Postpartum Progress

Ohio Nurses Say Better PPD Education is Needed

A study of hospitals in the state of Ohio found that most education about PPD provided by nursing staff to new mothers is passive and that there are very few specific educational programs.  (The study was conducted by the University of South Carolina's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.) Most of us who have been through this have said that we wished the subject hadn't been glossed over and that we'd had a much clearer idea of what might happen.  These study results aren't surprising.

The objective of the study was to assess and characterize health education regarding PPD received by recently delivered women during their postpartum hospital stay by surveying nurse managers for obstetric services at 100+ Ohio hospitals.  The results?  Most hospitals (89.7%) educate newly delivered women about PPD, most often by passive methods. Specific educational programs were offered by only 14% of hospitals. Most PPD education was provided during hospitalization after delivery; however, 50% of respondents felt that it should be provided at every possible opportunity.

I'm glad to see that the nurses agree with us on the need for better education.

Tag: postpartum depression Ohio

Supplements for Depression

Here's more info on using Omega-3 fatty acids as supplements for depression.  There are actually several pre-natal vitamins out now that include Omega-3s, as well as a supplement for nursing moms that has DHA.  I'm taking one of the new pre-natal vitamins and so far, so good.

"Omega-3 fats could be a missing link that brains need to be happy. In a recent study, six out of 10 people suffering from depression got relief after taking fish oil supplements rich in omega-3 fats (Amer. Jour. of Psychiatry, Mar 2002).

'These results were huge, and the improvements were obvious,' says psychiatrist Andrew Stoll, MD, of Harvard Medical School. Those who got the supplements slept better and felt less worthlessness and guilt. 'We think omega-3s help your brain use a feel-good chemical called serotonin,' says Dr. Stoll. 'All cell coatings are made of fats, and when those fats are omega-3s, the serotonin receptors on the surface of brain cells seem to function in a healthier way.'"

The above information came from this article in Prevention magazine.

Tag: postpartum depression supplements