ParentsAsk.com bills itself"as a unique online destination bringing together leading experts, best-selling authors and parents to help families tackle the challenges of modern life." With their latest video on PPD, which I discovered today on Twitter, they could have done better. I doubtthis videowould have helped me tackle the challenge of postpartum OCD had I been sitting in my home sobbing my eyes out trying to figure out what was wrong with me and what to do about it.
The video, entitled "Post Partum Depression: How to Get Back in Sync", annoyed me. (And by the way, postpartum is one word.) It's not that exercising to improve health during PPD isn't important. It can be a very good tool in your arsenal for fighting back against postpartum depression. But still.
First, postpartum depression does not "range from the blues to debilitating depression". Please get that right. Postpartum depression is not the same thing as thebaby blues. One is a normal hormonal adjustment period and the other is a mental illness.
Second, postpartum depression isn't only caused by hormones, broken-down bodies and lack of sleep. She doesn't mention many of the other risk factorsthat are not caused by or linked to the impact of birth on our bodies.
Third, and most importantly to me, her #1 suggestion for women who have PPD to get "back in sync" should NOT be to exercise. It should be tocall your doctor ASAP to talk about your symptoms. Hello?!
And the #2 suggestion of most of the experts I know wouldn't be that you should go outside because vitamin D has been "proven to help alleviate postpartum depression". In fact, I checked and can't find a definitive study stating that — from what I have found, the studies that exist have indicated the need for further studies.
I thought maybe it was just this video. So I went to look at other places where they've covered the topic of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Like this one, where the doctor answering a question about depression during pregnancy doesn't even mention the term "antenatal depression" or how a previous history of depression can lead to it. It just seemed like an answer that wasn'tparticularly informed.
And then there's this one on how a new mom should "deal with post-partum depression" (again, it's just one word) and it just feels like asking for professional help is secondary or an afterthought to moms handling it chiefly on their own by getting more sleep and making to-do lists.
Have these people had postpartum depression??!?! Do they understand what it's like?!
Sleep andexercise are good. They should definitely be on the list of things to do. But this is a serious illness that doesn't just go away once you "take some time to adjust to what has changed until you feel like you are back in control of your life".
I have to say I'm a big fan of Momversation, which is also owned by the company that owns Parents Ask. I was kind of surprised that they aren't covering this topic more carefully. I think if people are looking to you for information on such an important topic as this, you need to get some better experts. I'd be happy to supply you with a list.
What do you think, ladies? Is it just me?
It's not just you.
I think it's often very hard for new mothers to admit to others that they are feeling out of control of their negative emotions post-birth (especially if they are having intrusive negative or violent thoughts toward their baby). I think far too many women who could genuinely use medical help feel like the depression is their own fault and their own responsibility to deal with — that if they just tried harder (if they just exercised more or slept more or smiled more or had sex more or whatever other totally overwhelming thing society expects them to do on top of caring for a newborn) they could overcome it.
And that is why I think it is very, very important that ANY guide to postpartum depression emphasize these important facts: one, that postpartum depression is a real medical illness and not just an unfortunate state of mind, and two, that those affected by it can benefit from professional medical help and should seek it. This video at least hinted at the first fact, but totally sidestepped the second, which is important.
They could easily have presented the same facts in a more appropriate way by advising exercise and good communication with your family members as ways to REDUCE the risk of PPD rather than as a means of fixing or totally preventing it, and by including additional information about signs to watch out for that indicate a new mother may need professional help.
Wow. First, it is not just you. Baby blues do not equal postpartum depression. Sleep? Yes, that's a great idea. But the 3 weeks of insomnia somewhat prevented it. This article minimizes postpartum depression to the point of being insulting and borderline dangerous. What a shame!
I think this woman is just trying to sell her exercise video/book shown in the left hand corner! But seriously, I do not think the producers have any clue about PPD, PPA, PPOCD. Her presentation feels so disconnected from what this illness is all about. The title says it all, sure "Just Get Back in Sync"! As if it is so easy.
I totally agree with KTW. The video serves to further minimize the severity of perinatal mood disorders by leading people to believe that a woman can overcome depression by just getting more exercise and talking about it. Sounds like a "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" argument to me. When I was suffering with PPD I could barely take care of my child or have a shower or even eat, let alone leave the house for a brisk walk. I tried to get enough sleep but the very real insomnia prevented it. We all know that the most important "to do" is get medical help and this video totally misses the mark. Shame on them for merely trying to plug an exercise book.
If only it were that easy.
My screaming kid was a trigger for me. So obviously going out for a walk in the sunshine did zero good when he screamed in the stroller the entire time. & my kid has slept through the night since he was 8 weeks old & I still landed in the hospital – so obviously sleep has been a-okay in our house.
If it were as simple as sunshine, exercise, & sleep, I'd be in a better place today. & if they got it right, maybe I'd have one less person giving me ass-vice to go for a jog & take a nap to beat my "blues."
That sounds like something out of the 1989 version of the "What to Expect" series. Keep it quiet, pull yourself together, and don't make a big fuss. It all implies a level of control that simply does not exist in real PPD or PPMD. I can remember telling myself to just go for a walk, take some deep breaths and calm down. By the time I'd be halfway up the street, I'd be in full panic and turning back home to find someplace dark and safe to hide until I could breath again– if I could breath again.
It's sad, becuase SO MANY PEOPLE (who haven't been there) subscribe to that philosophy. And that philosophy is minimizes, demeans and feeds the already existing feelings of worthlessness and weakness that can overwhelm a woman with PPD.
I'm grateful for this site, I wish it were required reading at every OB office on your first visit.A dose of helpful reality beats placating condescension any day.
Hear, hear Kat! I hated people telling me to exercise and take more vit D. Yes, those are all good things and are helpful if you have the blues but really? Nothing helped my PPOCD except for meds and therapy and of course vitamins, exercise and diet after I was feeling better. After.
I totally agree if only it were so easy to sleep, exercise and get Vitamin D. Just wish I could have gotten myself out of the fetal position long enough to do a sit up!
I was watching news coverage of the women in Colorado who was suffering from postpartum depression and the story did not end well for her. They had a so called "expert" on who said that the #1 contributing factor for PPD was sleep deprivation. They then went on to say that "neighbors reported she wasn't sleeping well". I'm sorry wouldn't all mothers than get PPD. How many of us aren't sleep deprived? I just wish that if the reporters are not going to look at all aspects of the illness that they would just not report on it at all.
Exactly. It's just so easy for non-expert experts to whip out a to-do list and tell us "if you'll just do these few simple things you'll be okay." PPD is not simple. It requires the help of a medical professional.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who found it insulting. I wonder if Parents Ask is paying attention to everyone's comments.
I don't know about selling her book or not. But I don't feel that she should have been presented as an expert on PPD.
Several of you have made the point, and I wholeheartedly agree, that offering this kind of advice makes it seem like it should be easy to take charge and get over PPD, and it just isn't that simple. I wish it was.
Ass-vice. I love it.
It's funny you should say that. Because my copy of "what to Expect" (which I had in 2000 while getting ready for the birth of my son) really did take that kind of angle. It mentioned having a glass of wine to calm down. Wha?!
I'm glad you pointed out panic attacks, because someone with postpartum panic attacks could find it extremely difficult to go outside for fear of having an attack away from home.
And thanks so much for your kind words about Postpartum Progress!
These things are important in helping to combat the illness, but I don't think anything replaces meeting with an experienced doctor and creating a comprehensive plan!
Great point. If it was just sleep deprivation that caused it, 100% of new mothers would have postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Thank goodness that isn't the case!
Hmmm..went to watch this..and it was removed! It always hurts my feelings to hear ANYONE down play the severity of these illnesses. They obviously never sat crying in a corner unable to shut off the horrifying racing thoughts running threw their heads over and over. In the beginning almost EVERY second of the day those things consumed me. I was unable to function. Just cause my butt got big post partum doesnt mean my imagination did aswell. That was REAL. and it hurt me deep.
Hi Katherine,
Let me start by saying how insightful your thoughts on our video, as well as the comments from your readers have been. At Parents Ask, it is our goal to answer, inform, and guide people through pregnancy and parenting. We very much appreciated your input, and spent a lot of time figuring out how we can address your concerns— we too realize there is a great distinction between PPD and Baby Blues and never meant to trivialize or suggest otherwise. We hope you'll find our re-edited version a better example of the kind of content we provide.
http://www.parentsask.com/pregnancy/baby-blues/ba…
Thank you for your honesty and we hope you and your readers will visit our site soon.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Brandt
P.S. I'm the Managing Editor of Parents Ask btw. Comment got cut off. 🙂
I have to give you credit for paying attention and for responding. Glad to see that you care. I will definitely go check out the new video. And please know that I'm happy to put you in touch with true experts on the topic of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. There are many great people who know exactly how to distinguish between what is and what isn't PPD or a related illness, how it should be treated, etc. They understand how much these distinctions matter to the hundreds of thousands of women who go through this.