The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act is now law.
I checked with Senator Menendez’ office to see if it was part of the language of the healthcare reform bill (I tried to read the bill myself but it crashed my internet), and they said it was in. So there you have it! Here was the relevant language, that ended up being folded from the MOTHERS Act into the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act as of Christmas Eve Day last year when the Senate first passed the bill:
“Sec. 2952 Support, education and research for postpartum depression. Provides support services to women suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis and also helps educate mothers and their families about these conditions. Provides support for research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for postpartum depression and psychosis.”
The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act is the same Senate bill that was passed by the House of Representatives tonight.
I believe there was also an amendment sponsored by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) that was passed that would ostensibly cover the cost of postpartum depression screenings.
“Under the Mikulski Amendment, coverage will be based on comprehensive guidelines developed by experts in women’s health and supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control. These guidelines will expand on the limited recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. They are likely to include coverage of cervical cancer screenings for a broad group of women; annual mammograms for women under 50; pregnancy and postpartum depression screenings; and screenings for domestic violence.”
I don’t know how any of this will be implemented, how soon it will take place, or how it’s funded. These are all very important issues that we need to understand. But after lo these (too) many years, the ideas first introduced as part of the Melanie Blocker Stokes Act nearly 10 years ago have finally become law. There is a lot more for all of us to learn, but at least we know today is the first step when it comes to identifying and helping women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. More to come …
Update 11pm: Here is Susan Stone’s recap on this, and she has more details! She also does a great job of outlining all of those who were responsible for bringing this to life. Go read it. She also points out that all of you who signed petitions and made calls made a big difference!
Hmmmm. . . annual mammograms for women under 50 have been shown to increase breast cancer and are not recommended.
We do know what causes postpartum depression. When women have unmedicated births at home, they don't get it.
Good to know that this bill supports women. Great post. keep up the good work.
Hmmm… I had an unmedicated miscarriage at home and managed to get postpartum psychosis, so much for women with unmedicated births not getting it postpartum depression and related disorders huh?
Anyways, on the passing of the Mothers Act, I can only say two words (or is it one:): Woooooo Hoooo!!!
I had a fabulous natural birth at home,unmedicated and I had post partum depression/anxiety (x 2 I might add). Where you have the baby has nothing to do with whether or not you get a perinatal mood disorder! I am so happy that this is FINALLY a law! Thank you Katherine for continuing to be a voice for this serious condition and for all the mommies who continue to fight our way back, out of the darkness!!!
Whoot Whoot!!! Go America!!!
That's a completely unfounded statement.
AWESOME!
Does 'birth' have any data to support this suggestion?
Oh please, stop it. That's just wrong information. Imagine the stigma and shame a woman will have who believes that, goes through an unmedicated birth at home, and STILL gets PPD. Yuck.
Yet another reason this legislation will move this country forward! Yay for us!!!
Now you can go join the fight to keep lots of mercury in childhood vaccines!
Article: 59% of Women do not know about Omega-3 http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=179478
When in the third trimester the fetus transfers a lot of DHA thru the placenta, this for the development of the baby's nervous system, this continues in breast feeding.
Eye sight and other brain functioning depend on DHA (used for the neuron cell walls.) This will deplete the mother's nerves if need be. This is why problems in the first pregnancy is predictive of futher trouble, the deficiency lasts.
Now, with your hard won legislation, babies can die at birth from SSRI birth defects rather than have the alternative: superior functioning nervous systems that proper treatment with DHA, Magnesium, B-6, Vitamin C would provide. (B-6 helps regulate brain hormones and is used in creating serotonin.) The fraudulent version of medicine you have promoted all these years will cause much harm, – when you could have supported the truth and the benefit of people's lives. Sleep well at night Public Relations person, Stone. Consider getting a sane job that is not psychopathological. Dan Burdick
Dan,
What does this newly passed legislation have to do with childhood vaccines? If you’re going to comment on a blog, then stay on topic. This legislation is about—if you had bothered to read the language, or is your imagination really that far fetched—providing “support, education and research for POSTPARTUM depression.” Where does it say drugging mothers to cause birth defects? I didn’t realize that medicine is the synonym of research?!
Support service – this means providing practical and emotional support as a new mom makes that transition to motherhood more easily. Adequate support in the first 6-8 weeks postpartum is key to minimizing/preventing the risk for a postpartum mood disorder to develop.
Education – through awareness campaigns to improve public perception toward moms with a postpartum mood disorder and do away with the stigma that has plagued that has been lingering around for so many years and causing women suffering from a postpartum mood disorder to keep their experiences to themselves, thus aggravating their pain and suffering. Knowledge is empowering. Knowledge about postpartum mood disorders is a major key to preventing and minimizing the suffering of new mothers.
Research – to improve the knowledge on the risk factors/causes of, treatment options for, ability to detect, and more accurately diagnose postpartum mood disorders….thus minimizing the impact on mothers, their babies and their spouses.
Your anti-pharma views are blinding you and making you think that this legislation is about medicating the pregnant mom. If you’d take those anti-pharma lenses off for once, you’d realize that one too many mothers have suffered unnecessarily, families have been torn apart, and deaths have occurred all because of women being misdiagnosed and gone untreated (due to fear of stigma and not knowing what was happening to them). You think you’re making a positive difference by attacking people on their blogs? Real nice, Dan.
Many of the statements made about PPD rates are questionable especially this one that said there were 68% of moms experiencing it in hospitals. Maybe they meant baby blues. I guess it depends on who does the survey. But I don't know that the statement is completely unfounded, maybe an exaggeration but it's certainly an area of debate among home birthing activists.
http://www.gentlebirth.org/ronnie/homejjg.html
"Aidan McFarlane, a British physician, notes that while 68% of hospital mothers experience postpartum depression , only 16% of home birth mothers do (Jones 24). On the Farm, a self-contained, alternative lifestyle community in Tennessee, the rate of postpartum depression was .03 percent (Korte and Scaer 183). Almost all mothers on the Farm had both a homebirth and a supportive, loving community of women to assist them postpartum."
Ooops trying to reply to you Katherine not the one above. Oh well.
Dan –
Hi there! I hope you are having a lovely evening.
Nice link, by the way. Great ad for a specific supplement. So nice that they even mention the store at which you can purchase it. The UK government (which, by the way, has been screening for PND's since the early 1900's) is on top of things, aren't they? Makes me wish I lived over there.
And by the way Dan, if you were familiar with Postpartum Mood Disorders at all, Katherine, myself, any of the other bloggers, or knew the wonderful women who provide positive peer support to struggling women, you would KNOW that we are quite aware of the power of Omegas. This particular supplement is discussed at length amongst all of us. SO while they may not be aware of it over in the UK, we DO know about it over here. And you know what? We use it.
Women struggling with Postpartum Mood Disorders do not need people dragging them down through critiques of how they should or should not be handling their diagnosis. That's not really your place. If you have something compassionate to say to them as they journey back to wellness, I'm all ears. If you don't, then well –
Dan, No research I have read up to this point indicates that the vitamins and supplements you purport will sustain and nourish mom and baby have been contraindicated with any other form of PPD treatment, including anti-depressants. Is there something out there I missed that leads you to believe women being treated for PPD by physicians are being discouraged from taking these essential nutrients?
Once a mom is diagnosed with PPD or contacts someone well-versed in perinatal mood disorders the first line of attack is generally sleep, exercise, and Omega-3s and B vitamins, at least in my experience. The more challenging aspect is encouraging moms to take in lots of Omega-3s in pregnancy and early postpartum periods. Perhaps ACOG could be asked to ensure that all OB-GYNs are armed with information about the importance along with folic acid, etc? Seems like through support, education and research the Mother's Act could/will encourage preventative strategies such as this one.
Sincerely,
A selectively vaxing
Organic eating
Hypno-birthing
Breastfeeding supporting
Baby-wearing
Omega-3 and B-vitamin taking
PPD/PPA Survivor Mama
Hello Amber/ All,
I agree wholeheartedly with Amber's statement: "Seems like through support, education and research the Mother's Act could/will encourage preventative strategies such as this one."
Yes it can and will. Thank you, Amber.
Professionals on the forefront of emerging therapies are those same people who advocated for the MOTHERs Act.
We want women to have choices that work for them. We want them to have information on all different types of approaches. We want information to be validated by quality research.
Most importantly, those who actually support women(instead of attacking their choices) strive to promote an atmosphere of peace. Women need that urgently to combat perceived stigma and the voices of people like Dan here.
We can all choose to use our voice to react in fear and incite fear in others, or to provide balanced information, encourage women and help them find their way.
Here's the thing, Amy, if all mothers had a supportive, loving community of women to assist them postpartum, I'm sure the overall Postpartum rate would be much lower too.
But out here, out here OFF the Farm, things are what they are. Women are living further and further away from their own families, moving, not plugged into strong social support, and therefore they are left to struggle on their own after the birth of a child. Many women are unaware of doulas, midwives, giving birth at home or the importance of building a strong support system for when the baby arrives. Seems that has become a bit taboo because we women are now expected to do it all.
Motherhood is hard work and the newborn period is difficult indeed.
One of the FIRST things I check with when helping a new mother is the status of her social support. Who's available to do what – how helpful are they? Are the moms ASKING for help or are they trying to do it all themselves?
There's no doubt that social support is key to reducing a mother's stress and the potential for postpartum blues spiraling downwards. But the bottom line is that all moms are at risk for failure regardless of where/how they gave birth. We don't want them to – but it happens.
Negativity or questioning the decisions of struggling mothers in regard to their treatment decisions regarding their journey back to wellness is not going to help them one bit. But a "Supportive, loving community" will help immensely.
Thank you Lauren, Amber and Cheryl for your very balanced and informative responses! I especially appreciate Amber's closing.
what was actually passed is
“Subtitle L: Maternal and Child Health Services – (Sec. 2951) Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to direct the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities for early childhood home visitation programs. Makes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014.
(Sec. 2952) Encourages the Secretary to continue activities on postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis, including research to expand the understanding of their causes and treatment.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities for projects to establish, operate, and coordinate effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions and their families. Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012.
At the core of the Mother’s act was education campaigns and that is not what happened, which is a shame.