I guess I should ask y'all what you want to know about more often. Thanks so much for ALL of the feedback, and for those of you that haven't had the chance to submit an idea or request yet, please keep 'em coming! You can comment on this post or send me an email at stonecallis@msn.com. I will be writing about the following subjects in the next few weeks, per your request:
- How losing a mother in childhood or young adulthood is linked to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
- How to deal with subsequent pregnancies and the possibility of relapse
- How to deal with people who are sick of hearing you talk about PPD, or just don't want to acknowledge it any longer,once you are recovering or recovered
- How healthcare professionals can be more helpful to their patients or potential patients
- The issues of parenting post-PPD/PPA/PPP
- The issue of PPD/PPA/PPP and divorce
- Dads/Signigicant othersand postpartum depression
- How did PPD/PPA/PPP change you?
- What the alternative treatments are for these illnesses and what progress has been made on that front
- The impact of peer-to-peer support groups on women with PPD/PPA/PPP
- Strategies in dealing with other people who want to treat you as if you're crazy or use the fact thatyou are being treatedfor PPD against you
I will be asking many of you to participate in these stories, sharing your own experiences and tips with your fellow Warrior Moms and healthcare pros. So get your typing fingers ready!! And if you see a story listed above that you definitely want to participate in because you have direct experience with the subject, send me an email to stonecallis@msn.com and we'll see what we can do.
Oh, and just a sidenoteto those lowdown poachers out there who steal people's blog content: Itis extremely bad form to steal the story ideas or the content from Postpartum Progress. You know who you are. Stop copying my stuff and do your own thing. (Some of myfellow PPD bloggers know what I'm talking about, don't you ladies?)
Katherine,
Reading the title of this post sent a shock wave through me – I wondered if PP was shutting down or something. Glad to see it is not as I recommend it to every postpartum mood disorder experiencing woman I come across!
As usual, looking forward to reading more about all these topics and offering my two cents worth where I can.
All the best.
I would love to see some advice/information on how to PPD affects your work life, for those of us who work outside the home. What our rights are, how to handle unsupportive supervisors/employers, stragegies for coping with work stress, etc… Thanks for all you do, I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!!!!!
I can't tell if my first comment went through, so trying again (to the best of my memory) …
You rock, Katherine! I think your slate of topics is great. Especially interested in #2, as a PPD survivor thinking hard about another baby (and terrified of the prospect of another struggle with PPD). Also, I'm glad you'll be covering peer-led support groups. I'm involved with one here in Raleigh, and we're constantly looking for ways to make our meetings better and get the word out about what we're doing.
Thank you! I'm excited about the future of Postpartum Progress!!
Hi, Katherine, I would like to recieve some information on breastfeeding. Is it true that breastmilk might be bad for children? That's what my doctor said, but I read that in fact it's good for the baby's health. Thanks
Thanks for all you do Katherine! Your blog ROCKS! I can't wait to read on the new topics. I agree with princess10, I'd like to see some info on work life and living with perinatal disorders.
They say you should write headlines to draw in the reader, right? Sorry to scare you HK, and I welcome your 2 cents!!
Thank you for your love!!! Great idea on working and PPD. Adding it to the list.
Thanks Suzanne! Glad you're here!
Thanks Stephanie! Hearing from y'all makes my day!!
I would be interested in hearing personal experiences with these topics and I second that idea on working with PPD as it has been kind of a struggle with me as well. Trying to find that balance and working with managers who are unsympathetic towards PPD is super difficult. I work in the US but I am Canadian so I am kind of unfamiliar with the rights of US employees…our employer only allows 5, yes I said F-I-V-E sick days per calander year. The 6th sick day is a discipline. So taking time away from work to heal is almost impossible.
Great ideas ladies…Don't worry Katherine, I won't steal them 😉
I knew you were trustworthy. 😉
Katherine,
I agree with others – information on managing work life would be very helpful. We get NO sick days where I work, have to use "vacation" days no matter who in the family is sick. Even when I feel well physically, there are days where mentally I am just not able to do the kind of thinking my job deserves, but there are definite disincentives to taking a "mental health day" as people like to joke…
Also, how about more on the connection between depression during pregnancy and the likelihood of premature birth? Or dealing with a premature / special needs child when you yourself are in need of special care?
FYI, I've been reading your various pieces today about taking antidepressants during pregnancy. I decided to stay on mine while I was pregnant, and I can't even imagine what would have happened when I had my son 5 weeks premature, in NICU, with special needs still almost 4 years later. I shudder to think of handling all this without drugs. I needed therapy to help me as it was!
One last thing – I have been searching for information about antianxiety medication such as Buspar during pregnancy and haven't found any yet. Have you written, or could you write, something specifically for sufferers of anxiety disorders?
Thanks so much for your vigilance and gathering so much information in one place!