one in seven women are depressed in the nine months before pregnancy, during their pregnancy, or in the nine months after giving birth. Highlights from an article on the study on WebMD:

The new research expands on information already known about depression after childbirth. "People have known for quite a while that postpartum depression is a serious, sometimes devastating event," says researcher Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH, senior investigator at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore. "One of the things we were able to do is look across the spectrum -- nine months before pregnancy, the nine months of pregnancy, and the nine months postpartum. I think this is the first study to do that" ...

The study, with an accompanying editorial urging more research, is published in the October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Whitlock and her colleagues evaluated 4,398 women, all members of the Kaiser Permanente HMO, who had given birth between 1998 and 2001.

Before pregnancy, 8.7% were identified as depressed by their health care providers; 6.9% were classified as depressed during the pregnancy, and 10.4% were depressed in the nine months after delivery. In all, 15.4%, or more than one in seven of the women, were depressed during at least one of the three periods.

About half of the women who had postpartum depression also were depressed before the pregnancy occurred or during pregnancy. More than half of those depressed before pregnancy became depressed during the pregnancy, suggesting the condition is not temporary or relieved by getting pregnant or by giving birth.

Whitlock also found that 93.4% of those with pregnancy-related depression had seen a mental health provider and/or gotten antidepressants. About 77% of women took an antidepressant before becoming pregnant, 67% during pregnancy, and 82% after giving birth. Since the study, reports of possible side effects of antidepressant use during pregnancy, including lung problems and heart problems in newborns, have been published. As a result, doctors emphasize that a careful evaluation of the risks and benefits is crucial before deciding on an antidepressant during pregnancy ...

CBS Cares' Matthew Margo Receives PRISM Award

Katherine Stone — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 08:35:51 +0000

Today, Matthew Margo, Senior Vice President of Program Practices at CBS Television Network, will be a special guest at the PRISM awards Showcase on Capitol Hill in DC. Mr. Margo is responsible for CBS Cares. The PRISM showcase, presented to Congress and sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Council and others, highlights excellent work in the industry which has focused on social and mental health concerns.

Among other CBS Cares mental and social health initiatives, Mr. Margo plans to reference the importance of perinatal mental health and present the CBS Cares public service announcements on postpartum depression. These PSA's, featuring Cold Case stars Kathyrn Morris (English) and Danny Pino (Spanish), were nationally aired during primetime television throughout the past year, and were developed with Postpartum Support International (PSI President's Advisory Council member Dr. Margaret Spinelli and PSI President Susan Stone served as consultants). Mr. Margo intends to also reference the importance of PSI's work.

Congratulations Mr. Margo and thank you for the support of CBS Cares!!!

Rush Gains Committee Approval for Melanie Blocker-Stokes Act

Katherine Stone — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:17:28 +0000

A hearty congratulations to Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) for receiving a unanimous, bi-partisan vote from the full Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection to advance H.R. 20, the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act. The bill will now advance to the floor of the House for a full vote before moving to the Senate.

The Melanie Blocker-Stokes Act requires the National Institutes of Health to expand its research efforts with regard to depression during and after pregnancy, and also provides for increased funding to execute a national public awareness campaign.

Congressman Rush has been working on this effort for six years, and we thank him for his dedication!

First article on BlogHer.com

Katherine Stone — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:30:50 +0000

My first post as guest editor for postpartum mood disorders on BlogHer has just gone up. I am SOOOOO excited. Here's the link: http://www.blogher.com/if-you-are-mother-know-mother-or-have-mother-you-need-know-about-postpartum-mood-disorders. Please check it out!

Kalamazoo Gets New Clinic Specializing in Treatment of Perinatal Depression

Katherine Stone — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:25:00 +0000

According to a recent article in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Dr. Michael Liepman, a psychiatrist at Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, has recently received a two-year, $250,000 grant from the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation to create a comprehensive system for identifying and treating women with perinatal depression. He also has received another $200,000 in nonmonetary donations from community sources.

"As part of that initiative, Liepman and others in the community are creating a Women's Behavior Health Clinic at MSU/KCMS Psychiatry, which will help identify and treat depression and other mental-health issues in pregnant and postpartum patients ...

'We don't know about it, because we don't ask about it,'' said Dr. Shama Tareen, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at MSU/KCMS who is working on the perinatal mood disorders project and will head the clinic ..."

Missing Rhode Island Mother Was Being Treated For PPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:05:13 +0000

According to an article this past Monday written by Timothy Barmann in the Providence Journal, Katie Corcoran of Lincoln, Rhode Island has been missing since September 5th after leaving a hospital where she was receiving treatment for postpartum depression. To read the full story, click here. Below are some highlights:

"Katherine N. 'Katie' Corcoran, 35, of Great Road in Lincoln, was reported missing 19 days ago. On Sept. 5, the married mother of two boys, a 4 year-old and an 8-month-old, left Butler Hospital, where she was receiving treatment for postpartum depression.

The Lincoln police said she took a cab to the Crossroads shelter on Broad Street in Providence, but never went inside. A woman believed to be Katie was sighted in several locations in Newport more than a week ago. But since the last sighting, last Monday, there haven’t been any new leads ...

Asked whether he had any idea why Katie would leave, [Katie's husband] said, 'I don’t think she’s running. She’s suffering from a mental illness. We believe it’s postpartum related.'

He said that she had been seeking treatment for postpartum depression for the past five months. The couple had made plans to go to California to seek additional treatment, he said ...

There are two theories about where Katie might be ... One is that she is still delusional and wandering around somewhere. The other is that she doesn’t want to take her medication and that she’s trying to recover through prayer ...

Corcoran family and friends are offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Katie’s return home. Anyone who sees her should not approach her. Rather, they should contact the police. The 24-hour tip line is (401) 439-7988; the Lincoln Police can be contacted at (401) 333-1111."

Mental Health Ministries Offers New DVD Resource on PPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:43:53 +0000

Mental Health Ministries has created a new DVD called "Breaking the Silence: Postpartum Depression and Families of Faith." The video is an ecumenical resource to educate faith communities about postpartum depression. Background information on symptoms and treatment is provided by mental health professionals, and two women share their personal stories and how this experience affected their faith and recovery.

The DVD is divided into segments to give group leaders the option of viewing individual segments or the entire resource. A discussion guide is included on the DVD to provide information about postpartum depression, study questions and helpful resources. The entire program runs approximately 45 minutes.

To order the DVD, which costs $24.95, go to the Mental Health Ministries website, in the DVD resources section. Shipping and handling is $4.00. It can be ordered by credit card online or you can send a check made out to "Mental Health Ministries" to Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, Coordinator of Mental Health Ministries, 6707 Monte Verde Dr., San Diego, CA 92119. Visit the website for a downloadable brochure on postpartum depression.

Postpartum Progress Author Now BlogHer Guest Editor on PPD

Katherine Stone — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:48:00 +0000

I am very honored to announce that I have been asked to become a guest editor on the topic of postpartum mood disorders at BlogHer. I will be writing on BlogHer every other Friday, informing women bloggers around the world about our illnesses.

Founded in February 2005 by Elisa Camahort, Jory Des Jardins and Lisa Stone, BlogHer's mission is to create opportunities for women who blog to pursue exposure, education, community and economic empowerment. BlogHer provides the number-one community for and guide to blogs by women. As of July 2007, BlogHer had nearly 11,000 members.

5 Things Every New Mother Should Know About PPD

Katherine Stone — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:25:00 +0000

I was recently asked to put together a list of things women should know about postpartum depression. I thought a lot about what I went through in 2001 with postpartum OCD, and the things I wish I had known that I believe would have lessened the severity of my experience. While the list below certainly doesn't cover everything, I think it's a good start and I hope it will help many women in their journey as new mothers.

PPD can and often does happen.

Many pregnancy books and childbirth educators gloss over postpartum mood disorders. They minimally describe the symptoms and emphasize how rare it is. Actually, 10-15% of new moms experience these illnesses, and some studies report it may be as high as 25%. My childbirth educator told our class that we really needn't spend too much time worrying about it, so I didn't, and thus I was completely unprepared for what hit me.

Postpartum depression is only one in a spectrum of postpartum illnesses.

Postpartum mood disorders include postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder (PPOCD), postpartum psychosis (PPP) and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. PPOCD is often characterized by intrusive thoughts, which are disturbing unwanted thoughts. When I experienced my first intrusive thoughts -- about smothering my infant son with the burpcloth -- I had never heard of such things. No one ever told me they were possible. I was convinced I had just gone permanently crazy, and it never occurred to me that I had PPOCD. If I had been better informed, I would have felt comfort in knowing what was wrong and that immediate treatment was available. Instead I kept quiet for weeks because I was afraid I'd be locked up forever and lose my family. (For more information on each illness and its symptoms, visit the Postpartum Support International website at http://www.postpartum.net/brief.html )

Symptoms can appear anytime during the first year after birth.

Many women think that if they start feeling bad when their child is 3 or 4 months old, or even older, that it can't be related to postpartum depression. Apparently, even the DSM-IV, the manual that psychiatric professionals use to diagnose psychiatric illnesses, states that your illness can only be diagnosed as postpartum if the symptoms show up within the first four weeks after birth. This isn't necessarily true. Postpartum mood disorders can occur any time within the first year after the birth of your baby, though it is true that most are diagnosed within 2 to 4 months postpartum.

Ask your friends and family to be prepared.

It's important to talk about the possibility that you might experience some form of postpartum mood disorder with the people closest to you. Ask them to educate themselves. Sometimes we can't see that we're acting differently, or we try to convince ourselves we're fine and purposefully ignore our symptoms. In that case, it often takes someone close to us to point out that we might need help. Neither my husband nor my mother knew about what to look for or what to do about it, which made it harder on all of us.

The sooner you get treatment the better.

Many recent studies show that children of mothers with postpartum mood disorders who go untreated for long periods can be negatively impacted over the long term with behavioral problems. A study published in 2006 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/295/12/1389), for instance, found that children of mothers who have received treatment via medication for major depression or anxiety are less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, disruptive and depressive disorders themselves, compared to children of women who remain untreated. You MUST push past the fear and speak up to lessen the impact of these illnesses on yourself and your children. You must be willing to say how you are feeling and seek treatment so that not only you, but your whole family can heal.

Ways to Insult Someone With Depression, From "Finding Optimism"

Katherine Stone — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:34:59 +0000

I found the following link while reading Therese Borchard's Beyond Blue blog over at Beliefnet. It's a list of ways to insult someone with depression from the Finding Optimism blog. I just know those of you who have gone through or are going through PPD will enjoy this. Much of it may sound VERY familiar. Click here.

British Columbia Screens Women for PPD Both During & After Pregnancy

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:22:00 +0000

Click here for a link to an article in the Toronto Sun about antenatal depression, or depression during pregnancy. One highlight:

"Recognizing the need to find and help this sub-population, Misri, in partnership with B.C.'s ministry of h ealth, has implemented a screening initiative using a respected self-reporting depression scale.

In British Columbia, pregnant women will receive the screening tool when they are about 28 weeks pregnant, and six to eight weeks postpartum."

Volunteers Needed for Research on Sleep Deprivation & PPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:56:28 +0000

Maggie Dubois, a student at Chapman University in California, is conducting a study on the relationship between sleep deprivation and postpartum depression. She is seeking 50 volunteers to complete an anonymous questionnaire. The only requirement of participants is that they are currently experiencing symptoms of PPD and their baby is between 1 and 12 months old. If you would like to participate, please contact her at dubo1801@chapman.edu.

I really encourage anyone who is eligible for this study to participate. This issue needs YOUR help. The more information we have from sufferers may some day lead to more effective and quicker treatment.

PSI of Washington Launches New Website

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:03:00 +0000

Postpartum Support International of Washington has recently revamped their website and it looks lovely! Great job ladies! Click here to check it out.

P.S. Thanks for including a link to Postpartum Progress!

Participants Needed for Online Survey On New Postpartum Distress Scale

Katherine Stone — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:09:07 +0000

Karen Kleiman has sent out the following information on research she is conducting into a new postpartum distress scale. She needs participants who have babies up to 12 months old to complete a survey (Bummer - I can't participate!). If you meet this criteria, I hope you'll take the survey. The link to it is below:

As many of you know, I have been collaborating with a research team at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine who have expertise in postpartum distress and scale design. We have performed an initial statistical analysis on a new postpartum distress scale.

At this stage, we would like to re-test our proposed scale items, along with established measures, such as the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS).

We need approximately 100 postpartum women (with babies up to 12-months old) to complete this phase of the study. I am hoping that you will post a link to the questionnaire, which is offered online, for your members or your clients, to help us further validate this measure.

The survey will probably only be up for a month or so.

Click here to participate.

Study on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation As Treatment for Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:28:48 +0000

Here's a link to a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about a study currently taking place in St. Louis using transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat postpartum depression. The link has information for those who live in the area and might wish to participate in the research.

Katie Corcoran Found

Katherine Stone — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:15:15 +0000

According to WPRI-TV in Providence, Katie Corcoran has been found. I hope this is true. See below:

LINCOLN, R.I. (AP) -- A Lincoln woman who had been missing for more than two months has been found. Lincoln police say Katie Corcoran is home safe with her family.

A family says that Corcoran was spotted this weekend in Baltimore by a woman who recognized her from the media coverage of her disappearance. Corcoran's husband and a private detective then went to Maryland to get her.

The 35-year-old mother of two disappeared September 5 after she left a psychiatric hospital in Providence and took a cab to a homeless shelter. She never went inside. Since then, there were reports that she took a bus to Newport and was seen there.

Family and friends had offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to her return.

The Painful Decision of Medicating While Pregnant

Katherine Stone — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:09:00 +0000

I've had a couple of people reach out to me lately for my advice about having another baby after they've experienced a postpartum mood disorder with a previous child. I combed back through Postpartum Progress and realized I didn't write very much about my pregnancy with my second beautiful child, and what I was thinking at the time. Perhaps I was avoiding writing down how I really felt as I awaited her birth.

Since I knew I was highly likely to experience postpartum OCD again, this time I made sure I had a team around me that I knew would watch me like a hawk. I saw my fabulous psychiatrist at Emory every month (Hi Dr. Newport!), took my meds, talked to my therapist and made my family and friends put on their eagle eyes and their super-sensitive ears to monitor me. I truly felt comfortable that I was doing all I could do to have a better experience the second time around. The absolute hardest part about all of it, though, was the meds. I can still feel twinges of guilt about taking medication while pregnant even to this day. And I'm sure there are plenty of judgmental people out there (like one Mr. Tom Cruise) who would love to tell me what an awful mother I was and am for doing that.

I thought long and hard about it. I prayed about it. I, of all people, know the latest research because it's my job to inform you about it here at Postpartum Progress. Truly, the risk in general is small, though there are some antidepressants that are more dangerous in utero than others. Yet a risk is a risk. For mothers, even a teensy, less than 1% small risk is really a HUMONGOUS, MAMMOTH-SIZED, JUMBO JET GIGANTO-RISK. The risk that my son or daughter might get pink-eye from one of their friends is enough to give me a headache. My children are like delicate, precious packages of plutonium love as far as I'm concerned. The LAST THING I would ever want to be responsible for is putting them at risk. Yet there I was.

I talked about this with my therapist a lot. I cried about it. But she told me about how the flight attendants on planes warn you that, in case of cabin decompression or oxygen loss or however they put it, you should put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you put one on your child. If you're out of commission, you can't help the ones you love. So I decided I wanted to help myself so I could help my family. I know there was risk to taking the medication, and I know there was risk to my child if I hadn't taken it. Either way there was unavoidable risk. So I bit the bullet. Or the Cymbalta, as it were. I ended up being fine and so did my daughter. That makes me happy. And for those of you who decide not to take meds, find other successful ways to cope, and end up being fine, that makes me happy too.

Just so you know, lots of women take medications while pregnant and are not judged at all. It's just that society has decided that, while it's okay for women who have chronic physical illnesses or diseases to remain medicated, mental illness is "optional" so we really don't have to take that antidepressant stuff if we don't want to, right? It's okay if you need something to stop your brain tumor from growing, but if you're just trying to stop your brain from acting out of control, well that's different.

Is it?

The Case of the Missing Mental Care

Katherine Stone — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:34:15 +0000

This is a good article by Angela Pandolfo Roy about her postpartum experience. She raises an excellent question, one that many of us ask:

"... why, in the hospital, could I avail myself of the services of a lactation consultant but not of a mental health professional to discuss PPD? Why did my OB/GYN stop by my room every day to check my Cesarean stitches but not my state of mind? During my pregnancy, my husband and I had to take six birthing and parenting classes in which we practiced putting on diapers and installing car seats but did not discuss maternal care options."

Need Your Input: Should I Write A Book?

Katherine Stone — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:27:45 +0000

Ok, ladies. This is a strange question, I know. I hope it doesn't seem too weird. Anyway, for a couple of years now people have been after me to write a book -- friends, family, etc. I have completely resisted it because there are so many good books out there already (which I promote on this site!) and because I have no interest whatsoever in re-inventing the wheel. But yet I keep hearing about it. I'm wondering if God is trying to get my attention! So I'd like to get your thoughts on the subject. Do you think I should write a book about postpartum mood disorders? Do we need another one? If so, what do you think is missing from the books that are already available? If I wrote one, I would want only to complement the great work that has already been done by Shoshanna Bennett and Pec Indman and Sandy Poulin and Ruta Nonacs and Karen Kleiman and Sylvia Lasalandra and Diana Lynn Barnes. It would have to be different. I have a few ideas on that, but I'd really like to hear from you. (A couple of hints: It wouldn't be a memoir because Brooke Shields and Sylvia and others have already done that very well. And it wouldn't be clinical because the fabulous doctors and therapists have already covered that off.)

YOU are the people that MATTER. I only write this blog for YOU. So I want your opinion about what you feel is needed, and what the women who may experience postpartum mood disorders in the future could use, if anything. Email me your thoughts at stonecallis@msn.com. Thanks ladies.

Salt Lake Tribune: "Curing the Colic Myth"

Katherine Stone — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:49:30 +0000

This is a very interesting article from the Salt Lake Tribune about a whole health approach to colic, which includes making sure the family sees a pedicatrician and a mental health specialist (for the parents). My son had colic and he cried for 4 months. I was told I just had to wait it out, and it was a nightmare. I'm glad the doctors cited in this article recognize this can lead some new moms to postpartum depression, and I really like the approach these people take to helping parents cope with the problem.

ABC News: "Depression Hits When You Least Need It"

Katherine Stone — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:07:36 +0000

Here's a link to recent story on depression on ABC News that includes a brief discussion of PPD: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/Depression/story?id=3747576&page=1

Postpartum Depression Support Organizations in the US, Canada, UK, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand

Katherine Stone — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:21:28 +0000

Below is a list of organizations that are dedicated to helping the women in their states or countries recover from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like postpartum depression. They have expertise in this area, and can offer support and resources that you can access where you live.

Note: If your country or region has an established support organization for women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and you'd like to inquire about having it listed here, please email postpartumprogress@gmail.com. All countries are welcome.

Worldwide

Postpartum Support International

Australia

Beyond Blue

PANDA: Post and Antenatal Depression Association

TABS: Trauma & Birth Stress

Canada

Mother Reach London and Middlesex Coalition

Our Sister's Place - Ontario

Pacific Postpartum Support Society(BC)

New Zealand

Mothers Matter

South Africa

Postnatal Depression Support Association

Perinatal Mental Health Project

United Kingdom

Perinatal Illness UK

The Association for Postnatal Illness

Postnatal Illness ORG UK

Mother's Voice

Action Postpartum Psychosis

Take A Break's Chums4Mums

Meet A Mum Association

Sheffield Light

Joanne Bingley Memorial Foundation

United States

Postpartum Progress Inc. ;-)

Arizona: Arizona Postpartum Wellness Coalition

California: Postpartum Health Alliance of San Diego, LA County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force

Colorado: A Mother's Wings, Postpartum Depression Intervention Center at The Kempe Center

Georgia: Georgia Postpartum Support Network

Hawaii: PPD Support HI

Illinois: Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois, Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Foundation, Melanie's Battle

Indiana: Indiana Perinatal Network

Kansas: Pregnancy & Postpartum Resource Center

Kentucky: Postpartum Support Kentuckiana

Maine: Perinatal Mental Health Alliance of Southern Maine

Maryland: Healthy New Moms

Massachusetts: North Shore Postpartum Depression Task Force

Michigan: Tree of Hope Foundation, Moms Bloom

Minnesota: Jenny's Light, Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota

Missouri: Mother-to-Mother,St. Louis

Nebraska: Nebraska Perinatal Depression Project

New Jersey: Speak Up When You're Down

New York: The Postpartum Resource Center of New York

Ohio: Perinatal Outreach & Encouragement for Moms (POEM), Cleveland Regional Perinatal Network

Oregon: Baby Blues Connection

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Perinatal Depression Partnership

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Maternal Health Coalition

South Carolina: Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation, for Latina women:PASOs

Texas: Mental Health Association of Greater Houston

Virginia: Postpartum Support Virginia

Washington: PSI of Washington, Speak Up When You're Down

Wisconsin: Perinatal Web (Perinatal Mood Disorders Initiative)

Postpartum Depression & The Glint of Judgment

Katherine Stone — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:40:20 +0000

Only a woman who has been through postpartum depression can truly, deeply understand. It's that way with most things, isn't it? I can certainly empathize and try to imagine what it is like to have cancer, but I haven't gone through it and cannot put myself squarely in that place. That's why we postpartum mood disorder survivors need each other so, and why so many of us dedicate a portion of our lives to helping other women who will as surely as death and taxes experience the same thing.

No offense to the doctors and the husbands and the friends who really care and try to support us, but no one else gets it like a woman who has gone through it. And to tell the truth, we can see deep down the faint glint in so many eyes that says "Is this what's really going on?" Yep. We see it. We may be mentally ill but we're not stupid. As much as you try to hide it we can see what you're thinking -- even if you yourself want to believe us and try to tamp down your thoughts. You're thinking:

Is she just weak and over-emotional?
Is she just selfish? Does she just regret losing her wild and carefree life to the sleepless nights and diaper changes and constant responsibilities of caring for a child?
Is she just exaggerating to get attention? Can it really be that bad?
Is it even possible for someone to have thoughts beyond their control? What kind of mother thinks of drowning or suffocating her child? I mean, I've had stress, but I've certainly never thought of anything like that.
She could just get over it if she really wanted to.
What kind of person is she, really?

We're suffering from an illness that cannot be seen. We don't have a fever, swelling, vomiting or diarrhea. No rash, cramping or stiffness. No open wounds that will not heal -- at least not the kind you can see with the naked eye. So many wonder if we're really sick at all.

And guess what? So do we. We wonder whether we're really just defective people who are unworthy of being mothers. We understand the glint of judgment precisely because we've had it ourselves. Before we got sick, we looked at others and thought "I would never think that", "I would never do that", and "I would never be like that". Until we did and until we were, and now we don't have that glint anymore.

We can see what you're thinking, and we understand. But it still hurts. A lot.

Click here for more great topics on the process of recovering from postpartum depression.

Photo credit: © denevt - Fotolia

Call for Abstracts for 2008 PSI Conference in Houston Next June

Katherine Stone — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:51:05 +0000

Postpartum Support International (PSI) in collaboration with The Women's Mental Health Initiatie at the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston has opened up the opportunity for you to submit workshop abstracts for the 2008 PSI Annual Conference, to take place June 6-7 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in downtown Houston, Texas. All submissions must be received by 5pm, Friday, November 16, 2007. Email them to mary@georgeparnham.com or send them via postal mail to YCMF, Mental Health Association of Greater Houston, 2211 Norfolk, Suite 810, Houston, TX, 77098. The title and theme of the event is "Maternal Mental Health: a Multi-Systemic View". The goal of the conference is to examine the topic of maternal mental health from a variety of vantage points of the systems involved, including medical, psychological, social, cultural and legal systems among others. All presentations should related to this theme and enhance understanding of the topic. Include your workshop title, presentation format and length, your personal information and public speaking expertise, learning objectives, 250 word abstract, and what is new or unique about this material.

PPD Conference in Illinois on December 3rd

Katherine Stone — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:30:02 +0000

Advocate Health Care will be hosting a Postpartum Depression Conference Monday December 3 from 7:00am to 4pm at the Advocate Christ Medical Center Auditorium in Oak Lawn, Illinois (near Chicago). This conference will promote a better understanding of postpartum depression and offer continuing education credits for physicians and nurses. For more information and to register, go to www.advocatehealth.com/cme

Backstage Web Interview from The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet on FOX

Katherine Stone — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:10:19 +0000

Here's a link to my interview after the show last week on "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet", a nationally syndicated FOX morning program. We're still trying to figure out how to download the actual on-air interview from Tivo so I can share it here. But here's the other piece for your viewing pleasure ;>)

http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/postpartum-depression/

Talk Therapy Works For Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:22:41 +0000

Here's a link to Leigh Ann Simmons' blog Women's Health Matters -- she writes about a new study indicating that talk therapy works to treat postpartum depression. I think talking it out, whether in therapy or in a support group, is a key part of recovery and for some people may work to treat the illness without meds.

Latest Update on Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:56:05 +0000

We're up to 124 blogs participating in Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act -- that I know of. Let me tell you that your calls are making an impact. I talked to Senator Isakson's office of Georgia yesterday (I live in GA) and they said they had been hearing from lots of people and that whatever we were doing was working. How about that??!!!!! So if you haven't called yet, please do, and pass on the word. And let me know if you hear anything from your Senators about what kind of impact we're making. Power to the people!

Obama Signs On As Co-Sponsor of MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:34:51 +0000

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has signed on as a co-sponsor of the MOTHERS Act. Thank you Senator Obama!!

Keep Blogging & Calling for the MOTHERS Act!!!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:52:17 +0000

I am so overwhelmed with yesterday's participation in Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act. If you scroll down and take a look at yesterday's post, there is quite an amazing list of bloggers who took the time to write about the MOTHERS Act and postpartum depression and encourage their readers to call their Senators and urge them to support the bill. Some women shared their experiences with PPD for the very first time yesterday. I am so humbled by their bravery, and the willingness of so many people to speak out. Not to mention all the people offline who sent emails to everyone they knew asking them to make calls!

For those of who forgot to blog, or ran out of time, please do it today or tomorrow! I've heard that the Senators' phone lines were quite busy yesterday, though I can't say for sure it was because of us -- I HOPE SO! I want to make sure every single voice is heard, so please continue to speak up if you haven't had the chance yet. Each of you is important to us. Here's a link to the instructions if you still want to participate.

Thank you again to BlogHer and Postpartum Support International for joining in this effort and providing great resources, energy and support.

Today is Blog for the MOTHERS Act Day!!

Katherine Stone — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:23:24 +0000

Today is Blog for the MOTHERS Act Day, sponsored by Postpartum Progress, BlogHer and Postpartum Support International! Ladies, please get blogging!! Your actions today will make a difference in the lives of all the new mothers created each and every day in America. (Update: Please tell your readers to keep calling if the lines are busy!! Don't give up!!)

The truth is that our country is more than capable of treating more women more quickly and more effectively when it comes to postpartum mood disorders. We can do it. We just don't. All it takes is will. A willingness among healthcare providers to further educate themselves and to screen for these illnesses. A willingness among insurers to help cover costs. A willingness among all those involved with childbirth education to lay out the truth.

I have the will to tell you what happened to me. I know hundreds of women who have the will to bare their souls and tell strangers about their most horrifying thoughts and their weakest moments ... who have the will to stand there and take the closed-mindedness and judgments that come from some in order to help someone avoid going through what they went through. I know mothers like Joan Mudd and Carol Blocker and Helena Bradford who have the will to relive the deaths of their beautiful daughters over and over again just so that they can educate people about postpartum mood disorders.

I humbly ask you to have the will, today, to write about the MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression, and to call your Senators, and I am asking the United States Senate to find the will to help all of the new mothers created each and every day in America.

For more information on exactly how to participate today, click here and here. Here is a link to everyone who has posted so far (if I've missed you, shoot me an email):

Coping With Life
So Sioux Me
Dawn's Recipes
Momsquawk
Beyond Blue
The Well Mom
Flamingo House Happenings
Parentopia
Unexpected Blessing
The Silent I
Binary Blonde
The Chronicles of Munchkin Land
BlogHer
The Maha Blog
Pundit Mom
Fertility Stories
Kari's Couch
Stella Family Update
Ask Moxie
Long Noodle
You Shall Above All
Been There
Empty Wound Hopeful Heart
Go-Go Mommy
We All Fall Down
DC Metro Moms Blog
The Hatfields
Adoptionblogs.com: Birth-First Parent Blog
5 Resolutions
Viva La Feminista
Chicago Moms Blog
The Gus Stop
Spin Me I Pulsate
Welcome to My Brain
Maternally Challenged
Earth Change
Postpartum Mental Illness Yahoo! Group
SoCal Mom
My Life With Mr. Rogers
All of My Days
Life Outside the Box
The Integrated Mother
The Mummy Chronicles
Shelly Says
Boogiemum
Mom of 3 Girls
Life After Baby
Healthy Concerns
Pop Consumer
Ruta Nonacs: A Deeper Shade of Blue
Surfette
Growing A Life
Central Sanity
ShortWoman
Women 4 Hope
The Dana Files
Center for Women's Mental Health Blog
martinimade
This Full House
Motherscribe
Don't Try This At Home
Not Calm (dot com)
Boston Mamas
The Modern Woman's Divorce Guide
Work It, Mom!
PPD Survivor
The Fish Pond
Sofia's Diary
The Online PPD Support Group
Ask Dr. Manny (FOX)
Amazing Instant
Surrender, Dorothy
Silicon Valley Moms Blog
Sarah and the Goon Squad!
Strollerderby
Is America Burning
Moms Speak Up
Babylune
Strollerderby: Armchair Activism
The Postpartum Stress Center
MamasInk
Marriage, Stillbirth & Infant Loss Blog Directory
Tough Like A Creampuff
http://fasttimes.clubmom.com/fast_times/2007/10/blog-day-for-th.html
Vevz
My Om Page
Mountain Momma
My Scrapbook Life
The Political Voices of Women
Disguised Blessings
The Toddler Reality Show
The Huffington Post
Roc Rebel Granny
Renton Kidspot
MacEwan
O for Obsessive
Pretty Babies
Odd Time Signatures
Mom's Tinfoil Hat
A Girl's Gotta Spa
Claire Bear
Not That I Don't Love My Kids
Silicon Valley Moms Blog: Beth B
Silicon Valley Moms Blog: Mommaof1
Skeet's Stuff
ifferjen's blog
Tumble Dry
Coping With Life (follow up story)
A Mile in My Berks
Nickie's Nook
Do the Yak
Mrs. Flinger
Club Mom: Mom's Daily Dose
Amerimama
Deep Muck Big Rake
Blondie At the Bar
Screamy Thing
VDog and Little Man
A Piece of My Mind
hip Mama
LaurieWrites
The Happy Geek
Wendy's Thoughts About Anything and Everything
The Daily Court
Missives from Suburbia
Trenches of Mommyhood
Daring Young Mom
Kovixen
I Hate Snaps
Minivan Bohemian
A Daughter's Touch
Managing Life Transitions

Watch The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet on Tuesday am!!

Katherine Stone — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:36:09 +0000

I'm in the airport right now headed to NY to do a segment tomorrow on "The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet" on FOX. (It's on your local FOX affiliate and airs from 9-10am EST.) I'll be appearing with Dr. Shari Lusskin from NYU and appearing via satellite will be Katie Corcoran's husband to talk about her disappearance. Hope you can tune in! Pray for me that the right words come out of my mouth to let women know they are not alone. And that the segment doesn't get bumped because of breaking news!

Happy New Year!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:17:36 +0000

I feel like I haven't posted in weeks, even though I know it's only been a few days. It's very hard to do this blog when you have two little ones (20 months and 6 years) tugging on your legs and saying "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" all day. Anyway, I'm trying to catch up on all of the many emails and news tidbits I got over the holidays and let you know what's going on. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and are looking forward to the new year! Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas! I wish everyone many blessings in 2008 and lots of good mental health!! And oh, by the way, I'm also wishing for passage of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act in 2008!

Menendez & Rush Say MOTHERS Act Legislation Nearly Complete

Katherine Stone — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:19:38 +0000

This week, the offices of Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) announced they are finalizing the new federal postpartum depression legislation for its anticipated victory in the U.S. Congress. The legislation, which was called the MOTHERS Act, has been slightly renamed as the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. This is in order to honor the mother whose name served as the title of the House bill that passed this fall. Melanie was a beautiful and successful new mother who committed suicide in 2001 while suffering from postpartum depression.

Many bloggers took part in a big legislative push this October by participating in Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act, hosted by BlogHer, Postpartum Support International and my blog Postpartum Progress. I believe the action many of you took through your blogs and your phone calls to speak out about the need for more education and better treatment had a huge influence on legislators moving forward so quickly. I hope we will continue to make our voices heard as we get closer to bill passage. It is expected that the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act may be passed in early spring or possibly sooner once America's legislative bodies reconvene. It appears that Democratic support is substantial, but some Republicans still need convincing. Postpartum Support International president Susan Stone has been informed that she and others will be contacted when the timing is right for renewed advocacy supportive of the bill's passage.

As many of you know, the 2007-2008 BlogHers Act has been focused on harnessing the power of women online and their blogs to address maternal health. This issue includes postpartum depression and related mood disorders, which can have a devastating effect on new mothers and their families.

Informative First Thursday Teleconferences Offered By MedEdPPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:12:00 +0000

I think I've written about this before -- at least I hope I have -- but Dr. Ruta Nonacs was kind enough to remind me of the First Thursday teleconferences held by MedEdPPD. Here's a link to her post on A Deeper Shade of Blue about these informative sessions. The next one is Thursday, February 7, and will feature Dr. Margaret Spinelli of Columbia University discussing postpartum psychosis and infanticide.

The Mom's Disease

Katherine Stone — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:47:00 +0000

This is a link to a great post called "The Mom's Disease" that I just saw on Therese Borchard's blog Beyond Blue -- it's actually from the blog Maternally Challenged. Very well written and right on the money when it comes to talking about PPD.

The Future Is Bright

Katherine Stone — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:42:45 +0000

I had the opportunity this weekend to retell the story of my experience with postpartum depression/OCD. Even though it has been six years, it astounded me how the feelings rise up and bubble over -- it surprised me that I cried. I guess it just goes to show what an intense and indelible experience PPD is for everyone who goes through it. It also served to remind me how different I am today than I was during those dark hours.

I am so unbelievably happy to be a mom. It is truly the best job I've ever had or will have. My children are my oxygen. Is it easy every day? Of course not. When my 20-month old decides to remove her diaper and spread its contents around her crib, I pray for mercy. When they throw tantrums in public, I want to tell onlookers that they don't belong to me. But then my funny little six-year-old tells me "Mom, just five more gallons and I'll be as tall as you", and I feel like the luckiest, happiest person in the world.

For those of you reading this who are going through postpartum depression right now I hope you can find some hope in that. I went from being someone who thought I never should have been a mother, to being someone who delights in motherhood. You will too.

Canadian Researchers Argue For More Gender-Specific Research on Depression & Estrogen

Katherine Stone — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:35:17 +0000

In a study appearing in the October 2007 issue of the journal Biological Research for Nursing, women's health experts from the University of Alberta argue there is an urgent need for carefully designed, gender-specific research to better understand the relationship of female sex hormones to mood states and disorders.

“The reasons for the gender disparity in rates of depression are not completely understood,” says Kathy Hegadoren, the Canada Research Chair in Stress Disorders in Women at the University of Alberta.

“But there is growing evidence that estrogens have powerful effects beyond their role in reproduction—that they play a critical role in mood disorders in women—and this opens new avenues for research into the underlying biological mechanisms and treatment of depression.”

Estrogen can be used to treat various mood disturbances in women—such as perimenopausal, postmenopausal and postpartum depression—but the results of these treatments can be difficult to interpret because researchers are only beginning to recognize the complex interactions among estrogens, serotonin and mood.

“Right now, clinical use of sex-hormone therapies for the treatment of mood disorders is severely hampered by the inability to predict which women would respond well to such therapies,” explains study co-author and U of A nursing professor Gerri Lasiuk.

“Most animal studies looking at the causes of depression have been conducted with male animals and use chronic-stress models, which are assumed to be similar to depression.”

Hegadoren and Lasiuk’s study recognizes that multiple factors may be at play in the development of mood disturbances, with individual, psychosocial and environmental factors interacting in complicated ways to create differential vulnerability in women and men. But they also point out that the link to sex hormones is hard to deny.

“Previous research has found that, before puberty, the rates of mood and anxiety disorders are similar in boys and girls. It’s only after females begin menstrual function that a gender differential in mood disorders manifests itself. This, coupled with the observation that women appear to be especially vulnerable to mood disturbances during times of hormonal flux, certainly lends support to the claim that a relationship exists between sex hormones and mood,” says Hegadoren.

One Mother Sentenced to Prison, Another Found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:43:21 +0000

This week, according to the Springfield [Ohio] News-Sun, " ... a west-central Ohio mother who attempted to drown her infant daughter in a bathtub has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Twenty-one-year-old Heather Nicole Dean, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to attempted murder this week in Clark County Common Pleas Court. Prosecutors say Dean was suffering from postpartum depression when she attempted to kill her baby last spring by holding her under running water in the bathtub. Court records show Dean called 911 after the drowning attempt and then performed CPR on the baby. The child made a full recovery."

Meanwhile, in a nearby state, another mother this week was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her two children. According to the Lancaster [Pennsylvania] New Era, "A Mount Joy woman who killed her two young sons in 2004 has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Meghan Lippiatt, 32, smiled when Judge James P. Cullen announced his verdict ... The verdict means Lippiatt avoids prison and the potential for the death penalty and will instead be treated at a psychiatric facility to be determined later ... Lippiatt killed her two children, 4-month-old Myles and 2-year-old Silas, on April 18, 2004 ... Her defense team argued successfully that she was suffering from schizoaffective disorder and didn't know the difference between right and wrong when she killed the children." The paper stated in a previous article that " ... while living in England in early 2004, Lippiatt was diagnosed with psychosis and postnatal depression after telling doctors she was hearing voices telling her to harm her children."

Clinical Trial of Light Treatment for Antepartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:19:09 +0000

This is a link to new and ongoing clinical trial which provides light treatments for depression during pregnancy at Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Star-Ledger Story Says New Jersey's "Speak Up" Program Has Problems

Katherine Stone — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:49:31 +0000

The Newark Star-Ledger has just done a report on the status of New Jersey's "Speak Up When You're Down" program that I think everyone should read. Click here for the full story, written by Susan K. Livio.

Here is the headline:

"Since Gov. Jon Corzine signed the landmark postpartum depression law 20 months ago, [New Jersey] has spent $9 million on the program: half on TV and radio ads and brochures encouraging women to ask for help, and half on training more than 6,000 medical professionals in how to identify the illness.

But health experts and women using the hotline say the law has fallen short: Women are seeking help, but when they do, state and medical professionals often are not prepared to assist them.

Many women found a state hotline staffed by people who were inexperienced at helping those in a mental health crisis. Obstetricians, gynecologists and other doctors often are afraid to get involved, they say, because of their lack of psychiatric knowledge. And there is a shortage of mental health professionals skilled in treating the illness."

"The people who did speak up were greatly disappointed," said Joyce Venis, a Princeton psychiatric nurse who treats women with perinatal mood disorders and served on the state advisory group that assembled the public awareness campaign. "How could this happen? I believed this was going to be a good program..."

The story goes on to share stories of women who definitely did not receive the type of treatment we would want them to receive when suffering from a postpartum mood disorder. How could this happen?

It happened because what New Jersey is trying to do, and what all other states should do, is hard. VERY HARD. We can make laws and create nice advertisements and set up toll-free hotlines and have the best intentions, but what needs to change is a lot of processes and attitudes that have been around for a very long time. As I wrote in a post a little over a week ago, if we don't make it clear exactly who is responsible for caring for the mental health of postpartum women, and if we don't have buy-in from those people, and if we don't have well-trained mental health professionals available everywhere, then we don't have what we need.

These projects are the kinds of projects that take years to implement fully and properly. Sure, it would seem from the article that there are certain things New Jersey could have done better from the outset, like staffing the hotline with better trained workers. But at the same time the state can't help the fact that there aren't enough psychiatric professionals who really know how to treat women with PPD and related disorders. (In the article, one woman was told by her doctor that PPD is a made-up illness for goodness sakes!) Additionally, as some of you have experienced, there are doctors who will say they know how to treat women with PPD and then it turns out they really have no experience in this area and we have to start over and find someone else, having wasted weeks or months continuing to suffer. It's not New Jersey's fault if doctors like that self-select to be on the referral list -- the state has no way of really knowing who is good at this and who isn't.

I just want to thank New Jersey for trying. I hope they take a look at where they've gone wrong and try to do better. More importantly, I hope that the various constituencies who are key to the success of the process -- OB/GYNs, hospitals, child welfare workers, psychiatric professionals, med schools and law enforcement -- do the same. I just really believe that New Jersey will get there. It may be painful for those of us who don't get the best care when it's our turn, but down the road hundreds of thousands of women will benefit. I look forward to that day.

NJ Event Raises $40,000 for PSI

Katherine Stone — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:06:16 +0000

Sylvia Lasalandra just announced the results of the 2nd annual New Jersey fundraiser for Postpartum Support International -- the event grossed more than $40,000. Congratulations to Sylvia and Susan Stone and all of the others who hosted this event. (I wish I could have been there!) With the monies raised at last year's event, PSI was able to launch its toll-free informational sessions. This year's money will allow PSI to continue hosting those calls, which are open and available to all who need them.

Center for Women's Mental Health: Cognitive Therapy Vs. Medication In the Treatment of Depression

Katherine Stone — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:54:39 +0000

Here's a link to a very helpful post at the Center for Women's Mental Health Blog about cognitive therapy vs. medication in the treatment of depression. This is a great argument for the use of therapy, which I believe in strongly, and should be a relief to those of you who would rather not take medication. A trained therapist can really help you to work through all of the bad feelings you experience when going through a postpartum mood disorder. It makes a big impact when you have someone help you understand where your thinking has gone awry and help you get back on the right path.

The Impossibility of Lists & Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:36:27 +0000

Tyra Banks focused her show yesterday on postpartum depression. She included a psychiatrist as a guest on the segment, who provided the usual list of things depressed new moms should do for our depression: prioritize, sleep when the baby sleeps, avoid isolating, etc. Looking at the list made me think about the fact that, when you're depressed, you couldn't care less about lists. Lists are for those people who actually want to DO things. You know, like Martha Stewart ... women who get up at 5am ready to tackle the day, do some ashtanga yoga, whip up a pumpkin souffle, give their baby a massage, plant an autumnal container garden and fashion a Christmas tree out of pipe cleaners (see below).

From what I remember, I couldn't really do much of anything. What I really wanted to do when I was depressed was stay in bed and do nothing. It took a monumental effort to get up and do my best to take care of myself and my newborn in between bouts of sobbing. I think someone giving me a list of things to do would have made me feel like I was being crushed under a Buick.

I realize, of course, that people are only trying to help by providing suggestions of things that will help us get through the day positively. But I'm not sure they know that it usually takes a rational person to execute a list. When you're not rational or logical, it becomes very difficult to do rational and logical things. So if you give us a list and we don't do much or any of it, don't give up on us. We'll get there. It takes time. And remember that people don't recover from postpartum depression just because they follow a list, but because they get proper medical care and love and support from the people around them.

I like the perspective of this blogger at Impacted Nurse who says: "My advice is to never take much notice of anyone who purports to be able to improve your life in ten bullet-point steps… unless you know them very well and they are proof writ large of the effectiveness of their list." For a good laugh about list-making, check this out from The Onion.

(crossposted at BlogHer)

Click here for more topics on recovering from postpartum depression.

Study Suggests New Moms' Mental & Physical Health Be Monitored Past 6 Weeks, But Who Will Do It?

Katherine Stone — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:12:46 +0000

A new study in the November/December 2007 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine takes a much-needed look at the postpartum health of working mothers. The study looked at moms who return to the workplace 11 weeks after childbirth and found that they continue to need evaluation of their fatigue levels and mental and physical symptoms beyond the normal 6-week postpartum checkup.

"At 11 weeks postpartum these employed mothers continued to experience several childbirth-related symptoms, indicating a need for ongoing rest and recovery. Postpartum evaluations should include screening for anxiety and depression and evaluation of fatigue and other physical symptoms, including those related to job stress."

The study recommended that women showing continued symptoms should receive counsel on strategies to decrease job stress and increase social support at work and home, and that physicians should talk with them about the possible need for intermittent leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to help them manage symptoms.

One of the most fascinating comments was this, from Pat McGovern, PhD, MPH at the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and her colleagues who wrote the study:

"The traditional medical perspective of the postpartum period refers to the time after childbirth that is required for the reproductive organs to return to their nonpregnant state, a process that takes approximately 6 weeks. Many physicians perceive this time as one requiring little assistance other than the recommended single postpartum visit ..."

All new mothers know this is true but I don't think I've ever seen it stated so plainly. Our healthcare professionals are essentially focused on making sure our uteruses (or is it "uteri"?) are in working order ... but the rest of us? Not so much.

Dr. Laurie Barclay writes on Medscape.com:

"Because of the increased prevalence in the workplace of mothers with infants, greater understanding of factors that could improve postpartum health and facilitate return to work is greatly needed. Recovery from childbirth and successful return to work may be affected by personal factors such as preexisting health status, parity, breast-feeding, and social support from family and friends; as well as work-related factors including the timing of return to work, job stress, and support in the workplace."

Honestly, I think the results of this study apply equally to women who don't go back to work. All new mothers suffer a compounding list of stresses that make it difficult to cope with daily responsibilities, and there is no specific group of healthcare professionals who has taken on the task of monitoring our whole health.

Which group of clinicians will make sure women are properly evaluated and counseled? The study specifically cites the need for screening new moms for anxiety and depression, but who will do it? At the moment, no group of doctors taken on the job of providing that safety net. I sometimes wonder whether they're all hoping someone else will step up to the plate so they can be relieved of the duty. Sure, there are pockets of doctors and nurses in different places throughout the country who have recognized the importance of paying more attention to the health of new moms over a more extended period of time, but as a general rule many ignore it, and I wonder if some of the larger physicians' groups aren't actually against it.

The OB/GYNs are concerned with taking responsibility for the process of pregnancy and childbirth. The pediatricians are primarily focused on the health of the baby. Your primary care physician may not see you for months unless you come down with the flu, so they may never know if you're having problems. They all say they don't have time, they don't have the proper training, they aren't reimbursed for it, they worry about the legal ramifications, etc. And they're right on all those points. Yet mental health screenings and treatment remain completely necessary if we care about having healthy mothers in this country.

New moms are just not very likely to wander by the office of a mental health professional and drop in to say hello. These people are specialists, for whom you generally need a referral. We need a comprehensive nationwide process to get mothers mental healthcare if they need it, where the doctors responsible for screening and referral have buy-in and there is a clear line of sight. Somebody is going to HAVE to take responsibility for this, so we need to work together to begin developing workable solutions. Hopefully the MOTHERS Act will help to address this when it is passed, and it becomes federal law that all women are screened for postpartum depression and anxiety. Notice I sad when, not if.

(crossposted at BlogHer.com)

PPD In the News

Katherine Stone — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:50:15 +0000

Here's a link to a story about postpartum depression in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

News Roundup on PPD

Katherine Stone — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:34:00 +0000

Story from Bismarck, North Dakota's KFYR-TV on postpartum depression - click here

Story from the National Catholic Reporter on the postpartum experience of Sylvia Lasalandra, author of "A Daughter's Touch" - click here

Another story from the National Catholic Reporter on a new postpartum depression education program for clergy, religious and lay leaders lead by the Archbishop of Newark, NJ - click here

How Hospitals Can Take An Active Role With Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:34:36 +0000

When I think about the shoddy way that new moms are treated in the United States, it is no wonder that so many women end up postpartum depression. We get so little support and so little time to recover and figure out what the heck we're supposed to be doing in this new role with this new little, breakable person who came without a background file. We're expected to push a human being out of you-know-where (as my son would say, "Holy Swiss Cheese!") and then get up and leave within 48 hours. We're expected to figure out how to conquer the whole motherhood thing in just a few weeks, many of us getting no guaranteed pay and very little leave, and then get back to work in short order. In fact, according to the August 2007 issue of National Geographic, "American moms-to-be might consider a move to Slovenia ...", where new moms are given at least 52 weeks of leave and full pay. Once we're home, we don't have the kind of "It takes a village" society that surrounds us with support. It's an absolute miracle if anyone makes any effort whatsoever to check on our mental health.

That is why I was so happy to hear from reader Samara who felt it important to send me the following email:

"I wanted to let you know of something that occurred when I recently had my son. I delivered at Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids, MI. When I arrived at the postpartum room I had a bunch of brochures including one on postpartum depression, there was a TV channel with a program on postpartum depression and a questionnaire that I needed to fill out. The next day a nurse came to discuss postpartum depression with me, go over my risk factors and let me know that they would also be sharing these results with my physician. Six and eight weeks after I gave birth, a nurse called to see how I was doing. If they didn't get a hold of me the first time they left a message and called a second time. While some hospitals do not screen for postpartum depression I thought it was nice that Spectrum went above and beyond the norm for screening."

Well I'll be! Perhaps it's not so hard for you healthcare professionals after all. I looked into it, and Spectrum offers screening for every single new mom, hosts a support group, provides a toll-free number for service referrals for all women regardless of their insurance situation, and maintains their own Spectrum Health Postpartum Emotional Support Program phone line to answer questions, expedite appointments or referrals to counselors and connect women with peer support.

This is the way it should be in every hospital in America. I know that there are a few other hospital systems that do this sort of thing, but since a reader who just had a baby thought it was so important to take time out of her day to tell me this, I felt they deserved a shout-out. Way to go Spectrum!

(crossposted at BlogHer)

Dr. Shoshanna Bennett Launches CD Resource for Moms with PPD

Katherine Stone — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:12:00 +0000

Dr. Shoshanna Bennett, author of "Postpartum Depression for Dummies", has developed "Beyond the Baby Blues", a guided imagery audio series for mothers, in partnership with the Hypnosis Network. If you are interested in learning more or purchasing the CDs, click here.

Study Highlights Disconnect Between Perceptions of Women and Doctors on Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:14:00 +0000

A fascinating piece of research has just come out from the Society for Women's Health Research that highlights that vast differences of opinion between women and physicians on the use of medication to treat depression during and after pregnancy, as well as women's lack of understanding of the risk factors for postpartum depression:

Only 10 percent of women think it is safe for women to take medication for depression while they are pregnant, compared to 68 percent of doctors, according to a new survey of women and physicians released today by the Society for Women’s Health Research. Even after pregnancy, in the postpartum period, only half of women think it is safe for women to take medication for depression, compared to 97 percent of doctors.

“This survey shows a tremendous disconnect between doctors’ beliefs about managing depression and the perceptions held by women,” said Sherry Marts, Ph.D., vice president of scientific affairs for the Society, a Washington, D.C., based advocacy organization. “The health care community needs to do a better job communicating with women about depression. We need to carefully explain the full range of treatment options for mood disorders and the pros and cons of taking medications during pregnancy and after pregnancy so that women can make better informed choices.”

African American women and women 18-34 in the survey were even more likely than others to say that it is not safe to take depression medications during pregnancy or the postpartum period.

“Many pregnant and postpartum women falsely think that depressive symptoms, and even clinical depression, are part of the normal experiences of being pregnant and delivering a baby,” said Kimberly Yonkers, M.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. “Moreover, they often assume that these symptoms will spontaneously go away when that is not always the case. There are a range of treatments available to women and we need to get the message out and encourage depressed women to access care for their emotional symptoms.”

The survey also revealed that women underestimate, compared to doctors, their risk for depression at specific life stages where they undergo a hormonal transition. The gap is largest for perimenopause and menopause. Only 47.5 percent of women thought perimenopause is a time of heightened risk for depression, compared to 83.2 percent of doctors. Even fewer women, 39.5 percent said menopause presents unique depression risks, while 77.8 percent of doctors noted this time of risk. Women’s recognition of depression risk at puberty and in postpartum was better.

“Women’s bodies undergo changes in hormone levels during key life cycle transitions from puberty to menopause,” said Marts. “Most women navigate these transitions with minimal mood disturbances, but some women experience mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. We need more research to understand the underlying mechanisms in the brain where mood disorders are triggered by hormone changes. Women need to be aware of this issue and talk to their health care providers about their individual risk factors, warning signs and treatment options if needed.”

When asked about the major symptoms of depression, women focused on emotional symptoms and most neglected to mention the physical symptoms that can accompany depression, such as trouble sleeping, fatigue, changes in appetite or pain. Only 38.2 percent of women noted at least one physical symptom that can be a sign of depression, compared to 86.4 percent of doctors.

Regarding risk factors for postpartum depression, less than one percent of women mentioned family history, previous depression problems or genetics as a risk factor, compared to more than half (53.8 percent) of doctors.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. women 18 and older was conducted through a national telephone omnibus survey, Oct. 4-14, 2007, and the results are weighted to be representative of the total population. The survey of doctors took place Oct. 11-17, 2007, via the Internet. Both surveys were conducted by International Communications Research (ICR) of Media, Pa. The margin of error for the full women’s survey is plus or minus 3.1 percent. It is 4.4 percent for the survey of doctors, which included family practitioners, general practitioners and internal medicine specialists. Support for the survey was provided to the Society by Novartis through an educational grant.

Postpartum Progress Named Top Depression Blog

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:16:01 +0000

Postpartum Progress has been awarded as one of 2007's Best of the Web "Top Ten Depression Blogs" by Psych Central, the oldest and largest mental health resource on the web. Wahoo, everybody! Here's a link to the announcement, including info on my 9 fellow award winners. It's a great honor!

Colorado Launches "A Mother's Wings"

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:10:00 +0000

The fabulous warrior chicks (and that's what we are ladies!) in Colorado have launched a new website called "A Mother's Wings" with the help of Mental Health America in Colorado. The site offers information on postpartum mood disorders and provides local resource information. This is wonderful for the women of Colorado! Click here to check it out.

Writer Looking for PPD Stories

Katherine Stone — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:11:00 +0000

Doula Tiffani Lawton is writing an article for a South New Jersey moms magazine about PPD, and is looking for stories -- treatment success stories, alternative treatment success stories. Her deadline is February 20th, so if you'd like to reach out to her and share your story, please do so as soon as possible by emailing her at support@pamperedpreggerandbeyond.com

Postpartum Depression By The Numbers

Katherine Stone — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:38:58 +0000

Quick, guess which number is higher: the number of people who sprain an ankle each year, the number of people who have a stroke, or the number of women who experience postpartum depression?

PPD. Surprised?

In so many books, articles and news programs, you hear the statistic -- approximately 10 to 15% of women suffer from postpartum mood disorders (PPMDs), including postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum anxiety/OCD and postpartum psychosis. What bothers me about that statistic is that it holds no meaning for most people, and because of that I think these illnesses get much less funding and attention than so many of the other prevalent illnesses that strike Americans. As a result, I decided to do a bit of quick, non-scientific research to look at the real numbers and to help people understand the real impact that postpartum depression is having on the women of our country.

There were approximately 4.3 million live births in the United States in 2007. This statistic does not include fetal losses, including miscarriages and stillbirths. The National Vital Statistics Report indicates that the total number of clinically recognized pregnancies is around 6.4 million. This is important to know, because all postpartum women are susceptible to postpartum depression, regardless of the pregnancy's outcome.

So let's split the difference between the high (20%) and low estimates of PPD (11%) and say that an average of 15% of all postpartum women in the US suffer, as the CDC reported in its 2008 PRAMS research. And let's use the number of clinically recognized pregnancies and not live births. This would mean that each year approximately 950,000 women are suffering postpartum depression.

BUT, did you know the CDC's research only reflected self-reported cases of postpartum depression? How many women do you think did not mention they had PPD out of fear or shame? Should we increase the estimate of sufferers to 17% or 20%?

ALSO, these numbers don't take into account women who may have suffered other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like PPOCD or postpartum psychosis. Should that make the numbers go even higher?

I'd argue that the number of new mothers who experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders is in the 20% range, which would mean around 1.3 million.

How does that compare with the incidence among women of other major diseases in America?

Each year less women -- approximately 800,000 -- will get diabetes. (Nat'l Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)
Each year about 300,000 women suffer a stroke. (Centers for Disease Control)
Each year approximately 205,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. (National Cancer Institute)

In fact, more women will suffer from postpartum depression and related illnesses this year than the combined number of new cases for men and women of tuberculosis, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. This is not to minimize these other terrible diseases, of course. I simply want to illustrate just how prevalent postpartum mood disorders are.

Dr. Ruta Nonacs of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School adds, "Postpartum depression is far more common than gestational diabetes. All women receiving prenatal care are screened for diabetes, but how many pregnant and postpartum women are screened for depression? PPD is also more common than preterm labor, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure; in other words, PPD is the most common complication associated with pregnancy and childbirth."

Let me leave you with one last thought: More women will suffer from PPD than men will be diagnosed with new cases of impotence (617,715) this year. Yet you wouldn't know it, considering the overabundance of erectile dysfunction (ED) ads and people falling all over themselves to discuss ED openly. Why doesn't PPD get the same attention from pharmaceutical companies?

Why doesn't society work as hard to eliminate the stigma of postpartum mental illness? Why aren't more companies concerned about PPD?

This really is a big problem, and deserves much more attention than it's getting.

Click here for more information on postpartum depression statistics.

UW School of Nursing's Online PPD Training Module Available

Katherine Stone — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:53:00 +0000

Thanks to Helena Bradford for sharing that the University of Washington's School of Nursing has posted its "Keys to Postpartum Depression Online Training Module" online and so it is accessible to all. Click here for the link.

Dosing Information for Omega-3s

Katherine Stone — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:08:00 +0000

If you're interested in using Omega-3s to help combat your depression and are unsure of the dosing, here is a link to a very useful handout that Karen Kleiman (author of "This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression) has posted on her blog. It was created by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett.

I Need Your Help

Katherine Stone — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:49:02 +0000

I am joining the Parade Giving Challenge and would like to ask anyone and everyone out there who sees this blog to click the donation button below and give to Postpartum Support International. It will only take a couple of minutes and could make a world of difference. Postpartum Support International does heroic and important work with very little funding.

If you suffered from postpartum depression then you know how much more education and resources are needed. Let's make sure future new mothers get the kind of support and help we would have wanted. Any amount you could donate would go to helping new mothers suffering from postpartum mood disorders. PLEASE, PLEASE do this.

Do You Need To Call Your Doctor?

Katherine Stone — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:10:00 +0000

Here's a link to a fellow sufferer who writes about making the call to get more help at 20 months postpartum because she still just doesn't feel right: http://lifeafterbaby.wordpress.com/2008/01/08/i-made-the-call/

How many of you out there need to make that call?

National Mental Health Conference To Be Held in NC in February

Katherine Stone — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:35:00 +0000

According to the Fayetteville (NC) Observer, Southern Regional Area Health Education Center will host Clinical Update 2008, a national conference for mental health professionals, at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club on Feb. 11 and 12.

The two-day conference will provide information on the most recent therapeutic and medical approaches to the treatment of mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. It also will include sessions on postpartum depression, among other illnesses.

The conference’s featured speaker will be Pete Early, a former reporter for The Washington Post and a best-selling author. His most recent book, “CRAZY: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness” was one of two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. Early will also have a book signing after his talk. (If you haven't read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it.)

For more information, call John Bigger at 678-7207 or e-mail John.Bigger@sr-ahec.org.

Postpartum Depression Help for New Fathers

Katherine Stone — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:40:00 +0000

This is a link to a helpful article from thefatherlife.com by Dr. Shoshanna Bennett on tips for new fathers whose wives or partners are experiencing postpartum depression.

Perinatal Mood Disorders Prevention Act Now Law In Illinois

Katherine Stone — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:13:23 +0000

I heard from Mary Howorth that Illinois Senate Bill 15 became Public Act 095-0469 which means that the Perinatal Mood Disorders Prevention Act is law as of January 1, 2008 in Illinois!! She says she is thrilled and is working to get some more money behind it. Mary says a lot of good things have come out of the process of getting the bill passed. The Voices for Illinois Children and Illinois Ounce of Prevention hosted a summit on perinatal depression and are really behind some huge changes that are on the horizon for women, children and families here. She's going to keep us updated ...

Take Part in Online Survey On PPD & C-Sections/VBACs

Katherine Stone — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:01:00 +0000

I have been asked by Tiffani Lawton, RN to let you know about an informal online survey she's doing with a colleague about postpartum depression and C-sections/VBACs. They have about 65 respondents so far and need 100, so please take part if you can. Here is the link: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e27mlthufa9s7kth/start

People Magazine Reports Britney Did Suffer PPD

Katherine Stone — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:35:51 +0000

People.com is now reporting that Britney Spears did in fact suffer from postpartum depression. Not surprising. I've been saying all along that it seemed like her life was bumping right along until she had her children, and then there seemed to be a huge change in her demeanor.

Britney Spears has "suffered from a psychological disease for years," says a source close to the singer.

Two separate sources who are acquaintances of the family believe the singer has never been formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but "there is no question she is bipolar ... she's had manic episodes for years" ...

PEOPLE has learned from multiple sources that the singer also suffered from depression after both her pregnancies. "She had postpartum depression after Preston was born," says a source who was close to the family during her marriage to Kevin Federline. "She didn't want anyone's help ... It got worse after Jayden was born" ...

A close family friend says "the tragic thing is that Britney loves her children and would never knowingly put them in harms way. Her mental instability is getting in the way of her making proper judgment and it's extremely unfortunate."

If it is true, the important thing to point out here is how important it is to seek treatment. A lot of us don't want any help, as the article states about Britney, because we don't want people to know and we don't want to admit that we may need therapy or medication. And in her case, I can completely understand her reluctance since she knew any problems she had would be shared with the entire world. But the alternative is SO much worse. I'd rather admit maybe I'm not the invincible person I thought I was than to descend into a vortex of misery. Untreated mental illness can become much worse, and have a greater negative impact on the sufferer and everyone around them. Get past the stigma, get past the fear, get past the disappointment and reach out. Ask for help. You and everyone around you will benefit from your courage.

Submit Your Questions For Valerie Plame Wilson Interview

Katherine Stone — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:13:00 +0000

I just got word yesterday that I will be interviewing Valerie Plame Wilson on BlogHer in the near future about her experience with PPD. She dedicated an entire chapter to her postpartum depression after the birth of her twins in 2000 in her new book "Fair Game". If you need a little refresher course, Valerie Plame Wilson was the CIA agent whose covert identity was compromised in a column by Robert Novak in The Washington Post.

Regardless of your politics, I think it is important that a public figure such as Ms. Wilson was willing to speak openly of her struggles with PPD. I would like to ask you to PLEASE click this link and submit any questions there that you'd like me to ask her (just click on the comments link at the bottom of that post).

Women With PPD At Greater Risk for Perimenopausal Depression

Katherine Stone — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:28:00 +0000

Heads up for all of us who have experienced a postpartum mood disorder and are headed toward menopause (which includes me)! The American Journal of Psychiatry January 2008 edition includes the headline that women who have had postpartum depression are at risk for perimenopausal depression.

Just great. Something else to look forward to ...

"The likelihood of major depression increases during perimenopause,generally ages 45–49. Women with histories of premenstrualsyndrome or postpartum depression are at particular risk. Parry(CME, p. 23) summarizes the findings from studies showing anassociation between depressive episodes and higher levels offollicle-stimulating hormone. Estrogen alone has not been shownconsistently to be efficacious in perimenopausal depression.It may, however, be valuable when added to a selective serotoninreuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for women whose depression is refractoryto an SSRI alone.^"

Another Mom Needs Your Support

Katherine Stone — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:06:00 +0000

Here is a another mom who is at risk for postpartum depression. Please reach out to her and offer your support.

Postpartum Depression in China

Katherine Stone — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:54:00 +0000

Here's a link to a story in the China Daily about postpartum depression in China. One interesting tidbit:

"Deteriorating postnatal depression ranks second among China's top mental problems, Professor Li Shunli, who studies mental disorders at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said."

Death of New Mother & Infant Son in Alabama

Katherine Stone — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:56:11 +0000

On December 19, 2007 at 7pm, Jennifer Gibbs Bankston of Birmingham, Alabama shot her 7-week-old baby Graham, and then shot herself. Both died from their wounds. It is believed that Jennifer was suffering from some form of postpartum depression. I am currently researching to get more information on what happened and what Ms. Bankston was going through. From what I can tell, Jennifer was absolutely adored by all, and she and her husband Dr. Larry Bankston were very excited and happy about the birth of their baby boy. Their entire family is in complete shock. They are starting a foundation called Jenny's light, on which I hope to provide you more info soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to offer support to the families by signing the guest book linked to Jennifer and Graham's obituaries, the link is here:http://www.legacy.com/theadvocate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=100003217)

There but for the grace of God go we.

Postpartum Progress Opens Up To Guest Authors

Katherine Stone — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:07:11 +0000

Would you like to be a guest author on Postpartum Progress in 2008? I have decided to open the blog up to some additional voices this year, as Postpartum Progress continues to grow.

I've thought about doing this in the past, but haven't done it because I've been nervous about offending people if I edit them or choose not to use their articles. But I've decided to ty and get over that for the sake of diversity.

You can submit your stories/articles to me at stonecallis@msn.com anytime throughout the year. Here is how I will make choices about what will and won't appear on the blog:

1) Stories should run no more than 700 words. I try to keep all my blog posts fairly short and easy to digest.

2) The article must be 100% relevant to Postpartum Progress and its readers, meaning it should be focused on postpartum mood disorders (postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, postpartum OCD/anxiety, postpartum PTSD) or antepartum mood disorders. As a reminder, Postpartum Progress is written to SUPPORT the women who have suffered or will suffer, and for their families and friends and those who treat them.

3) I will not run any article in which the writer is attempting to sell their product or service. No shilling. I will make an exception, however, for published authors of books focused on PPD and related-disorders if they would like to share an excerpt of their book of which they are particularly proud.

4) I will not run any article where I feel the story has already been done many times on Postpartum Progress, so it would help you to be very familiar with the site. The subject should be a new and fresh take on the issues surrounding PPD and related disorders.

5) I welcome personal stories of people's experiences with PPD as long as they are fairly concise and well-written. I also welcome brief summations from people who have been able to attend conferences or roundtables or other events that I have not been able to attend, as long as there is some interesting, newsy nugget of info that came out of the event. And I welcome stories about newly published research as long as it comes from a highly-regarded source.

I hope this makes sense to everyone. You will, of course, be credited as a guest author for your story, and should you have a blog or website I will be happy to link to it in your article. I will try and respond back to each person who submits an article to either let you know that it will appear and when, or to let you know why I don't plan to use it. If I don't reply back it may be because I get too overwhelmed.

Reach Out To A Fellow Mom

Katherine Stone — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:33:00 +0000

Here's a link to the blog of a mom who had postpartum depression and is currently pregnant. Reach out and give her your support! We're all sisters and we need to help each other.

Those Damn Wire Baskets

Katherine Stone — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:30:11 +0000

This is a great post written by a mother of triplets talking about how difficult it can be to be a mom sometimes. I especially love the part about trying to get the wire baskets apart at the grocery store.

Chicago Tribune Columnist Asks Why Mother Remains in Prison

Katherine Stone — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:23:35 +0000

The following commentary on Debra Gindorf appeared on December 23 in Eric Zorn's blog on the Chicago Tribune online edition:

"Gutlessness leaves governor open to scorn

When people ask me why I have such a cranky attitude about Gov. Rod Blagojevich, I'm happy to tell them the story of Debra Gindorf.

Gindorf had a hearing in front of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in early 2003. The board was clearly sympathetic to her lawyers' contention that she was in the grips of post-partum psychosis in 1985 when she killed her 3-month-old baby and 23-month-old toddler before trying to kill herself and that she was sentenced to life in prison before this condition was properly understood.

Not even the Lake County state's attorney's office, which prosecuted Gindorf, objected to her release.That was more than 1,700 days ago. Gindorf, 43, is still at Dwight Correctional Center with a bum heart and a broken spirit, according to her assistant state appellate defender Kathleen Hamill.

Not only has Blagojevich not had the guts to release this poor woman and explain to skeptics why it's the right and compassionate thing to do, he hasn't even had the guts NOT to release her -- to deny her petition for commutation.

Instead, it sits somewhere in the stack of 1,445 other pending parole and pardon requests on the desk of our state's invertebrate hockey-fan-in-chief.

Remember that next time you hear him preen about women's health issues, about his courage and about how other lawmakers need to buckle down and get to work."

Thank you, Eric Zorn.

Guest Author: Sarah Pond of mama2mama

Katherine Stone — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Sarah Pond, co-founder of mama2mama in Canada, was kind enough to share with us her story of postpartum depression. This is a beautifully written story, and a very comprehensive one in which she lists all of her various symptoms. I don't normally post something this lengthy on Postpartum Progress because I like everything to be easily digestible, but this is worth it.

"The third day after my daughter's birth, a vortex of dark, deafening, and terminally sinister energy swallowed me whole. It sounds dramatic and it was. It overcame me in the car on the way home from the hospital. My baby slept soundly in her carseat, blissfully unaware that her primary caregiver was beginning a freefall into a churning turmoil. I remember commenting to my husband that I was suddenly not feeling too well. An understatement, to be sure.

Every moment after that, I struggled in the teeth of a malevolent beast, while desperately attempting to keep up the appearance of a happy, serene mommy. It felt like a struggle of life and death proportions. I suppose it was.

At the 5 month mark, when sleep deprivation was becoming debilitating, I made an appointment with my (former) family doctor. She gave me the following advice: Get some rest, eat more fatty foods and don't spoil the baby. She neither mentioned PPD nor asked me any relevant questions, nor suggested any resources. The appointment lasted all of six minutes. I timed it.

I kept on going, not following the doctor's advice. At last, on a Saturday afternoon, when my daughter was 7 months old, I crashed hard and ended up at the medical clinic trembling, pale and unable to form a cohesive thought. I hadn't slept at all for three days and nights. I hadn't had more than 3 hours of consecutive sleep for half a year. My husband took our baby to his mother's, drove me to the clinic and insisted that we see somebody NOW. A short time later, I was sitting in front of a very kind, compassionate and helpful doctor, asking him for immediate help. Looking back, I know that I was very close to being hospitalized. Instead, the doctor, bless him, sent me home with three prescriptions: one for an antidepressant, another for a sleep aid, and a final one to do whatever it takes to get some decent sleep.

That night, with a lot of support from my husband and some pumping of milk, I slept for five hours straight. The next night it was six. After an entire week of sleeping "through the night", I was on the road to healing. By the time my baby was 10 months old, I was a new woman.

Recovery has been a path of ups and downs, of good days and bad. But no days have ever come close to the darkest days of all, when my perceptions were distorted by anxiety, fear and sleeplessness. When the primary emotion I felt toward my beautiful child was pity, for having such an inadequate mother. When I felt the hot breath of those notorious black dogs of despair on my throat, heard their hungry snarling, and knew that I was their weakening prey. These days, pretty much every day is good. Great, even.

I have found a new balance. All the balls I juggle as a mother, a wife, an employee, friend, family member and upstanding citizen are staying miraculously aloft (WooHoo!). I practice self-care and I make it a priority. Most of all I enjoy mothering my little girl as I have never enjoyed anything else. I look at her now and I know that she has a good mother – one who loves her and nurtures her as best she can.

During the worst of it, I tried natural therapies, such as herbal remedies and homeopathy. While these took the edge off the most severe symptoms, it was the antidepressants that ended up saving me. The journey through PPD is unique for each of us and so are the ways we heal. I don't advocate any particular method of finding balance; I simply share my own passage. Until this experience, I was resistant to pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants. Now, I feel fortunate that such drugs are available and that they worked so effectively for me.

The best and most important therapy for me, was reaching out for help. Finding the guts to talk to other mothers about what I was going through opened the doors that lead me to health. It was other mamas who inspired and guided my way.

Now my wish is to do the same.

Some of the symptoms of my postpartum experience were:

Physical

• Insomnia

• Jittery, shaky

• No appetite

• Weight loss

• Low milk supply

• Adrenalin surging constantly

• "Fight or flight" mode all the time

Mental

• Inability to turn off my mommy-brain, which was running at 1000 RPM. Like an engine revving way too high in the lowest gear

• Loud clamoring noise in my head at all times, especially at night when everyone else was asleep

• Uncontrollable intrusive thoughts of harm coming to my baby (from earthquakes, wild animals, disease, car accidents, intruders, electrocution, drowning, choking, SIDS, etc, etc, etc)

• Difficulty concentrating or focusing

• mental fogginess, sluggishness

• Nightmares

Emotional

• Anxiety about everything to do with my baby

• Terrible, awful apprehension when the baby cried

• Extreme discomfort when I was separated from my baby

• Feeling certain that I was a terrible mother

• Fear of harm coming to my baby

• Fear of dying and my baby being left motherless

• Exhausting mood swings between the elation and joy of loving my child and despair and anxiety over my perceived inability to care properly for her

• Anger and resentment towards my husband

• Guilt, guilt, and more guilt

• Dread

• Rage

• Heartfelt desire to live in a secluded cave with only me and my baby

Behavioral

• Crying fits

• Micro-managing everything

• Not allowing anyone else to care for my baby

• Not taking any breaks

• Unable to relax

• Raging at my husband, up to and including threatening divorce

• Obsessive coping behaviors, such as counting to 500 while soothing my crying baby

• Clinging inflexibly to routines

• Insisting that things to do with the baby be done EXACTLY SO and freaking out when it wasn't

Please reach out for help if you think that you need it. And if you think you MIGHT need it, too.

Can Estrogen Be Used to Treat PPD?

Katherine Stone — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:45:26 +0000

Here's a link to a very helpful post on the efficacy of estrogen in treating postpartum mood disorders. It's written by Dr. Ruta Nonacs of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Blue Cross of California Launches "Maternity Depression Program"

Katherine Stone — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:09:50 +0000

Blue Cross of California announced yesterday that it has launched a Maternity Depression Program that provides new moms depression screenings, education, and support to help them obtain behavioral health treatment during and post-pregnancy. Details from the press release:

"The Maternity Depression Program is designed to provide information and screening tools to all Blue Cross members who are new mothers while simultaneously identifying members who are at high risk for depression. Since May 2007, Blue Cross has mailed more than 13,000 educational packets to new mothers.

Members who screen positive are encouraged to either share the results with their physician or contact a Behavioral Health Clinician for additional screening, referrals or coordination with providers. If a member needs extra support she can call to enroll in the program and the clinician will provide follow-up calls as necessary. Members can receive depression education, assistance in understanding their treatment options and support to obtain appropriate care. Behavioral Health staff can help to coordinate care with the member's medical team. Routine follow-up is also provided until such time that the member is fully engaged in treatment.

Additionally, because PPD is usually under detected and under treated, Blue Cross has delivered more than 10,000 provider tool kits to California OB/GYN practitioners and pediatricians. These "tool kits" include physician Continuing Medical Education course material, educational hand outs for their patients, and sample screening tools. "The tool kits were an enhancement to our Maternity Depression program developed after conducting several focus groups with pediatricians, OB/GYNs, primary care physicians and women who have infant children. The sessions clearly demonstrated the deep level of trust patients have with their pediatrician, OB/GYN and primary care physician," said Brian A. Sassi, president and general manager Blue Cross of California. "The most important thing to remember is that there is help for these new mothers."

"Through the Maternity Depression Program, Blue Cross provides new mothers, their family members and physicians with information and tools to identify mothers at risk for Postpartum Depression. The physician can then evaluate the mother to better understand her concerns and behavioral changes or if there are signs of significant depression," said Cheryl Noncarrow, president of Behavioral Health for Blue Cross of California. "Screening to identify issues and referring into treatment is a start in helping to restore normalcy for new moms."

Blue Cross members wishing to obtain more information can call (866) 785- 2789 and tell a representative that they may be experiencing postpartum emotional changes.

Vote for Postpartum Progress in the 2008 Bloggers Choice Awards

Katherine Stone — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:10:22 +0000

Postpartum Progress has been nominated for a 2008 Bloggers Choice Award in the category of Best Health Blog. We NEED YOUR VOTES!!!!!! This means you will need to click on the link below and vote. Voting requires you to sign up -- this is super easy and DOES NOT MEAN they will send you anything. You have to do it to vote. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE?? (Am I begging?! Yes, I believe I am.) In order for Postpartum Progress, and by association the postpartum depression community, to get some recognition in the blog world we're gonna have to put together a heck of a lot of votes. We're talking hundreds. So get those fingers typing. Forward this to your friends. Heck, forward this to your enemies. Did I say PLEASE?!!!

For reference, last year's winners for Best Health Blog were: 1st place with 212 votes was Scienceroll.com, a journey inside genetics and medicine, 2nd place with 178 votes was Fitsugar.com, about fitness and celeb fitness, and 3rd place with 125 votes was Fightingfatigue, a blog that provides support and information for those who suffer with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Don't tell me we can't come up with at least 125 votes. PLEASE!

Writer Looking for Childbirth-Related PTSD Stories

Katherine Stone — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:57:00 +0000

Christi Collins is writing a white paper for the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) on childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is looking for moms' stories about PTSD. She says it doesn't matter whether the mom has been officially diagnosed by a healthcare provider or self-diagnosed. She's looking for your perspective on your PTSD symptoms, why you viewed your birth as traumatic, how your family and friends reacted, what you tried during your recovery process and what worked/what didn't, as well as any words of wisdom for moms who are just now learning about PTSD. She'd also be interested in any questions you may have about PTSD. If you'd like to participate, send Christi your stories and questions at mom2ewc@yahoo.com.

Upcoming PPD Events - Spring '08

Katherine Stone — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:40:00 +0000

A "Depression in the Mother" Conference will be held in West Columbia, South Carolina, at the Brookland Baptist Church from 8:15am to 4pm on Friday, February 29th. The fee to attend is $30. The event is hosted by the Midlands Postpartum Coalition, and speakers will include Dr. Meltzer-Brody of the University of North Carolina, Dr. Judy McKay from the University of South Carolina and Dr. Jeffery Newport of Emory University. CEUs will be available. For more information, email bhasty@mha-sc.org.

Also, "Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care" will be held April 10 and 11 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Hosted by Clarian Health, the event will feature Dr. Laura Miller of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Dr. Jamie Renbarger of Indiana University, as well as fabulous RNs Birdie Meyer and Sara Pollard. The fee to attend is $150 for one day, $200 for both days. CEUs will be available. For more information, call 317-962-8078.

There will also be a PPD event in Atlanta on March 28 hosted by Mental Health America of Georgia. My doctor will be speaking, as will myself and Lauren Hale, who is the Postpartum Support International coordinator for Georgia. I don't have all the details yet but I will definitely share them when I have them. So mark your calendars!

Diana Lynn Barnes To Speak in Portugal and Texas this Spring

Katherine Stone — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:38:00 +0000

Diana Lynn Barnes, past president of Postpartum Support International, will be speaking at the International Family Therapy Association Congress in Porto, Portugal on March 27. Her topic will be "Postpartum Depression: Its Impact on Couples & Marital Satisfaction," which appeared as a paper in the Journal of Systemic Therapies in November 2006.

Barnes will also be doing a visiting professorship at the University of Texas School of Nursing in Houston on April 10. She'll be a keynote speaker, presenting on maternal depression and disrupted attachment.

Crisis Nurseries Available for Moms With Postpartum Mood Disorders

Katherine Stone — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:59:00 +0000

I was unaware that there was such a thing as a crisis nursery until I read about it Tuesday morning in a story from News 10 in Sacramento but this is a fantastic idea and one that every community could benefit from having.

"The Sacramento Crisis Nursery offers a safe haven for children 5 years old and under whose families are facing a crisis. The nursery provides both emergency daytime care and overnight stays for up to 30 days ...

Many of the clients who utilize the crisis nursery's services do not have extended family in the region and feel isolated in their situation ... "We think a parent is a hero to children when they can identify that they need support and help," Roy Alexander [Chief Financial Officer of the Sacramento Children's Home] said.

The crisis nursery would like to reach out to new mothers and groups that deal with postpartum depression. "We encourage mothers if they feel like they really have the blues and they're concerned about their ability to continue to take care of their child that they'll call us very quickly," said Alexander.

The Sacramento Crisis Nursery can be reached at (916) 679-3600. The Regional Crisis Nurseries Hotline at (877)-KIDSPLACE will provide phone numbers for other nurseries located in the greater Sacramento area.

If you know of other crisis nurseries in your areas, please let me know and I'll try to maintain a list of them. So far I've been able to find them in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Phoenix, San Francisco/Bay Area, Seattle, New York, and I'm sure there are more. What a fantastic resource for women in crisis.

Woman Fired For Extending Maternity Leave Due to PPD?

Katherine Stone — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:47:00 +0000

Here's an interesting story from United Press International about a woman allegedly being fired for extending her maternity leave due to postpartum depression. I hope it's not true. And may I take this opportunity to give a special shout out to my boss in 2001, Chuck Fruit at The Coca-Cola Company, who didn't bat an eye when I stayed home 4+ months until I could handle going back to work because of my PPD.

"A Revlon cosmetics employee has filed a $25 million suit against the New York-based company alleging she was fired for getting pregnant.

Lisa Reilly, an assistant to infirmary Dr. Robert Krasner at the cosmetics giant, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court last week, charging alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act ...

Although Reilly said she'd been assured her job would be safe, she was fired after she extended her maternity leave because of postpartum depression."

More Deaths Reinforce Need for Screenings

Katherine Stone — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:22:00 +0000

Last week in Milwaukee, Alisa Lorraine Evans, 38, attempted to drown her 2-week-old twin boys in the bathtub, killing one and leaving the other hospitalized. According to WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee, "Issues of postpartum mental illness will figure significantly in the case ... Authorities said the woman had lost an adult son in a Texas shooting incident last fall, and she told police she only wanted the babies to go to heaven."

Of course I won't go into any details here, but the WTMJ story states:

"Joyce Smith told investigators her daughter was depressed and had said Jan. 10 she didn't want to live anymore and talked about 'hurting or killing herself.' She had been living in Milwaukee about six months and was separated from her husband in Waco, Smith said. Evans, who was a licensed vocational nurse, told police she wanted a permanent solution to her problems and 'only wanted the children to go to heaven'..."

Additionally, last Sunday a mother in Sacramento apparently drowned her 8-day-old daugther. Kristina Feulling of Granite Bay faces murder charges. According to News10 in Sacramento, "Kristina Fuelling's psychological condition was being investigated late Sunday and there was no indication that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the child's death."
Fuelling's family and friends issued the following statement:

Kristina is known as a loving and caring person and we have only witnessed Kristina showing affection and care towards her baby. Kristina stopped work months ago only to take care of her pregnancy and baby. She has called the doctor numerous times for every little concern since the baby was born. Her life has been completely dedicated to caring for her child. It seems illogical that such a loving mother would harm her baby and we hope officials will find the same to be true. It does not seem real that baby Faith is not alive and with us. Our prayer and support are united for Kristina.

More women who have slipped through the cracks. We need postpartum mood disorder screenings in the hospital and at the 6-week postpartum checkup. Period.

My Interview with Former CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson About PPD

Katherine Stone — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:20:16 +0000

Today I'm THRILLED to share the podcast of an interview I just conducted, in partnership with BlogHer, with former CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. Wilson recently wrote the book "Fair Game: My Life As a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House", published by Simon & Schuster. In it, she was brave enough to recount her experience with postpartum depression (PPD) after the birth of her twins in 2000.

The interview was used, in part, to launch BlogHer's new BlogHers Act site today. BlogHer is one of the top women's online networks and the Web's number-one guide to blogs by women. BlogHers Act, first enacted in July 2007, is a global activism initiative focusing on diverse aspects of maternal health.

You can click this link to listen to the podcast, or click the play icon below thanks to Ourmedia. I hope you'll listen and share your comments.

He's BAAAAACK!: Tom Cruise & Psychiatry

Katherine Stone — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:31:04 +0000

You may have noticed in recent days that Tom Cruise is back in the news. A Scientology video of him appeared on Youtube in which he discusses his religion and makes reference, once again, to psychiatry. I watched a piece about it on "20/20", and my jaw was on the floor as he talked about how Scientologists are authorities on the mind. From ABC.com:

"I'm going hard on those guys and their reign -- these psychiatrists," Cruise said in the interview. "I've had it. It's disgusting to me. ... When you study the history of psychiatry, it's crimes against humanity ...

"Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else," Cruise said. "As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help. ... We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, we are the authorities on improving conditions. ... We can rehabilitate criminals."

I'm all for freedom of religion and I'm happy that Tom is so happy. It's clearly working for him, so Amen! (No pun intended.) As a Christian, my personal belief is that Jesus is the way and the light. But it doesn't make me an authority on drug abuse, psychiatric illnesses and criminology, nor for that matter brain surgery, teaching 4th graders or nuclear fusion. But for goodness sakes, if you know so much then why haven't you been out there eradicating all the ills of the world? Where've you been exactly? Forgive me, but I haven't run into many Scientologists in the postpartum depression community working day and night volunteering to help sufferers. From what he says, it would seem that they could be out there saving the world RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE and preventing people from suffering terrible, terrible illnesses.

If I knew how to cure postpartum depression, I'd openly share it with the world immediately. So let's hear it, Tom. What's the big secret?

P.S. I no longer attend any of Tom's movies. I'm holding out until he shares his big secret with us.

P.P.S. If you want to read a highly amusing editorial from the National Post in Canada on Tom Cruise, click here, though I must say I can't vouch for any of the facts.

Family of Young Mother in SC Believes Daughter Charged With Murder Has PPD

Katherine Stone — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:33:00 +0000

Here is a link to a story from NBC-affiliate WYFF in South Carolina about a young mother accused of killing her child. Her family believes she was suffering from PPD.

Let me say something about these suicide/infanticide stories I share with you:

1) These stories aren't meant to scare you, but they are reality though thankfully rare. From the beginning, I made a commitment that this blog would never gloss over the true experiences of people with postpartum mood disorders -- I try to be as up front and honest as can be, because so many of you say they wish they had been told everything before they went through it. Rather than freak you out, such stories should encourage those out there who haven't sought treatment to do so for your own health and the health of your families.

2) Also, when I share these stories, it doesn't mean I am confirming that the cause was postpartum depression. As I'm sure you well know, some people use the postpartum depression defense who don't deserve to use it. I have no idea whether the person in this particular story was or was not in fact suffering from PPD.

New Resource for Men with PPD

Katherine Stone — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Will Courtenay, who is one of the fathers coordinators for Postpartum Support International, has launched a new site called PostpartumMen at www.saddaddy.com. This site was expressly created for men who experience postpartum depression themselves. Recent research has indicated that men can experience postpartum depression, or PPND (paternal postnatal depression), too, and this population has been underserved until now. PostpartumMen offers information and an online forum.

And let's not forget about PostpartumDads, which was created by David Klinker for new dads whose wives have PPD.

I'm glad that men are finally getting more resources aimed directly at them and their needs when it comes to the postpartum period.

Dr. Bennett Appears on ABC in California

Katherine Stone — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:03:00 +0000

Thanks to Jess Banas over at the Online PPD Support Group for letting me know that Dr. Shoshanna Bennett appeared on a local ABC affiliate in Northern California -- here's a link to her appearance. Dr. Shosh is author of "Postpartum Depression for Dummies" which is a very good and VERY comprehensive book.

Divergent Views of Male & Female Doctors on Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:28:45 +0000

Yesterday, the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) released the results of a study on the divergent views of male and female doctors when it comes to women and depression. Of particular note to the postpartum depression community is this, as reported by Newswise Medical News:

"On the topic of risk factors for postpartum depression, female doctors were considerably more likely to mention difficult or complicated pregnancies or deliveries; lack of support or help with the baby; and difficulty dealing with a newborn, including sickness. In general, female doctors were more likely to attribute a woman’s sense of being overwhelmed as a source of postpartum depression.

'Women doctors, many of whom are mothers themselves, are likely more sensitive to the immense burden that new mothers can place on themselves for the health and care of their new baby,” Jo Parrish [vice president of communications for SWHR] said. “When things go wrong, women can blame themselves, which can lead to sadness or feelings of guilt and contribute to depression. It is an issue about which women need to talk openly and doctors need to be mindful.'"

On the other hand, the report noted that strong majorities of both women and men doctors believe it is safe for women to take medication for depression in the postpartum period and under the right circumstances during pregnancy, opinions not as strongly shared by women in the general population.

And a side note:

The Society of Women's Health Research will be holding an online moderation discussion entitled “Perimenopause and Mood Disorders” onTuesday, January 29, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Peter Schmidt, M.D., a clinician and an investigator at the National Institute of Mental Health, will answer questions about mood disorders in the perimenopause period, a time of significant changes in women’s lives that can impact mental health. Sherry Marts, Ph.D., vice president of scientific affairs for the Society, will participate in the discussion to answer questions about the Society's work in this important area. Visit http://www.womenshealthresearch.org and click on "events" for more information.

Casting Call for Women in Washington for PPD PSAs

Katherine Stone — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:16:26 +0000

The state of Washington is currently creating a series of TV and radio public service announcements (PSAs) to help raise awareness for its "Speak Up When You're Down" campaign. The PSAs will promote the PSI of Washington warm line, which is a phone number people in Washington can call to get information and resources. They want to cast real people in the commercials, if possible, so that the ads will have an authentic voice that will truly speak to other women and their families in Washington. This casting call is available to any woman in the state of Washington who has experienced PPD. (Please don't contact the project if you don't meet those criteria.)

The concept involves casting a variety of diverse women in which each woman finishes the line of the woman before her in a string of heartfelt, testimonial-style statements that support the "Speak Up When You're Down" campaign. Each woman would reflect the diversity of roles, residences and lives of the many women who struggle with PPD.

A female producer experienced in sensitive subject matter will conduct phone interviews to learn of real-life experiences. This information will be useful in creating a heartfelt PSA that will encourage other women experiencing similar feelings and symptoms to seek help. An additional interview may be conducted to determine those who might be interested in and appropriate for reading a sentence of the script on camera. On-camera actors will receive a stipend.

For more information on the project, or to schedule a pre-interview, visit http://www.wcpcan.wa.gov/ppd/media.htm#cc or email Chris Jamieson at chris@wcpcan.wa.gov.

Research On Maternal Depression & Asthma in Children

Katherine Stone — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:04:06 +0000

New research was released today indicating that children born to mothers with persistent depression or anxiety have an increased risk of developing asthma.

According to U.S. News & World Report, "Canadian researchers report a 25 percent increase in the odds of asthma for children who are exposed to maternal distress from birth to age 7. No such association was found for short-lasting maternal distress, such as postpartum depression." (note: the highlights are mine)

Since so many media outlets were reporting the association between maternal depression and childhood asthma today, I wanted to make sure all of you saw the sentence I highlighted stating that this does not hold true for postpartum depression. Y'all don't need anything extra to be worrying about!

PPD and Military Wives

Katherine Stone — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:02:00 +0000

PSI online coordinator Jessica Banas recently wrote a report for Postpartum Support International that she was kind enough to share with Postpartum Progress on the effects of spousal military deployment and postpartum depression among military wives.

Banas first took a look at a report entitled “Associations of Postpartum Depression with Spousal Military Deployment and Isolation” by Millegan et al. Out of the 410 women who completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), 10.94% screened positively for postpartum depression while their husbands were not deployed, while 25.27% screened positively for postpartum depression while their husbands were deployed. "This information indicates that the risk factor for pregnant women with deployed spouses may be 2.3 times greater than the general population," wrote Banas. "The abstract reports that there is no statistical significance to the time of deployment, in that the risk is the same if the spouse returns for the birth and/or the postpartum visit."

Banas reached out to Public Affairs Officer Janice Ramseur at the Pentagon’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense - American Forces Information Services to find out the approximate number of military wives who became pregnant in 2006 before their husbands were deployed – 357,000. She wrote: “After reading all of these statistics, one might consider that at 15-20% and at 2.3 times greater risk (35-46%), the number of military spouses expected to get postpartum depression might jump to numbers approximating 145,000. One might further hypothesize that approximately 51,000 (15% also at 2.3 times greater risk, or 35%) of those women could become so severely depressed that without treatment, they attempt suicide. Even if we keep the suicide statistic at 15%, the number remains significant at approximately 22,000 military women attempting suicide.”

Banas pointed out that there are several programs that support “military moms”. These include Operation Special Delivery, a nationwide program to provide free doula support to military moms during and after birth, even if the husband is home from deployment. Other programs, while not directly designed for the support of military mothers, offer a positive model for future services. The Air Force Suicide Prevention Program, for instance, has resulted in nearly a one-third reduction in the suicide rate since the program began in 1996. There is also a website for military personnel and their families called Military One Source which contains information on parenting, substance abuse, and childcare services, and has a 24/7 toll-free number that offers counseling.

Despite the availability of these programs, however, she feels more is needed. “We need to study this population more closely,” Banas concluded. “Not only to verify the risks, but to clarify and touch on other risk factors (i.e. moving multiple times, lack of consistent support from friends and families, higher rates of alcoholism among military personnel), as possible reasons for the higher numbers. We also need to find more military counseling and suicide prevention programs that will support both military personnel and their families.”

Columbia University To Host "Mood Disorders Across the Female Life Cycle"

Katherine Stone — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:56:00 +0000

On Saturday, March 8, Columbia University will host "Mood Disorders Across the Female Life Cycle" led by Dr. Margaret Spinelli. The event is being held in conjunction with Postpartum Support International, Postpartum Resource Center of New York, and the National Association for Psychosocial OB/GYNs. It will be held at the Alumni Auditorium in the William Black Medical Research Building at Columbia University Medical Center. CMEs are available for MDs, PhDs, CSWs, Nurse Practitioners and Nurses. To register, click here.

ABC Looking for Personal Videos on Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:47:13 +0000

ABC News' Medical Examiner, Dr. Tim Johnson, will host a series on the struggles of living with depression in March. Included in the series will be personal stories submitted by Americans managing and living with this life altering health issue.

You can contribute by sending in 15-45 second videos on these topics:

1) Share your personal story of living with depression. What is the biggest challenge you or your loved one faces with this health issue?
2) Ask an expert your question on diagnosis, prevention, day-to-day management or treatment of depression.

Your video comments/stories will have the opportunity to be aired in the special AND be featured on ABCNews.com. The deadline is March 15, 2008. To send in your video, register and upload your submission here: http://ugv.abcnews.go.com/Player.aspx?id=2765790
Then click on the red "RESPOND" button. Ladies, send in those videos on postpartum depression!!!!

Article on Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Katherine Stone — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:29:00 +0000

Here is a story featuring Postpartum Support International Ohio co-coordinator Jodi Kluchar discussing her experience with postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sportscaster in Philly Shares Her Story of Antepartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:46:00 +0000

Leslie Gudel, a sportscaster in Philadelphia (the first female sports anchor in Philly!!), was kind enough to send me her story about experiencing antepartum depression, which was first published in Philadelphia magazine in July of 2006 and written by Vicki Glembocki. This is a great story for those of you looking for a kindred spirit when it comes to depression during pregnancy:

Leslie Gudel was 13 weeks pregnant with her second child. It was a Friday. She was sitting on the couch in her living room in Berwyn, watching her 14-month-old daughter Kendall toddle around and jump up and down, goading her mom to play with her. But Gudel couldn’t even think about playing. All she could think was Please sleep. Please lie down with Mommy. Please let Mommy sleep.

Wanting to sleep wasn’t so unusual; she’d been exhausted during her first pregnancy, too. But not like this. Gudel, now 40, wanted to sleep all the time. All the time. In fact, she really didn’t want to do anything else. She didn’t want to wake up in the morning. She didn’t want to talk to people, which posed quite a problem at Comcast SportsNet, where she worked as an anchor, going on the air every night at 6:30, needing to appear together and peppy and commanding whether she was tired or not. But all she wanted to do was sleep. And cry. And fight with her husband Jamie, who, when he left the house for work that morning, dressed in his state trooper gear, turned to her, utterly confused by her behavior, and said, “You don’t even like me. You have no interest in me at all. You don’t like me.”

Gudel had to do something. This wasn’t just pregnancy hormones knocking her out of whack, as she’d been trying to convince herself for weeks. This wasn’t a momentary dip in her mood. Pregnancy wasn’t supposed to be like this. She was supposed to be thrilled. On top of the world. Glowing. This wasn’t normal. She decided to pack up Kendall and head to the Shore for the night. Get a hotel room. Walk the beach. Sort this out. She could get over this. She could conquer it just as she had conquered everything her whole life, the way she played sports, mentally psyching herself up to run faster, to row farther, to win. She would just put her mind to it, figure it out, beat it down.

But before she called Jamie and told him where she was going, she decided to try one more thing. She turned on her computer, linked to Google, typed in “pregnancy and depression.” Omigod, she thought, as she scanned the results on the screen. One in five women experienced depression during pregnancy. (Why wasn’t there any discussion of this in What to Expect When You’re Expecting?) Gudel had almost all the symptoms — lack of motivation and focus, excessive fatigue, general malaise, though no thoughts about hurting herself or anyone else. At least, not yet.

She called her doctor right away.

“You have antepartum depression,” said Wendy Manko, her ob-gyn at Women for Women at Main Line Health. Firmly. Without hesitation, as though she’d had this call many times before. Because she had. At least 10 percent of the patients in her practice show signs of depression when they’re pregnant. And Manko had suffered from antepartum depression herself.

Of course, all women are at high risk for depression — twice as likely to get it as men — so why wouldn’t it sneak up during pregnancy, just as it does after? It was probably Brooke Shields and her book, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, as well as her public war in 2005 with Tom “Mr. Anti-Antidepressants” Cruise, that got everyone seriously talking about motherhood and postpartum depression, which actually doesn’t affect any more women than the antepartum type. But antepartum has been largely ignored. Until recently, most physicians simply dismissed any signs of emotional upheaval during pregnancy, which could be anything from severe impatience to loss of appetite to suicidal thoughts, and could be caused by anything from hormones to a history of depression to just feeling ugly and fat. Of course, as with all depression, the line between what’s expected as a part of life and what’s beyond expected is fuzzy.

“Doctors would say, ‘Everyone cries,’” explains Manko’s colleague Karen Kleiman, the executive director of the Postpartum Stress Center in Rosemont. “It’s almost patronizing.” And patients would be left wondering what was normal and what wasn’t, and how bad they had to feel before someone decided they needed help.

Apparently, Leslie Gudel was feeling bad enough. Manko called in a prescription: 50 milligrams a day of Zoloft, an antidepressant that, as a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), was considered safest for pregnant women and their babies, though there’s no definitive evidence that any antidepressants are totally risk-free, given that it’s difficult to conduct studies on pregnant women. The Zoloft didn’t kick in right away. The following week, when Gudel and her husband went to a friend’s wedding in Avalon, she sat next to another pregnant woman, a good friend of hers who was as glowing as glowing could be. Gudel couldn’t help but think I hate you right now. Her doctor had warned her it would probably take three or four weeks to get the full effect of the Zoloft. Even so, and despite the wedding incident, she already felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. So did Jamie. Depression — that was something they could identify with. Something they could understand. Something that could be treated. And it was. Within a few weeks, Gudel felt like herself again.

Had Gudel called Dr. Manko this past spring instead of in 2005, however, her treatment might not have been so clear-cut. So far this year, two studies have challenged the safety of SSRI drugs for pregnant women. One says that almost a third of babies suffer through a couple days of withdrawal — fast breathing, jitteriness. The other says that taking SSRIs late in the third trimester may increase the risk of a newborn developing pulmonary hypertension, a severe, life-threatening lung disease — though the risk is still less than one percent.

“For the past several months, we’ve been looking at each other, asking ‘Now what do we do?’” says Nancy Roberts, chair of obstetrics and gynecology for Main Line Health. But she’s advising her staffers to do what they’ve always done: thoroughly research their patients’ health, find out if they have a history of depression, counsel them about their choices. Of course, ob-gyns aren’t experts in diagnosing and treating mental illness, which is why physicians at Main Line Health refer questionable patients to mental health professionals for evaluation.

“Obs often miss it,” says Karen Kleiman. “They’re not asking the right questions, because they don’t know what to ask, and moms aren’t telling them.” Conversely, she says, “Some obs are handing out Zoloft like it’s candy.” Kleiman thinks of antidepressants as a last resort (unless the patient is suicidal: “Then we don’t wait five minutes”). She and her staff will meet with the entire family, will try talk therapy, will try hypnosis. But in the end, she’s just as concerned about the fetus being exposed to depression as to antidepressants. Depression can cause premature labor or a low birth weight. Plus, pregnant women who are depressed don’t sleep well, don’t eat well, don’t take care of themselves — and all of that can, of course, adversely affect the baby’s development.

On October 5, 2005, at 8:25 in the morning, Leslie Gudel gave birth to a nine-pound, eight-ounce baby boy. They named him James Chase. He was perfectly healthy, a dream baby, happy all the time. Gudel stayed on the Zoloft for a while to ward off any postpartum, then started weaning herself off the drug when Chase was about seven weeks old — around the time she had drinks with her friend Gail Harrington, who’d given birth to her daughter Kira a month before.

“I was so depressed when I was pregnant this time,” Gudel told her.

“Me too.”

“You too?” Gudel asked. “I went on Zoloft.”

“Me too,” Harrington said, as surprised as she’d been in the doctor’s office a year before when she discovered that, yes, women have an increased risk of depression during pregnancy. Harrington was thinking she was going to have this great, happy experience when she was pregnant. Everyone expected her to have a smile on her face all the time. God forbid she would complain.

But Gudel wasn’t surprised. She was used to it by then. It seemed like everyone she confided in had experienced depression in one way or another; they were all on antidepressants or knew someone who was. No. What surprised Gudel — what continues to surprise her — was the response she got, again and again, when she explained her condition to friends and family: No one knew that antepartum depression even existed.

French Study Shows Link to PPD & Having Boys, While China Study Links PPD to Girls

Katherine Stone — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:44:51 +0000

A new research study has been released in France showing that giving birth to boys may raise the risk of severe postpartum depression. (For the full WebMD story, click here.)

From WebMD: " ... the study author himself warns that the results may not apply to U.S. women. 'I believe that it would be dangerous to alarm all U.S. women about [the potential mental health hazards associated with] boys' delivery,' writes Claude de Tychey, PhD, professor of clinical psychology at the Universite Nancy 2 in Nancy Cedex, France ..."

This is interesting, but I wouldn't give it too much thought at this point. Although I did suffer PPOCD after giving birth to a boy ... Hmmmmm. Interestingly enough, a different piece of research from China shows that women there are more likely to suffer PPD if they have a girl.

Brazen Careerist Writes About PPD & Working Women

Katherine Stone — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:02:04 +0000

This is a great post from Penelope Trunk of the Brazen Careerist blog. She writes about experiencing PPD while working, and makes suggestions on what women should know about PPD if they're the breadwinner in the family. She bravely shares what she went through, including the following:

"Then, one night, the baby was screaming and our three-year-old wouldn’t go to bed and my husband was telling me that I needed to get the three-year-old some milk and I was saying that he should and I’ll get the baby and he rolled his eyes, and then I took a knife out of the dirty dishes and stabbed my head.

I don’t actually remember doing it. I remember my husband saying, 'Oh my god. There’s blood everywhere.'

Here’s how crazy I was: I just put the knife back in the sink and went to get the baby.

Go check out the rest of Penelope's story.

Mother Reach Receives Grant to Help Mothers with Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:23:21 +0000

The Mother Reach London and Middlesex Coalition in Ontario, Canada, received a provincial grant this week that will help it continue to educate, support and care for those experiencing, or at risk for developing, postpartum depression.

With new mothers and young families on hand, Denis Gadwa from the Ontario Trillium Foundation announced a $55,000 grant that will allow the coalition to carry on its weekly drop-in services for the next two years.

The local coalition was formed in an effort to create a caring community where women at risk for, or dealing with, postpartum depression could access resources and treatment to help them manage the illness effectively.

"Because of the generous financial support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the drop-in centre will be able to continue its vital services in our community," said Laura Dueck, public health nurse and co-chair of the Mother Reach London and Middlesex coalition. "Women receive the support they need to achieve optimal health for themselves, their children and their family. Ultimately, this benefits our whole community."

The Mother Reach London and Middlesex Coalition is made up of representatives from more than 20 local health and social service agencies and organizations, as well as members from the community.

The coalition operates free, two-hour drop-in sessions each week, where knowledgeable staff and volunteers provide helpful information and access to resources for mothers who are currently experiencing symptoms or those who may be at risk.

Drop-in sessions take place at the MAC Youth Centre, 366 Oxford St. E., Suite 201 London, Thursdays between 1 and 3 p.m. Free childcare is also provided on-site during the drop-in sessions.

Two New Studies on PPD and Low-Income Mothers

Katherine Stone — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Click over to Karen Kleiman's blog at The Postpartum Stress Center for info on a study that just came out in Lancet on effective intervention for postpartum depression in low-income mothers based on research conducted in Santiago, Chile.

After that, click on over to the UCLA School of Public Policy for a study on why many low-income women suffering PPD do not seek help from formal mental health services, and how those barriers might be overcome.

SaraBear Baskets Partners with Postpartum Support International

Katherine Stone — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:06:55 +0000

SaraBear Company has partnered with Postpartum Support International (PSI) to offer new mothers, and those who love them, a resource for help. All SaraBear diaper caddies now carry an informational hang tag on their handles bearing a list of the symptoms to identify a postpartum mood disorder as well as directions to the PSI website and helpline.

After the birth of her second child, too exhausted and preoccupied to focus on her own health and what were obvious signs of postpartum depression, Melissa Bramlage, the CEO and founder of SaraBear, suffered alone and needlessly.

"I waited too long to reach out for help. Our focus is to put the PSI website and helpline directly in front of new mothers and fathers," says Melissa. "Knowing that a qualified voice to listen and offer help is just a phone call away can make the difference for a new mother and her family."

SaraBear Company has built its incredible success upon an unwavering belief that life with babies should be enjoyed to its fullest. Their diaper caddies are designed to make baby-care organization easy. The new PSI informational tags are intended to make joy an attainable thing for all new moms. SaraBear will donate a portion of each sale to PSI.

This is fabulous!!

Update on Blogger's Choice Awards

Katherine Stone — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:52:54 +0000

Well, we've moved up into 4th place (!) in the Blogger's Choice Awards' Best Health Category ... Wow! Great job everybody. I've heard from a few of you that it was hard to figure out where to vote for Postpartum Progress, so I've made it easier for those of you that haven't voted yet.

http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/categories/11

Click the above link and it will take you right to the Health voting category, and you'll see Postpartum Progress listed 4th. Sign in (yes, you have to join and sign in to vote -- it won't cost you anything and they don't send you anything) and click the vote button to the right of the Postpartum Progress listing.

To quote a candidate in a different election, YES WE CAN!! Tell everyone to weigh in on the importance of the postpartum depression community in the blogosphere.

Peabody Chamber Opera Performs Libretto About PPD

Katherine Stone — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:21:00 +0000

I saw this on dcist.com:

Speaking of new work, the Peabody Chamber Opera will give the world premiere of a new opera by Catherine Reid, The Yellow Wallpaper, in the quirky venue of Baltimore Theater Project (February 14 to 17). The libretto by Judith Lane adapts the early feminist short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, about a writer struggling with postpartum depression and the stifling attitude of her physician husband.

Cool.

P.S. Here's some more info on the opera from the Critical Mass blog at the Baltimore Sun.

Ask the Senate To Send A Valentine to Moms This Thursday

Katherine Stone — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:33:42 +0000

FEBRUARY 14, at 10am, the Senate's HELP committee will mark up the new Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act Bill ...

Let's ask the HELP committee to send a Valentine to America's mothers by finishing up the bill and sending it to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Given that it has been a long time since I've been in the 8th grade and focused on U.S. Civics, I will refresh both you and myself with an explanation of "mark-up" from C-SPAN:

A Mark-Up refers to the meeting of a Committee held to review the text of a bill before reporting it out. Committee members offer and vote on proposed changes to the bill's language, known as amendments. Most mark-ups end with a vote to send the new version of the bill to the floor for final approval.

And that's what we want -- the bill to go to a final vote and get passed. The HELP committee is responsible for all proposed legislation on measures relating to education, labor, health and public welfare. It is made up of some very powerful Democratic and Republican Senators.

So it's time for some ACTION. Please pick up the phone AGAIN and call the HELP committee. Ask them to send a Valentine to America's moms by supporting the MOTHERS Act (S 1375). I know you already called because you're awesome and helpful and care very much about this, but I need you to CALL AGAIN. Tell the following Senators you support this bill:

Democrats by Rank

Edward Kennedy (MA) - 202-224-4543
Christopher Dodd (CT) - a co-sponsor of the bill ; 202-224-2823
Tom Harkin (IA) - 202-224-3254
Barbara Mikulski (MD) - 202-224-4654
Jeff Bingaman (NM) 202-224-5521
Patty Murray (WA) 202-224-2621
Jack Reed (RI) 202-224-4642
Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) - 202-224-4451
Barack Obama (IL) - a co-sponsor of the bill; 202-224-2854
Bernard Sanders (VT) - a co-sponsor of the bill; 202-224-5141
Sherrod Brown (OH) - a co-sponsor of the bill; 202-224-2315

Republicans by Rank

Michael Enzi (WY) - chairman of the HELP committee; 202-224-3424
Judd Gregg (NH) 202-224-3324
Lamar Alexander (TN) 202-224-4944
Richard Burr (NC) 202-224-3154
Johnny Isakson (GA) - 202-224-3643
Lisa Murkowski (AK) 202-224-6665
Orrin Hatch (UT) - 202-224-5251
Pat Roberts (KS) - 202-224-4774
Wayne Allard (CO) 202-224-5941
Tom Coburn (OK) 202-224-5754

If lines are busy or it's difficult to call during business hours, here is the email address of the committee: help_comments@help.senate.gov. While this doesn't replace the more impactful direct calling, it's an alternative. Also, anyone who would like to attend can watch and listen to the proceedings Thursday -- the meeting will be held in Dirksen 430.

PSI Launches Members Only Section on Website

Katherine Stone — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:18:08 +0000

The Postpartum Support International (PSI) website has just launched a Members Only section. This section allows you to locate and network with PSI's other members across the country. In the directory, members may list links to their own websites, practices, agencies or facilites. You can also search by name, town or state. If you are a PSI member, please email psioffice@postpartum.net to get your username and password and instructions on how to log in.

Congrats to PSI staff Devani Stumpf and Chris Armstrong for their work getting this up and running!

AMA Newspaper Focuses on Barriers to Caring for PPD Moms

Katherine Stone — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:55:51 +0000

American Medical News, the newspaper of the American Medical Association has just published a great story on postpartum mood disorders called "Beyond the Baby Blues: A Spectrum of Postdelivery Conditions." It features myself and a host of fabulous doctors, including Dr. Marlene Freeman, Dr. Shoshanna Bennett and Dr. Katherine Wisner among others. It covers barriers to care by physicians, which is extremely important given that we're trying to get a bill passed in the Senate asking for more education and training of doctors, among other things. Here is my favorite quote from the article:

"This is a disease that lives between specialties [obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, pediatrics]," Dr. Wisner added. "Patients are running around in circles."

Exactly.

National Center for Children in Poverty Releases New Policy Brief on Maternal Depression

Katherine Stone — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:03:00 +0000

Project THRIVE at the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University has just released a new policy brief on maternal depression: Reducing Maternal Depression and Its Impact on Young Children: Toward a Responsive Early Childhood Policy Framework. The policy brief provides an overview of why it is so important to address maternal depression as a central part of the effort to ensure that all young children enter school ready to succeed. It highlights:

what research says about the impact of maternal depression on young children, particularly infants and toddlers, and how prevalent maternal depression is;
examples of community and programmatic strategies to reduce maternal depression and prevent negative cognitive, social emotional and behavioral impacts on young children;
key barriers to focusing more attention to maternal depression in policies to promote healthy early child development and school readiness;
state efforts to address policy barriers and craft more appropriate policy responses; and
recommendations

You can download the PDF and read the executive summary here.

Project THRIVE is a public policy analysis and education initiative at the National Center for Children in Poverty to promote healthy child development and to provide policy support to the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) initiatives funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Part of NCCP’s longstanding commitment to promote improved state early childhood policies and practices, the goal of Project THRIVE is to help states strengthen and expand their early childhood systems, paying particular attention to strategies that improve services for those at highest risk and that help reduce disparities in access and quality of care to early childhood health and mental health.

On Sleep & Recovering from PPD

Katherine Stone — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:53:58 +0000

Yesterday, the New York Times did a story on Dr. Harvey Karp, author of the best-selling book "The Happiest Baby on the Block." Dr. Karp has developed a method for getting crying babies to stop crying, and has a new book out for calming toddlers as well.

"Dr. Karp’s method ... shows fussy babies who are quickly, almost eerily soothed by a combination of tight swaddling, loud shushing and swinging, which he says mimics the sensations of the womb ... [His] baby program has been endorsed by several government health agencies, leaders of Prevent Child Abuse America and others."

I have been in contact with Dr. Karp via e-mail, as he has shared with me his belief that his program can work to help new moms with PPD. Dr. Karp believes that his method helps mothers feel more competent, encourages fathers to be more participatory, and allows everyone to get more rest. "It goes a long, long way to helping give balance back in a mother's life and helps anxious moms who feel so deficient to have hope ... to feel like they can meet their baby's needs and survive," he said.

Now, I don't have a baby anymore to test out his program, so I can't personally endorse it. But I do believe in the SUPREME IMPORTANCE of sleep, and I believe in the importance of parents feeling like they have an array of tools to help their babies stop crying. Especially for those of us who have or are at risk for having PPD. Therapy and often times medication are very important, but neither will work very well if the patient isn't getting any sleep or any peace. A lot of times moms neglect their own well-being when caring for a newborn. They're worried about not being able to breastfeed if they sleep. Or they're worried about asking someone for help during the nighttime hours, whether it be a working husband, family member or friend. Or they're worried about what will happen to the baby's emotional health depending on which method they choose to get their baby to stop crying. I think we have to work to allay those fears and help moms understand that without rest, recovery from PPD is only going to take longer.

My doctor at Emory believes sleep management is extremely important. My husband and I had a "2-nights-on, 2-nights-off" plan. I knew that soon I would get two full nights of rest, and that went a long, long way in helping me to try and keep it together and to recover from PPD. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture, after all.

Karp told me his program has been used for the past 2 years by the Virtua Health PPD prevention and treatment program with very good results. He told me that Duke University will begin using his "The Happiest Baby" program as part of their intervention with moms who have PPD. He also said there is an NIH-funded study of his program taking place at Penn State that will be releasing data in early 2008, including depression scales.

I did check the reviews of his book on Amazon.com, and it would seem there are lots of people who felt it was helpful. Most seemed to find it was effective for a baby that is 3 months old or younger. Others have found the book "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley helpful, while others believe very strongly in "On Becoming Babywise" by Gary Ezzo. While there are a variety of methods, the important thing is to realize there are things you can do to help everyone in the family get more sleep and to help soothe your baby. Do what feels comfortable for you and what seems to work for your baby. It really can assist you in your recovery.

Sylvia Lasalandra to Appear on FOX This Thursday

Katherine Stone — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:45:41 +0000

PSI's President's Advisory Council Chair, Sylvia Lasalandra Frodella, and her husband Michael Frodella will appear this Thursday on FOX's "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet". The segment will address postpartum depression in fathers. Be sure to check it out!

PSI Annual Conference To Be Held in Houston June 4-7

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:31:13 +0000

Save the Date! This year's Postpartum Support International conference will be held in Houston, June 4-7 at the Hilton Americas-Houston. The event is co-sponsored by the Women's Mental Health Initiative of the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston. Some of the main speakers include Dr. Margaret Spinelli, Dr. Lucy Puryear, Valerie Plame Wilson and George Parnham. Registation will begin in March. I'll be there, and I hope to see you there as well! For more information, visit www.postpartum.net.

Two Run/Walk PPD Events in Northeast on May 10

Katherine Stone — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:15:43 +0000

Here's a way to improve your health and get involved in raising funds for PPD awareness:

The Sounds of Silence Foundation, Inc. for the the Awareness of Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression's 1st Annual 5k Run/Walk/Stroller Walk will be held Saturday, May 10, at Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh, Long Island, New York. The event begins at 9am. Race proceeds and donations to the Sounds of Silence Foundation will benefit the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc. For more information, contact Erin Reilly at reillye@soundsofsilencefoundation.org. You can also watch for event updates at http://www.postpartumNY.org/events.

Also, the "Stepping Out of the Darkness" 5k Road Race for the Women & Infants Hospital Day Program in Rhode Island will be held May 10th as well, at Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island at 9am. For more information, contact Sarah Robinson at sarahr2@cox.net.

Strap on those running shoes, ladies!!

Nurse Suggests Warm Bath For PPD Symptoms

Katherine Stone — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:23:55 +0000

I just read a blog post from a new mommy who is experiencing postpartum depression for the third time. She is feeling really bad, and decided to reach out to her doctor's office and here is what happened ...

"I called my doctor's office and couldn't keep from crying some more as I pleaded for help before my 6 week visit this coming Friday. The nurse said to take a warm bath, get a friend to come over so I could nap, have the husband help more...

So I thanked the nurse, considered her recommendation to take the mini pill (progesterone only birth control) to help smooth out my frazzled hormones, and told her I'd see her Friday. The last time I took the mini pill I cried for two weeks straight and considered radical self-harm. Not an option."

This is a mom with a history of PPD who made the decision to reach out and that's the help she gets. She might as well not have even bothered to call. I get these same kind of stories from new moms ALL THE TIME. I swear to you I hear stuff like this almost EVERY SINGLE DAY. From big cities and small towns. Do we need any more evidence that many people in the healthcare community just don't know how to deal with PPD? Knowing what I know now, I think if I had a healthcare professional tell me or anyone I knew something like that I would have a really hard time not DECKING THEM! This makes me so grateful for the healthcare groups and doctors and nurses out there who have taken it upon themselves to be trained about postpartum mood disorders and to try and create systems for caring for women like us. Thank you!!! You are my heroes!!

Codey and Spinelli Win Eli Lilly Welcome Back Awards for Work on Perinatal Mood Disorders

Katherine Stone — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:02:43 +0000

Mary Jo Codey has won the 2008 Eli Lilly Welcome Back Lifetime Achievement Award. For years, Mary Jo has been a national spokesperson and crusader for maternal mental health, sharing her story to help other women reach out for help. The campaign she inspired in New Jersey, "Speak Up When You're Down," has become a model for states across the country to offer programs, services and resources for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders.

Also, Dr. Meg Spinelli of Columbia University has won a 2008 Eli Lilly Welcome Back Award in the category of psychiatry. Dr. Spinelli was selected based on the depth of her experience, knowledge and commitment to the issue of perinatal mental health. The award carries at $10,000 prize to be donated at her discretion.

Eli Lilly launched the Welcome Back Awards program 10 years ago to fight the stigma associated with depression and promote the understanding that depression is treatable. Many congrats to both Dr. Spinelli and Mary Jo Codey!!!!! And thanks to Susan Stone, president of Postpartum Support International, for letting me know about this great news.

Mom Tracy Kennedy's Journey Through Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:32:00 +0000

Here is a link to an article that just appeared in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper about Tracy Kennedy, who suffered severe postpartum depression.

Jenny's Light Foundation Launches New Website

Katherine Stone — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:05:56 +0000

Jenny's Light, the foundation created in memory of the loss of Jennifer Gibbs Bankston and her newborn baby Graham late last year to postpartum depression, has relaunched its website with more resources, including information on suicide support and postpartum support. The organization will focus on providing postpartum support and education in the states of Alabama, California, Louisiana and Minnesota.

Postpartum Stress Center on Therapy as Treatment for Hopelessness

Katherine Stone — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:40:36 +0000

This is a great post by Karen Kleiman on the value of therapy in the treatment of postpartum depression. I personally believe therapy is just as valuable as medication or any other treatment. It helps us understand better how we think and feel, and learn what needs to change in those thought processes so that we can become healthier people.

Postpartum Progress Reader Activities -- Lots to do!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:18:01 +0000

Have you taken the survey yet on PSI's Chat with the Experts service? If not, please do. It is only by getting feedback from people like you that Postpartum Support International can make sure it is providing the right kind of services in the right format at the right time and for the right people. Here's the link - it takes 3 minutes:

Click Here to take survey

Also, have you sent in your photo for the Surviving & Thriving Mothers Photo Album? We have lots of gorgeous moms and their kids representing how wonderful it is to be a mom recovered from a postpartum mood disorder. Add your photo and be a beacon of hope to women who are suffering! Just send me an email with a jpeg of your photo, your first name and last initial, the state you live in and what illness you suffered to stonecallis@msn.com.

Also, did you see there is a new Postpartum Progress store with merchandise featuring the new logo? There is a tote bag, stickers, infant onesies, a maternity shirt, note cards and more -- for the warrior chick in all of us!! If you want something you don't see, let me know Remember, proceeds go only to paying for the upkeep of this site and to PSI. Look for the link to the left -- "get unique gifts here at cafe press". Happy weekend everybody!

Whole Cloth Designs Creates Quilt of Postpartum Depression Experience

Katherine Stone — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Carrie, the blogger at Whole Cloth Designs, recently wrote about a quilt she has been making called "The Flood," which represents her experience with postpartum depression. There is a picture of the whole quilt, which I'm sure doesn't even begin to do it justice. I wish I could see it in person!!

"The imagery comes from my early postpartum days, with postpartum depression threatening to drown me while also isolating me from everyone and everything. My emotions poured out of me and I felt so trapped at home. Our home didn’t even feel safe, as the house next to us was literally threatening to fall on us during the rainiest period of the year. I think about sitting upstairs in our bedroom rocking Mogs day and night–like I was locked in a tower. Seriously dark times, folks. Working on this quilt has brought those visceral memories close."

Very cool.

Seeking Videos for Postpartum Progress Audiovisual Library

Katherine Stone — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:08:00 +0000

I will soon be creating the Postpartum Progress Audiovisual Library, which will connect directly to Youtube and allow women to watch videos from various organizations about postpartum mood disorders. A virtual lending library for PPD!

I am now gathering all audiovisual materials related to postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and all other related illnesses. If you have any videos, PSAs, commercials, documentaries or films that you would like to make part of the Postpartum Progress Audiovisual Library, please email me ASAP at stonecallis@msn.com. Obviously, all women and their families will have free access to these materials, so if this is something you normally charge for, you probably don't want to send it to me. But if you want more exposure for the great stuff you've created, then SEND IT!!!! (Of course the owner of the videos will get full credit and links back to their websites/blogs.)

House Passes Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act

Katherine Stone — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:51:06 +0000

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act. This bill, which has now moved on to the Senate, requires insurers and health plans to end the imposition of treatment limitations or financial limitations when they offer mental health benefits that are more restrictive than those applied to medical and surgical services. (It does not require insurers to offer mental health coverage, but first things first I guess.) Following is an overview of some of the bill's key provisions, as taken from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's website:

Requires equity in financial requirements. Under the bill, an insurer or group health plan must ensure that any financial requirements – such as deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket expenses – applied to mental health and addiction benefits are no more restrictive or costly than the financial requirements applied to comparable medical and surgical benefits that the plan covers.

Requires equity in treatment limits. Under the bill, a group health plan must ensure that the treatment limitations – such as frequency of treatment, number of visits, and days of coverage – applied to mental health and addiction benefits are no more restrictive than the treatment limitations applied to comparable medical and surgical benefits that the plan covers.

Does not mandate mental health benefits. The bill does not mandate insurers or group health plans to provide any mental health coverage. The bill’s provisions only apply to plans that choose to offer mental health coverage.

Exempts certain businesses. The bill exempts small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. It also exempts those businesses that experience an overall premium increase of 2 percent or more in the first year and 1 percent in subsequent years.

Covers same mental illnesses and addiction disorders as FEHBP. The bill ensures that group health plans cover the same range of mental illnesses and addiction disorders covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program – i.e., the mental illnesses and addiction disorders included in the mental health practitioner’s guide, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Does not mandate out-of-network benefits. The bill simply states that if a plan already offers out-ofnetwork benefits, it must offer out-of-network benefits on the same terms for mental health services as it does for medical and surgical services.

Does not pre-empt stronger state parity laws. The bill establishes a federal standard, a floor of protections that would apply to job-based health coverage, but allows states to be more protective of their residents with stronger parity laws.

Explicitly permits medical management of health benefits. The bill allows the use of medical management tools that are based on valid medical evidence and pertinent to the patient’s medical condition so that specific coverage is not arbitrary in its application and more transparent to the patient.

Provides for enforcement. The bill provides remedies to protect beneficiaries’ rights and permits enforcement of the bill’s equity requirements by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Labor.

Please Take Quick Survey on PSI's Chat with the Experts

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:43:41 +0000

Postpartum Support International (PSI) offers a weekly, toll-free conference call open to new moms, their family and friends, and healthcare professionals to help answer any questions they may have about postpartum mood disorders. The service is called "Chat with the Experts". Participation can be anonymous. There is no need to register, the sessions are live and free, and the facilitators are licensed mental health professionals who are experts in the field of postpartum mood disorders.

In order to make sure this service is reaching its intended audience, I need all of you to PLEASE respond to a super quick 10-question survey on this service. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Click Here to take survey

Depression More Common in Women with High Risk Pregnancies

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:14:53 +0000

Here is a link to story fom the Center for Women's Mental Health blog on how common antepartum depression is in women with high risk pregnancies.

Postpartum Perspective & Unexpected Blessing Blog On MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:39:53 +0000

Here's a great post on the new blog Postpartum Perspective about the MOTHERS Act opposition. Check it out! One highlight:

"We have ended up debating whether or not postpartum mental health problems should be treated with medication, whether breastfeeding while taking meds is good or bad, whether health care providers should be more or less intrusive in mother's women's lives. Why aren't we debating about whether or not the fact that women are dying due to lack of support is a problem?"

And another great piece on Unexpected Blessing from Lauren Hale, as she openly shares what she went through and why the MOTHERS Act is so crucial. A highlight:

"I believe in this bill because I have lived through the very depths of the condition it is fighting to uncover and remove the stigma of so that the next mother who suffers will not have to suffer in silence, will not have to go to her doctor and be rejected and told to “suck it up” and that this is a normal part of motherhood, something that she should get over, something that shouldn’t be happening because she is more than 6wks postpartum and therefore all her hormones should be back to normal by now."

"From The Hips" Pregnancy Guide Offers Deeper Look at PPD

Katherine Stone — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:11:00 +0000

There is a great new pregnancy guidebook out called "From the Hips: A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth & Becoming A Parent," written by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris. I think this book rocks and will eventually outsell many of the other books that just cause fear and confusion and frustration for women who are about to become mothers. (Was anybody else freaked out after reading "What to Expect When You're Expecting," or was it just me?)

My favorite feature? The chapter called "The Postbaby Brain" on pages 188-205. The authors take an unvarnished look at the feelings moms have about parenthood, both good and bad. And they actually talk about postpartum mood disorders for 5 pages (!), rather than the usual paragraph or two, even offering a list of symptoms for postpartum depression, postpartum OCD, postpartum panic disorder and postpartum psychosis. It's nice to see a general interest pregnancy book go into more detail about the variety of symptoms one can experience and recognize that PPD is not a one-size-fits-all illness. I would have liked them to offer a little more information on how to seek help, but they do provide a list of resources on page 194 that includes Postpartum Support International and Postpartum Progress (wahoo!), among other good sites and books.

Odes and Morris offer ten "anti-rules" for parents-in-progress, which you can learn more about by picking up their book:

Everyone's an expert, but you're the authority on yourself and your baby.
Confidence is more important than instinct.
Strive for imperfection.
Parenting is out of control.
There's no such thing as a "natural" mother.
Shift happens.
Babies are people, not problems.
Frustration, resentment, anger, exhaustion, exasperation, aggravation, jealousy, nostalgia, regret, etc., don't make you a bad parent.
Look forward, not backward.
There is no right way.

Postpartum Progress Speaks Out in Full Support of MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:03:00 +0000

I said I would speak out on the ridiculous campaign being waged through petitions and blogs right now to block passage of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act ... so here goes (hold on to your hats, folks):

I am truly peeved and disappointed at the breathless, hysterical ranting going on about the MOTHERS Act. Many of those who oppose it seem to have done LITTLE to NOTHING to inform themselves about the actual bill and the organizations that support it. Falsehoods are being spread. Here are some examples:

"A federal bill that is dangerous to mothers and their newborns but being promoted under the guise of ensuring that 'new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services ...' This is quite simply false ... it will push more mothers onto dangerous antidepressant drugs ..."

"If this bill is passed, any money spent on screening will be a complete waste of tax dollars. The results will be an INCREASE in the severity and frequency of postpartum depression and an increase in violence and suicide."

"This legislation will ensure that new mothers and their families are also subjected to such treatment as they are screened for symptoms and provided so called 'help' that pushes these new mothers over the edge."

"The bill was originally proposed in response to the death by suicide of Melanie Stokes, a pharmaceutical rep. who took her own life by leaping from a balcony several stories off of the ground. Contrary to popular understanding it was not post-partum depression that killed Melanie, but the numerous antidepressant drugs she was taking ..."

I'm not sure what algorithm they're using that would indicate that doing more to identify and treat these illnesses would lead to more PPD -- is this the new math they're teaching in schools? And I have no idea how in good conscience they could spread lies about Melanie Blocker Stokes when her fearless and amazing mother Carol has worked so hard to get legislation like this passed so that other mothers can avoid the pain she has had to endure in losing her daughter.

Now I know standards dictate that I don't share with you what these people are saying because it somehow gives them a voice. But I'm blowing up the standards today, because I think my readers need to know exactly what is being said, so that you can be moved to speak up about it and defend the importance of the MOTHERS Act. (One of the organizations behind this push is CCHR. CCHR is the Church of Scientology. Need I say more?)

The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act does NOT recommend drugs or require drugs or endorse drugs. What is does is the following:

Encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions.
Encourage a national public awareness campaign to be administered by HHS to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis.
Encourage HHS to make grants available for projects for the establishment, operation and coordination of systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression.

There is no nefarious undercurrent, no plot by "the man." The simple point is to continue to look into the causes of postpartum mood disorders, to let people know they exist and to provide better support services for the women who have them and their families. Period, the end. Every woman has the choice to decline participation in a screening, and every woman has the choice to look at all of the various treatment options available to her and choose the best one for her, whether it includes medication, therapy, alternative treatments, support groups or some combination thereof.

Do I agree that we must be careful to only treat those who are ill? Of course. Do I agree that we must be careful in the types of treatments that are used, and must recognize the risks of taking certain treatments as well as the risks of not taking them? Of course. But I will not allow fearful conspiracy theorists to derail what is most important, which is getting our country's healthcare system to eliminate the stigma of mental illness, recognize the prevalence of postpartum mood disorders, learn more about their cause, allow new mothers who are suffering to feel safe in getting professional help and identify the best and safest treatments possible.

Please add your thoughts. Scroll to the bottom of this post and look for the comments link to speak out. C'mon girls - USE YOUR VOICE.

Here are links to other great comments about the opposition and the importance of supporting the MOTHERS Act. If I've missed your response, let me know and I'll add it to this list.

Susan Stone, President of PSI - this is so beautifully written - you MUST read it
Spin Me I Pulsate
Buoy for Perinatal Blues & Beyond
Postpartum Perspective
Unexpected Blessing/Sharing the Journey
Depression Introspection

New Look for Postpartum Progress

Katherine Stone — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:33:17 +0000

I am so pleased to launch the new logo for Postpartum Progress. It was designed by Steve Tyrrell, who I drove CRAZY in the process of getting it done. I think it's absolutely beautiful.

The new Postpartum Progress logo is meant to represent the warrior mom within every woman who goes through a postpartum mood disorder. We strive to protect ourselves and our babies while holding back the demons and the dark clouds. We are fighting a true war from within, and armed with knowledge and the help of others we can win every time. I love all of you, and I hope you like it and feel as if it better represents the purpose of this blog and the journey we all go through.

I will soon launch an online store with merchandise featuring the logo. Sales of these products will help fund the costs of maintaining Postpartum Progress and a percentage will also be donated to Postpartum Support International.

Why Universal Screening for PPD is Necessary

Katherine Stone — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:02:07 +0000

I found an excellent article on Health Commentary calling for universal screening for PPD written by Amy Gagliardi, a writer and research based at Yale University. Check out the whole piece, but here is a highlight:

Wilen and Mounts in their article, Women with Depression – “You Can’t Tell by Looking” suggest that when screening for depression in the health care setting is based on clinical observation alone, 50% of women suffering from depression are missed. In a study of 888 pediatricians, Olson et al conclude that even during the postpartum period when pediatricians have frequent contact with mothers and babies, pediatricians rarely identify maternal depression through a routine inquiry about symptoms or through family history. In fact, the most common identification method reported was the physician’s overall impression or the impression in combination with 1 or 2 questions about the mother’s symptoms. Only 4% of the physicians in this study reported using formal diagnostic criteria to identify maternal depression while none reported using a validated screening tool to identify maternal depression.

Universal screening is a necessary prerequisite towards the identification and treatment of maternal depression and this is not a responsibility specific to any one discipline. Whether we are discussing perinatal depression, which is depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period, or depression at any time throughout the life course, systematic and universal screening is the most effective way to identify depression. Of interest is a study which utilized a 2 question screen of mothers during well child visits. One group of mothers received the screen on paper while the other group was screened by means of a scripted interview. Although both methods were proven to require very little time, the paper screen was verified to be a more effective model.

PSI Responds to False Rumors About MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:15:28 +0000

Stories have been circulating on the web and elsewhere disseminating falsehoods about the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. Postpartum Support International has shared a response to those falsehoods that is very important for everyone to read. I'll offer my response separately.

It has come to the attention of PSI that misinformation about the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act and its lead sponsor, Postpartum Support International (PSI), is being aggressively circulated on the web. This bulletin suggests protest against the bill's adoption on false belief, and implies that PSI's interest in the legislation emanates from its funding by pharmaceutical companies. These assertions indicate the bulletin's authors have neither read nor understood the legislation nor sought verification of PSI's funding sources, which are available to the public. The following is true:

1. PSI is not, nor has it ever been, funded by pharmaceuticals. Our funding comes from private donations, memberships and our own fundraising efforts. It appears our fine organization was mischaracterized without any attempt to verify this false assertion.

2. The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act does not mandate screening, the use of medications, or any other form of involuntary or coercive engagement in unwanted services for perinatal mood disorders.

3. Melanie Blocker Stokes leapt to her death as a result of postpartum psychosis which was not promptly diagnosed and treated. Her mother, Carol Blocker, has devoted her life to the passage of this protective legislation named for her daughter. Her death was not the result of medication misuse.

4. To further clarify and summarize, the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act encourages the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions. It also encourages a national public awareness campaign, to be administered by HHS to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis. It encourages HHS to make grants available for projects for the establishment, operation and coordination of systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression.

It is most unfortunate that any organization would attempt to dissuade public support of critical legislation by circulating erroneous information about the bill's contents and intent. Please call or visit PSI's website to read the legislation or submit any questions.

Study Shows Immigrants Face Higher Risk of PPD in Canada

Katherine Stone — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:46:56 +0000

Immigrants, refugees and women seeking asylum in Canada are four to five times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression than women born there, according to a study published this month in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

"Postpartum depression is more likely to be recognized in Canadian-born moms, but our study shows its much more common in immigrant women and they don't seek help as much as the Canadian women do," said Dr. Donna Stewart, the principle author of the study.

She said the results of the study surprised her, considering a well-documented phenomenon known as the "healthy immigrant effect."

"Immigrants to Canada are much healthier than Canadian-born women, and there have been lots and lots of studies showing that, so from that perspective it did surprise me. From the perspective that it didn't surprise me, as a clinician, I see a lot of foreign-born women who get depression after they have a baby. I also know from the public health nurses that they see them in the community and they're not willing to come and seek services" ...

"We find from the women that there's the stigma of depression, that they're frightened word will get around that they're not good mothers, that their babies might be taken into care. We hear from the health care providers that they're not quite sure what the customs are for these groups, sometimes the language is an impediment, and sometimes they feel that the families don't want these women to seek care."

Stewart said the high incidence of postpartum is largely due to the lack of social support for newly arrived women.

"Their parents are often in their country of origin, their families are back in their country of origin and they may not have had time to make friends here yet. So I think they're very isolated. And I think they often don't know about social services that might be out there, how to meet other moms with young babies, and they also don't know how to access health services very well" ...

She said immigrant social services also need to become better educated, and more aware that when they see new, immigrant moms, that there is a greater risk of postpartum depression and to know some of the services they can be referred to.

"In many countries, depression isn't talked about. So if you have someone coming from one of the far eastern countries, for example, where depression isn't talked about very much and where it's highly stigmatized, the service providers from that background may also not think to ask about it," Stewart said.

Scientists Identify Biomarkers in Blood for Mood Disorders

Katherine Stone — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:08:34 +0000

According to today's Washington Post, biomarkers in the blood associated with mood disorders have been identified by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers, who said the finding may change the way bipolar illness is diagnosed and treated.

The researchers analyzed blood samples from 96 patients and found varying levels of the biomarkers in participants with high or low mood states. They also found that concentrations of the biomarkers varied, depending on the severity of depression or mania or a patient's individual experiences.

"This discovery is a major step towards bringing psychiatry on par with other medical specialties that have diagnostic tools to measure disease states and the effectiveness of treatments," study author Dr. Alexander B. Niculescu, an assistant professor of psychiatry, medical neurobiology and neuroscience at the university's School of Medicine Institute of Psychiatric Research, said in a prepared statement.

"Although psychiatrists have been aware that bipolar illness and other psychiatric conditions produced molecular changes in the brain, there was no way to measure those changes while the patient was still living. Blood can now be used as a surrogate tissue to diagnose and assess the severity of the illness," Niculescu said.

He said this line of research could have a major impact on the treatment of a wide range of mood disorders, including postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and assessments for bereavement interventions.

The study was published in the Feb. 26 online issue of Molecular Psychiatry.

Niculescu and his colleagues are planning a larger study to examine the impact of treatment on these mood disorder biomarkers. They also plan to look for biomarkers associated with other kinds of psychiatric diseases.

UCSF Hosting PPD Lecture & Training March 26-27

Katherine Stone — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:26:00 +0000

The University of California San Francisco, Community Medical Centers and the March of Dimes will be hosting "Shouldn't I Be Happy? What Everyone Needs to Know About Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy and the Early Mothering Years" on March 26th at the UCSF Fresno Center. The event will feature Dr.Shaila Misri, one of the leading reproductive psychiatrists in North America and founder and director of Reproductive Mental Health at St. Paul's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. A training session will be held the following day from 8am to 2pm. CME and CEUs are available. Registration for the lecture is $20, and $30 for the training. For more information, call 559-499-6532 or email shissong@fresno.ucsf.edu.

Study Says Poorer Moms & African-American Moms More Likely to Suffer PPD

Katherine Stone — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:59:00 +0000

A study of new mothers in Iowa found that poorer mothers were more likely to suffer postpartum depression, as were African-American women.

Forty percent of Iowa mothers with a household income of less than $20,000 suffered from clinically-significant postpartum depression, compared to only 13 percent of new mothers whose household income was $80,000 or more, according to a study of 4,332 women from four Iowa counties.

The study, conducted by U of I psychologist Lisa Segre, was published last April in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the U of I reported Tuesday. Women were surveyed in the late 1990s about 4.6 months after they had given birth.

"Women who are poor already have a lot of stress, ranging from poor living conditions to concerns about paying the bills," Segre said in a news release. "The birth of an infant can represent additional financial and emotional stress, and depression negatively impacts the woman's ability to cope with these already difficult circumstances."

In a second study on race and postpartum emotions in Iowa, Segre found that African-American mothers are more likely than white mothers to experience depressed moods immediately after giving birth, but Latina mothers are less likely to experience depressed moods.

This survey was given to 26,877 English-speaking mothers in maternity wards of Iowa hospitals in 2001 and 2002. The results were published in March 2006 in the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. Segre said the results may indicate women with strong social support are more resistant to postpartum depression.

Segre and psychology professor Michael O'Hara have worked with Healthy Start in Des Moines to teach caseworkers and nurses to screen new mothers for depression. They are also developing a program of "listening visits," in which a caseworker or nurse listens to mildly- or moderately-depressed mothers talk through their problems.

Segre recently received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of listening visits in the United States. She will travel to Des Moines to interview participating mothers from Healthy Start before and after their listening visits.

Clinton Signs on as Co-Sponsor of MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:49:36 +0000

I am happy to say that Senator Hillary Clinton has finally signed on to endorse the MOTHERS Act. She joins Senator Barack Obama, who is also a co-sponsor.

The markup of the bill, which was supposed to happen on Feb. 14th, was delayed and will now happen this Wed. the 27th.

Moms Need Your Support

Katherine Stone — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:16:19 +0000

Warrior moms who've been through PPD -- reach out to this momma and tell her you love her: http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com/2008/04/01/the-weight-is-heavy/

And this momma too: http://abooblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/many-moons.html

And this one: http://wheresmycape.blogspot.com/2008/03/going-out-with-bang.html

And this one: http://kimmelinhull.blogspot.com/2008/03/as-i-sit-in-wild-joes-organic-coffee.html

We need to stick together.

PPD Screening Program in MI Receives Grant

Katherine Stone — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:55:57 +0000

The American Psychiatric Foundation (APF) has named five universities as the recipients of Helping Hands Grants, and one of the winning programs focuses on postpartum depression.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Campus in Marquette, Michigan, is being awarded the grant for the "Upper Peninsula Maternal Emotional Support Program" to implement a network of postpartum depression (PPD) risk assessment screening opportunities, professional educational curriculums and integrated community outreach efforts for all new mothers in the Upper Peninsula. This program will establish a consistent risk assessment screening progam for PPD at Marquette General Hospital, educate health professionals in the use of PPD screening tools and provide outreach and community resources to at-risk mothers to reach 2,300 patients, physicians and staff.

Each of the five recipients receives a $5,000 grant for a community mental health service project initiated and managed by medical students under the supervision of medical faculty. The Helping Hands Grant Program raises awareness of mental illness and the importance of early recognition and builds an interest amongst medical students in psychiatry and working in underserved communities. The American Psychiatric Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of the American Psychiatric Association. The mission of the foundation is to advance understanding that mental illnesses are real and can be effectively treated. For more information, please visit the foundation's Web site at http://www.psychfoundation.org/ . The awards are made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Go State! (I'm an MSU alumna.)

Rusty Yates Has Another Child

Katherine Stone — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:34:08 +0000

Here is a link to a story from ABCNews.com about Andrea Yates' former husband Rusty Yates, who just had another child with his second wife.

Postpartum Depression Video Clips to Check Out

Katherine Stone — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Here are some links to some nice video pieces on postpartum depression:

Sarah Pond's beautiful YouTube piece on postpartum mood disorders -- really neat

ABC 30 in Fresno on Gena Kirby and postpartum depression

A little clip from Kristin Park on her PPD at empowher.com

Bloggers Choice Awards Update

Katherine Stone — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:15:00 +0000

Have you voted for Postpartum Progress yet for the Best Health Blog in the Bloggers Choice Awards? If not, please do (if it moves you, of course). Here's the link: http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/categories/11 Click it, look for Postpartum Progress, which is currently in 5th place, and click the vote button.

National Association of Mother's Centers National Conference April 4-6

Katherine Stone — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:27:00 +0000

The National Association of Mothers' Centers (NAMC) is having its national conference April 4-6 at the Sheraton Long Island in Hauppauge, NY. The goals of the conference are to bring together mothers organizations for collaboration, raise the voices of mothers to create positive change for women and families and offer support for mothers' centers throughout the country. To register, go to www.motherscenter.org

To be honest, I didn't even know this organization existed. Sonia Murdock of the Postpartum Resource Center of New York gave me a heads up on the event -- thank you Sonia! -- and told me the NAMC is a member of PSI. The vision of the NAMC is a society where the work of taking care of others is valued and supported, and is a public policy priority. I like them already!!

Susan Hickman Award Deadline April 15, 2008

Katherine Stone — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:56:32 +0000

Postpartum Support International's Susan Hickman Award promotes the interest of beginning researchers in the conduct of scientific investigation and knowledge development of postpartum mental health and postpartum psychiatric illness. The award is $500, designated for use in the conduct of such research, as well as an inscribed plaque. Award applicants must be members of PSI (visit www.postpartum.net to join) and a master's or doctoral candidate, post-doctoral or junior research faculty member with affiliation to an accrediated institution of higher education. The deadline for submission of applications is April 15, 2008.

To apply, submit three copies of a 3-5 page summary of the proposal that includes a problem statement, question/hypothesis, conceptual base/literature review, method/design, sample description, instruments/data collection approach and procedures. Do not put the researcher's name on the three copies. Provide a cover page with the title of the proposal, author institution, mailing address and phone. Submit documentation of approval by the designated process for the candidate's academic institution, and document protection of human and animal rights. Application packets should be sent to Merrill Sparago MD, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA, 90024 or sent via email to Dr. Sparago at msparago@mednet.ucla.edu with Susan Hickman Award indicated as the subject.

Marshall University To Host PPD Support Group in April

Katherine Stone — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:27:31 +0000

Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, is launching a six-week therapy program next month for new mothers experiencing depression symptoms. The program will start Thursday, April 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will continue every Thursday for six weeks. Mothers interested can contact the program's e-mail at babybluesgroup@yahoo.com.

Scientific American Looks At Postpartum Depression's Affect on Babies

Katherine Stone — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:18:37 +0000

Scientific American published an article in its February issue entitled "Postpartum Depression Epidemic Affects More Than Just Mom" written by Katja Gaschler. This is a very interesting and comprehensive article, and makes a great argument for the importance of getting treated for postpartum illnesses rather than just hoping they'll go away on their own. The longer you are ill, the higher the likeliness that your illness will affect your child.

P.S. Here is PPD Survivor's take on the article. She asked me to share it with you.

Straight Talk About Hospitalization & Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:24:00 +0000

One area I don't like to talk about is hospitalization. I don't know why. It's like the ultimate embarrassment for me or something that at one point I had to be hospitalized in a mental hospital (UGH!) for depression. It was only for a few days, but it's one thing of which I have to say I still feel slightly ashamed. If our society considered mental illness a physical illness, then of course I wouldn't be ashamed, because there is nothing at all wrong with being sick and having to go to the hospital. But you and I both know that's not the way people think when it comes to "mental institutions." Nonetheless, I can't let that stop me from talking openly to you about a type of treatment that some women with postpartum mood disorders must experience, so here goes ...

The truth is, if we are a danger to ourselves or others we need to be hospitalized. Period. I wish there were another way, a better solution, but as far as I know there isn't. I got to a point where I thought I might kill myself. And so, that's where I was sent. The minute I got there and saw what was coming I completely changed my mind about killing myself, of course. I told them very articulately that I was all better and there was no need to move forward. (Stop the train, I want to get off!) But once the proverbial cat is out of the bag you can't put it back in.

Here's what you should know: Mental hospitals aren't a treat. It can feel like being in jail. Once you are in you can't just get out any old time you want. At least not for 48 hours or so. You don't have access to all of your things because they take them away from you to make sure there's nothing dangerous or illegal in them. You don't have free access to the people you love, except during limited visiting hours. The decor is sorely lacking. The food stinks. The beds are lumpy. You don't even have the right to go to the bathroom at any time without permission. I remember at one point being in the cafeteria trying to eat the awful food and I needed to pay a visit to the facilities. They wouldn't let me, because they couldn't leave my group and couldn't let me leave the cafeteria alone. I was humiliated and infuriated. "I'm a competent grownup! How dare you tell me I can't go to the bathroom! What happened to basic human dignity??!!" They were unimpressed by my reaction, and I had to wait. Also, I was in the general adult ward, with men and women in all sorts of mental states -- addicts, schizophrenics, people suffering from depression or bipolar disorder -- and I was scared. The truth is no one would choose to hang out with a group of people she doesn't trust to make safe choices. But be all of that as it may, it was the exact right place for me.

I truly benefited from being in that hospital at that moment. Once we get over the thinking that we are somehow better, special and different from the rest of the people in the "asylum", it can be a profound experience. First, they took care of me and helped me become stable. I was in a crisis and they helped me out of it. Second, I was humbled and made to understand via circumstance that we are all one step away from losing our minds no matter where we come from or how much money we make or what we look like or what job we have or how competent we've been up 'til now. Third, I learned that severely mentally ill people are still people, and I became very empathetic to their plight. I remember watching a man who stood in the corner all day brushing himself off and found out it was because he thought there were snakes on him. Another young man curiously kept cutting the eyes out of pictures of people in magazines. Only later did I notice he had been taping them up surreptitiously in strategic places throughout the ward -- in the leaves of the ficus tree, on the wall clock, in the plastic floral wreath covered in a layer of dust. The eyes watched me wherever I went. I imagined what those two men, and some of the others, might have been like as innocent, happy children with no inkling of what was to come in their lives. Could they help the situation they were in now? Maybe, maybe not. I went from a state of fear to one of wonder and to one of caring about these people and hoping for their well-being.

I have family members of women with postpartum depression or psychosis reach out to me to tell me their sister or daughter has been hospitalized and that it's absolutely the WRONG place for her. "She doesn't belong with those other people. She's not crazy. She's just not doing well." I completely understand what they mean. It's the wrong place for everyone. Wouldn't we all like to go recuperate from wanting to kill ourselves in Tahiti? Don't they have a "Mental Health Weekend" 3-day package at the Ritz? That would be lovely but that's not how it works. So I tell them I know it seems like a mistake, but it's actually the exact right place for her at that moment. I tell you that if it's what you have to do to restore your sanity and return home a more healthy mother to your baby, just do it. Suck it up and do it. No matter how yucky it is, you will live. And you might be a better person for it.

Scaremongering, Risk & Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:52:00 +0000

I wanted to share this quote from an email sent to me by a woman in the UK who suffers from depression. It is so well put, and represents how a lot of us feel when it comes to taking medication:

[I was pleased with the] intelligent discussion on your Blog about the risk-benefit of antidepressants, amidst the relentless tide of scaremongering from "big pharma sponsored" psychiatrists warning people that they will inevitably relapse into bad mental health if we discontinue our medication and the scaremongering from "litigation sponsored" lawyers frightening us to death about inevitable child defects. There is nothing inevitable in life & people manage risks as well as they can.

Agreed.

Life After Baby: Surviving PPD

Katherine Stone — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:42:00 +0000

This is a nice post on recovering from the PPD experience from the blog Life After Baby.

Doula Seeking Speakers for Monthly Online Chat

Katherine Stone — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:03:00 +0000

Doula Tiffani Lawton is putting together a monthly PPD chat online. She is seeking featured guest chatters on the topics of psychotherapy, omega 3s, spiritual therapy, exercise therapy, PPD, PPOCD, postpartum psychosis, postpartum screening, alternative therapies and other topics. The monthly chats will be taking place at http://pamperedpreggerandbeyond.com/support.html . If you'd like to be a guest chatter, contact Tiffani at tlawton@pamperedpreggerandbeyond.com .

"Depression & Parenting" Workshop in Irvine, CA, on April 14

Katherine Stone — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:04:00 +0000

The Committee on Depression, Parenting Practices and the Healthy Development of Children will be holding a workshop on "Depression and Parenting" on April 14 from 8am to 5:30pm. It will be held at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies at 100 Academy Way in Irvine, California. All are welcome to attend. Seating is limited. For more information, the agenda and registration, go to www.bocyf.org/parental_depression.html

Sell Your Book at the PSI Conference Bookstore

Katherine Stone — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:02:00 +0000

Postpartum Support International will once again be operating a bookstore at its annual conference in Houston this June, selling books related to the topic of perinatal mood disorders. If you are a member of PSI and would like to sell your book at the conference, please send the following information as soon as possible to Mary Lou Kravetz at treasurer@postpartum.net :

Your name
Mailing address
Title of publication(s)
Publisher
Date of publication(s)
Number of copies available for sale
Cost per item

PSI will charge a 20% fee to handle the sales. Unsold copies must be picked up at the end of the conference and a check will be sent to you within 10 days following the conference. PSI does not allow members to sell items at the conference except through the bookstore.

P.S. If you aren't currently a member of PSI, become one now!

Writer Looking for PPD Stories from Christians

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:32:00 +0000

Kimberly Rogers is writing a book on postpartum mood disorders from the Christian perspective and would like to hear from Christian women who are willing to share their stories. Kimberly has a Master of Divinity degree and is a previous pastor and teacher. She is also co-coordinator of Northern California for Postpartum Support International.

Please reach out to her if you'd like to participate or if you have question at ppdstories@kimanddarren.com.

Depression Introspection: Another Blog Supports MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:51:00 +0000

Here's a great link to the depression introspection blog, where Marissa writes a response to the misleading web campaign against the MOTHERS Act. Depression Introspection is one of Postpartum Progress' colleagues on the list of the web's top 10 depression blogs by Psych Central.

Meet Me in Houston for the Annual PSI Conference

Katherine Stone — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:16:55 +0000

Registration is now open for the Postpartum Support International annual conference to be held in Houston at the Hilton Americas June 4-7. I am including a PDF of the conference brochure below so that you can learn all about the various speakers and sessions. I love this conference, not only for the updated information I am able to get but also because I get to spend time with my fellow warrior chicks and some amazing healthcare professionals who are dedicated to helping women with perinatal mood disorders. I hope you'll be able to attend and I'll get to see you all in person!

Download psi_conference_brochure_08.pdf

USA Today's Health Blog "Better Life" & Postpartum Progress

Katherine Stone — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:04:53 +0000

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????!!!!!!!

Forgive me for yelling, but I can't contain my excitement. I found out this week that USA Today's Health blog, called Better Life and written by Rita Rubin, inludes Postpartum Progress in its list of blogs worth reading. Rita was a medical reporter for USA Today for 10 years before taking on the newspaper's health blog. Prior to joining USA Today she was a medical reporter for U.S. News & World Report and the Dallas Morning News. One of her top news interests is women's health, and we are so lucky that she thinks the topic of perinatal mood disorders is important enough to include on Better Life. Her list of blogs worth reading also includes those of the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, Revolution Health and Organized Wisdom (where, by the way, I put together the wisdom card on postpartum depression).

Please go check out the Better Life blog and support it as much as you can!

A Husband's Perspective on Postpartum Depression

Katherine Stone — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:19:00 +0000

My husband Frank surprised me with this yesterday, which he wrote from his heart and asked me to share with you. It is about our experience with postpartum depression from his perspective, and what he'd like husbands, fathers and partners to know:

I am writing this because my wife has made it her life's mission to illuminate the pain, anguish and recovery that surround postpartum mood disorders. I have felt compelled for some time to reach out directly to men because postpartum mood disorders are devastating for the entire family. It requires a family effort to recover, and husbands/fathers are critical to that recovery.

First of all I need to share a little of the story. Katherine and I waited to have children until we were older, feeling we'd be more prepared. While she was pregnant, I sang "Don't Worry, Be Happy" to our baby and felt that all was right. We had our son Jackson in what ended up being a horrible delivery. Nothing seemed to go right. He was jaundiced, had to stay at the hospital, wouldn't breastfeed and Katherine was wrecked physically. We were as exhausted as any new parent is, but I expected the joy to set in naturally. When I noticed things like my wife not taking care of herself, obsessively writing everything down, being exhausted all the time and scared to death about everything to do with Jack, I attributed it to being a new mother. When she couldn't seem to handle the baby, I did what all guys do -- I worked to fix the issue mechanically. I took care of all the baths and other childcare when I came home. I came to see her at lunch. I dove into my job.

After days stretched into 8 weeks and beyond, I noticed we were talking and spending more time on how bad she felt. It didn't go away. She cried frequently and was hypervigilant about Jackson. She would not bathe him. [Katherine's note: That's because I was afraid I'd drown him, not because I'm against bathing!] She and I talked and talked, but I was overwhelmed. I wondered what had happened to the competent woman I married and wanted to have a baby with. Eventually one night I told my wife I could not help her and that she needed to get professional help. She did. She got real help and recovered and is a light to other women, but it was a struggle.

In retrospect it all seems so clear to me that she was suffering postpartum depression, but I didn't understand it at the time. I would like to give the other fathers and husbands out there the following important advice:

1) Be there for your wife. Many guys dive back into work because having a baby can be scary and really get us out of our comfort zone. But you need to pull your weight and more. Whatever your best is, give it now.

2) If you sense something is wrong, talk about it with her. Shame is a prevalent part of PPD. My wife was ashamed that she wasn't feeling joyous and happy. You need to talk to her about how she's feeling and let her know she is safe to share her thoughts with you, whatever they are.

3) Watch what she does, not what she says. OK, so I told you to talk to her, but talking is not enough, because she might not tell you the whole story. Pay attention if after a week or two she doesn't seem to go back to the things she normally does. My wife is a Southern belle, who takes care to do her makeup and her hair, and it should have set off alarm bells for me when she stayed in her robe for more than a month.

4) If you are worried, take action. God gives us gut instinct for a reason. Trust it. Reach out to a doctor for professional help -- not just your friends or mom or sister. Sometimes family members will be so scared that they will tell you not to worry, it's just baby blues, because they don't want to see the truth themselves. Talk to a doctor. You will never find a man who has lost a wife or a marriage who will tell you he wish he'd done less -- he'll wish he'd done more.

5) Get in the boat with her. Realize that recovery from PPD is a family project. Go to the therapist if need be. Talk to the doctor. Participate with her. As guys we don't like talking about our feelings, but it will be the most manly thing you'll ever do.

I'm thankful that great therapy, medication, love and selfless giving have allowed my wife, once so heartbroken, to fulfill her life's purpose. I wish I had known the five tips I just shared with you so I could have been more fully there for her. I hope this will help you and your family to suffer as little as possible.

P.S. If you are a woman and are having a hard time talking to your husband about PPD, just print this out and give it to him.

For more resources for guys, visit Postpartum Dads at http://www.postpartumdads.org/.

Online Hotel Booking Info for PSI Conference

Katherine Stone — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:18:00 +0000

If you're interested in booking your hotel online for the Postpartum Support International annual conference in Houston this June, here's the link to use to get the group discount at the Hilton Americas - Houston:

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/HOUCVHH-IPC-20080603/index.jhtml

Group Name:	Mental Health Association - Postpartum Support Int! ernational
Group Code:	IPC


Hotel Name:	Hilton Americas- Houston
Hotel Address:	1600 Lamar
	Houston, Texas
	77010
Phone Number:	2819100072

Psych Central: WSJ Covers Problems Between Generic & Brand Name Drugs

Katherine Stone — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:42:27 +0000

This is a very interesting story from Dr. John Grohol over at Psych Central about the difference between some generic drugs and their associated brand-name versions as it was discussed in the Wall Street Journal. I had no idea!!!

The Wall Street Journal yesterday wrote an entry yesterday about how they differ — Inexact Copies: How Generics Differ From Brand Names. The spotlight is shining on generics because of their low cost and increasing reports about how being switched to a generic form of a medication can lead to negative side effects not experienced on the brand-name drug.

You might want to check out the link ...

Postpartum OCD Story from Grace Unbound

Katherine Stone — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:21:57 +0000

This is a very moving post from the blog Grace Unbound by a mother who wasn't able to confront her experience with postpartum OCD until her child was 6 years old. Wow. I can completely connect with her story, although I was able to get help much sooner thankfully. I'm so glad she knows she's not "evil" now. A highlight:

I don’t know the answer to ‘why me?’ Why did I get this disorder that changed the course of my early parenting years? Maybe I’ll never know. I know that it has taught me that secrets held too long leave their mark. I know that in some ways it did make me a better mother because fear gave me the desire to seek out parenting solutions that were gentle. I know it reaffirms the depths of love that my husband has for me, that when I finally told him he didn’t turn away, he didn’t reject me. I don’t know all the answers, but I know the peace that comes from being finally set free.

More Bloggers Speak Up for MOTHERS Act Petition

Katherine Stone — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:09:51 +0000

Thanks to Ask Moxie for writing about the online petition for the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act! And to Wavybrains.com for supporting the MOTHERS Act!

Keep signing -- http://www.congress.org/ndmda/issues/alert/?alertid=11246546!

Early Registration Ends May 9 for PSI Conference

Katherine Stone — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:10:47 +0000

Early registration for the Postpartum Support International Annual Conference ends on May 9th. If you register before then, you get a $50 discount on your total registration fee. Go to www.postpartum.net/houston to download the PDF of the conference brochure and print out the registration form, which has info on how to fax or mail it in.

So Much PPD Work, So Little Time

Katherine Stone — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:57:16 +0000

This week has been SO busy. My inbox is packed and I'm completely swamped. I've talked to a new mom in Maryland having intrusive thoughts, a dad in Kansas City whose wife just had a baby and it seems like PPD may be coming on for the second time, a woman in Seattle looking for a therapist for PPD treatment for her sister, a mom in Texas considering having another child but unsure how to prevent a recurrence. So many people in so many places who are experiencing or have experienced postpartum mood disorders. So much need. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. But so glad and honored that people feel comfortable reaching out to me. I'm so glad to be able to support any and all of you in your journey through PPD.

Sorry I haven't been able to post much this week, but in the meantime here are some amazing women bloggers who've written about the online petition for the MOTHERS Act this week:

Spin Me I Pulsate

Beyond Blue

Moms Speak Up

Stroller Strides

PBS To Air "Depression: Out of the Shadows" on May 21

Katherine Stone — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:48:12 +0000

From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

The national premiere of the PBS documentary, "DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows", on Wednesday, May 21 at 9pm ET. (Check local PBS station listings.) The documentary weaves the science and treatment of depression with intimate portrayals of families and individuals living with its effects. Personal stories include a woman from Minneapolis who experienced postpartum depression.

After the documentary, Jane Pauley will host "TAKE ONE STEP: Caring for Depression," a moderated panel discussion featuring NAMI medical director Ken Duckworth, Dennis Charney, MD, dean of Mt. Sinai Medical School, and Annelle Primm, MD, MPH, director of minority and national affairs for the American Psychiatric Association.

Women Like Us: Poet Anne Sexton Suffered PPD

Katherine Stone — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Did you know? .... Apparently it is National Poetry Month, and because of this I have become aware that the Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Anne Sexton suffered from postpartum depression. Here is a bit of her biography from Poets.org:

"In 1953 she gave birth to a daughter. In 1954 she was diagnosed with postpartum depression, suffered her first mental breakdown, and was admitted to Westwood Lodge, a neuropsychiatric hospital she would repeatedly return to for help. In 1955, following the birth of her second daughter, Sexton suffered another breakdown and was hospitalized again; her children were sent to live with her husband's parents."

After that, Anne began writing poetry, as suggested by her doctor. (photo credit: Rollie McKenna)

Gwyneth Paltrow Suffered PPD

Katherine Stone — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:22:20 +0000

So Gwyneth Paltrow admits in Vogue magazine this month that she suffered postpartum depression after the birth of her second child. What does this tell us? That she is a normal human being just like everyone else and is just as susceptible to postpartum depression as the next person. I'm glad she was willing to share the teensiest bit of her story, and find it interesting that the following short paragraph ended up spreading like wildfire around the web, as reported by E! Online ...

The Oscar-winning mother of two is opening up about her battle with depression after giving birth to her and rocker hubby Chris Martin’s second child. “You know, I had postnatal depression after Moses," Paltrow says in the new issue of Vogue. “I didn’t know I had it until after it was over. I just didn’t know what was wrong with me...I felt really out of my body. I felt really disconnected. I felt really down; I felt pessimistic.”

Girl, we feel you. We've been there. As to whether it was caused, as she indicates, by her cessation of acupuncture and massage treatments I'm not so sure. But what do I know?

PPD Warrior Chicks Rock!

Katherine Stone — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:26:44 +0000

Postpartum Depression Warrior Chicks (and the supportive "roosters" out there), you rock! The Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance's online petition to support the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act has now reached nearly 12,000 signatures in a week and a half. I'm so excited for you and all of the other concerned people around the country who are taking action to show they care for new mothers.

Do we need more signatures? ABSOLUTELY!! Those U.S. Senators need to hear completely loud and clear that we believe the women of America deserve more research into the cause of postpartum mood disorders, better trained healthcare providers and greater awareness to reduce the stigma. Keep pressing on your friends, and loved ones, and church members, and neighbors, and pets with opposable thumbs to sign, sign, SIGN! Let's get 100,000 signatures -- don't forget, 800,000 women in America suffer from postpartum mood disorders each year.

Here is the link again to the DBSA online petition, which is supported fully by Postpartum Support International (and Postpartum Progress, of course!): http://www.capwiz.com/ndmda/issues/alert/?alertid=11246546

We especially need to hear from people in the following states: Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee, Colorado, Mississippi, Utah, Connecticut, Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, West Virginia, Kansas, Delaware, Hawaii, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Idaho, DC, Alabama, South Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming. If you know people who live there, give them a shout out and see how they feel about the MOTHERS Act. Bloggers in those areas, please help us out. I hope more people from those states will be able to join us in supporting this bill, which is about taking positive action against a devastating illness. I've got a Mississippi family contingent that I'm going to start calling as soon as I'm done with this post!!

Author Stefanie Wilder-Taylor Shares Her PPD Experience on BabyShrink

Katherine Stone — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Here is a link to an interview BabyShrink conducted with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, author of the books Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom and the newly released Naptime is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down. In the interview Stefanie, who has appeared several times on The Today Show, shares her experience with postpartum depression.

PPD DVD Wins Award

Katherine Stone — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Mental Health Ministries has received a Bronze Telly Award for its DVD, Breaking the Silence: Postpartum Depression and Families of Faith. Since 1978, Telly's mission as been to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting and supporting creativity. The 28th Annual Telly Awards received over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Congratulations!

New Guidelines On Use of Psychiatric Meds During Pregnancy

Katherine Stone — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:02:00 +0000

From Medscape:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued updated guidelines for the treatment of certain psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy and breast-feeding. The April 2008 Practice Bulletin updates the previous November 2007 bulletin and is based on current evidence of risks and benefits of treatment of psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy. The guidelines are designed to aid clinicians in providing appropriate care.

"The bulletin acknowledges that there's good evidence that untreated or inadequately treated mental illness is unhealthy, which is probably one of the first times it's ever been pointed out so definitively," Zachary N. Stowe, MD, from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, who contributed to the development of these guidelines, told Medscape Psychiatry.

The study is published in the April issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Mom Needs Your Support

Katherine Stone — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Ladies, please reach out and leave a comment with your support to this mom who was just diagnosed with PPD: http://julinda.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/postpartum-depression/

Do New CDC Statistics Underestimate Real PPD Numbers?

Katherine Stone — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:15:41 +0000

I've been thinking more about the latest statistics on PPD in the U.S. recently released by the CDC. As I wrote last week, the report included information from women in 17 states who responded either "often" or "always" to the following questions:

Since your new baby was born, how often have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?
Since your new baby was born, how often have you had little interest or little pleasure in doing things?

The study found that women with PPD were more likely to be younger, less educated, and in financial or emotional stress. In response, Postpartum Progress reader and total warrior chick Kim pointed out the following:

I wonder where I fit in? 36 year old non-smoking woman with happy marriage, financially stable, and a master's degree... I would think I was an anomaly but the few woman I know who have gone through it are all more like me. Strange.

A similar thought occurred to me when I was looking at the data. I was 32 when I had my son, had been married 8 years and happily planned for this birth, was completely financially stable and had a great career and a college degree. And lots of the women I know who've gone through PPD are like that as well. From the women I've talked to around the country and across the world, it seems like people from all backgrounds are highly vulnerable. Are there risk factors that make it more likely for some people than for others? Sure. But this does lead me to ask the following question: Are those women who happen to have more education, better finances and more stable environments just less likely to self-report?

And if the CDC states that the percentage of women in the U.S. who experience PPD is probably somewhere in the 15% range based on the number of women who self-report, what must the percentage REALLY be, considering how many of us dare not open our mouths to self-report out of fear? I mean, this is not like self-reporting a sore throat or headaches. Postpartum mood disorders are the kind of illness that lots of people aren't interested in volunteering personal information about. Could the true number of new moms in the U.S. suffering these illnesses be more like 20% to 25%? More?

Click here for more information on PPD statistics.

Tools for Professionals/Clinicians

Katherine Stone — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:27:30 +0000

If you are an OB/GYN, nurse, pediatrician, primary care physician, psychiatrist, therapist or social worker involved in the care of pregnant and postpartum women, I hope you'll find the tools and information listed below helpful for your practice.

Position Papers, Algorithms& Guidelines for Treatment

ACOG, in partnership with the American Psychiatric Association, has created a set of guidelines and algorithms on the use of antidepressants during pregnancy. Click the link to see them.

The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has a position statement on "The Role of the Nurse in Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders". You can find a copy here: Download awhonn_position_paper_the_role_of_the_nurse_in_postpartum_mood_and_anxiety_disorders.pdf

Screening Tools

Here's a link to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale (EPDS) from the AAP site, and some recent research on itand other screening tools. Click here for a link to a 2008 study published in Pediatrics on the effectiveness of the EPDS-3, a three question subset of the EPDS. Also, here's info on the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS).

For suicide assessment, NIMH offers a handy, downloadablepocket card with all of the info you need to assess risk, conduct a screening and determin the right intervention.

Research

I have organized a page with links to citations of the latest research on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders here.

If you need informationon medications and mother's milk, check out Thomas Hale's comprehensive ibreastfeeding site or visit Motherisk.

The Maternal Child Health Library's Depression During and After Pregnancy Knowledge Path offers a variety of resources for professionals, including links to databases, research and other literature.

The Women's Health Resources site of the National Library of Medicine can be found at http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/outreach/womenshealthoverview.html. Here's the women's mental health section: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/outreach/womenshealthtopicsnlm.html#b011.

Professional Organizations

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 organization offers support, reliable information, best practice training and volunteer coordinators in all US states as well as in 26 countries around the world. This is a great referral tool for your patients. They can go to the PSI website to find the PSI coordinator in their state or country to find out about local services available to them. If you're looking for a way to get more referrals yourself, you should get to know the Postpartum Support International coordinators in your state. They are often in contact with women looking for trained psychiatrists and therapists. But it's important to be able to show that you really have specialized training in the arena of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. PSI also has free "Chat with the Experts" conference calls every Monday and Wednesday. You are welcome to call to get your questions about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders answered, or you can suggest patients or family members call in. Here's a link to more information on those calls.

North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynecology (NASPOG) is a society of researchers, clinicians, educators and scientists involved in women’s mental health and healthcare. Formed in the 1960s as a collaboration among Obstetrician Gynecologists, Psychiatrists and Psychologists, the Society’s aim is to foster scholarly scientific and clinical study of the biopsychosocial aspects of obstetric and gynecologic medicine.

The Marce Society promotes, facilitates and communicates about research into all aspects of the mental health of women, their infants and partners around the time of childbirth. The Society is multidisciplinary and encourages involvement from all disciplines including: psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, obstetricians, midwives, early childhood nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, community psychiatric nurses, community nurses and health visitors.

Training & Continuing Education

Postpartum Support International conducts 2-day trainings covering the spectrum of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. PSI trainers will come to you to present the evidence-based curriculum. ContactPec Indmanat pec@beyondtheblues.com or download the PSI Standardized Training Brochure for more information.

MedEdPPD.org is a professional education, peer-reviewed Web site developed with the support of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The site's main objective is to further the education of primary care providers (pediatricians, family physicians, obstetricians, psychiatrists, nurses, physician's assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, social workers) who treat women who have or are at risk for postpartum depression. The site offers a variety of resources, including the First Thursdays Program. On the first Thursday of every month, registered users of MedEdPPD.org can participate in live teleconferences on various PPD topics and address questions or comments to their faculty. Downloadable PowerPoint slides for each teleconference will be available in advance. After the teleconference is completed, the recording will be archived on the site. Participation in First Thursdays is easy. All you need is a phone and Internet access. The site also has a provider referral directory.

The Postpartum Stress Center in Pennsylvania offers postgraduate training and mentoring. These events are led by Karen Kleiman, author of many of the leading books on postpartum depression.

The University of Washington School of Nursing, in collaboration with Washington State's First Steps Team, has created "The Keys to PostpartumDepression," an online training program. It is free andvideo-based, with additional back-up links and materials.It includes 3 modules, each 40-60 minutes in length.

STEP-PPD is a comprehensiveonline training course for primary care providers on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Books for Professionals

Therapy and the Postpartum Woman by Karen Kleiman is a must-read for any therapist wishing to specialize in treating women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Perinatal & Postpartum Mood Disorders: Perspectives & Treatment Guide for the Health Care Practitioner by Susan Dowd Stone is great textbook for those in the psychiatric field as well as OB-GYNs, nurses and pediatricians.

Motherhood and Mental Health by Ian Brockington

If you'd like to suggest additional tools or if you're looking for a specific type of information and would like my help in finding it, please email me at postpartumprogress@gmail.com.I'm happy to help.

Note: You are welcome to link directly to this page from your own site. Please do not copy and paste it.

This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Supporting Mothers Everywhere

Katherine Stone — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:54:25 +0000

Have you signed the petition yet?

http://capwiz.com/ndmda/issues/alert/?alertid=11246546

Here are some other women who are speaking up in support of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act:

Mental Health Notes
Healthy Concerns
Out of the Valley
Postpartum Perspective
Giggles and Gulps
Dig Your Toes In

MOTHERS Act Losing Momentum -- Online Petition Needs Your Signature

Katherine Stone — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:18:02 +0000

It's time to talk about the Melanie Blocker Stokes (MBS) MOTHERS Act again. I know, I know. We've heard this all before, you're thinking. I already called my Senator, you're thinking. I already wrote about this on my blog, you're thinking. Sheesh!, you may even be thinking. Well, apparently everything you and I have done so far in support of this bill hasn't been enough.

As you may know, there are some people who are completely convinced that the MBS MOTHERS Act is a conspiratorial plot by the government to drug pregnant and postpartum women, and it must be STOPPED AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You and I know that's not true. So we've kind of ignored the negative campaign -- been slightly pissed and sometimes even truly annoyed but gone on with our day because it's silly and we have lots of more important things to worry about than some misguided folks. But the U.S. Senate can't ignore it when lots and lots and lots of people speak out. That's how they work, right? Polls. When they hear from lots of people on a certain issue, they tend to go in that direction. Right now our Senators are hearing from a whole host of people who think it's a really bad idea to pass this bill -- a bill that provides funding for increased research into the cause and treatments of postpartum mood disorders, provides better training for healthcare providers and provides for an awareness campaign so that more women will know about these illnesses and realize that they can get help. Those people, bless their hearts, are very vocal and have every right to say what they think. (Tom Cruise must be very pleased.)

Conversely, those who believe in the MBS MOTHERS Act are not being anywhere near vocal enough. Our Senators are NOT HEARING from enough of those of us who support it. If this trend continues, this bill will not pass. What happened to us, and to hundreds of thousands like us, and to our friends and sisters and mothers and girlfriends will keep happening. Women will continue to think they've gone crazy, never to return to their old selves. They will continue to live in fear of speaking up and telling someone about it. They will continue to be afraid to lose their children. They will continue to suffer, hurting both their health and the health of their children, because they won't get treatment. Some might even kill themselves, or become so ill they harm their children. That is unacceptable to me. Is it acceptable to you? I started this blog because I was damn well not going to let anybody go through the isolation and terror and ineffective treatment from an untrained doctor that I received. Don't you feel the same?

Postpartum Progress readers, and anyone who cares about postpartum mood disorders, I very humbly beg you to complete two very easy assignments:

1. Click this link and sign this petition to support passage of the MBS MOTHERS Act. It is as easy as pie. Thanks to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance for getting the petition going. All you have to do is fill out your name and address and click send, and it will be sent all the proper places. The petition is also supported by Postpartum Support International.

2. Forward the petition link to everyone you know and tell them to sign their name to it as well.

We need thousands of people to do this. Not just a few hundred. Seriously, thousands. Please get clicking. And if you have a website, or an organization of proactive women and moms, or a blog, please get your readers/members involved ASAP.

P.S. In case you're wondering, here is a list of the respected organizations that endorse the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act:

Postpartum Support International
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Children's Defense Fund
March of Dimes
American College of Nurse Midwives
Suicide Prevention Action Network USA
Mental Health America
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Women's Law Center
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
American Psychological Association
American Psychiatric Association
Postpartum Resource Center of New York

If you would like to add your organization to this illustrious list, please let me know at stonecallis@msn.com. (They can't all be part of the conspiracy to drug America's moms, can they???)

CDC Releases Latest Statistics on PPD Today

Katherine Stone — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:43:49 +0000

Per Miranda Hitti at WebMD, the CDC today issued its latest statistics on postpartum depression, and the figures show that certain groups of women may be at higher risk. The CDC's report included more than 52,000 new moms in 17 states. The prevalence of self-reported postpartum depression ranged from 11.7% in Maine to 20.4% in New Mexico. Postpartum depression was more often reported by teenage moms, mothers with less than 12 years of education, Medicaid patients, smokers, victims of physical abuse before or during pregnancy, and women under traumatic or financial stress during pregnancy. Having a low-birth-weight baby or a baby admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit was also tied to self-reported postpartum depression in most of the 17 states.

The postpartum depression statistics, published in the April 11 edition of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, don't separate women who became depressed after giving birth from women who were already depressed before pregnancy.

The CDC urges women to get treatment for postpartum depression for the sake of mother and baby alike.

The CDC also notes that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that doctors screen all new moms for postpartum depression four to six weeks after birth.

P.S. Here's a link to the Wall Street Journal's health blog's coverage of the CDC report on postpartum depression.

PPD In Men Hurts Childhood Development

Katherine Stone — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:23:06 +0000

A U.S. psychologist said a study of fathers who suffer postpartum depression suggests the condition can hurt child development. James Paulson of Eastern Virginia Medical School said 10 percent of fathers with 9-month-old children suffered from clinical depression, compared with 5 percent of other men the same age, USA Today reported Wednesday. The study involved 4,500 new fathers. Paulson said depressed fathers read less to their children than did fathers who weren't depressed. By the time the children were 2 years old, those who had depressed fathers had somewhat smaller vocabularies. A British study found children of depressed fathers were nearly twice as likely to be defiant, disobedient and hostile, USA Today said.

Here is some more information from Dr. Shoshanna Bennett on postpartum depression in dads.

Postpartum Mood Disorder Event June 12th in Spokane

Katherine Stone — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:45:00 +0000

Postpartum Support International of Washington and the Council for Children & Families will host "Postpartum Mood Disorders: A Community Discussion of PPMDs" on June 12th from 10:30am to 5pm at the Downtown Spokane Public Library. Presentations will include information on the cultural implications of PPMDs, the importance of early assessment and diagnosis, and the wellness model of treating PPMDs. All are welcome. The event is free and lunch will be provided. To RSVP, email wcpcan@wcpcan.wa.gov.

Two Races This Weekend to Support PPD Programs

Katherine Stone — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:01:00 +0000

Just a reminder ...

If you're anywhere near Rhode Island this Saturday, the Stepping Out of the Darkness 5k and 2 mile road race will be held at Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket. The walk is at 9am and the 5k road race is at 9:30am. The race will support the Women's & Infants Hospital Day Program for postpartum mood disorder sufferers.

And, if you're anywhee near Long Island, the Sounds of Silence Foundation for the Awareness of Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression's 1st Annual 5k Run/Walk/Stroller Walk will also be held this Saturday at 9am at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh. Race proceeds and donations to the Sounds of Silence Foundation will benefit the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc.

Study Finds Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Effective For Identifying Women At High Risk for PPD

Katherine Stone — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:31:00 +0000

The Journal of Women's Health reported this week the results of research comparing three screening instruments used to identify women with postpartum depression during the first 6 months after delivery -- the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS). The study, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, concluded that administering the EPDS by phone at 6-8 weeks postpartum was an efficient and accurate way to identify women at high risk for PPD. For more information, click the link above.

New Support Group & Treatment Program for PPD in Des Moines

Katherine Stone — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:32:00 +0000

According to the Des Moines Register, women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression have a new resource in Des Moines that offers screening, assessment, treatment and a support group, all free of charge.

"The small group of moms that meets weekly is a component of the program offered by Visiting Nurse Services", said Donna Richard-Langer, manager of mental health services for Visiting Nurse Services ... The Visiting Nurse Services Postpartum Depression Partnership Program is a collaboration between Visiting Nurse Services, the Wellmark Foundation and the Postpartum Depression Task Force of Des Moines, of which Visiting Nurse Services is a member ... Treatment can involve just the individual, or therapy for the couple or the whole family, she said. Another option is the support group, Motherhood and Moods, which meets every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 606 E. Ninth St. Child care is provided."

Psych Central Reviews New Women & Depression Brochure from NAMI

Katherine Stone — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:36:00 +0000

Dr. John Grohol over at Psych Central offers up his assessment of the new Women & Depression brochure put out by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). He specfically mentions how postpartum depression is covered:

Postpartum depression, for instance, is a very real and serious concern for many women after childbirth. Oddly, however, it is mentioned briefly only once in the entire brochure. This would’ve been an ideal opportunity to dispel many of the common misconceptions about this type of depression unique to women, but the brochure largely fails to do so.

To read the rest of his critique, click here.

Speaking of NAMI, I've actually always been bothered by the fact that NAMI doesn't include postpartum mood disorders as a specific set of illnesses in the Inform Yourself section at the forefront of its website. See for yourself here and here. That makes no sense to me, and I hope they'll update their site to include more information, as well as a link to Postpartum Support International.

Grant Alert: Building Healthier Communities in Idaho, Oregon, Utah & Washington

Katherine Stone — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:12:02 +0000

For all you researchers and healthcare providers out there, a potential grant in the Northwest US for the postpartum mood disorder arena:

Newly Launched Regence Foundation to Support Health Care
Reform in Northwest

Deadline: Open

The Regence Group, the largest health insurer in the Northwest/
Intermountain region, has announced the launch of its corporate
foundation. A 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization, the Regence
Foundation ( http://www.regencefoundation.org/ ) will partner
with organizations driving significant change in health care
delivery and accessibility in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washing-
ton.

The foundation estimates it will contribute $2.5 million in its
first year and $4 million per year thereafter to organizations
addressing its three funding priorities: Building Healthier
Communities -- supporting innovative programs that address core
problems in the health care system; Transforming Health Care --
creating an environment where consumers partner with physicians
to make informed health care decisions; and End-Of-Life -- help-
ing to transform how end-of-life is approached within the health
care system.

The foundation will award grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organ-
izations in support of projects that address the foundation's
strategic goals in each of its three program areas. Grants must
be used to serve residents of Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and/or
Washington.

Letters of Inquiry are currently being accepted for the Building
Healthier Communities and Transforming Health Care program
areas. End-Of-Life applications may be submitted beginning
September 1, 2008.

Letters of Inquiry may be submitted by eligible organizations
at any time throughout any given year. Complete foundation in-
formation, grant guidelines, and online eligibility question-
naire are available at the Regence Foundation Web site.

RFP Link:
http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012799/regencefdn

Why Are We So Guilty About Being Depressed?

Katherine Stone — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:42:16 +0000

How many women feel like this mom, who writes about her uncertainty as to whether she's suffering from postpartum depression and the guilt she feels for even being sad when she is so blessed?

"Even hearing the words 'postpartum depression' pisses me off. What's there to be depressed about? I have a beautiful healthy daughter, a very hands-on husband who does more than his fair share, we're both employed in an economically uncertain time, and we have a roof overhead and food on our plate."

It makes me so sad that we blame ourselves for being depressed, and get mad at ourselves for not appreciating how good we have it, as though we've generated the depression ourselves. That's just society talking, telling us that somehow or other we're at fault for getting depression. Somewhere someone is starving, so what the hell is our problem, right?!! If we'd just learn to be more grateful for everything we have we wouldn't have this problem, right?!!!! Wrong.

Even the most self-actualized, fully appreciative of us get postpartum mood disorders. It is an illness. Period. It's a bad case of brain flu that clouds our perceptions and prevents us from experiencing joy.

One day I hope every man, woman and child who experiences depression in any form will no longer feel any guilt or shame.

PSI Seeking To Fill Open Board Positions

Katherine Stone — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:06:00 +0000

There are several open positions with the Executive Committee and Board of Postpartum Support International. These positions are very important to the continued success of PSI and require people with dedication and experience in their respective areas. Below is a brief explanation of each:

PSI Fundraising Chair -- Chairs the PSI Fundraising Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the Fundraising Committee to actively seek funding sources for PSI programs and operations through private donations, grant opportunities, and corporate or foundation sponsorship of PSI projects. It is expected that a minimum of four grant proposals each year will be submitted. The Committee will reach out to PSI members on an annual basis to request donations and to request information on possible funding/grant sources.

PSI Website Chair -- The PSI Website Chair will head up the PSI Web Committee. It is the responsibility of this committee to act as the liaison between the webmaster and the Board and other committees, to ensure that necessary changes and postings to the website are accomplished in a timely manner.

PSI Secretary -- The PSI Secretary is responsible for taking and keeping all board meeting minutes. The Secretary is also responsible for maintaining copies of the Bylaws and policies.

PSI Board Member-At-Large (2 positions) -- People with expertise in non-profit management, mental health, grant writing and/or member recruitment/retention.

Additionally, each board member is responsible for the following:

Promote PSI's mission
Attend and participate in monthly board meetings (most are via toll-free conference call)
Be familiar with PSI policies, history and current goals
Read and understand the bylaws
Attend the annual conference (mandatory)
Attend the annual board retreat (mandatory)
Contribute $1000 per year to PSI while serving on the Board (this may be in the form of a direct donation, in-kind donation, or grant or other donation obtained through your efforts)

If you are interested in one of these positions and have the necessary skills and experience, please submit the application below to psioffice@postpartum.net .

Download psiboard_nomination_form1.doc

Depression Affects Interaction Between Mom & Baby

Katherine Stone — Sun, 04 May 2008 09:36:00 +0000

According to an article in Medical News Today called "Depression Turns Off The Music in the Mother-Baby Dance," depressed moms respond less sensitively and more negatively to their infants:

As part of a study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Dr. Alison Fleming, together with her student, Andrea Gonzalez, and collaborator, Meir Steiner, played recordings of newborns' cries. Depressed women, she says, showed more anxiety in response to the pain cry than new mothers who aren't depressed.

"We know that, compared to non-depressed mothers, depressed moms respond less sensitively and more negatively to their infants," says Fleming, a researcher from the University of Toronto (Mississauga). "In this case, their anxiety and their negative feelings could affect their ability to soothe their babies and cope with their distress."

Fleming describes the mother-baby relationship as a dance: baby smiles, mom smiles back; baby vocalizes, mom vocalizes back. Depressed mothers, she has found, have more difficulty interacting with their babies - they don't take part in the dance, as it were.

"They may show little positive affect," she says. "Or they may become agitated and overly - but inappropriately - responsive."

Fleming wants to know more about why women with post-partum depression respond so differently to their babies. So for her next research study (also funded by CIHR), she and her colleagues will use functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to see what is happening in the brains of depressed and non-depressed mothers while they look at pictures or hear cries of their babies. A better understanding of how the brain functions in women with postpartum depression could lead to possible interventions, as well as programs to prevent the depression and assist in child development.

I know in my case my son seemed to cry incessantly. He had colic. Did I cause the colic by my extreme anxiety, or did the colic give me extreme anxiety? Did I overreact to his crying? Was I more stressed out by it than the "normal" mom? I had such a hard time when he was upset. I would physically feel like curling up into a ball and hiding in a dark closet. I felt like I couldn't handle it and had no idea how to help him feel better, and that it was my fault if I couldn't get him to stop. I'm glad they are doing this research.

PPD Support for Spanish-Speaking Families

Katherine Stone — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:25:00 +0000

Postpartum Support International offers Spanish-language support on its toll-free warmline, at 1-800-944-4PPD (press 1 for Spanish). Andrea Zas Jimenez is the support coordinator for the Spanish Warmline, and Stephanie Morales will be coordinating PSI's national resource list for Spanish-speaking support. If you know of resources in the U.S. to help Spanish-speaking families, please send it to Stephanie at stephaniemoralesmft@hotmail.com.

Two PPD Advocates Win Eli Lilly Welcome Back Award

Katherine Stone — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:49:00 +0000

Eli Lilly and Company is honoring six inspiring winners at the 10th annual Welcome Back Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 3. For the past decade, the Welcome Back Awards has recognized individuals for their outstanding commitments to mental health, donating nearly half a million dollars to not- for-profit organizations on behalf of program honorees.

Lilly established the Welcome Back Awards in 1998 to fight the stigma associated with depression and to promote the understanding that depression is treatable. Each year, an independent panel of national mental health leaders recognizes five individuals for their outstanding achievements, and Lilly awards donations ranging between $10,000 and $15,000 to the not-for-profit organization of each winner's choice. Two of the 2008 winners are major advocates in the field of postpartum mood disorders:

Lifetime Achievement: Mary Jo Codey, West Orange, N.J.
Mary Jo Codey's personal experiences with postpartum depression during both her pregnancies opened her eyes to the impact that limited knowledge and understanding of postpartum depression had in her community and throughout her state. As the first lady of New Jersey, Codey seized the opportunity presented by her husband's 14 months as governor from 2004 to 2006 to bring attention to the condition through public appearances and interviews. She courageously detailed her experiences with an illness that many find difficult to understand. In addition, Codey played a key role in developing, and served as spokesperson for, a widely successful statewide postpartum depression education campaign, "Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You are Down." She also inspired New Jersey's groundbreaking Postpartum Depression Screening and Education law. On the national level, Codey has lobbied on Capitol Hill in support of legislation designed to support research and education relating to postpartum depression and psychosis and provide support services for sufferers.

Psychiatry: Margaret Spinelli, M.D., New York, N.Y.
Margaret Spinelli has been passionate about solving the problems of those around her since she was young. An inherent desire to help others led her to a career in nursing. While working with impoverished women at a Brooklyn clinic, Spinelli became interested in learning more about the mental health of expectant mothers. Now considered a leading expert in the field of perinatal psychiatry, Spinelli has been touring the world, lecturing and teaching on the subject for the past 20 years. Her groundbreaking work has focused on researching and evaluating women who have committed infanticide due to postpartum mental disorders, and she has performed a significant amount of pro bono work for women with psychiatric illnesses. Spinelli continues to find her work not only rewarding, but also therapeutic as she recognizes that for every mother she treats, there is a child (or children) who benefits.

"For the past decade, the Welcome Back Awards has been honoring individuals in the depression community who have challenged the status quo by designing, developing and facilitating programs that bring awareness to the condition and relief to those who suffer from it," said John Hayes, M.D., vice president of Lilly Research Laboratories and global brand development team leader of neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company. "It is important for Lilly to recognize these unique voices in the depression community as a way to inspire them to continue their good work and promote recovery. I am honored to present Welcome Back Awards, now in its tenth year, to these admirable individuals."

Nominations for the 2009 WBA may be submitted by anyone wishing to be recognized for his or her outstanding achievements in the depression community or wishing to recognize someone else. For more information, call 800-463-6440 or visit http://www.welcomebackawards.com/.

Kleiman To Release New Book on Postpartum Therapy

Katherine Stone — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:21:00 +0000

A new book entitled"Therapy and the Postpartum Woman: Notes on Healing Postpartum Depression for Clinicians and the Women Who Seek Their Help"(Routledge) will be available in September 2008 (or for pre-order now either through Routledge or Amazon.) It will be a valuable resource for clinicians specializing in the treatment of PPD and as well as women who are in therapy or contemplating entering therapy for support. The book was written by Karen Kleiman, author of "This Isn't What I Expected: Recognizing & Recovering from Depression & Anxiety After Childbirth" and "What Am I Thinking? Having A Baby After Postpartum Depression".

Awards For PPD Advocates Meyer and Goodman

Katherine Stone — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:28:00 +0000

Postpartum Support International (PSI) President-Elect Birdie Meyer has been selected to receive the Association for Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses' Award of Excellence in the area of Advocacy. Congratulations Birdie for all the hard work you do to support women with postpartum mood disorders!

Also, Janice Goodman has been selected to receive the 2008 Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women's Unsung Heroine award. Goodman has served as a coordinator for PSI in the state of Massachusetts, and is an assistant professor in Massachusetts General Hospital's Institute of Health Professions' graduate nursing program.

May is Mental Health Month

Katherine Stone — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

May is Mental Health Month in the U.S. Personally, I think we need mental health all year long, and not just in May (wink, wink), but in case you are interested here is a link to Mental Health America's web page

Mental Health America -- Mental Health Month 2008

Postpartum Progress Now On Alltop

Katherine Stone — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:33:00 +0000

I can't remember if I wrote about this or not. If I already did, forgive me, but I'm very excited about it. Postpartum Progress is now on Alltop.com. What is Alltop you ask?

Alltop helps surfers explore their passions by collecting stories from “all the top” sites on the web. They’ve grouped these collections — ”aggregations” — into individual Alltop sites based on topics such as environment, photography, science, celebrity gossip, fashion, gaming, sports, politics, automobiles, and Macintosh. You can think of an Alltop site as a “dashboard,” “table of contents,” or even a “digital magazine rack” of the Internet.

Postpartum Progress is now featured at Alltop Health, alongside Mayoclinic.com, CNN Health, New York Times Health, Psych Central and USA Today's Better Life. Super cool! Thanks Alltop! We'll try to remain worthy.

Online Petition Keeps Spreading for MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:26:01 +0000

We're up to 13,000 signers now for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance's online petition supporting the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mothers Act for postpartum depression. Here are some more bloggers who have supported the cause, and believe in more funding for research into the causes and treatments of PPD ...

Here's my question ... where the heck is everybody else? How many millions of you out there have suffered depression and know how horrible it is? How many of you wish there was more clarity around these illnesses? Please join us in supporting the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.

NurturePDX: Postpartum Body Image

Katherine Stone — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:32:00 +0000

Here is an interesting story from NurturePDX on how our postpartum body image affects our mental health and what impact society has on how we think we should look after having babies. A highlight:

A negative postpartum body image can contribute to low self-esteem and postpartum depression, as well as a host of other negative emotional and societal effects. It can also cause a mother to diet which could potentially be detrimental to her infant if she is breastfeeding as well as contribute to postpartum depression symptoms from lack of nutrients and calories.

I cannot count the number of times I have heard mothers of young children say, "I have felt so unattractive since I had my baby." We need to reclaim the "mama body" and celebrate it as an image of strength, warmth, and beauty.

NIMH Seeking PPD Study Participants

Katherine Stone — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:04:00 +0000

The National Institutes of Mental Health is continually looking for people in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area to participate in research studies on postpartum depression and related illnesses. Their studies are currently looking at the role hormones play in PPD. As Annie Shellswick of NIMH explains:

"Many women have planned for their pregnancies, have a track record of success in life, have no history of depression .... and then, WHAM! Unanticipated PPD. We think this may be caused by an abnormal sensitivity to a very normal change of hormones that effects a subgroup of women. We need women to participate in the studies to find the answers."

Please consider participating if you live in the area, because research is so important to identifying the causes and best treatments. For more information you can call Annie at 301-402-9207 or visit http://patientinfo.nimh.nih.gov/womensdisorders.aspx.

Part 2 of Becoming Me's PPD Journey

Katherine Stone — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:44:07 +0000

If you read the story last week in Postpartum Progress about the blogger from Becoming Me and her experience with a postpartum mood disorder, you'll want to read part 2. She writes very beautifully about what it felt like and I know many of you will connect to her journey.

Discombobulated

Katherine Stone — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:10:14 +0000

I didn't realize I'd gotten old. This trip to Houston last week has really slowed me down. I don't know why. I think I just stayed up too late most nights, ate too much hotel food, didn't get enough exercise, etc. I got home Sunday and have felt like a zombie ever since. Tired. Stiff. Unproductive. Sorry I haven't been updating the blog but I'm just trying to recover from being away from home for 6 days. I used to be a lot tougher than this ...

What Have I Wrought?: Postpartum Depression's Impact On Our Children

Katherine Stone — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:44:45 +0000

Any mom who has ever gone through a postpartum mood disorder knows this: We worry that every little quirk or problem our child suffers from that point forward is our fault, caused by our illness.

I'm reminded of that during my trip here to Houston. My baby boy, who had to live with me through my postpartum OCD experience, is now a 6-year-old rising first-grader with terrible separation anxiety. Every day when I've called home he has sobbed. He has cried so much I've had to tell him that I can't understand what he is trying to tell me over the phone. All I can make out is "sob-sniff-cry-cry-MOM-sob-sob-BUT-sob-sob-wail-AND THEN-sob-sob-sob-wail-MOM, DID YOU HEAR ME?" We can hardly have a conversation, he is so heartbroken that I'm gone. So what do I conclude? What any mom who went through PPD might -- It's my fault. He was there when I cried. He was there when I was anxious. He was there when I was incapacitated, soaking it all in. So now that he seems unable to handle a difficult situation like I would expect other children might, it must be because he learned it from me. Some child development person will probably email me and tell me this is not abnormal for his age (Please, please do if that's the case), but until then I feel as if I have failed him somehow.

I talked about this today with Adrienne Griffin, PSI co-coordinator from Virginia. She told me a story about her 5-year-old who just graduated from kindergarten. All of his great works were sent home, and she sat reading through a journal he had done, enjoying his pictures and words until she came to an unexpected sentence: I don't like my mom.

Dagger straight to the heart.

Adrienne said at that moment it felt like her worst nightmare coming true. She was deeply wounded. Horrified. (I bet the nasty little PPD monster inside of her said: See, I told you he'd never love you.) Luckily, she kept her wits about her and went to ask him what he meant. Turns out he thinks she gives him too many hugs and kisses. Whew.

Adrienne and I understand each other. Any other mom might just shrug it off, but we scan the environment looking for some evidence that our postpartum mood disorder has led to depression or anxiety in our children, or behavioral problems, or learning issues, or high sensitivity, or .... I don't know ... a preference for Twix instead of Snickers ... could that be a sign of something?!!!? WHAT HAVE I WROUGHT?!

The truth is every mom does something (what's the present tense of wrought? wringing?) that could surely be used against her by her children someday in a therapy session. My son may be at a disadvantage in some way because of my illness. I'll never really know I guess. But I do know that I did my best. I do know that I sought help as soon as possible. I do know that I faked it til I made it. I do know that he's a great reader, a good swimmer, a nice big brother, a cool Lego builder, very witty and absolutely gorgeous. He knows I love him and I know he loves me, and that we're both pretty good people. That's all I've got and I need to keep hold of it. Let the chips fall where they may.

Click here formore great topics on recovering from postpartum depression.

Notes from Day 1 of PSI Conference

Katherine Stone — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:37:24 +0000

I'm liveblogging from the Postpartum Support International conference in Houston. I'm not sure what liveblogging means ... since I'm not "deadblogging" when I'm doing it at home ... but it sure sounds cool.

I have seen and heard some very interesting things these last few days. I met Randy Gibbs, brother of Jennifer Gibbs Bankston and uncle of Graham, who along with his family has started the Jenny's Light organization in their memory. I saw Jane Honikman, founder of PSI, give the Jane Honikman Award to Ann Dunnewold at lunch today for her dedication to working in the PPMD community. Speaking of Ann, she did the keynote speech this morning and was hilarious while telling us all to stop trying to be like June Cleaver, who she asserted only had to be a mom for 20 minutes each week. I met George Parnham, who has no idea who I am but I certainly know who he is and I am so grateful for the work he has done on behalf of Andrea Yates and others. Speaking of Andrea, Rusty Yates, Andrea's ex-husband, sat 3 people from me in the same row at the keynote this morning. I wasn't sure how I should feel about him being here, as I personally don't feel that he did anything to help his wife when he should have. But then again, everyone deserves to be forgiven and perhaps he's coming to educate himself as much as he can. I wish more men came and wanted to inform themselves. I've gotten the chance to see a lot of the amazing women who are devoted to our cause, including Ilyene Barsky (FL), Sonia Murdock (NY), Ruta Nonacs (MA), Shoshanna Bennett (CA), Susan Stone (NJ), Diana Lynn Barnes (CA), Lucy Puryear (TX), Meg Spinelli (NY), Margaret Howard (RI), Wendy Davis (OR), Nancy Roberts (MI), Ann Dunnewold (TX), Birdie Meyer (IN), Meeka Centimano (KS), Pec Indman (CA), Christina Hibbert (AZ) and so many others I'm leaving out who I hope won't be mad at me. You should only hope you would be lucky enough to live near and be treated or supported by one of these outstanding people who are the foremost experts on postpartum mood disorders. (I've put their locations in parentheses in case you actually DO live near them and could benefit from their expertise and/or support.)

Hello From Houston

Katherine Stone — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:22:13 +0000

It's Thursday night at 10pm and I'm sitting in a hotel room in Houston. I'm here attending the Postpartum Support International annual conference. I got here Tuesday and have spent the last two days attending official PSI certification training. I highly recommend it. Tomorrow the conference begins. Being here is so inspiring -- so many of the attendees are survivors and you can see it in every face how important it is to them that we do better. We know what it is like to feel so alone and uninformed and we all are now dedicated to changing that. This place is crawling with warrior chicks. If you're not here, I'll try to do some liveblogging over the next two days to let you know what is happening. (It may be tough because I'm having a hard time getting a wireless signal in the Grand Ballroom -- we'll see ...)

Sidebar: There is a very strange noise outside. It sounds like someone is jackhammering. That better stop soon or I might go flying down to the lobby and cause a scene. Don't they know how much people who have had mental illnesses NEED THEIR SLEEP?!?!?!?!?!?!

Anyway, this is a lovely hotel and the people in Houston (Deborah Sorenson, George Parnham and Sherry Duson, among others) have done a great job putting the conference together. Tonight they held a special dinner for all of the PSI coordinators from around the U.S. (and one who came in from Canada) who work so hard all year long for little accolades and no pay to keep abreast of everything that goes on in their state, answer calls from everyone who needs help, host support groups and so much more. It was so nice to be able to tell those in attendance how grateful I am for their dedication. How I would have loved to have known about even one of them when I was in my dark days.

Talk to you tomorrow ...

DBSA President Writes About MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:33:00 +0000

Here is Sue Bergeson, president of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, writing about the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act on BipolarConnect.com. She says 16,000 people had signed the petition to support the MOTHERS Act as of May 21st. Many many thanks to DBSA for supporting such an important bill.

Mother Kills Baby, Self in Iowa

Katherine Stone — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:21:34 +0000

Shannon Elizabeth Steinbach, mother of two and resident of Schleswig, Iowa, killed her infant child and then killed herself on May 19. The case has tentatively been ruled a murder-suicide. Authorities say it appears that Shannon hanged herself in the basement of the family home. Four-month-old Hope was found drowned in an upstairs bathtub. There are, of course, questions as to whether Steinbach was suffering from a postpartum mood disorder. Her family members have said she was a very loving mother, and had just spent thee months visiting her newborn daughter every single day at the hospital, where she had been born prematurely. They believe Shannon was experiencing postpartum depression. This story was reported by WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska.

Woman Found Guilty by Reason of Insanity For Murdering Child Petitions For Restoration of Sanity

Katherine Stone — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:16:18 +0000

I missed y'all last week. I took the week off to hang out with my son, who graduated from kindergarten. (Go monkey go!!!) Now, of course, I'm paying for that week off, with hundreds of emails in my inbox. Scary overwhelming. First I'll be catching up on last week's news, including the following:

The Orange County Register reported that Sheryl Lynn Massip, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1988 for running over her infant son with the family car, has petitioned for a restoration of sanity. Massip said she was compelled by voices in her head when she ran over 6-week-old Michael Massip.

"Defense attorney Milton Grimes argued during a headline-making trial that the petite woman was driven insane by postpartum psychosis, an extreme form of 'baby blues' experienced by many women after childbirth.

She was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder, but Superior Court Judge Robert Fitzgerald shocked prosecutors on sentencing day when he reduced the murder verdict to voluntary manslaughter and ruled that Massip was insane at the time of the killing ...

Her case focused attention on postpartum psychosis, a severe syndrome that some say strikes three out of every 1,000 mothers and is believed to be triggered by a shift in the hormones caused by childbirth ...

Massip has been a model patient for more than 19 years now, Grimes said Thursday. She has attended every therapy session and completed every treatment program.

He said that the former beautician has remarried, and is living with her second husband in San Bernardino County, where she is raising a 12-year-old daughter.

'She has a wonderful loving relationship with her daughter, who is as happy and as healthy as any 12-year-old can be,' Grimes said. 'I think it's time Sheryl be allowed to go one with her life and not be restricted unnecessarily.

'She is doing great,' Grimes added. 'I think she is living the best she can after going through what she went through ...'

She is seeking a court order restoring her sanity and an unconditional release from obligations to report for mental health treatment and therapy. CONREP authorities agree that Massip no longer needs treatment, Grimes said."

It would seem by all accounts that her petition should be granted. What an awful thing for everyone involved, though. And the reporter who wrote the article obviously knows nothing about postpartum mood disorders, which you'll see if you click the above link and read it.

NJ's The Record Covers Scientology's Opposition to the MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Thu, 22 May 2008 01:58:00 +0000

More people are figuring out that the Church of Scientology is behind some of the opposition to the MOTHERS Act. I already knew that from the number of advisors to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a Scientology-founded organization, who have spoken out against the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression research and support. The article was published by The Record in Hackensack.

Kimmelin Hull on Mothering the New Mother

Katherine Stone — Wed, 21 May 2008 03:19:00 +0000

Here's a link to Kimmelin Hull discussing the book "Mothering the New Mother", which I clearly need to read. Kimmelin, who has done a lot of writing for Montana Parent magazine, has just published her book "A Dozen Invisible Pieces".

New Hampshire Gov Declares May PPMD Awareness Month

Katherine Stone — Wed, 21 May 2008 03:06:00 +0000

Have I written about this yet? I have no idea. The information comes at me fast and furious on a daily basis and sometimes I can't remember if I have covered something or not. Forgive me if this is a repeat, but New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has designated May 2008 as "Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders Awareness Month."

According to the Concord Monitor, Postpartum Support International, Concord Hospital's postpartum depression committee, the Capital Region VNA, the Zonta Club of Concord, The Children's Place, Elliot Hospital and other organizations across the state have joined together to help spread the word.

Time Inc. Relaunches Health.com, Includes PPD Section

Katherine Stone — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:38:19 +0000

Time Inc. has just relaunched its website Health.com. The site features a section on postpartum depression that I think is absolutely fantastic because it goes in depth into the illness over a variety of videos and articles. I'm probably also a little biased because I was part of the project, and am very excited that they link back here to Postpartum Progress in a couple of places -- but I think you'll agree that this site covers PPD much more comprehensively than many others. Here is one of the videos:

(A side moment of vanity here but, Hello!, that video makes me look AWFUL. Nice dark circles under my eyes. Ugh.) Ruta Nonacs, Shoshanna Bennnett and Ann Dunnewold are also quoted in the section among others. Here are some of the articles:

The site encourages you to become involved and there are a lot of ways for you to add your comments. Here is why the people at Health.com recommend you check them out:

"As journalists and editors, we have a particular fascination with the way ordinary people (like us, to start with) solve health problems: how we find doctors, deal with insurance, talk to loved ones, process complicated information, cope with stress. In other words, we’re interested in how people do all the important life stuff that falls between the cracks in a strained, hurried, and broken health-care system. If you follow the links in one of our Health Journeys, I think you’ll see that our approach is a bit different.

Second, our approach to video is a bit different too: just experts and patients talking frankly about their experiences in ways we think are useful as you make your own decisions. Our short but fascinating video content includes Dr. Amber Guth talking about the way the breast-cancer experience can enrich the lives of some women. Check out our own Sean Kelley talking about how his kids motivate him to manage his diabetes.

Third, when it comes to healthy living (all the things you do when you’re not actually sick, to prevent getting sick), we love the power of the Web to deliver information in really useful ways. We’ve set up new Healthy Living and Healthy Eating channels. We have thousands of healthy recipes, including these incredible Guilt-Free Chocolate Muffins—they taste like pure fudge but are wheat-free and have only 154 calories. Or try our Cobb Salad, which has half the calories of the classic version but still provides a mouthful of bacon, blue cheese, and avocado in every bite.

Fourth, our approach to the zillion-headline world of health news is to try to answer the questions you really want answered: Is this story about spinach preventing cancer in mice even relevant to me? Should I worry about the controversy around a new drug? One example: Check out Theresa Tamkins’s funny blog on a study that may or may not show that exercise helps Scottish couch potatoes (or as she calls them, “couch haggises”) with depression.

And fifth, yes, we do like to blog. We do like to present diverse voices talking about human issues: pregnancy, struggling with cancer, parenting healthy children, and dealing with healthy food choices in supermarkets and fast-food restaurants.

Oh, one more: The important thing that excites us is the power of the Web to incorporate the voices of the people who use it. You’ll find comment opportunities sprinkled throughout the site. And we hope to hear from you, starting now: If you have comments, suggestions, or criticisms, email me."

P.S. I know yesterday wasn't Mother's Day. For some reason my system wigged out and held my post from last Sunday until yesterday. Let's look on the bright side though ... maybe it was Mother's Day somewhere in the world yesterday ... Timbuktu?

Happy Mother's Day!

Katherine Stone — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:48:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day Warrior Chicks. I love you all. I honor your struggle and your perseverance. If you're not already, you will be well.

Two Great New Books for Clinicians on Treating Postpartum Depression & Related Disorders

Katherine Stone — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:34:00 +0000

Two great new books are being published for healthcare practitioners (and others!) by two amazing women in the field of postpartum mood disorders, Susan Dowd Stone and Karen Kleiman.

The first, called "Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders: Perspectives and Treatment Guide for the Health Care Practitioner", was edited by Susan Dowd Stone and Alexis E. Menken and is being published this week. It provides a wide foundation on these illnesses, and is intended for consumers and students/professionals in the following disciplines: psychiatry, social work, medicine, psychology, nursing, law, advocacy, social support, literacy (reaching consumers), pediatricians, obstetricians, administrators in health care facilities who are considering the issue and adding programs, legislators and health care policy advisors. Contributors to the book, published by Springer, include Jane Honikman, Dr. Catherine Birndorf, Dr. Margaret Spinelli, Dr. Shaila Misri, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, George Parnham, Cheryl Beck and many others. This is a ground-breaking text on the issue in terms of its breadth and depth ... there is none other that provides such a comprehensive overview of the entire issue in a multidisciplinary format.

"The point of the book is that without educating our healthcare teams, we can raise awareness all we want but those who need to identify and help these women will still not be up to par," said Stone. "Hopefully readers in various disciplines will be moved to more fully explore the issue after reading these 'perspectives' chapters."

The second, called "Therapy and the Postpartum Woman: Notes on Healing Postpartum Depression for Clinicians and the Women Who Seek Their Help", is written by Karen Kleiman. It is currently available for pre-ordering here and will be published in September.

The book, published by Routledge, provides a comprehensive look at effective therapy for postpartum depression. Using a blend of professional objectivity, evidence-based research and personal, straightforward suggestions gathered from years of experience, Kleiman's book brings the reader into the private world of therapy with the postpartum woman. Based on Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioral theories, D.W. Winnicott's "good enough mother" and the holding environment, in particular, it was written by a therapist who has specialized in the treatment of postpartum depression for more than 20 years.

I haven't had a chance to read Susan's book yet (I'm sure it's amazing), but I have seen Karen's and I found it completely fascinating even though I'm not a clinician. It was so interesting to see that my reactions are not unlike so many other women who go through these illnesses, and to learn how to get around all of my blocks and objections to being diagnosed and treated.

Activistas Support MOTHERS Act

Katherine Stone — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:11:00 +0000

Thank you Activistas in Oregon for writing about the online petition supporting the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression!

This is also a good post and interesting discussion of meds vs. no meds from The World As Reesie Sees It.

Vote for Postpartum Progress in the 2007 Best of Blogs Award - New!!

Katherine Stone — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:21:30 +0000

PPD Warrior Chicks: Postpartum Progress has been nominated for a 2007 Best of Blogs Award in the Health/Fitness category. Voting for this award is much, MUCH easier than it was to vote for the Bloggers Choice Awards. No registering or anything like that. All you have to do is click this link, check the box next to Postpartum Progress, scroll down to the bottom of the nominee list and click "Vote". If you're interested, I hope you'll vote.

Easy as pie. Mmmm, pie. I'm hungry ...

http://www.thebestofblogs.com/2008/05/12/best-healthfitness-blogvote-here/

PPD & Anxiety Conference in MN on June 25

Katherine Stone — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:39:09 +0000

"Motherhood, Mood Disorders & Anxiety: Before & After Pregnancy" is a full-day conference being held at the University of Minnesota's Earl Brown Center on June 25th. The event is for professionals and families, and will explore diagnosis, treatment and support for women experiencing depression or anxiety before or after birth. It's being sponsored by NAMI Minnesota, the U of M School of Social Work, the Minnesota Dept. of Health, UCare and Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. The fee is $100 (with a reduced fee for students). To register, go to www.namimn.org.

Op-Ed Letter on MOTHERS Act in Chicago Tribune

Katherine Stone — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:09:21 +0000

Here's a letter from the Op-Ed section of the Chicago Tribune on the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression -- Way to go Nichole Strauel!! If you support the MOTHERS Act, you might try and submit your own letter to your local newspaper's Opinion-Editorial section.

P.S. Speaking of the MOTHERS Act, click hear to listen to Susan Dowd Stone, president of PSI, discussing the MOTHERS Act on Empowher.com.

Highlights of Upcoming PSI Conference in Houston

Katherine Stone — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:11:00 +0000

If you want to know why it is DEFINITELY worth your while to attend Postpartum Support International's upcoming annual conference in Houston, here are a few very good reasons:

Margaret Howard, PhD will be speaking. She is the Director of the Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, which is one of the nation's leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns. It's the only hospital where pregnant and postpartum women can come and be treated for all symptomatic conditions. It is also the first and only hospital in the country that allows the infant to stay with his mother during treatment if inpatient hospitalization is warranted. To read a very touching story of a mother who greatly benefited from their program, click here. Anyone who is attempting to bring cutting edge perinatal programs into a community-based facility needs to hear the story of how our nation got its first comprehensive program for women and their infants suffering from perinatal mood disorders.

Take advantage of PSI's Certificate Training in setting up support group services for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders. Or, take part in advanced clinical training for professionals already serving this population -- this session will provide case presentations and application of efficacious treatment models for affective recovery.

Thomas Hale, RPh, PhD, will tackle the sensitive issue of medication use during breastfeeding. This topic is always of great interest to mothers, clinicians and healthcare professionals. Hale is professor of Pediatrics and assistant dean of Research at Texas Tech University School of Medicine and author of the widely-used reference book "Medications and Mothers' Milk".

Lucy Puryear, MD, will present on psychiatric illness during pregnancy. Renowned in her field of pregnancy-related mood disorders, Dr. Puryear will walk us through the effects on the fetus and how these can be minimized with appropriate care. Puryear, of Baylor University, is author of "Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting".

Hear from George Parnham, Andrea Yates' defense attorney and tireless advocate for women whose mental status is not appropriately considered when tragedy leads them into the criminal justice system. He will provide an outline of what recourses women may have in defense.

Valerie Plame Wilson, former CIA agent and author of the bestselling book "Fair Game", will discuss her battles with PPD and how she overcame it. Wilson will be the keynote speaker at Friday night's banquet.

Anne Dunnewold, PhD, will discuss culture and motherhood, and offer sound advice to counter feelings of guilt that may arise when one is not the "perfect mother". (Is there any such thing?) Dunnewold is the author of the recent book "Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box".

There is much, much more. Postpartum Support International is the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to eradicating the ignorance around pregnancy-related mood disorders in every community worldwide! It will be a great time to network with other sufferers and healthcare professionals who specialize in treating us. I hope to see you there!!

IMPORTANT: Early bird registration ends this Friday, May 16th. Get your registration in now to save $50. Online registration is now available. Hilton's special hotel rate of $119 will end May 16th as well -- trust me, the room rate triples afte the 16th, so hurry!

(Thanks to Deborah Sorenson, Sherry Duson and Susan Stone for helping me put together the highlights of the conference!)

PPD Walk In Chicago Suburbs on May 10

Katherine Stone — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:36:16 +0000

Oops ... here's another PPD event this weekend that I didn't even know about. So if you can't make it to Rhode Island or Long Island, but you're anywhere near Chicagoland, try this one on for size:

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network will be holding its Annual 1-Mile Walk for Postpartum Depression Prevention and Awareness. The walk, in cooperation with the Schaumburg Park District, will take place at Volkening Lake, 900 West Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg.

Hope Feels Good Mom Needs Your Support

Katherine Stone — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:30:22 +0000

Warrior Chicks -- please head on over to the Hope Feels Good blog and tell this mom who is suffering that you are with her. We all need to be there for each other because no one understands like we do.

The American Prospect's Special Report on the Politics of Mental Illness

Katherine Stone — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:34:00 +0000

Dr. John Grohol over at Psych Central points out a new special report on the politics of mental illness in the liberal magazine The American Prospect. It sounds absolutely fascinating. I cannot wait to run out and get my paws on my own copy ASAP.

Many of the women who experience perinatal mood disorders are entering into the world of mental illness for the very first time in their lives. It's not a group we would have chosen to join, but once we're in, our eyes are opened to how different mentally ill people can be treated. This leads many of us to become passionate about issues like mental health education, awareness and parity, things that may never have occurred to us before. Here are just some of the articles in the special report, which you can read for free online:

Media & Madness by Richard Friedman, about how the news media and entertainment industry shape opinion on mental illness

Finding Funding by Pete Earley, about the creative ways some states have been able to get mental health funding

Pushing Parity by Patrick Kennedy, about insurance discrimination against people with mental illness

New Book Focuses on Husbands of Women with PPD

Katherine Stone — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:15:11 +0000

Karen Kleiman, author of "The Postpartum Husband" among other great books, reported a while back about a new book called "My Journey to Her World: How I Coped With My Wife's Postnatal Depression", written by Michael Lurie. It is described on Amazon.com as a description of the experience of partners and husbands as they go through the perinatal mood disorders of their wives and significant others. Lurie shares his own story and what he learned through his wife's experience with PPD. More recently, Lauren Hale over at Sharing the Journey did an interview with Mr. Lurie about his book. Check it out here.

We need more men like Michael Lurie and David Klinker at Postpartum Dads sharing their feelings openly and working to let other fathers know how to support women through these illnesses and how to get through them themselves.

P.S. My husband Frank Callis wrote a wonderful piece (click here) on what it is like for husbands during the postpartum depression experience.

Bloggers, Celebrity Moms & PPD: The New Guessing Game

Katherine Stone — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:22:40 +0000

First the celebrity blogs were obsessed with creating new names for the famous couples in Hollywood - TomKat, Bennifer, Brangelina. Next, they became obsessed with figuring out which stars were pregnant, pointing out both real and imagined "baby bumps". Now it seems everyone is trying to diagnose which new star moms have postpartum depression, whether it's Nicole Richie or Christina Aguilera or Jennifer Lopez. Their latest target is Jessica Alba.

This type of speculation is uneducated and in poor taste, as pointed out by Melissa McEwan over at Shakesville. She discusses what sites like TMZ.com are saying about Alba and about PPD, and points out:

As if "Gee, Jessica, you're so pretty—what could you possibly feel bad about?" isn't stupid enough, were she were suffering basic depression, this is the equivalent of saying, "Gee, Jessica, you're so pretty—why would your body possibly suffer a dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone post-pregnant, possibly accompanied by a drop in blood volume, blood pressure, immune system, and/or metabolism? And you're so sexy—why would being a first-time mother to a newborn baby cause sleep deprivation or feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious? And you're so successful—it's hard to imagine that immediately after giving childbirth you might feel fatigued or emotional. I always thought postpartum depression was for ugly chicks!"

Of course everyone is potentially subject to a perinatal mood disorder regardless of their appearance, their job title or their bank account. And celeb watchers have no business sitting around trying to make odds on who will or won't get PPD as if this is some kind of game. If a new mom wishes to publicly share her experience to try and help others, like Brooke Shields or Courteney Cox or Gwyneth Paltrow, that's wonderful. Otherwise they should be left alone. Postpartum depression is no joke.

P.S. Thanks to Rachel Faulk for pointing out the Shakesville story to me!

Latest News on PPD ...

Katherine Stone — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:16:36 +0000

News roundup ... I have no time other than to give you the news!

Regarding the story I told you earlier about Neil Entwistle's lawyer using PPD as a defense, the jury today and found him guilty of murder.

Story in today's NY Daily News about teens and postpartum depression

Story in the Birmingham News (AL) about the deaths of Jennifer Gibbs Bankston and Graham Bankston and the new nonprofit organization called Jenny's Light created by her family -- they just held their first fundraiser and brought in $50,000 ... WOW!

Perinatal Mood Disorder Awareness Events in Georgia

Katherine Stone — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:46:26 +0000

I am working with Mental Health America's Georgia chapter to increase awareness around the state of Georgia on perinatal mood disorders. My "world tour" of Georgia, called "Project Healthy Moms", started last week at the Summit Ridge psychiatric hospital at the Gwinnett Medical Center. Here's a list of some of my upcoming speeches -- all are welcome to attend:

Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, GA, Thursday, June 26, noon
Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah, GA, Thursday, July 10, noon, Classroom 4, Hoskins Center (for more information contact Betsi Egan at 912-350-5920 or email eganbe1@memorialhealth.com)
Houston Medical Center, Warner-Robins, GA, Friday, August 1, 10am
Georgia Perinatal Association Annual Conference, St. Simon's Island, GA, Thursday, September 11, 11:30am, Sea Palms Resort (click here for registration info)
Central Georgia Medical Center, Macon, October 2nd
Heart of Georgia Healthy Start, Eastman, GA, October 14th
Polk Family Connection, Cedartown, GA, Wednesday, October 15th, 11am-12:30pm

Attendees will learn:

One size does NOT fit all: Why postpartum depression is just part of a spectrum of mood disorders women may experience and what to look for
The wide variety of risk factors for perinatal mood disorders
Various treatment options
Tools & resources available for healthcare providers

As more of these events are scheduled I will let you know. And if you represent a healthcare organization or other group that would like to schedule one, let me know. Email me at stonecallis@msn.com.

Postpartum Progress

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A List of Trusted Doctors and Therapists

The Myth of Wishing Illnesses Away

The Home Stretch

Washington Conference on PPMD

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Depression Gene May Weaken Mood-Regulating Circuit

Another Senseless Death

Ohio Nurses Say Better PPD Education is Needed

Supplements for Depression

Patients Needed for Clinical Trial

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Link Between Postpartum Depression and Colic

ABC's World News Tonight Covers "Controversial" NJ Law

Grants for Treatment Services of Postpartum Women with Substance Abuse Problems

Upcoming Satellite Broadcast on Treating Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy

Thanks to the Postpartum Progress Network & Updates on Indiana

Study Reveals Less Incidence of Depressive Disorders Among Children Whose Mothers Are Successfully Treated for Depression

Updates

Annual PPD Run in Michigan

Free Continuing Education Program on Perinatal Depression for Healthcare Providers

Self Magazine Covers PPOCD

Ann Arbor Support Group Added

Postpartum Progress Switching to Feedblitz Subscription Service

See You In New Jersey

Great article on PPOCD and Intrusive Thoughts

Depression During Pregnancy

Northern VA/DC and Hawaii Support Groups

Welcome to the world Madden!

Important Updates

Effects of Medication on Infants at Delivery

MOTHERS Act introduced by Senators Durbin and Menendez

New Support Group in Corvallis, OR

"Down Came the Rain" Now In Paperback

Back from New Jersey

The Art of Psychiatric Medication

Changes to Support Groups in MN and NJ

Dinner and Drinks Afterwards at The Union Square Cafe

Insecure Attachment Style and Colic

Washington State Launches "Speak Up When You're Down"

Prescription Assistance for Psychiatric Medications

On Experiencing What It Should Be Like To Be A New Mom

PPMD Moms Dinner in Manhattan on June 8th

Advocates to Lobby Capitol Hill on May 12

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**READER SURVEY** -- Take the Postpartum Progress Reader Survey to Help Improve This Site

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Ohio Support Group

MGH Center for Women's Mental Health Spring Newsletter

Baltimore TV Reporter May Have Suggested Jewelry as the Remedy for PPD

Minnesota Has PPD Support Group

New Support Groups in Maryland

Maryland Launches "Healthy New Moms" Campaign

PSI Launches New Website

Thank You CBS for Caring!!!!

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PPD Studies Underway at NIMH

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Regarding Public Reaction to the Yates Verdict

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Andrea Yates Found - Not Guilty

Yates Retrial: The Insanity Defense in America

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Happy New Year!

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Nationally-Recognized Author/Social Worker Karen Kleiman Sounds Off

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