Fellow survivor Darlene Gray has been looking into the idea of having a ribbon or lapel pin of some sort designed to generate awareness of postpartum disorders. She has asked me to reach out to you for input.
First, what color do you think would be fitting? Click this link for info on ribbons that already exist: List of ribbons. Secondly, what symbol would be fitting? It doesn’t have to be a ribbon, of course. It could be any symbol that reflects motherhood, women, survival, mental illness or any number of related topics.
You’ll note that at the bottom of each post is the date of that post as well as Comments and Trackback. If you just click on Comments, there is a place for you to write down your thoughts and send them to me.
Thank you so much Katherine! A "Symbol of Hope" is an excellent way to describe the feelings I have right now!
I am so looking forward to hearing the ideas and suggestions of our "grass roots mothers".
With or without a ribbon, I am working toward having a "Mother's Pin" designated for postpartum awareness and education. The postpartum phenomenon has been recorded as far back as 400 B.C. Therefore, I have begun a search for a Jewelry Designer to create an "Egyptian Mother and Child" Pin. I will keep all posted regarding its progress via this site.
"Always A Mother"
D.A. Gray (Harrisburg/Hershey PA)
This is a great idea. I don't have the definitive answer, but here are some thoughts to roll around in your mind.
In my work, I often use a color chart to help me choose colors that will represent the feeling or mood I'm trying to create. Here's a link to the site I use, because it is extensive http://www.eaglespiritministry.com/works/colorch….. Here are my favorites and what they mean:
White – Hope, Faith, Purity or virginity, Perfection, Confidence, Enlightenment. Symbol of truth, protection, happiness, and the divine. Represents calmness, relaxation and inner peace. Brings Divine Glory. Cleansing, clairvoyance. Seeker of truth. Used to purify the home.
I like this for the "Hope" and "inner peace" that I want women to feel.
Turquoise – Awareness, Healing, Prosperity, Peace, and Growth. Represents natural energy. Reduces stress. Restful. Generosity.
I like this because it incorporates "awareness" with "healing" and "generosity". Exactly what we need.
Sea Green – Emotional healing and protection. A calming influence. Dynamic motivation.
Rose – Healing and Health. Patience, Passion, Peace. Self-love. Used to bless the home. Love and romance. Deep affection. Ability to share love.
Light blue – Represents hope and faith. Harmony, peace and tranquillity, forgiveness, fidelity, honesty, patience and devotion. Used to purify the home. Need to learn from past mistakes; and take care in choices. Relieves anxiety and confusion.
Green – Creates balance of energy. Heals the heart. Helps us overcome a fear of giving, and sharing. Assists adaptability. Promotes reconciliation, harmony, and balance. Peaceful thoughts. Renewal. A symbol of fertility and growth. Represents abundance, vitality, nature, success, good luck, and beauty. The most restful colour for the human eye.
What I'd like to convey in the pin is the "hope" that comes with this illness – – it can be overcome. And the "community" that is forming to embrace those going through it. A ribbon just doesn't do it justice.
Thank you so much! I especially like the meanings for white and rose, "hope, inner peace, self-love and patience". I'll definitely keep these in mind, especially in the design phase of the "PIN". "Always A Mother" D.A. Gray
UPDATE: I began working with a jeweler on August 3, 2004 to create the prototype of the first postpartum awareness pin. Although the "Mother and Child" idea is copyrighted, the jeweler is utilizing a rough sketch I provided for a design that will bring about awareness, and recognition to the postpartum field of medicine. The jeweler's own wife suffered from postpartum blues and depression, and thus he is on the same track – PREVENTION. He also offered to find sponsorship for the pin, and has both United States and overseas contacts with manufacturers for the future pin's mass production. Will keep you posted with future updates. "Always A Mother"
UPDATE: 3/10/05
I was just made aware on 2/17/05 that there is a PPD Awareness Pin. The logo from The Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation was adopted around 2000 by Postpartum Support International for an official Postpartum Depression Awareness Pin.
I am still going forward with the PIN I am working on, but will probably make it solely for "Postpartum Psychosis Awareness" may wait to be marketed with my book – whenever that gets done. I will still give you an idea of its design as soon as I have computer-aided ability to do so.
So let's talk about ribbons again. Everyone can afford a ribbon or make one themselves. I am leaning toward the white with rose – one of two ideas thrown out previously.
I know that white also represents many different causes, i.e. Christians Against Pornography for one. But that's ok cause their purpose is similar to the purpose behind the PIN I'm doing – to prevent children from being subjected to negative conditioning and abuse so that when an adult, especially a mother, they will adjust to motherhood and not have any "unknowns" affecting their postpartum periods. Feel free to pass on any further comments about additional colors and length, width and marketing? "AAM"
i think maybe a ribbon done in green( green is for depression) w/ maybe a pink and blue together on one side
I think a pin showing a mother holding a baby lovingly would be a good symbol. That way people understand that regardless of all the pain we have had to endure through our PPD/PPA or PPOCD that we have always loved our children and that we ARE good mothers. I think that blue would be a good color since when someone wins something they always receive a blue ribbon, this shows VICTORY! We all need encouragement that we will be victorious in our struggle against this horrible disease
hi my name is tarah. I am a surive of postpartum psychosis. I got pregant with twin using a fertial med. I had normal pregency it was very easy. I had my twin three weeks early they both were over five pounds. Right after I had them my family notice that I was acting differet. This start with small things by end first week i was seeing thing not there not sleeping and really acting weird for me. My mom tooking to the hopsital the first time the doctor says she just tired her some meds to help her sleep which got me sleep maybe for four hours if that. My mom took me to the hopsital again where doctor said i had postpartum psychosis and need to go to a metal ward to get treatment my family decided have me transported to lomia linda. While i was waiting i thought they were going to hurt me in the hopsital so I jump out a window luckly I was on the first floor. Then I got transported after that. I got 15 ect and heavy meds that took me a year to get take off of slowly. I have made full recovery a few missing memory and thankful I never tried to hurt my family they got me in for help so quickly I feel that why I got better so quickly and did not get severe.