Some upcoming postpartum depression awareness and education events you might want to be aware of:
On Monday January 14, Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Minnesota asks you to join them at the Capitol at 11am to rally for better birth in Minnesota. One focus: lobbying the legislature to reduce health disparities by supporting Medicaid payment for doulas.
The Postpartum Health Alliance of San Diego is hosting its first annual Happy Moms Healthy Family luncheon, featuring Dr. Harvey Karp on January 27th at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla from noon to 3pm. Get more information or buy tickets here. All proceeds from the event will support PHA’s programs supporting moms with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Postpartum Support International will be hosting its 2-day training session, “Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care,” in several cities in 2013. See a list of dates below and click here to learn more.
I am worried about the Rally For Better Birth in Minnesota. Looks like it is an organization whose mission is pushing for “natural birth” and homebirth. I have some friends who were made to feel like failures when they didn’t achieve the all-natural birth that they were “supposd” to have. This was a big factor in their post-partum depressions. I think we need to support the mental health of all moms, whether what works best for them is unmedicated births or whether they need or chose interventions in birth. Organizations that try to pressure or shame women out of using pain meds in labor remind me a little too much of groups that try to pressure people into refusing meds for depression…
I’m sorry to hear that Allison. Thanks for sharing your input here. It’s important to have all viewpoints.