Tag Archives: #PPDChat

Meltzer Brody and Stuebe Guest Announcement

Announcing the #PPDChat Guests for 11.11.13: Drs. Samantha Meltzer-Brody & Alison Stuebe

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Meltzer Brody and Stuebe Guest Announcement

I am beyond excited about Monday night’s #PPDChat, y’all!!!

We’ll be chatting with none other than the fabulous Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody and Dr. Alison Stuebe, both with UNC’s Perinatal Psychiatry Unit. This is a ground-breaking program here in the United States for women struggling with Perinatal Mood Disorders. They are currently focusing on research which examines the biology behind the relationship behind depression and breastfeeding. Dr. Stuebe writes:

“I’m happy to report that I’m a doctor, and I do think of this — in fact, at UNC, we’re starting a 5-year NIH-funded study to try to understand the relationship between breastfeeding, postpartum depression, and infant attachment.  Our pilot data suggest that this relationship is complicated. We recruited 52 women who were intending to breastfeed and either did or did not have a history depression and/or anxiety. During pregnancy, mothers provided baseline blood samples, completed questionnaires, and had a standardized psychiatric interview to assess their history. Mothers came to our lab with their babies at 2 and 8 weeks postpartum, and we measured hormone levels while they breastfed their babies.”

For those of us who have been through a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder, we know that the relationship we have with how we feed our babies is a tough one. There are so many factors to consider. Dr. Meltzer-Brody & Stuebe are investigating this further and have graciously agreed to share their experiences and insights on Monday.

I sincerely hope you will be able to make it to chat because it will be a great one!

You can read more about Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody & Dr. Alison Stuebe by clicking on their names. Be sure to follow them on Twitter (usernames are in the announcement above) before the chat!

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#PPDChat Topic 11.4.13: Developing Self-Care Strategies

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ppdchat-11-4-13

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it is time to revisit the topic of self-care. As women, we so very often forget to mother the most important person in our lives – ourselves. If we do not take the time to refill our souls and our bodies, we are useless to those around us. Self-care is not selfish, it is selfless for it allows us to give others more when we are giving from full capacity. Just as it is impossible to pour a glass of water from an empty pitcher it is difficult to pour ourselves into others if we are empty.

Go check out this worksheet and rate your level of self-care. What areas are lacking? Where are you thriving? Then I want to challenge you to doing what the worksheet says at the top – commit to improving at least ONE thing from each section every week. Baby steps matter and with the busy holiday season right around the corner, it is important we all remember to give the gift of ourselves to ourselves. While the small things are not at all a FIX for your issues, they matter and they add up over time.

It is also important to remember to care for ourselves during the winter months, particularly if we struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Having moved back north where there is less sunshine during the winter, I am finding this a challenge. Feel free to jump in and share any strategies you may have to combat this common issue as well as discuss the challenge struggling with SAD in addition to PPD may bring.

Looking forward to chatting about the importance of self-care during the fall & winter months at 1pm ET & 830pm ET. See you on Twitter!

Upcoming #PPDChat Guest: Jennifer Moyer – On Overcoming Postpartum Psychosis

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Jennifer Moyer Guest Announcement

On Monday, October 28, 2013, I’m thrilled to announce that the #PPDChat community will have the opportunity to chat with Jennifer Moyer, an amazing advocate located in Florida. According to Jennifer’s bio at her website, she “has experience as a postpartum support and education consultant, a certified postpartum doula and a speaker on mental health issues.”

The stigma surrounding a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder is rough enough – particularly because of the damage done when mainstream media confuses Postpartum Depression with Postpartum Psychosis which is a medical emergency. Even then, the damage also affects those who struggle with Postpartum Psychosis. While the risk is higher for both suicide and infanticide with a case of Postpartum Psychosis, not all mothers who experience Postpartum Psychosis commit the heinous crimes which pop up in the news all too often these days.

I know this can be a touchy subject for some but I hope you will join us as Jennifer shares her story and her journey toward recovery and advocacy with us at #PPDChat on Monday evening at 830pm ET. We will chat at 1pm ET about the myths and facts about Postpartum Psychosis as we lead in to Jennifer’s chat Monday evening.

No mother should ever be ashamed of or afraid to share her story. Let’s break down those walls together!

Jennifer MoyerJennifer’s mission is to bring hope and inspiration to individuals and families facing mental health challenges.  She is a mental health advocate.  She overcame postpartum psychosis.  She is a writer and speaker on mental health issues striving to increase the awareness, education, prevention and treatment of postpartum psychosis and other mental health issues related to childbearing as well as mental health, in general. Visit her website here.