Check out Dr. Shoshana Bennett's PPD Video Series on EmpowHer

I have another video to share of a remarkable woman who has made tremendous strides in spreading awareness of PPD while treating and helping women who have it. Dr. Shoshana Bennett is the past president of Postpartum Support International as well as founder of Postpartum Assistance for Mothers. Also a renowned author and speaker in the realm of postpartum depression, Shoshana has devoted much of her adult life to educating new moms on the symptoms of PPD and how to be empowered to overcome them. In fact, she is a survivor of two life-threatening, undiagnosed instances of postpartum depression herself, which makes her a total expert in my book, even with her amazing credentials.

To view a video series of Shoshana discussing various aspects of PPD in short clips, click here. You can also see her work on her wonderful and informative web site.

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.....

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.....

Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D, author of Postpartum Depression for Dummies, joins our conversation!

I am so thrilled to have a comment on my blog from Shoshana Bennett, Former President of Postpartum Support International and Founder/Director of Postpartum Assistance for Mothers. How awesome is this!! Shoshana joins the conversation that developed from my posts on the use of anti-depressants while pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Here's what she says:

"As Anne Dunnewold expressed, the judgment needs to go. There is no one “right” way. Each mother is trying to make the best decision for the wellbeing of her baby, and whatever choice feels right for her needs to be respected and supported.

"In order to make the best choice she can for the welfare of her family, it’s also important for the mom to have solid information on the pros and cons when she make this important decision. Here are some facts which many are not aware of. Most medical professionals who have dedicated their careers to studying the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy agree that they have been focusing too heavily on one side of the issue for years. Now, instead of solely focusing on the possible unknown risk to the baby when the mom takes medicine, they are leaning much more on the KNOWN risks to the baby if the mom is NOT treated. Until a few years ago, most of the focus with respect to taking medications while pregnant was on the possibility of harming the baby. Today, since there is much more data gathered on the dangers of depression and anxiety to the developing baby, the focus has shifted to the possible harm from NOT taking medication if the pregnant woman needs it to feel like herself.

"It’s quite clear from the research in the last few years that depression and anxiety in pregnancy can chemically hurt growing babies. For instance, depression in pregnancy can cause low birth weight and preterm delivery, and anxiety may cause harm by constricting the placental blood vessels and raising cortisol. One thing is for sure that everyone agrees upon. If a woman is experiencing depression or anxiety during pregnancy, she and her whole family (big or little, born or not yet born) needs her to receive treatment. Treatment, of course, does not necessarily involve medication, it’s simply the topic of this discussion. On that note, we are learning quite a bit about effective non-pharmaceutical treatments for depression in pregnancy with no side effects except good ones!"

Shoshana S. Bennett, Ph.D. Author, Postpartum Depression For Dummies, http://drshosh.com/