postnatal depression

Postpartum Survivor Series Day 4: What Happened After The Next Baby

By Katherine Stone February 16, 2012

Postpartum depression survivor series day four focuses in on when our seven Warrior Moms made the decision to have another child and what that experience was like …

Amber: Today, I invite you all to share with readers about your experience with pregnancy, adoption or trying to conceive or adopt after postpartum depression.Suzanne: With my second baby, I developed antenatal depression, which, believe it or not, surprised me. My first pregnancy was wonderful. My second one was awful. I was sick the entire time and became so depressed by the five month mark that I decided to get help. I started on a new medication that I was told was safe for pregnancy (I had stopped my other medication for the first trimester), and I was able to keep taking it — and safely breastfeed — during the postpartum period.

Grace: We were so terrified of having another baby. It took probably six months to convince my husband that we could do it. I know he agreed for my sake – we both knew that having another child was crucial to my full healing. I said to my husband the other day that our first son made us parents & our second son healed us.

We made the decision together that I would stay on my antidepressant throughout my pregnancy and postpartum period. My pregnancy was completely uneventful, which I am so very thankful for. I am a ceasarean mom, and we decided to go for a repeat cesarean so as not to trigger any anxiety. It was the right decision for us. [Read more...]

February 16, 2012 9:10 am Filed Under: Postpartum Depression

7 Postpartum Depression Survivors Share Their Stories Of Having More Children

By Katherine Stone February 13, 2012

This week we’re doing a special five-part series featuring seven mothers who survived postpartum depression or a related illness and went on to have more children. The series was put together by Amber Koter-Puline, and will feature input from these mothers on their experiences. I know you’re going to love this:

Welcome to our world. The world of survivors of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, like postpartum depression, who have decided to have more children. Some of us are well down the path with those additions, and others are waiting. You’ll learn more about that later. For now, I invite you to sit back, relax, maybe even grab a cup of tea and meet the women who changed my life…

Amy Brannan
http://www.livinglifejoyously.blogspot.com/Amy has a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter and is working on adopting the next. She and her husband have been married for five years and live in Washington State.Here’s Amy, in her words:
I never had any symptoms until my daughter was five months old. I went to numerous doctors because I knew something was “off” but no one mentioned postpartum depression ever and that is the hardest thing for me to still accept. I finally started doing my own research and found a website about PPD – I had every symptom listed. My husband and I went to my doctor and I was finally diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety with OCD tendencies in 2008. I started counseling and medication when my baby was ten months old – this continued for 2.5 years. In late 2010, I wasn’t getting better or at least felt like I was stuck, like I was almost over the last hurdle. I was encouraged to start seeing a psychiatrist and she helped tremendously.I also began to diligently start seeking out women who have/had postpartum depression which was when I found PPD blogs and finally started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. Facebook, PPDChat and this group of survivor moms saved my life and my sanity and allowed me to accept what is now my testimony in hopes to help others. I also started my own PPD survivor’s blog, to start writing as a way of healing for me. I still battle anxiety and depression that was brought on by the PPD but it is no longer PPD. We have chosen to not get pregnant again because of the severity of my postpartum depression so we are on the waiting list of adopting our next baby! That in itself was the hardest decision to make – choosing not to become pregnant again and feeling like I was broken, no good, choosing second best and a failure.I’d like to assure women that everyone will have a different journey and every woman will have different symptoms. I’d like to encourage women that they are not damaged or different, that they are not failures as moms or wives. Guilt can be a very damaging aspect of PPD – I am proof of that. I’d like to share some thoughts on choosing “not” to become pregnant after PPD again and how women make that decision. I really needed to read about that and I found very little last year when I was struggling the most over this.

I hope to be able to reach women like me who found help when they thought they had reached the end. Women who don’t know what is wrong with them and feel alone. I want to offer support and encouragement to their families, especially their husbands. I would not have made it if it weren’t for my incredible husband and his support and love.

Deborah Rimmler
Deborah is a married mom to two boys.

Meet Deborah:
In this series, I would like to share what we as a group and individually found that worked to help create a new postpartum experience for us and our families. I hope we’ll reach any moms thinking of having a baby after postpartum. Kind of like those who have successfully had a vaginal birth after c-section or VBAC. We are the “BAPPD” (Baby After PPD) survivors with a positive message. [Read more...]

February 13, 2012 9:33 am Filed Under: Postpartum Depression

The Latest News on Depression After Childbirth

By Katherine Stone January 18, 2012

I’ve got several events and pieces of research to tell you about related to postpartum depression and I figure the most efficient way to get this done is to just whip out a list. So here goes:

> On January 25th at 1pm Eastern I will be hosting a live chat about postpartum depression on The Motherhood. Please plan to join in. Ask your questions. Share your story with others who need to hear it. To register to participate, click here. If you can’t make it you can always submit a question in advance!
> The St. Joseph Medical Center Women’s Behavioral Unit in Houston, Texas, which treats women with postpartum depression and related illnesses, is holding an open house on February 9 from 4:30 to 7pm. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to 713-757-7575. Free parking will be available for attendees.
> A 2009 study found that as many as 30% of Latinas in the United States experience postpartum depression. Postpartum Support International has created a great DVD for the Spanish-speaking population called Madre Saludable, Familia Feliz. To order a copy, click here.
> Have you signed up for Daily Hope yet? If not, you’re missing out, or so people tell me. I’ve heard from many subscribers that getting Daily Hope helps them get through each day!
> The Isis Parenting event at which I’m speaking in Boston (Needham, MA) on the evening of February 15 is for physicians only. However, they’ve received several inquiries from families and others who would like to attend and are thinking about creating a second event on the 16th that is open to all, including consumers, doulas, lactation specialists, etc. Wanted to let you know in case you are interested.
> Psych Central ran a great piece yesterday called “5 Damaging Myths of Postpartum Depression“. Be sure to check it out.
> On the research front:

Prenatal Health Behaviors & Postpartum Depression: Is There An Association?
Connected New Mothers Are Happier Mothers (yay! for blogging)
More Depression Screening Urged for Pregnant Women
An interesting story from the Wall Street Journal on how problems in the gut may be related to or the cause of illnesses, including depression and anxiety

January 18, 2012 2:37 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression In the News: On Older Moms, Light Therapy & More

By Katherine Stone October 27, 2011

Here’s the latest news on postpartum depression this week:

A study in the United Kingdom found that postpartum depression is underreported (surprise!). The researchers involved with this study believe that as many as 30% of new mothers in the UK get PPD (or postnatal depression, as it is called there).

A study in Australia finds that older moms (37+) do not face an increased risk of getting postpartum depression. I have heard it cited in the past that older moms have a higher risk, which I always found sort of odd, but this study says that it’s just not the case.

The MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health has published an article on the effectiveness of Light Therapy as a treatment for depression during pregnancy, and whether it can or should be used as an alternative to medication. Check it out.

The awesome Dr. David Rubinow, founder of the University of North Carolina Center for Women’s Mood Disorders, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine, which is one of the nation’s highest honors for those in the fields of health and medicine. So. Damn. Fantastic.

I’ll be in Knoxville tomorrow speaking about postpartum depression at the 14th Annual Fall Psychiatric Symposium. Looking forward to it!!!

October 27, 2011 10:02 am Filed Under: Depression and Pregnancy, Postpartum Depression

Widowed Dad in UK Seeks Support for Petition to Improve Perinatal Mental Health Care

By Katherine Stone October 15, 2011

Chris Bingley, who lost his wife Joanne to severe postnatal depression, is asking residents of the United Kingdom to join him in a petition for better perinatal mental health care for new mothers. If you live in England or elsewhere in the UK and can lend your support, please sign the petition here.

October 15, 2011 3:37 pm Filed Under: Awareness

ABC’s Medical Editor to Host Twitter Chat on Postpartum Depression

By Katherine Stone September 23, 2011

I’m very excited to be part of a Twitter chat on postpartum depression next week with Dr. Richard Besser, who is the Medical Editor for ABC News and also a pediatrician.

Dr. Besser hosts Twitter chats every Tuesday on a wide variety of health topics, and next Tuesday I will join him on a chat about postpartum depression. I hope all of you will join in! It’s at 1pm Eastern time, and the hashtag to participate is #abcDrBchat.

Editor’s update: The chat turned out great, and Dr. Besser says it was the best attended of any one he has ever done, so way to go PPD mamas!!!!!

September 23, 2011 9:25 am Filed Under: Awareness, Postpartum Depression

Mothers’ Emotional Health Should Be Integral to ALL Maternal Health Programs

By Katherine Stone September 22, 2011

Yesterday I went to New York City in support of two very important programs that I believe are related to postpartum depression:

The Million Moms Challenge - This partnership between ABC News, the UN Foundation, BabyCenter, Johnson & Johnson, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and thousands of moms like YOU, focuses on crucial issues that are a priority for all mothers, including access to proper nutrition to support healthy pregnancies, trained midwives to assist in safe deliveries, and vaccines that enable children to survive to their first birthdays and beyond.

Shot@Life – This program from the UN Foundation will expand access to lifesaving vaccines for children in developing countries. Did you know that every 20 seconds a child dies from a disease that could have been prevent by a vaccine, and that for only $20 a child can receive lifelong protection against measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, and polio?

So you might be asking yourself, “Why is Katherine doing this? Does she care about postpartum depression anymore? Is she losing focus?”

Here’s why I went: According to the World Health Organization, “Young children of depressed mothers are much more likely to be exposed to risk factors for child mortality. For example, infants of depressed mothers are five times more likely to show signs of malnourishment and poor growth than other infants. Also, depressed mothers tend to stop breastfeeding and their babies are significantly more like to suffer diarrheal episodes or to not have their complete immunizations.”

[Read more...]

September 22, 2011 2:27 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Depression

Mormon Mom on How Faith Helped Her Through Postpartum Depression

By Katherine Stone September 19, 2011

Leilani Rorani was once the top female squash player in the world. In this video, the New Zealander tells of her experience with postpartum depression and how her faith, in this case the Mormon faith, helped her through.

Leilani Rorani on Postpartum Depression

September 19, 2011 9:50 am Filed Under: Warrior Moms

100+ Postpartum Depression Survivors Appear in Photo Album to Combat Negative Media Images of PPD

By Katherine Stone September 14, 2011

We are so happy to announce our brand new photo album of survivors of postpartum depression and related illnesses. It’s called the Warrior Mom Photo Album, and we’re extremely proud of the more than 100 women who have shown their courage by sharing their photos with us.

This is the only album of its kind. We believe the Warrior Mom Photo Album is very important, as it combats negative images about postpartum depression that are constantly portrayed in the media, and it helps mothers who are suffering see that they are not alone and that they will recover. Talk about empowerment.

To view the photo album, you have a couple of different options:

1) Click slideshow and scroll through a slideshow of all the beautiful mamas.

2) Click view photos and you’ll see all the pictures together. You can mouse over any picture to learn more about that mom.

So cool!

Things you should know:

1) If you’re not in the photo album but want to be, send me your jpeg. We welcome pictures from all over the world. There are quite a few postpartum depression advocates out there right now who haven’t submitted their pics yet. We need you!

2) If you’re in the photo album and want to change your picture (perhaps because you’ve had more children since the last one), just send me a new pic and I’ll swap it out. If you’re happy with the pic that’s there, that’s fine too!

Thank you so much, brave mamas! You are the beautiful faces of postpartum depression. You are an inspiration.

September 14, 2011 11:54 am Filed Under: Awareness, Postpartum Depression

Six-Word Memoirs of Postpartum Depression

By Katherine Stone September 13, 2011

We asked survivors of postpartum depression and anxiety to give us a six-word memoir or story of their experience. Postpartum Progress’ Six Things Six-Word PPD Memoir challenge was inspired by SMITH Magazine’s Six-Word Memoir project and bestselling book series, where thousands of people continue to write the short story of their lives, many of whom are featured in books.