Postpartum Progress

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day Warrior Chicks.  I love you all.  I honor your struggle and your perseverance.  If you're not already, you will be well.

Two Great New Books for Clinicians on Treating Postpartum Depression & Related Disorders

Two great new books are being published for healthcare practitioners (and others!) by two amazing women in the field of postpartum mood disorders, Susan Dowd Stone and Karen Kleiman. 

The first, called "Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders: Perspectives and Treatment Guide for the Health Care Practitioner", was edited by Susan Dowd Stone and Alexis E. Menken and is being published this week.  It provides a wide foundation on these illnesses, and is intended for consumers and students/professionals in the following disciplines: psychiatry, social work, medicine, psychology, nursing, law, advocacy, social support, literacy (reaching consumers), pediatricians, obstetricians, administrators in health care facilities who are considering the issue and adding programs, legislators and health care policy advisors.  Contributors to the book, published by Springer, include Jane Honikman, Dr. Catherine Birndorf, Dr. Margaret Spinelli, Dr. Shaila Misri, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, George Parnham, Cheryl Beck and many others. This is a ground-breaking text on the issue in terms of its breadth and depth ... there is none other that provides such a comprehensive overview of the entire issue in a multidisciplinary format.

"The point of the book is that without educating our healthcare teams, we can raise awareness all we want but those who need to identify and help these women will still not be up to par," said Stone.  "Hopefully readers in various disciplines will be moved to more fully explore the issue after reading these 'perspectives' chapters."

The second, called "Therapy and the Postpartum Woman: Notes on Healing Postpartum Depression for Clinicians and the Women Who Seek Their Help", is written by Karen Kleiman.  It is currently available for pre-ordering here and will be published in September.

The book, published by Routledge, provides a comprehensive look at effective therapy for postpartum depression.  Using a blend of professional objectivity, evidence-based research and personal, straightforward suggestions gathered from years of experience, Kleiman's book brings the reader into the private world of therapy with the postpartum woman.   Based on Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioral theories, D.W. Winnicott's "good enough mother" and the holding environment, in particular, it was written by a therapist who has specialized in the treatment of postpartum depression for more than 20 years.

I haven't had a chance to read Susan's book yet (I'm sure it's amazing), but I have seen Karen's and I found it completely fascinating even though I'm not a clinician.  It was so interesting to see that my reactions are not unlike so many other women who go through these illnesses, and to learn how to get around all of my blocks and objections to being diagnosed and treated. 

Activistas Support MOTHERS Act

Thank you Activistas in Oregon for writing about the online petition supporting the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression!

This is also a good post and interesting discussion of meds vs. no meds from The World As Reesie Sees It. 

Vote for Postpartum Progress in the 2007 Best of Blogs Award - New!!

PPD Warrior Chicks:  Postpartum Progress has been nominated for a 2007 Best of Blogs Award in the Health/Fitness category.  Voting for this award is much, MUCH easier than it was to vote for the Bloggers Choice Awards.  No registering or anything like that.  All you have to do is click this link, check the box next to Postpartum Progress, scroll down to the bottom of the nominee list and click "Vote".  If you're interested, I hope you'll vote. 

Easy as pie.  Mmmm, pie.  I'm hungry ...

http://www.thebestofblogs.com/2008/05/12/best-healthfitness-blogvote-here/

PPD & Anxiety Conference in MN on June 25

"Motherhood, Mood Disorders & Anxiety: Before & After Pregnancy" is a full-day conference being held at the University of Minnesota's Earl Brown Center on June 25th.  The event is for professionals and families, and will explore diagnosis, treatment and support for women experiencing depression or anxiety before or after birth.  It's being sponsored by NAMI Minnesota, the U of M School of Social Work, the Minnesota Dept. of Health, UCare and Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals.  The fee is $100 (with a reduced fee for students).  To register, go to www.namimn.org.

Op-Ed Letter on MOTHERS Act in Chicago Tribune

Here's a letter from the Op-Ed section of the Chicago Tribune on the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression -- Way to go Nichole Strauel!!  If you support the MOTHERS Act, you might try and submit your own letter to your local newspaper's Opinion-Editorial section.

P.S.  Speaking of the MOTHERS Act, click hear to listen to Susan Dowd Stone, president of PSI, discussing the MOTHERS Act on Empowher.com. 

Highlights of Upcoming PSI Conference in Houston

If you want to know why it is DEFINITELY worth your while to attend Postpartum Support International's upcoming annual conference in Houston, here are a few very good reasons:

Margaret Howard, PhD will be speaking.  She is the Director of the Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, which is one of the nation's leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns.  It's the only hospital where pregnant and postpartum women can come and be treated for all symptomatic conditions. It is also the first and only hospital in the country that allows the infant to stay with his mother during treatment if inpatient hospitalization is warranted.   To read a very touching story of a mother who greatly benefited from their program, click here.  Anyone who is attempting to bring cutting edge perinatal programs into a community-based facility needs to hear the story of how our nation got its first comprehensive program for women and their infants suffering from perinatal mood disorders.

Take advantage of PSI's Certificate Training in setting up support group services for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders.  Or, take part in advanced clinical training for professionals already serving this population -- this session will provide case presentations and application of efficacious treatment models for affective recovery.

Thomas Hale, RPh, PhD, will tackle the sensitive issue of medication use during breastfeeding.  This topic is always of great interest to mothers, clinicians and healthcare professionals.  Hale is professor of Pediatrics and assistant dean of Research at Texas Tech University School of Medicine and author of the widely-used reference book "Medications and Mothers' Milk".

Lucy Puryear, MD, will present on psychiatric illness during pregnancy.  Renowned in her field of pregnancy-related mood disorders, Dr. Puryear will walk us through the effects on the fetus and how these can be minimized with appropriate care.  Puryear, of Baylor University, is author of "Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting".

Hear from George Parnham, Andrea Yates' defense attorney and tireless advocate for women whose mental status is not appropriately considered when tragedy leads them into the criminal justice system.  He will provide an outline of what recourses women may have in defense.

Valerie Plame Wilson, former CIA agent and author of the bestselling book "Fair Game", will discuss her battles with PPD and how she overcame it.  Wilson will be the keynote speaker at Friday night's banquet.

Anne Dunnewold, PhD, will discuss culture and motherhood, and offer sound advice to counter feelings of guilt that may arise when one is not the "perfect mother".  (Is there any such thing?)  Dunnewold is the author of the recent book "Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box".

There is much, much more.  Postpartum Support International is the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to eradicating the ignorance around pregnancy-related mood disorders in every community worldwide! It will be a great time to network with other sufferers and healthcare professionals who specialize in treating us.  I hope to see you there!!

IMPORTANT:  Early bird registration ends this Friday, May 16th.   Get your registration in now to save $50.   Online registration is now available.  Hilton's special hotel rate of $119 will end May 16th as well -- trust me, the room rate triples afte the 16th, so hurry!

(Thanks to Deborah Sorenson, Sherry Duson and Susan Stone for helping me put together the highlights of the conference!)

PPD Walk In Chicago Suburbs on May 10

Oops ... here's another PPD event this weekend that I didn't even know about.  So if you can't make it to Rhode Island or Long Island, but you're anywhere near Chicagoland, try this one on for size:

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network will be holding its Annual 1-Mile Walk for Postpartum Depression Prevention and Awareness. The walk, in cooperation with the Schaumburg Park District, will take place at Volkening Lake, 900 West Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg.

Hope Feels Good Mom Needs Your Support

Warrior Chicks -- please head on over to the Hope Feels Good blog and tell this mom who is suffering that you are with her.  We all need to be there for each other because no one understands like we do.

PPD In Men Hurts Childhood Development

A U.S. psychologist said a study of fathers who suffer postpartum depression suggests the condition can hurt child development.  James Paulson of Eastern Virginia Medical School said 10 percent of fathers with 9-month-old children suffered from clinical depression, compared with 5 percent of other men the same age, USA Today reported Wednesday.  The study involved 4,500 new fathers.  Paulson said depressed fathers read less to their children than did fathers who weren't depressed. By the time the children were 2 years old, those who had depressed fathers had somewhat smaller vocabularies.  A British study found children of depressed fathers were nearly twice as likely to be defiant, disobedient and hostile, USA Today said.

Here is some more information from Dr. Shoshanna Bennett on postpartum depression in dads.

Postpartum Mood Disorder Event June 12th in Spokane

Postpartum Support International of Washington and the Council for Children & Families will host "Postpartum Mood Disorders: A Community Discussion of PPMDs" on June 12th from 10:30am to 5pm at the Downtown Spokane Public Library.  Presentations will include information on the cultural implications of PPMDs, the importance of early assessment and diagnosis, and the wellness model of treating PPMDs.  All are welcome.  The event is free and lunch will be provided.  To RSVP, email wcpcan@wcpcan.wa.gov.

Two Races This Weekend to Support PPD Programs

Just a reminder ...

If you're anywhere near Rhode Island this Saturday, the Stepping Out of the Darkness 5k and 2 mile road race will be held at Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket. The walk is at 9am and the 5k road race is at 9:30am.  The race will support the Women's & Infants Hospital Day Program for postpartum mood disorder sufferers. 

And, if you're anywhee near Long Island, the Sounds of Silence Foundation for the Awareness of Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression's 1st Annual 5k Run/Walk/Stroller Walk will also be held this Saturday at 9am at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh. Race proceeds and donations to the Sounds of Silence Foundation will benefit the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc.

Study Finds Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Effective For Identifying Women At High Risk for PPD

The Journal of Women's Health reported this week the results of research comparing three screening instruments used to identify women with postpartum depression during the first 6 months after delivery -- the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS). The study, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, concluded that administering the EPDS by phone at 6-8 weeks postpartum was an efficient and accurate way to identify women at high risk for PPD.  For more information, click the link above.

New Support Group & Treatment Program for PPD in Des Moines

According to the Des Moines Register, women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression have a new resource in Des Moines that offers screening, assessment, treatment and a support group, all free of charge.

"The small group of moms that meets weekly is a component of the program offered by Visiting Nurse Services", said Donna Richard-Langer, manager of mental health services for Visiting Nurse Services ...
The Visiting Nurse Services Postpartum Depression Partnership Program is a collaboration between Visiting Nurse Services, the Wellmark Foundation and the Postpartum Depression Task Force of Des Moines, of which Visiting Nurse Services is a member ... Treatment can involve just the individual, or therapy for the couple or the whole family, she said. Another option is the support group, Motherhood and Moods, which meets every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 606 E. Ninth St. Child care is provided."

Psych Central Reviews New Women & Depression Brochure from NAMI

Dr. John Grohol over at Psych Central offers up his assessment of the new Women & Depression brochure put out by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  He specfically mentions how postpartum depression is covered:

Postpartum depression, for instance, is a very real and serious concern for many women after childbirth. Oddly, however, it is mentioned briefly only once in the entire brochure. This would’ve been an ideal opportunity to dispel many of the common misconceptions about this type of depression unique to women, but the brochure largely fails to do so.

To read the rest of his critique, click here. 

Speaking of NAMI, I've actually always been bothered by the fact that NAMI doesn't include postpartum mood disorders as a specific set of illnesses in the Inform Yourself section at the forefront of its website.  See for yourself here and here.  That makes no sense to me, and I hope they'll update their site to include more information, as well as a link to Postpartum Support International.