A roundup of Warrior Mom greatness for your weekend hope, and the latest science to keep us all informed:
Warrior Mom Stories
The Absence of Light — I love this post from Warrior Mom Jill D. because she does such a great job of illustrating the physical symptoms of having PPD or anxiety, and also about looking at her illness as a spiritual failing until she finally realized it was an illness that needed treatment. Very descriptive!
A New Canvas — Stacey, who wrote a great post for us about the causes and symptoms of postpartum PTSD based on her own experience after childbirth trauma, has recently had her second baby. She writes about how nervous she was this time around, and what happened. For more resources on postpartum PTSD, check out this link.
7 Things A Depressed Parent Can Say To A Child — Love this piece from Therese Borchard on what to tell your kids if you’re suffering. Very helpful tips.
The Latest Science
Pregnancy Loss Increases the Risk of Postpartum Psychiatric Illness – Another study confirming the risk of PPD or anxiety for moms who have previously experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or other loss. This one finds that women with prior pregnancy loss were about twice as likely to be diagnosed with major depression than women with no history of loss.
Are There Still Gaps in Screening? – I love this piece from Karen Kleiman over on Psychology Today about the various ways women might respond to the question, “Are you having any thoughts that are scaring you?” and how a healthcare provider might handle them.
Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Treating Perinatal Depression – Here’s the latest, trustworthy, evidence-based info on what complementary and alternative treatments may work for PPD and related illnesses, from MGH.
Giving Birth After Battle – Research finding that women who have served in battle have a higher risk of getting PPD, written up by Walker Karraa, PhD, for Science & Sensibility.
Depression Around the World — A cool map appearing in the Washington Post on the prevalence of depression around the world.
