Category Archives: postpartum depression

Putting on the Brakes…

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Ok, so here goes. I feel myself slipping back into my old PPD habits – not enjoying things as much, getting irritably quickly, I can feel the tension RIGHT beneath the surface, I am snapping at everyone – it’s frustrating as heck!

I think last week got to me more than I care to mention or admit (well, wait a minute, I’m admitting it now, right?). I will be calling my OB in the morning to ask about taking Omega 3.6.9 as I really don’t want to up my medicine but I am trying to deal with the fact that I may have to. Omegas are supposed to help with mood plus they’re great for baby development so it’d be a win win situation.

Also, I am going to dinner with Chris’ grandmother on Saturday – and his parents will be out of town. I think I am going to go to his parent’s house after dinner with his grandmother and just crash. Sleep in on Sunday and not have to worry about anything. Cabin fever is getting to me too – one car and being stuck at home is really driving me bonkers.

 i’ll update tomorrow about the OB call.

Melanie Blocker Stokes PPD Research & Care Act PASSED in the HOUSE!

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Yesterday, October 15th at 4:15 PM, perinatal mental health history was made as H.R. 20, The Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 382 – 3!! What a thrill it was to watch from the Congressional Gallery as Congressman Bobby L. Rush made his final, victorious push for American women, children and families.

Please join me in congratulating Congressman Bobby L. Rush, Carol Blocker and his hardworking staff on this pivotal victory which has been the result of SEVEN YEARS of steadfast advocacy.  Postpartum Support International was recorded as the number one sponsor of the bill. A very proud moment for all of us and the beginning of hope for more consistent attention to this issue. The bill will now proceed to the Senate where it will join forces with The MOTHERS Act.

Thanks to all of you who have been unfailing supporters of this legislation and the issue!

Exit TiVo KidZone

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Those three words are becoming almost as precious to me as “I love you.”

I’ll tell you why. It’s because when I click on those three words, I am reclaiming the TiVo for myself. It means the girls are down to quiet time and it’s now MOMMY time. Of course, the TV is still on Noggin when I go to live TV but that changes pretty quickly. Usually I put a movie on in the background and work on PPD stuff. Today I’m taking it slow. Have a few emails to send but as far as that’s concerned, I’m not doing a lot today. I’m going to continue to enjoy the slower pace.

This morning the girls and I went outside after breakfast and played. Charlotte swung and Alli wandered about playing with dead limbs from trees, pretending they were a little family. She also had a lot of fun throwing pine straw about. The funny story with Alli happened yesterday afternoon when Chris and I took the girls outside to play after quiet time.

Alli was swinging and all of the sudden she let out this really loud MMMMOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Yeah, typical three year old stuff, right? It gets funnier – the goats at the farm across the street ANSWERED her! So she changed her moo to a baaaaaa and for a good four or five minutes, she and the goats were “talking” to each other. Chris and I just lost it and Alli thought it was great. I LOVE that we live somewhere that she can experience stuff like that. Just love it.

Today Charlotte was the funny one – she would put both arms up in the air while swinging and squeal – like she was trying to say “wheeeee!” What I really get a kick out of is when she gives the sign for “more” while swinging. That’s just TOO precious.

As for my weekend, it was a huge success and I feel mentally rested. I kicked off the weekend with my therapy session and by 11a, I was OFF. At first it was weird to not be doing PPD stuff but eventually I just sat back and enjoyed things. I watched Nothing to Lose and took a nap Friday afternoon. Alli got out of her room while I was napping and ravaged the kitchen. Destroyed a $10 bottle of pure vanilla extract, poured out all the flower, brown sugar, soy sauce, large pearl tapioca, etc. It was a MESS. The only good thing that came out of it was her having to stay in her room for the rest of the afternoon which meant I got more time to myself. I was disappointed though – I had planned on taking the girls outside after quiet time. Saturday wasn’t much more of a success with Alli or Charlotte – both were fussy and whiny. And Alli ended up having to spend Sat afternoon in her room as well. She was much better on Sunday and so far so good today as well. We didn’t make it to Kid Nation last Thursday night due to misbehaviour as well. So as long as her behaviour stays on the up and up today, we’ll be watching it tonight.

I’m gonna run now and take a nap while I can. Hopefully no one gets out and does anything messy while I’m resting!

Soothing the Soul

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It has been a busy week. I’ve had three pretty intense “cases” this week and am looking forward to resting this weekend. I took a bubble bath and ate some chocolate ice cream this afternoon. Also watched most of The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith. Then the phone rang and it was regarding one of my “cases” so I had to take the call. Early intervention will be here shortly so I will just have to finish up with Happyness later. Probably not until tomorrow. I had been enjoying it so far. I love movies where the main character struggles and finally overcomes their obstacles. I always have. One of my favourites is Erin Brockovich. I knew after watching that movie that I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives by caring for them and advocating for them and whaddya know – I do that now. I just don’t get the commission check she got. LOL.

I am mentally exhausted and as I already said, really looking forward to the weekend. I can’t say that enough! Can I say it again? Please????

Tonight is Kid Nation night – Alli gets to stay up late and we watch it on the TiVo while eating dinner. It’s her reward for good behaviour throughout the week. She’s not been terrific today but I think it’s because she’s tired – she’s napping IN HER BED as I type. Highly unusual for her to do so during quiet time. We’ll be making homemade pizza later. For some reason, pizza seems to be Kid Nation food. LOL. go figure.

Gonna run and enjoy some sweet silence before Early Intervention gets here to work with Charlotte. I look forward to these visits as her therapist and I get along quite well. Ok, really gotta run. Alli is awake and crying.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

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In continued honour of mental illness awareness week, I am posting the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Scale) here at Sharing the Journey. It is one of the standard screening tools for new mothers – and is not used often enough by practioners here in the States. 

If you are a new mother experiencing problems or know a new mother who is, please use this self screening tool or pass it on to someone who needs to use it by printing it for them. This particular version was found at www.wellmother.com.

Instructions for users:

  1. The mother is asked to underline the response which comes closest to how she has been feeling in the previous 7 days.
  2. All ten items must be completed.
  3. Care should be taken to avoid the possibility of the mother discussing her answers with others.
  4. The mother should complete the scale herself, unless she has limited English or has difficulty with reading.
  5. The EPDS may be used at 6-8 weeks to screen postnatal women. The child health clinic, postnatal check-up or a home visit may provide suitable opportunities for its completion.

Name: _______________________________
Address:  ___________________________________________________
Baby’s Age: __________________
As you have recently had a baby, we would like to know how you are feeling. Please UNDERLINE the answer which comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS, not just how you feel today.

  1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
    As much as I always could
    Not quite so much now
    Definitely not so much now
    Not at all
  2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
    As much as I ever did
    Rather less than I used to
    Definitely less than I used to
    Hardly at all
  3. * I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
    Yes, most of the time
    Yes, some of the time
    Not very often
    No, never
  4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
    No, not at all
    Hardly ever
    Yes, sometimes
    Yes, very often
  5. * I have felt scared or panicky for not very good reason.
    Yes, quite a lot
    Yes, sometimes
    No, not much
    No, not at all
  6. * Things have been getting on top of me.
    Yes, most of the time I haven’t been able to cope at all
    Yes, sometimes I haven’t been coping as well as usual
    No, most of the time I have coped quite well
    No, I have been coping as well as ever
  7. * I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
    Yes, most of the time
    Yes, sometimes
    Not very often
    No, not at all
  8. * I have felt sad or miserable.
    Yes, most of the time
    Yes, quite often
    Not very often
    No, not at all
  9. * I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
    Yes, most of the time
    Yes, quite often
    Only occasionally
    No, never
  10. * The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
    Yes, quite often
    Sometimes
    Hardly ever
    Never

Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2, and 3 according to increased severity of the symptoms. Items marked with an asterisk are reverse cored (i.e. 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is calculated by adding together the scores for each of the ten items. Users may reproduce the scale without further permission providing they respect copyright by quoting the names of the authors, the title and the source of the paper in all reproduced copies.