Want to share with you some great stories out this week on postpartum depression and related issues:
The first is from my friend Rita Arens at BlogHer. She wrote an in-depth piece about eating disorders, postpartum depression, and the relation between the two. The article is about research conducted by the University of North Carolina that found that a previous eating disorder can be a risk factor for PPD. Check it out!
The second is from our friends at the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health and sums up a study on the impact of depression during pregnancy (also called antenatal depression). One finding was that ” … males of mothers who had depression during pregnancy had higher anxiety scores at one year of age than males in the control group. Girls of mothers who had depression during pregnancy had higher oppositional/defiant scores at one year of age than girls in the control group.” This was a small study so (as per usual) the researchers suggest that more research is needed.
Aaaand … I was very excited to see this piece in the Washington Post‘s On Parenting column about postpartum depression and breastfeeding called “It’s Okay if You Don’t Breastfeed”. (It is okay!) Thanks to Jennifer Kogan for the shout-outs to Postpartum Progress, Adrienne Griffen of Postpartum Support Virginia and Lynne McIntyre, DC coordinator for PSI.
Also, Lori at the blog I Can Grow People has just done a 2-part series on the 2-year anniversary of when she spoke up and finally told someone she was struggling with postpartum depression. Part 1 is here and part 2 is here. And our friend Grace also wrote about her experience 2 years ago with PPD in a guest post at Sluiter Nation.
Thanks for the links!
Your article is very good fit to be read because it adds new value to me
In my family practice, when I see people with depression, anxiety or postpartum depression, there is generally a positive family history and in my clinical experience, this is close to 100% of the time. In actual fact, when there is no family history of depression or anxiety, I usually start to look for a physical cause.
In view of my above observation, it is not surprising to see an association of increase incidence of eating disorders, oppositional defiant disorders, and anxiety in children of mothers who suffer postpartum depression. Chances are, the mothers with postpartum depression has a positive family history themselves.
This is why it is so important to intervene at a number of levels in order to manage this problem effectively.
1 Prepregnancy counselling for all pregnant women particularly those with a family history of depression/anxiety or a personal history of depression/anxiety.
2 Parenting support and skill training eg Positive Parenting Program or Circle of Security parenting training program.
3 Helping parents to raise more emotional intelligent/resilient children through CBT strategies.
4 Relationship skill training
5 Build good support
Dr Vin
MBBS FRACGP Australia http://www.doyouhavedepression.blogspot.com
Thank you for shedding light to Eating disorders and it's link to being a possible risk factor for PPD. I struggled with one for 6 years in my 20's. I learned through intense therapy after being diagnosed with PPD/PPA/OCD that with my history, there was really no way of me escaping the inevitable.