Postpartum Progress

Another Mother's Story

Helena from the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation sent me this story from the Palmetto Parent, known as the "Family Magazine of the Midlands". As always, I think it's good to read about the experiences of other mothers just to remind us that we're definitely NOT alone.

Link: Palmetto Parent: The Family Magazine of the Midlands.

APA Tells Cruise to Stuff It

Thought you might want to see this brief story from CNN.com about the American Psychiatric Association's response to Tom Cruise's mission of late to completely derail the treatment of people with mental illnesses.

Link: CNN.com - Psychiatrists: Cruise comments 'irresponsible' - Jun 27, 2005.

Tags: postpartum depression Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Finds the Cure

The cure has been found!  And by actor Tom Cruise, no less.  Tom tells us that all we need to get through postpartum mood disorders is vitamins - see here for the story from the New York Daily News.  Well I'll be!  If only I had known.

"These [antidepressant] drugs are dangerous. I have actually helped people come off," Cruise maintains to Bush. "When you talk about postpartum, you can take people today, women, and what you do is you use vitamins. There is a hormonal thing that is going on, scientifically, you can prove that. But when you talk about emotional, chemical imbalances in people, there is no science behind that. You can use vitamins to help a woman through those things."

I realize, of course, that people are entitled to their opinions.  And I try to respect that certain religions approach illnesses and medical treatment differently.  However, I shudder to think that Mr. Cruise's comments could lead women to avoid taking prescriptions that may be necessary for recovery, as prescribed by doctors and psychiatrists experienced in treating postpartum mood disorders.  Not every woman needs anti-depressant drugs.  I did.  And if I hadn't taken them, I can't begin to imagine where I'd be right now.  In fact, I might not be here at all.

Additionally, shame on him for criticizing Brooke Shields publicly.  She bared all to share her experience with other women and deserves the utmost in respect for that. 

If you'd like to share your feelings with Tom, you can send a letter to him care of his agents at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Kevin Huvane and Rick Nicita:

CAA
9830 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-1825

Tags: postpartum depression Tom Cruise Brooke Shields

Why Does This Happen???

This is a very good article on postpartum depression from yesterday's New York times, written by Jane Brody: Don't Let Your Baby Blues Go Code Red. What really interested me was the following paragraph:

Known risk factors include a personal or family history of depression or substance abuse (Ms. Shields has a family history of alcoholism); lack of support from family and friends; problems with a previous pregnancy or birth (Ms. Shields went through numerous in vitro attempts and a miscarriage); depression after a prior pregnancy; marital or financial problems; being a young or single mother; complications during labor and delivery (Ms. Shields required an emergency Caesarean delivery); a major life change at the time of the birth; and having a baby with serious health problems.

I've also read that thyroid problems can contribute, and that traumatic childhoods can contribute. So I think we here at Postpartum Progress should conduct an informal survey -- I'd like to hear from you as to which of these factors, if any, are part of your history. Also, if you have additional factors not listed here that you think may be important to note, please add them. If you want to be anonymous, email them to me at stonecallis@msn.com and I'll keep it confidential. Otherwise just respond to this by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of this post. Please keep your comments brief, as I have below, just so that we don't jam up the blog. And please ask all of the women you know who've suffered a postpartum mood disorder to participate.

I'll go first:
1. I have a history of alcoholism and depression in my family
2. I had a somewhat stressful and traumatic delivery - 18 hours of labor and 4 straight hours of pushing couldn't get him out, so I required forceps and a 4th degree episiotomy
3. Very traumatic childhood, particularly in my first year of life

I'll try to compile everything together (without naming names of course), and see what we find ...

Tags: postpartum depression post partum depression baby blues postpartum psychosis

NOTE:  As reader Janet pointed out, this is completely unscientific.  And the fact of the matter is that you may have had absolutely none of the risk factors listed above and still have gotten PPD.  If that's the case, let me know that too.  It would seem that there is no single clear set of circumstances that lead to these illnesses, at least not one that we know of.  The point of this discussion is to simply to share our history with each other.  Thanks Janet.