Tag Archives: Postpartum Mood Disorder

Nadya Suleman: A Mother of Multiples

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Research out this past week from Johns Hopkins indicates that Mothers of Multiples are at a 43% higher risk than Mothers of singletons to experience “moderate to severe depressive” symptoms nine months after giving birth. The interesting kicker? Regardless of multiple birth status, few mothers reported talking with a Health Care professional about depression.

So what on earth does this have to do with Nadya Suleman?

For starters, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the eight babies Ms. Suleman recently gave birth to. She’s also the proud mama of twins. What does this mean? It means that Ms. Suleman has twice put herself at a higher risk of developing moderate to severe depressive symptoms after giving birth.

What does this mean for her kids?

If Ms. Suleman has developed depression and has not sought help, her mental state could potentially have a negative effect on her kids. According to an article by Ruta Nonacs at Medscape, Postpartum Depression may affect maternal-infant bonding, cause the mother to be either extremely withdrawn or more intrusive, and use negative facial expressions. All of this may lead to children who, according to Nonacs, “exhibit behavioral problems (eg, sleep and eating difficulties, temper tantrums, hyperactivity), delays in cognitive development, emotional and social dysregulation, and early onset of depressive illness.”

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if my untreated PP OCD led to the behavior issues we had with our first born. There is always a “what if” question at the back of my mind. I get angry with my doctor. I get angry with myself for not pushing for better care and help. I get angry. Then I remind myself that I cannot change the past – only change the future. So far, I’m doing my best. It’ll have to do.

I sincerely hope Ms. Suleman does not experience a Postpartum Mood Disorder. They are a dark and treacherous crew indeed and I would not wish them on my worst enemy. But I do urge women who are not bonding with their children or have a gut feeling that something is a little off to seek help. You deserve it, your children deserve it. You are not alone, you are not to blame, and you will be well.

Gettin’ my Party On!

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This week is Ultimate Blog Party Week over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

FYI, there ARE Prizes!!

My favorites are:

Afternoon Tea in a Box (111)

$25 gift certificate for DOVE Chocolate Discoveries (130)

A surprise box filled with goodies ($50 value) (103)

Any of the prizes related to relaxation or taking a deep breath for Mom are great, actually!

Welcome to those of you who are new here and hopping over via Mr. Linky.

A quick bit of history about the blog for those of you gaining your bearings:

I’m a mom of three who’s survived two episodes of Postpartum OCD and am now dedicated to advocating for and providing support to families struggling with Postpartum Mood Disorders. This blog is a huge part of my work. You see, it was started after discovering my third (and quite unexpected) pregnancy, hence the title. I aim to share my journey and empower others through theirs so they do not have to suffer alone and in silence as I did.

Through this blog I not only share research and information but insight about my own life, which includes not only overcoming PPD, but parenting a child born with a cleft palate, accepting and overcoming my husband’s marijuana addiction, and the challenges that come of course, with the normal motherhood territory.

I also post weekly interviews with moms who have been on the front lines of the PPD battle or those who work with those who have. (Are you a mom who’s survived PPD and willing to answer 10 questions about your experience? Email me at ppdacceptance@gmail.com with Interview Request in the subject line!)

And on Fridays, I post a really cool pic with an inspirational or thought-provoking quote to encourage my readers to slow down and smell the roses. You can search over to the side for “Friday soother” to find some of the recent posts.

Other features include Grace Awards for Journalists who treat reporting about Psychosis with compassion and responsibility. I also scour the internet to point out the misuse of Postpartum Depression. Know of any? Email me at ppdacceptance@gmail.com with Misnomer of Postpartum Depression and include the link of the sighting. (You’ll receive credit and be added to my blog roll if you’re a blogger!)

Most importantly I emphasize self-care. I practice it too and have been known to leave the blog untouched for a week (or two) while I tend to myself and my family. I do return, usually with some really good stuff, too!

I hope you enjoy nosing around and I hope some of you stay or at least help to spread the word and raise awareness that Moms with Mood Disorders do exist, they are not alone, they are not to blame, and they WILL Be well!

Warmest Wishes,

Lauren

p.s. And for the man in your life, I also have a little project called The Postpartum Dads Project. Check it out.

Association discovered between Diabetes & Perinatal Depression

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"Drink Me" by Ara Alexis

"Drink Me" by Ara Alexis

A new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health focusing on Medicaid Records of over 11.000 NJ moms found an association between Diabetes & Perinatal Depression. The conclusion of the study is that Moms with Diabetes are 55-60% more likely to develop Perinatal Depression. The researchers are quick to point out the Diabetes isn’t necessarily the source of the Depression and that they didn’t take into consideration a family history of mental illness or other risk factors for Perinatal Depression. Their requirements for identification of depression relied on a written diagnosis or filling of anti-depressant prescription during the course of the study. Mothers included in the study had been eligible for Medicaid 6 months prior to birth and up to one year post-delivery.

While the study isn’t conclusive due to the focus on such a local and specific population, the researchers encourage health care providers with Medicaid patients and a Diabetes diagnosis to focus a little more on depression prevention. You can read more about the study here.

My thoughts on this? The beginning of my Postpartum Mood Disorder journey began when my husband had a good job and we had private insurance. I DID develop Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy and went on to develop full blown Postpartum Depression & OCD but was never officially diagnosed. My second pregnancy we still had good insurance but were struggling a bit financially but I did not have Gestational Diabetes – landed in the hospital. Third pregnancy was a Medicaid pregnancy as we did not have access to private insurance. I did not develop Gestational Diabetes and did not have a Mood Disorder either. But I had also become quite educated about PMD’s by then and was very forceful in my advocacy of care.

Research like this should always be taken cautiously and with a grain of salt. It’s encouraging and exciting that so many researchers have taken an interest in Postpartum Mood Disorders but always make sure to look at the big picture and do your own homework before taking someone else’s word for it!

Stigma

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While writing the previous post regarding the sleep study, I remembered something.

When I was hospitalized, the one thing the nurses emphasized to me over and over and over again was that I didn’t have to tell anyone where I had been UNLESS I CHOSE TO DO SO. We even had a cover story for where I was that weekend as I was supposed to be co-hosting my sister-in-law’s baby shower. I was very ill and unable to attend. Everything was kept very quiet at the time and only immediate family knew what was really going on. My mother drove down from VA the night I was hospitalized so Chris could go to work and we would have someone to care for the kids (THANKS MOM!)

I don’t know why we kept it so quiet then. Fear? Shame? I wasn’t well enough to feel either of those things and honestly, I am obviously not ashamed of having been hospitalized because if I was I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing right now.

As far as my hospitalization goes, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I rested and it was the beginning of what I do today. It opened my eyes to what a specialized population mothers with mood disorders are and strengthened my resolve not to let any mother go through the experience alone and unguided. If there is anything worse than a Postpartum Mood Disorder, it’s going through it alone, feeling misunderstood by everyone around you, wondering what on earth is going on with you and getting scared out of your mind.

You don’t recognize the person in the mirror – who is she and when will she leave? You learn to cope with her but still wish she would disappear or at least stop showing up so much. Eventually she does fade but the fading takes time when you wait for it to happen all alone in the cold. With the warmth and strength of others, you learn how to get her to fade much quicker. She stops standing in between you and your baby, stops yelling at your husband, stops soaking your cheeks or re-organizing the cabinets for the twentieth time today. There is something to that power in numbers thing. It works.

Stigma is a very powerful force in the human world. It’s peer pressure gone horribly wrong. Peer pressure that encourages you to be miserable, silent, and hang your head down low should not accompany any new mother. Instead, the peer pressure should be that it’s ok to talk about your feelings and open up, it’s ok to hold your head high and know that as long as baby is fed, diapered, and has a warm place to sleep, you’re doing the best you can with what you have at the moment. Peer pressure should be the warmth of another person who KNOWS what you’re going through because she’s been there too.

Don’t let the stigma keep you from getting help. Don’t let the fear keep you from getting help.

Getting help is the absolute best thing you can do for YOU and for your family.