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.
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.....
3 comments:
Hi Kristin,
Thanks so much for sharing this news of Dr. Bennett's new work. Women are desperate for more alternative care options and they deserve access to proven methods.
There is more and more work being done to address "the other 1/2 of our target population"- those who do not want to take medication. Because it is hard to find data on this emerging field, WellPostpartum Weblog has been created to outline current information. Information is also compiled on upcoming data, such as the $5 million study on nutrition and maternal mental health currently underway in Canada.
There is a list of books at www.wellpostpartum.com sharing leading advice by authors such as Dr. Dean Raffelock, Dr. Shoshana Bennett, and Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, as well. Dr. Kendall-Tackett has graciously offered a chapter on the herb St. John's Wort free to readers of www.wellpostpartum.com. Shoshana Bennett is slated to be a guest author, as well.
Dr. Raffelock is perhaps the leading authority in this arena and is has contributed a great deal to the success of this new blog. His book is a must-read for anyone wishing to know why nutrition is crucial to hormone balance and maternal mental health.
I appreciate that you are seeking out these answers as well. Keep up the great work- a balanced approach is necessary to reach all types of women.
Warmly,
Cheryl Jazzar
Hi, Cheryl!
Thanks so much for your comment. I couldn't agree with you more!!
I've been pretty outspoken concerning my personal doubts as to the safety of taking anti-depressants while pregnant or breastfeeding. I've done quite a bit of research and just don't see the studies that hold up to the possibility that SSRI's could ever be considered "safe" for a developing fetus or newborn. In any case, I absolutely respect every woman's choice, of course, and think it's so important to ensure that women have access to ALL options. I applaud Shoshana for delving into the alternative realm as thoroughly as she has so that we can bring these options more to the forefront.
Thanks again for taking the time to contribute here!!
Warmest regards,
Kristin
Kristin,
I was very lucky to meet Dr. Bennett yesterday. I attending this conference in Princeton, NJ http://www.ioffer.com/i/Fake-Pregnancy-test-53441841
I was waiting in line to sign in, and noticed the name tag of the woman who was speaking to me "Shoshanna Bennett, PhD." - It was a bit surreal - she is sooooo down to earth though and spoke about wonderful alternative therapies to use with pregnant and lactating women who are depressed.
I just had to share, I was so excited to be in the same room with these folks and I was with my boss who knows NOTHING about PPD or the researchers in the field so the awesomeness was lost on her...nothing like seeing celebrities when you are with people who don't know who they are... ;)
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