Have a favorite pic that you love to look at when you’re stressed out or feeling down?
Submit it here and you may just see it on Any Given Friday!
By the way, from now on, Friday Soothers will just be pics, no text.
Think of it as my weekly relaxation gift to you!
Roaming about the internet the other evening, I found a really cool blog – Hilltown Families.
I submitted my blog for consideration under their Parenting Blogs section and much to my surprise (and delight) was asked to write an entry about PTSD & my experience with having another baby after Postpartum Depression. (ahah! Now I know why she’s been on this PTSD kick you’re saying to yourselves!)
Here’s the link to my guest entry. Check out the rest of the blog/site as well. It’s family friendly and awesome!
Did you know that PMD’s aren’t just limited to women?
Yup, Dads can suffer too – it’s not a commonly know fact and there’s even more isolation for Dads who have problems.
PSI has recently added Dr. Will Courtenay to their field of volunteers – he serves as the Fathers w/Depression Coordinator. (Watch for an interview with Dr. Courtenay coming in June!)
If you know a Dad having issues with the postpartum period and is exhibiting signs of depression please Click Here for information about PPND. (Paternal Postnatal Depression)
I wanted to share these with you. I am participating in both and if you or someone you know would be willing to share with these researchers, please take the opportunity to do so. Thank you!
Subsequent Childbirth after Previous Birth Trauma
In order to help clinicians provide better care to mothers who are having a subsequent childbirth after suffering through a previous traumatic birth, Cheryl Beck (Professor at the University of Connecticut) and Sue Watson (chairperson of TABS) are now conducting a research study on this topic. Women who have had another child after having experienced birth trauma are invited to participate in this research study. Just like Professor Beck’s previous studies on birth trauma and PTSD after childbirth, this study will be conducted over the Internet. Mothers will be asked to describe their experiences during pregnancy, and labor and delivery after having suffered a previous traumatic childbirth. If you are interested in participating in this research or wish to find out more about this study, please contact Professor Cheryl Beck directly at the University of Connecticut.
Investigating women’s memories of childbirth
Have you given birth recently, or suffered from a traumatic childbirth experience? If so, can you spare a few minutes to help with the following on-line questionnaire: Rachel Harris is undertaking the research study at Sussex University with the help of Dr Susan Ayers who has undertaken a great deal of the leading research into PTSD in the UK. The current study is investigating women’s memories of childbirth, to try to better understand what makes some birth experiences traumatic. These research studies are contributing enormously to our understanding of birth trauma so your help is really appreciated.
Defining the Differences:
Baby “blues”: fleeting periods of sadness and mood swings immediately after giving birth. Typically goes away within two weeks or less. Risk rate is 80% of all new mothers.
Postpartum Depression: Continued and deeper feelings of sadness and mood swings. Other symptoms may possibly include increased irritability, decreased appetite, inability to sleep, intrusive thoughts, increased anxiety. Risk rate is 10-15% of all new mothers, regardless of how many children she has.
Postpartum Psychosis: Onset is fast and can include delusions, hallucinations, inability to make any decisions, hearing voices. If suspected, the mother needs to be hospitalized immediately and not left alone until she is under professional care. This is rare, every 1 in 1000 women are at risk for developing this and a family history of bipolar or schizophrenia raise the risk even higher.