My friend Michelle shares her PPD story in an awesome video interview

There's a great video interview of a friend of mine, Michelle, who has been an extraordinary PPD advocate here in Arizona. Please check out her story by clicking here. This interview took place in Tucson over a year ago while Michelle and I, along with other women's health advocates, were attending a women's mental health symposium at the University of Arizona. This interview was just posted on EmpowHer and is part of an excellent series of PPD videos spotlighting several women's stories.

PPD support on Twitter!

For all of you tweeters out there, Twitter Moms has a PPD support group going that's pretty interesting. It doesn't seem super active, but there are about 30 great moms in the group who are hitting some important PPD topics.

While there, you can listen to a podcast by Dr. Heather, who calls herself the "babyshrink." You can also enter a discussion forum and contribute to topics such as "When did you realize it was PPD?" There is venting going on as well as sharing. But, most importantly, moms can easily connect to other moms who are dealing with a postpartum mood disorder by simply clicking on their photo.

Nurse Practitioner Schools names top 50 PPD blogs, including this one!

The Nurse Practitioner Schools web site has a listing of the top 50 postpartum depression support blogs, sites and online communities that are out there on the web. It's a very comprehensive listing, including not only this blog, but also some really stellar blogs by women who have become women's health advocates after experiencing their own bout of PPD.

Of course, some of my absolute favorites are on the list, such as Dr. Shoshana Bennett's Postpartum Depression Recovery blog, Susan Dowd Stone's PerinatalPro blog and my friend Ivy's PPD blog.

It's well worth it to check out the list in its entirety. It's organized by type, so whether you're looking for a PPD blog written by a mom or one written by a professional or a blog that's geared solely for dads, you can find whatever you need here. There are some truly amazing stories of hope within these sites, as well as fantastic resources.

Check out "The Healthy Woman" in local bookstores now

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women's Health has put together a very helpful book that empowers women to have easy access to basic information on just about every health category. The Healthy Woman; A Complete Guide for All Ages can be found in bookstores around the country, including Barnes & Noble and Borders, as well as directly from the U.S. Government Bookstore.

Not to pat my own back, but I was a contributor to the book within the Mental Health chapter. I was asked to share my PPD story, which I did gladly and with the hope that it might reach other moms out there who are searching for information.

The book also includes a tremendous list of resources, from non-profit health organizations to providers. You can even find treatment options for various conditions and where to find the help you need when something is wrong. But the most powerful sections in the book are the personal stories, where women share their health experiences. A California woman wrote of her experience suffering from numbness in her hand and "heaviness" in her chest, and being diagnosed with acid reflux. It turned out that what she really had was premature heart disease and, shockingly, within just hours of her correct diagnosis she underwent open-heart surgery. I loved her following quote, which of course would apply to any health condition that a woman is dealing with: "We must make ourselves our number one cause and, as with me, be given another chance at life."

Watch Shoshana Bennett's PPD videos on EmpowHer

This is a must-see ... Dr. Shoshana Bennett, past president of Postpartum Support International and a past president of California's state organization Postpartum Health Alliance, speaks out on PPD in a video series on EmpowHer.  

One of the videos that I believe is a powerful topic to explore is whether or not PPD can go away by itself.  One study that Dr. Shosh quotes showed that 25% of women who had PPD were still deeply depressed one year out.  

I'm wondering if this statistic might be low.  Or if there are a lot more women (besides the 25% who are deeply depressed), who are just ever so slightly or even mildly depressed and remain so for a long, long time.  And then become a lot more depressed over time until chronic depression sets in.

All I know is that I've known plenty of mothers who are obviously depressed, even many years after their kids are born.  They might overeat or chain smoke or drink a little too much from time to time, or do other things to take the edge off.  But deep down they're depressed.  And their depression could have very well started as PPD and then left untreated to fester over time.  I wonder how many women who end up being prescribed anti-depressants in their mid-life, when their kids are well into elementary school and beyond, are actually suffering from PPD.....

How do you reach a non-believer?

I was on a mom's web site last night and was astounded when I read a post from a woman who says she doesn't believe that postpartum depression exists.  And yet she has been suffering from various ailments for the past 3 months, including weight gain, major lethargy, headaches that don't seem to go away, sadness and frustration.  Oh, and did I mention she has a 3-month-old baby?  If she doesn't believe in PPD, then just what does she attribute all those yucky symptoms to??  She also mentioned that the women who say they have PPD are just wimps who need to get a grip and focus on their baby instead of themselves.  Nice.

So how do you reach women who don't believe in PPD??  I did post a comment in her conversation thread....how could I not?  I tried to let her know just how real PPD is, and barraged her with links to web sites such as PSI's, Susan Dowd Stone, and other PPD resources.  I also mentioned that mental disorders like PPD can be more insidious than your average disease because they are invisible.  But try to tell someone with Autism that it's not real just because you can't see it.  I hope she checked out at least one of the resources I listed.  I hope she gets help.  It's tragic to think of someone suffering from PPD when it's so easily treatable.

MUST READ: A dad shares his story of losing his daughter to PPD

Susan Dowd Stone recently posted the following incredibly touching story on EmpowHer.  It's from a dad, Joseph S. Raso, who lost his daughter to postpartum depression.  He asked Susan to post or share his story wherever she felt it could help others.  I'm helping to share it as well.....

The Best Meal of My Life

I experienced the best meal of my life the other day. That’s saying a lot from a man who is just shy of 60, and has spent his entire life in the restaurant business. Since my 6th birthday, when my parents opened up La Bella’s, a little mom and pop Italian restaurant, I have had the opportunity to travel and enjoy delicious meals prepared by some the world’s finest chefs.

Even after my wife left, and I was faced the prospect of raising two energetic children on peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and Hamburger Helper, I never lost my appetite for fine dining.

In the early 90’s I met my current wife Mary, a beautiful single mom of two. Her parents had passed, so I asked her eldest teenage daughter, Crystal, for permission to take her mom to dinner. It’s funny - looking back now, I can’t tell you what Mary was wearing, but the restaurant was a perfect combination of cozy atmosphere and scrumptious food.

As 2000 rolled around, our kids now grown, Mary and I discovered cruise ships. We realized, if we carefully picked our departure dates, we could cruise for about $200.00 a day with the all important, MEALS INCLUDED!

On a cruise ship, nothing surpasses the experience of a savory dinner of two hours, your meal prepared by top chefs, while enjoying an unhurried conversation with your spouse. A brochure on one of our cruises informed us that, for an extra $25.00, we could have the “Ultimate Dining Experience”. We could not believe our meals could get any tastier but we gave it a try. Words cannot explain the evening. The service was impeccable and the food was to die for. Gazing at Mary across the table with the moon rising behind her made my diner all the more unforgettable.

We have been on about ten cruises now and I never thought we could top those culinary delights, until the other day, when I experienced the best meal of my life.

Crystal, the oldest of our four children, was always the more serious. She was the one to whom we entrusted our most important papers and house keys when we left town. Crystal gave birth to Hannah in 2003 and baby Max in 2007. When Max was born, things just seemed to bother Crystal more. She seemed to worry about everything. We tried to reassure her, but that was Crystal, the worrier.

On Feb 25, 2008, we got together with her and her husband, Chris, for lunch. Everything seemed fine. On Feb 27, 2008 at 11:45 AM, Mary received a call from the police concerning a family emergency at Crystal’s house. As we raced the few blocks to her house, I feared the worse. Did baby Max, not yet four months old, die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? I begged: God please let Max be OK!

As we rounded the corner and their house came into view, there were police cars in the streets and driveway. A detective who was polite, but uninformative, stopped Mary and I from entering the house. As I turned back to the street, I noticed Chris holding baby Max. Knowing that Hannah was in school, I asked him what was going on. With a dazed look in his eyes he told us that Crystal had shot and killed herself.

She had seemed unusually worried the past few days, always fussing about Max, unable to get a good night’s sleep. Attempting to breast feed as long as possible, she was concerned that her milk was drying up. We didn’t notice the symptoms of what we later learned was, Postpartum Depression. We just thought that was Crystal, always worrying.

Over a year has now passed. We have all pulled together and gotten into the routine of helping Chris raise Hannah, his precocious first grade daughter, and Max, a handsome boy of sixteen months. I have volunteered to give Max his 06:00 AM feeding five days a week. This occupied my time and kept my mind off of Crystal. Mary would come over at 07:15 and get Hannah ready for school. In the morning commotion, Chris would wolf down some cereal, and if the kids were up, give them a kiss, and out the door he’d go, grateful for us being there.

It is amazing how we live assumptive lives. Every day, we assume our family will always be there. It’s not that we have taken them for granted it is just that no one ever expects to outlive their own child. I now appreciate the little things in life more. I love Max’s happy giggle every morning as I sing to him while changing his diaper. The joy experienced viewing Hannah’s beautiful sleepy face, when she rolls out of bed is unexplainable.

Mary and I took all four grand kids to a matinee the other day. After the movie, we stopped at Target to get them a snack. “We want the Kids $2.00 Hot Dog & Soda Special,” they yelled. Mary and I sat at a table across from them. As we ate, we enjoyed the view of our grandkids just being kids. I savored every second of hearing them laugh and watching them play as I finished my salad and hot dog. It was the best meal of my life.

Joseph and his family ask that you support The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.  To do so, please go to www.perinatalpro.com. 

Kudos to organizations behind the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS ACT!!!

More on the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS ACT......

I think it's interesting to know who the sponsors of the bill are.  I'd like to send many kudos to these wonderful organizations who "get it" and see the need for postpartum depression legislation.  The leaders of these organizations are doing what they can to help bring moms with PPD out of the darkness of their depression and isolation, to make sure they receive the care and support they need so their needless suffering can end.

Here they are:

Postpartum Support International
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
American Psychological Association
American Psychiatric Association
Children’s Defense Fund
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
March of Dimes
Mental Health America
American College of Nurse Midwives
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Suicide Prevention Action Network USA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
National Partnership for Women & Families
OWL- The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
National Women’s Law Center

Support the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act by signing online petition - it's EASY!

I've written about the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act quite a bit on this blog, and I've recently heard that an online petition is being circulated now to garner support for this wonderful bill that will have such a positive impact on new moms and in the realm of perinatal mood disorders in general. I want to spread awareness of this online petition and encourage anyone reading this to sign it. It's so easy. I just signed up to have a letter sent via email to my local legislator.

All you need to do is go here:  http://capwiz.com/ndmda/issues/alert/?alertid=12832296 

You'll want to scroll down to the bottom of the page where it says "take action now" and enter your zip code.  It couldn't be easier!

Meet Ivy Shih Leung - PPD Writer Extraordinaire!

I've had the pleasure to get to know Ivy Shih Leung, a new writer on the scene who is tackling PPD in a big way. Ivy's wrapping up a book that she started writing shortly after suffering from PPD following the birth of her precious daughter.  And she just started a new blog where you can learn more on PPD statistics while reading her touching prose.  Here's an excerpt from her latest post:

"Fueled by the passion to help other women, angered by public remarks like 'There is no such thing as a chemical imbalance,' and determined to help stamp out the ignorance about PPD, I set out 5 months after my daughter was born and 2 months into my recovery to start writing my book and get the message out that those remarks couldn’t be further from the truth.  Determined to learn more about this misunderstood, under-diagnosed and undertreated illness, I joined Postpartum Support International (PSI) in 2006 and attended annual conferences to network with and pick up the latest information from subject matter experts.  I also attended two PSI fundraisers in my old hometown of N. Caldwell, NJ, which was hosted by Sylvia Lasalandra, author of 'A Daughter’s Touch' and attended by Senator Robert Menendez, Governor Jon Corzine, former NJ First Lady Mary Jo Codey (PPD survivor), Senator Richard Codey, and Dr. Manny Alvarez of Fox News, among many others.  I plan to participate in the Sounds of Silence second annual run/walk fundraising event on May 9^th on Long Island.

Having PPD at a time when mothers are “supposed to feel nothing but absolute bliss”-one of the “motherhood myths” I touch on in my book-is so embarrassing and difficult to talk about, that most women will not tell their stories to people they know, let alone to the world. There’s this fear of being judged, criticized and labeled as crazy and, worse yet, unfit mothers.

Well, I am not afraid to tell my story, especially if it means helping other mothers. I want to make a positive impact by empowering women with knowledge about an illness that is more prevalent than people think. One out of eight mothers (that’s a rate of 20%) suffer from PPD.  And I’m not talking about the baby blues, either.  Approximately 80% of mothers experience what is referred to as baby blues-the tendency to be teary/emotional due to the huge hormonal changes that occur with childbirth-within the first couple of weeks postpartum and resolves on its own."

Please check out Ivy's blog for the rest of her story, as well as additional info on PPD.

Susan Dowd Stone shares hopeful thoughts on the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS ACT

Susan Dowd Stone submitted the following article to EmpowHer yesterday and I want to help spread this info around because it's so crucial that this much-needed legislation gets passed. Please read below and click here to find out more about Susan and the tremendous work she is doing.

--------------------------------------

Attention advocates of America’s mothers and the thousands of courageous women who are experiencing or who have survived a pregnancy or postpartum depression – you have not been forgotten. For among the significant challenges facing the 111th Congress, the issue of untreated maternal depression remains a top priority. One new Congressional focus is the rebuilding of national infrastructure. One might make the analogy that this should include enhancing the healthy infrastructure of our families by ending the preventable plague of maternal mood disorders which continues to ravage over 800,000 women – and their infants and families – every year. The long-term consequences of untreated maternal depression range from chronic illness, child learning disabilities, family stress and economic loss - to death.  

Congressman Bobby L. Rush has reintroduced The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act to the 111th Congress. During the 110th Congress, the legislation had over 130 bi-partisan cosponsors and passed the United States House of Representatives on October 15th, 2007 by a vote of 382-3. I was so very proud to be sitting in the Congressional Gallery on that triumphant day as a unified Congress validated the suffering of millions of American women and families by promising more support to help end this public health crisis. Congressman Rush never forgot the Chicago constituent – Melanie Blocker Stokes – who lost her life to this illness and whose tragic death inspired his decades long devotion to end maternal suffering.  

In the U.S. Senate, Sen. Robert Menendez has been similarly steadfast in his devotion and promotion of The MOTHERS Act. Initially based on New Jersey’s groundbreaking law inspired by PPD Survivor and former New Jersey First Lady Mary Jo Codey and spearheaded to passage by her husband N.J. State Senate President Richard Codey, the passage of this legislation has resulted in increased availability of services, public awareness campaigns and state-wide hot lines responsive to the crisis. While repeated attempts by Sen. Menendez and other senate leaders to pass the bill last fall narrowly missed, one pivotal result was that the national spotlight again became fixed on this incomprehensible Congressional stalemate. 

The resulting new waves of national attention and support for this bill and its clear, purposeful mission have further galvanized public support and public outcry for its passage. The research, education, public awareness campaigns and grants for treatment and supportive services requested in The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act will help to end the untold agony that too often goes unrecognized, undiagnosed and untreated. 

The countless women who walk through my practice door feeling shamed and marginalized for the medical illness they are trying to fight alone must know that these common disorders can afflict anyone - that these illness are treatable - that they did nothing to cause it - that they will be well again! That they are NOT ALONE!  

As president-elect Barack Obama - one of the bill’s initial lead sponsors – takes the nation’s helm this week, we anticipate a timely convergence of forces which will lend impetus to the bill’s passage this year.  

In addition to our legislative leaders, many thanks to all of you who have given voice and time and energy to turn this tide on the ignorance and suffering that has plagued American mothers and their families for decades – your moment is coming. With your renewed support and advocacy, we will pass The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act in 2009!  

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION Section 1: Short title of the bill- The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.  

TITLE I- Research  

• Encourages HHS to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions. Also, encourages a National Public Awareness Campaign, to be administered by HHS, to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis.  

• Sense of Congress that the Director of the NIH may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy (intended or unintended) in various ways, including carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and having an abortion. This study may assess the incidence, timing, magnitude, and duration of the immediate and long-term mental health consequences (positive and negative) of these pregnancy outcomes. 

TITLE II- Delivery of Services 

• Encourages HHS to make grants available for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression. (Entities): Makes grants available to public or nonprofit private entity, which may include a State or local government, a public-private partnership, a recipient of a grant under the Healthy Start program, a public or nonprofit private hospital, community-based organization, hospice, ambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health center, public housing primary care center, or homeless health center, or any other appropriate public or nonprofit private entity. o (Activities): Eligible activities include delivering or enhancing outpatient, inpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions. Activities may also include providing education about postpartum conditions to new mothers and their families, including symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources, in order to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment.  

TITLE III- General Provisions 

• (Funding): Authorizes $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009 and 2010.  

• (HHS Report): Requires the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.  

• (Limitation): The Secretary may not utilize amounts made available under this Act to carry out activities or programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are currently being carried out through the Dept of HHS.  

SUPPORTERS: Postpartum Support International Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses American Psychological Association American Psychiatric Association Children’s Defense Fund American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists March of Dimes Mental Health America American College of Nurse Midwives National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Suicide Prevention Action Network USA National Alliance on Mental Illness Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs National Partnership for Women & Families OWL- The Voice of Midlife and Older Women National Women’s Law Center

Time got away from me

I know it has been forever since my last blog post.  And it's not because I've not been in touch with the latest PPD-related news and issues.  It's just that life has been way too full and way too fast these days.....

So in the last month, my mom remarried (to a wonderful man who I just adore), the company where I work, EmpowHer, went out of beta and launched a fabulous new version of the site, and I've been dealing with my first holiday season post-divorce.  At the moment, I'm contemplating what it will be like to be alone on Christmas day.  (I had the kids with me over Thanksgiving.)  But I'm not too overly worried about it because if Christmas Day is anything like the rest of the year that has gone by so fast and furious, it will be a fleeting memory before I know it.  My New Year's resolution is to get back on track with my blog here and to stay focused on reaching out to women who need the best information and resources on postpartum depression.

Mother in Florida kills her three young sons and herself

My initial thought when reading the headline of this story was how tired I am of seeing these stories, over and over.  I felt this welling of frustration in my stomach.  Once again, more babies lives are destroyed, yet again, another mom takes her life ...  because we still have so much work to do to spread awareness of postpartum depression and its horrible life-threatening sister disorder, postpartum psychosis.  And authorities in Floral City, Florida, where this latest incident took place, are all scratching their heads, wondering why this young mother killed her babies and then herself.  Makes me want to scream.

Jenny's Light shines bright in the PPD world

I've just come upon a truly beautiful web site dedicated to an extraordinary young woman, Jennifer Gibbs Bankston, who became very ill with a perinatal mood disorder, and subsequently took her baby boy's life and then her own.  I cried as I read through the site and saw the photos of Jenny and her gorgeous son Graham.  I applaud the tremendous efforts of her family and friends who have created Jenny's Light and are reaching out to help prevent other moms and families from going through a similar, horrendous ordeal.  Please visit www.jennyslight.org.  

Pregnant on Prozac, Dr. Shoshana Bennett's latest book and a must-read!!!

I'm thrilled to announce a new book, "Pregnant on Prozac" by Dr. Shoshana Bennett, nationally renowned Postpartum Depression expert and past president of Postpartum Support International.  This new ground-breaking book will be released in January, 2009, and I personally can't wait to see it on book store shelves around the country.

I've written more than one post here on the issue of taking anti-depressants while pregnant and breastfeeding, and found out quickly that not only is it extremely controversial, but there are so many unanswered questions that continue to surround this issue.  And moms, as well as experts, end up lining up on opposite sides as we try to muddle through the confusion.

Well, now, thanks to Shoshana, there's finally a book that cuts through the fog and answers integral questions such as: Does the media exaggerate risks?  What of options such as tapering the dose? Most importantly, this book empowers each woman with the knowledge to make THE BEST decision for her and her family.  "Pregnant on Prozac" is for any prospective mother who has experienced depression or anxiety as well as anyone with a friend or loved one in this situation.  It's the first guide to separate the myths from the facts, and clearly spells out not only the possible risks of anti-depressant use (whether it be Prozac, Wellbutrin, or any of the other drugs), but also the lesser-known yet serious risks to both fetus and mother from untreated depression.  In the book, Shoshana also discusses natural treatment methods, which I believe is so very helpful and important, and haven't seen elsewhere.

The only problem now is waiting till January to scoop copies of this book off the shelves to give to every obstetrician and pregnant woman I know.....