Postpartum Home Vistis

As I am reading Yalom's book, The Gift of Therapy, he has posed the very question I have contemplated for some time regarding mental health and home visits. Though home visits were once a common occurrence, now they are almost seen as taboo. However, with these mother's and father's out there grappling with the changes a baby brings along with its birth, wouldn't it be nice to literally meet client's where they are at? So often in our profession we spout off the phrase "meet your client's where they are at"...which means, as long as it's in the office. Wouldn't it be nice to see just how "perfectly" or "imperfectly" their homes are arranged (an opportunity to address the need for perfectly good but not perfect), to see where they could use a "you know, you are doing a great job", to sit on the lawn with them and process, nuture and connect,? I'm wondering in the field of postpartum mood disorders, in particular, just how important a home visit* could be? What doors could it open? Doula's enter the home, midwives enter the home, why aren't we joining up with these professionals and adding to the holistic care of these parents? What information could be shared without saying a word? With these ponderings I'd love your perspectives and feedback!

(I also put out there that establishing good professional an therapeutic boundaries prior to a home visit is necessary as well.)

Healthy Moms Healthy Babies

Untreated Postpartum Disorders can disrupt the healthy attachments necessary for healthy babies. This video is a great visual illustration!

A Local Look at Male Postpartum Depression

Thank you Carol, for putting light on such a taboo subject!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

News of the Day

The Melanie Stokes Mothers act was officially made law today! What a major milestone for women, children and families across the country. Want the back story? Click here

And, just a quick calendar FYI, the Utah Adoption Council's annual conference: Perspectives on Adoption is just around the corner. It's for parents and professionals alike so mark your date books for May 12-13. For more information Click Here

PPD Online Course and FREE Materials

Calling all medical providers. There is a FREE online training available if you are working with new mom's. Step-ppd.com has three learning modules: understanding PPD, assessing PPD and treating PPD. These modules are comprehensive, they are quick and they give great ideas about overcoming common barriers that can occur when assessing and treating PPD. Additionally, they have FREE resources including screening tools, information brochures, case studies, video clips and more. Want to have someone come and train you and your office? Simply submit the online form to schedule a training for your administrative, nursing, assistant and social work staff.

It's Here! New Postpartum Depression Awareness Poster

It's finally arrived - thanks to incredibly talented artist Susie Griffen, graphic designer (and in house Martha Stewart--and great friend) Jamie Shaw and inspiration from all of the Postpartum pioneers out there, our Postpartum Depression awareness poster is complete. We are hoping to hang it in as many doctor/midwife/pediatrician/doula/hospital/mental health practitioner office's as possible to start reaching "may not be feeling like themselves" and/or silently suffering. For a short time, we will be offering these posters for free! If you are a provider or someone who would like to place this in their provider's office email us at: info@thehealinggroup.com

Mother's Day Rally For Mom's Mental Health

It's coming! It's coming! The second annual Mother's Day Rally For Mom's Mental Health is a mere 6 weeks away. This online event, Just like last year, will be packed with 24 open letters to new mother's on the importance of maternal mental health. Each hour, for a straight 24 hours, a new letter written and posted by an expert, a survivor and/or someone who cares. These letter writers have an entirely blank canvas so their letters can express their humor, insights, tips and ideas surrounding mental health. To see the full line up of incredible women check out postpartumprogress.com

New Mom Support

I was hanging out over at the Postpartum Stress Center blog tonight and came across a post that I thought was worth note. It's aimed toward new mom's. The things to remember are ways to support yourself and your transition in to new mommyhood and the next part is things to watch for as you are IN new mommyhood...symptoms that you should talk with your doctor, therapist, etc.

FOCUS ON STAYING HEALTHY

Get as much rest as possible.
Try to nap when the baby sleeps.
Eat a healthy, nutritious diet.
Take time for yourself.
Talk to other people about how you are feeling.
Ask for help -- Realize that a new baby is hard work.
Exercise for more energy.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO BE CONCERNED?

When symptoms last two weeks or more.
When everything you do requires more effort.
If you have a lack of interest in the baby, your family or your friends.
When you feel guilty or worthless.
When you have trouble remembering or focusing or making decisions.

PSI's "Chat With an Expert" for Dad's TONIGHT

Postpartum Support International hosts a toll-free phone forum for Dad's the first Monday of every month. The chat this evening will be facilitated by Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW.

The call will be at 6pm MST.

Click this link for call instructions: http://postpartum.net/friends-and-family/weekly-chat-with-the-experts.aspx

You can join the call to talk or just to listen to others discuss resources, symptoms, options and general information with a professional member of Postpartum Support International. You can talk from the privacy of your own home and there is no need to pre-register or give your name. Sessions are informational only and open to anyone with questions and concerns about themselves, a loved one, friend or family member.

Local Story on The Women's Act

Postpartum Support Group in SLC

I just had conversations with two wonderful women who are local coordinators for the Postpartum Support International organization: Mary and Cynthia. Besides being clearly good women committed to bettering their community, both are mother's and survivors of PPD. They cofacilitate a postpartum support group at the Salt Lake City Main Library every Monday from 3:30-5:00 free of charge. I could clearly hear their passion and understanding of PPD and I wanted to do my part to further spread the word about this wonderful community service. Visit our website for more information!

Top 10 Myths of Postpartum Depression

Found this wonderful article over at MedEd PPD and thought it would be useful to those who may be affected by PPD, professionals, loved ones, and anyone interested in women's issues in general.

Myth 1: PPD is normal -- all new mothers feel tired and depressed.
Fact: New mothers often feel tired and overwhelmed. They may be experiencing "baby blues." Women with baby blues may feel tired, weepy, and have no energy. However, the feelings that go with PPD are stronger and longer lasting. A mother with PPD may not want to play with her baby. She may have trouble paying attention to things and may not be able to meet her baby's needs for warmth and affection. She may feel guilty or worthless.

Myth 2: If you don't get PPD right after you give birth, you won't get it at all.
Fact: PPD can happen any time in the first year after a woman gives birth.

Myth 3: PPD will go away on its own without treatment.
Fact: The "baby blues" may last up to 4 weeks but usually goes away on its own. Like many illnesses, PPD almost never goes away without treatment. The good news is that there are available treatments that work.

Myth 4: All women with PPD have thoughts about hurting their children.Fact: Women with postpartum psychosis, which is a life-threatening disorder separate from PPD, are at risk for hurting their babies or themselves. If you have thoughts about harming yourself or your child you should ask for help right away from your family and your doctor.

Myth 5: Women with PPD look depressed or stop taking care of themselves.
Fact: You can't tell someone has PPD by looking at her. A woman with PPD may look perfectly "normal" to everyone else. She may even try especially hard to look polished or put together – keeping her makeup done, and her hair styled – to turn attention away from the pain she is feeling on the inside.

Myth 6: Women with PPD are bad mothers.
Fact: Having PPD does not make someone a bad mother.

Myth 7: If you have PPD, you must have done something wrong.
Fact: PPD is nobody's fault. There is nothing that a woman with PPD could have done to avoid having this disorder.

Myth 8: You'll get over your PPD if you just get more sleep.
Fact: Although it's important for women with PPD to get enough sleep, sleep by itself will not cure PPD.

Myth 9: Women with PPD can't take antidepressants if they are breastfeeding.
Fact: Studies have shown that there is a very small risk to the baby with the antidepressants most likely to be prescribed for PPD. If it is necessary for a woman with PPD to take an antidepressant, her doctor will carefully choose one that is most likely to help her and least likely to hurt her baby.

Myth 10: Pregnant and postpartum women don't get depressed.
Fact: Being pregnant, or having just given birth, is not a guarantee against getting depression. In other words, pregnancy does not protect a woman from depression, and in fact, studies show that the childbearing years are when a woman is most likely to experience depression in her lifetime.