CALDWELL – Caldwell College will celebrate its alumni’s professional excellence at its 25th Veritas Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday March 26, at the Essex Fells Country Club in Essex Fells.
Mary Jo Codey, Class of 1977, will receive the Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy Award; Nancy Costello Miller, an attorney and Class of 1979, will receive the Excellence in Jurisprudence Award; and Edward Collins, Class of 1998, will receive the Excellence in Financial Management Award.
The Veritas Award is the highest honor the college bestows on its alumni for their professional excellence.
Codey has worked to raise awareness about postpartum depression and breast cancer. During her time as First Lady for the state, Codey advocated on behalf of the governor’s newly created Task Force on Mental Health as she had suffered from postpartum depression.Codey helped to launch a statewide campaign offering evidence-based data, as well as local screening and medical resources for women, their families and health care professionals.
The campaign – “Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You’re Down” – featured Mary Jo in radio and public service announcements on TV.
As a result, New Jersey became the first state to commit resources to uninsured new mothers for postpartum depression screenings and treatment after the Postpartum Depression Screening and Education law was passed in 2006…
Friday, March 5, 2010
Codey, Miller, Collins receive awards from Caldwell College
Rosemount woman will compete for state crown
By: Nathan Hansen, Rosemount Town Pages
It took three years for Marie Kurle to feel comfortable talking to people about the depression she suffered after the birth of her second daughter. Now that she’s started, she can’t seem to stop.
This weekend Kurle will compete in the Mrs. Minnesota International pageant in St. Paul. Her platform will be postpartum depression, the impact it can have on a woman’s life and the need for increased understanding and better resources.
“I just want to be an example that you will get through,” said Kurle, a Rosemount resident. “It is not permanent and it is something that, you will have a life afterward.” …
Blogger Labels: Marie Kurle,postpartum depression,Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant
Read More: http://www.rosemounttownpages.com/event/article/id/24163/group/Communities/
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Screening for depression before, during and after pregnancy can help: Physicians believe this can make a difference to the mother and child [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
… "We have been screening at Magee almost four years now," added Dr. Wisner, an investigator at Magee Womens Research Institute and a multidisciplinary professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
"What we found is roughly 14 percent are positive for [postpartum] depression, so that's our rate in Pittsburgh, actually 14.1 percent," Dr. Wisner said.
"Of women that were in that 14.1 percent, when we talked to them and asked when did [the depression] begin, it began post-birth in a third of them, during pregnancy in a third, and before pregnancy in the other third."
The results were even more startling in a collaborative screening program Magee has with DuBois Regional Medical Center, located about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. "Their postpartum depression rate is 20 percent now," she said. The DuBois center screens for depression during pregnancy, as well, and those numbers are even more troublesome than those of depressed women postpartum: 29 percent during the first prenatal visit.
"Again the rural area has a higher rate of positive screens," Dr. Wisner said. "Some population groups are going to have a higher rate, so it's a big problem."
For example, according to the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, the rate of depression is higher among low-income families and more prevalent among parents who did not earn a high school diploma.
Depression can interfere with a woman's ability to care for her child. Interaction between mother and child can enhance a child's development if it is stimulating and responsive and nurturing.
"There is no question that if the mother is dealing with depression that you are going to have greater neonatal adaptation for the baby. There we're talking about what people typically refer to as bonding," said Ronald Thomas, director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine for the West Penn Allegheny Health System.
A doctor's ability to detect depression has limitations, according to neonatologist Nilima T. Karamchandani, chief of the Division of Neonatology, and medical director, of the Infant Apnea Center, both at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital.
Mother-infant bonding can be hard to measure, she said: "It is subjective to a certain point."
Entire families are affected, said Dr. David Wolfson, medical director of Children's Community Pediatrics, a network of pediatric practices and 104 pediatricians in the greater Pittsburgh area. It is affiliated with Children's Hospital.
"The issue is identifying these kids who are at risk because of parental depression. ... Anybody who thinks they're not seeing these families is just not recognizing [them]."
Each Children's Community practice either has access to, or has its own, behavioral therapist to provide family, child-centered, care.
The network also is planning a joint conference with women's health care specialists to learn more about postpartum depression and how to conduct screening. Dr. Wisner is among the speakers.
The local experts agreed more study was needed but that it shouldn't get in the way of screening and care.
"We know depression is not a good thing for the mother at least and probably not for the whole family, so let's give them the care while we do the research," Dr. Wolfson said.
Screening of pregnant and postpartum women can be as simple as observing their behavior, asking some questions, or administering any of several screening forms available for that use…
timestranscript.com - Take a mind-body approach to treating depression, anxiety | Dr. Martin Gleixner - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada
Dr. Martin Gleixner
Depression and anxiety are common mood disorders affecting many Canadians.
It can be debilitating, but it is treatable.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself," "Calm down," "Try to relax," "Get out more," or "Get over it," are common pieces of advice that only contribute to making the person feel even more helpless.
A January 2010 report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involving nearly 800 patients, examined the effectiveness of two commonly prescribed antidepressants, paroxetine (Paxil) and imipramine. This study found the drugs produced benefits only slightly greater than a placebo in patients with mild to moderate depression. Treatment alternatives without drug side-effects are therefore warranted.
Naturopathic care includes a medical assessment and diagnosis evaluation, including the interpretation of laboratory results. Treatments includes nutritional and exercise suggestions, the use of specific vitamins or minerals in medicinal doses as well individualized herbal or homeopathic combinations to address underlying functional or pathological imbalances.
Equally important is a mind-body approach that includes the integration of counselling practices and relaxation and stress management techniques.
Is it as simple as using natural remedies such as St. John's Wort or vitamin B12 commonly used to treat mood disorders? Although these remedies can be helpful, for a more deep acting and long-lasting effect it is important to consider a whole-body approach.
Whether it's seratonin (or other neurotransmitter) imbalances in the brain, hormone deficiencies, or inflammation in the body, the key is to first understand and address your own unique medical predispositions that are contributing to depression and anxiety.
In previous articles, I used the bucket analogy to explain detoxification and how one can prevent unpleasant symptoms after smoking cessation (see www.monctonnaturopathic.com for previous columns).
This same concept is also very useful to help us understand the underlying causes of mood changes.
Let me review this analogy again. Let's think of our body as a bucket (see embedded figure). Generally we are born in a state of health; our bucket is empty. As we go through life, a number of factors can interfere with our health. Perhaps it's a lack of sleep or exercise, a stressful job, pushing oneself too hard, feeling exhausted, excessive worrying or poor dietary choices that can contribute to increasing the level in our bucket. The level in our bucket represents our health status. Declining health comes with rising levels, an indication that the body is out of balance.
We are also exposed to a great number of toxins during the course of our lifetime. Our lung, kidneys, digestive tract, and liver can normally remove most toxins on a daily basis, but sometimes these detox mechanisms become inefficient or overwhelmed.
In addition, key systems in the body (such as the nervous or hormonal systems) can become imbalanced which can put the 'squeeze' on the bucket thereby significantly contributing to raising the level in the bucket. Deficient or inappropriate secretions of neurotransmitters or hormones are very important factors involved in both anxiety and depression.
Eventually, our bucket can overfill, leading to changes in our mood as well as other symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, skin reactions, muscle aches and pains, and unexplained weight gain (or loss).
So what can one do to address an overfilled bucket? We don't want to put a lid on the bucket by suppressing symptoms. Such quick fixes or band-aid solutions rarely work for the long-term and do not enhance overall health status. Rather, a more long-lasting way to improve our mood is to address all aspects that are causing our bucket to overfill…
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Date: Wednesday March 3, 2010
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Location: D.D. and Velma Davis Center, Boardman YMCA - Community Room
45 McClurg Road Boardman, OH 44512
Support Group Meetings will be held at this location the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month.
For more information contact Leslie at leslie@poemonline.org or (330)550-2838
That’s why we’re here.
www.poemonline.org
MedEdPPD.org March 2010 Newsletter
March 2010
Dear Colleague,
Numerous studies have linked infant temperament and childhood behavioral problems to postpartum depression in mothers, but a new study finds that mothers who are depressed during pregnancy are more likely to have children who become aggressive or violent during their teenage years. Dr. Dale Hay and colleagues at Cardiff University followed 120 British children from inner city areas and interviewed them at ages 4, 11, and 16. Teens whose mothers were depressed during pregnancy were nearly 4 times as likely to display antisocial behaviors compared with teens born to mothers who were not depressed during pregnancy. In addition, the researchers found that women who themselves were aggressive or violent teenagers were more likely to become depressed prenatally.
To learn more about the effects of perinatal depression in mothers, please view MedEdPPD's previously recorded teleconference, Effects of Maternal Depression, presented by Lisa Segre, PhD. This presentation includes information about how maternal depression can affect conduct in children and includes earlier research findings of Dale Hay, PhD…
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Health Choices Network: Support your community!
Dear Health Choices Supporter,
We want to touch base with our past members, prospective members and current members. If you haven’t joined Health Choices Network for 2010 we urge you to join and ask for your support to keep the only Mahoning Valley holistic health and living organization going. We have made some big improvements to our website to provide our members with their own profile pages so that they can tell prospective clients/patients/customers all about who they are and what they can do to help people on their journey. This spring, we will also be distributing our resource guide to thousands across the Valley so they can learn about all the great natural products and services right here. We have extended our deadline to allow for everyone to be able to be included in the resource guide, please turn in all forms and payments by March 15th. Payments can be made through our website for both membership and advertising or you can mail a check to our P.O. Box. Being a member and advertiser is a very inexpensive ways to advertise your business throughout 2010. We offer full page, half page & business card size ads in the resource guide. We will also be listing all of our advertisers separately on the website to give you even more exposure. Do you have lectures or events you are involved with? Email them to us and we can add them to our website calendar, if you are a member as well. The Health Choices Network is a not for profit organization with a volunteer based board that runs the organization to help small businesses like yours. We need your financial support in order to help you. For more information, call Kathy Frangos at 330-301-0356 or go to www.healthchoicesnetwork.com.
Upcoming Member Events in the Valley:
3/9/10 - Holistic Moms Network Meeting - Boardman Library – 6:30-8:30pm
“It's Your Money, Honey! Steps to Maintain Control of Your Financial Life”
Dan Betts, a Certified Financial Planner with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will share practical tips on how women can maintain or regain control of their financial lives. Call Maria Marucci for details at 330-533-4357.
3/11/10– Dr. Ted Suzelis, N.D. - Naturopathic First Aid for the Family
Dr. Ted Suzelis, N.D. will be presenting a lecture entitled, “Naturopathic First Aid for the Family” on Thursday, March 11th at 6:30pm at his Boardman office, located in the Southbridge Execute Park at 725 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite K-4, Boardman, OH. For more information or to register for the event since seating is limited, please call the office at 330-729-1350 or email info@ohiond.com. Free admission.
Acupuncture May Ease Depression During Pregnancy | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online
MONDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Women who experience depression during pregnancy may have another treatment option, new research suggests.Acupuncture May Ease Depression During Pregnancy | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online
The study found that women treated with depression-specific acupuncture had a 63 percent response rate compared to a 44 percent response rate in women treated with control acupuncture or massage.
"We tested acupuncture as a standalone treatment, and the results are very positive," said study author Rachel Manber, a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine Sleep Medicine Center in Redwood City, Calif. But, she added, because this is the first study of its kind, and the acupuncture protocol used was specifically designed for this study, "you always need replication of the findings."
Monday, February 22, 2010
New urban low-income moms risk depression - UPI.com
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Pediatricians and doctors who treat low-income urban new mothers are advised to be alert to spot postpartum depression, U.S. researchers said.
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found 56 percent of low-income urban mothers met the criteria of a major or minor depressive disorder at some point between two weeks and 14 months after giving birth,
"This is an unexpected, very high proportion to meet diagnostic criteria for depression," study leader Dr. Linda Chaudron of University of Rochester Medical Center in New York said in a statement. "This may be a group at high risk for depression." …
Thursday, February 18, 2010
PSI Perinatal Mood Disorders Trainings
Postpartum Support International 2-Day Certificate Course in Perinatal Mood Disorders is scheduled in five U.S cities this Spring. PSI has developed a nationally recognized unique evidence-based training program for health providers and social support networks. For more information about registration please visit the PSI website link at http://postpartum.net.gravitatehosting.com/News-and-Events/Trainings-Events.aspx
Please contact us if you would like more information about the trainings or would like to find out more about sponsoring a training in your community. Here is the information about scheduled trainings:
· Tampa, Florida: February 19th and 20th
· Louisville, Kentucky: March 4th and 5th
· Visalia, California: March 14th and 15th
· Missoula Montana: April 15th and 16th
· Indianapolis, Indiana: April 22nd and 23rd
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Support Group Meeting 2/17/10
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group Meeting
Date: Wednesday February 17, 2010
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Location: D.D. and Velma Davis Center, Boardman YMCA - Community Room
45 McClurg Road Boardman, OH 44512
Support Group Meetings will be held at this location the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month.
For more information contact Leslie at leslie@poemonline.org or (330)550-2838
It's okay to reach out for help
That's why we're here
http://www.poemonline.org/
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Support Group Meeting Tomorrow
Time:
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location:
D.D. & Velma Davis Center at the Youngstown YMCA
Street:
45 McClurg Rd.
Boardman, OH 44512
CLICK HERE for a map link and/or directions.
Support Group meetings will now be held in this location on the first and third Wednesday evenings of every month.
For more information contact leslie@poemomline.org or call 330-550-2838.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Fearful mothers finding help | The Columbus Dispatch
Support group, doctors take on depression
By Misti Crane
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Tonya Fulwider co-founded a local outreach group.
At a time when they expected to feel joy, these mothers feel terror, desperation and inadequacy.
Family members and doctors might not even notice, because the moms seem to have it together.
Postpartum depression is common -- some estimates say it happens after one in five pregnancies -- but it remains underreported.
The malady is a mood disorder that varies from woman to woman but can be characterized by sadness, anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. Some women have uncontrollable thoughts about how their baby could be harmed, such as falling out of their arms.
Many women go without support and treatment, which can include counseling, lifestyle changes such as getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and medication.
The new leader of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has made it his mission to boost recognition of postpartum depression by both doctors and new mothers.
"I wanted to bring it out of the closet for them, to let them know it's not them, it's a physical thing, and we can do a lot about it," said Dr. Gerald Joseph Jr., who works at the Ochsner Health Center in Covington, La. He took over as president of the influential doctors group in May.
He also wants his group to better study the disorder, including finding ways to help doctors accurately determine who is suffering and what type of help might be most beneficial to a particular woman.
This comes as welcome news to Tonya Fulwider, a leader in bringing recognition and support to Columbus-area mothers through the nonprofit group POEM (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms). She and two other women began their effort to create POEM in 2004.
The members of POEM want to help stop the damage that postpartum does to the mother, her child and her family. The group focuses on mom-to-mom support, Fulwider said.
The group also guides women to medical and mental-health professionals. And Fulwider works to educate doctors, nurses and others most likely to help women recognize what they're going through.
Heidi Sommer McAlister, a Columbus psychotherapist who specializes in postpartum depression, said recognition has increased in recent years, but misconceptions persist.
"When the public hears postpartum depression, they generally think of a psychotic mom that is going to hurt her baby. In eight years of therapeutic work, I've never had a case like that."
What she does see are women who have anxiety, including panic attacks. Some feel they're out of control and are terrified about their baby's safety. She sees women who are overcome by guilt, or weighed down by sadness.
"I was completely worthless. I wanted my husband to find a better wife. I wanted my children to have a better mother," said Jobie Krantz, a Powell woman who has experienced postpartum depression twice. She found POEM the second time, after the birth of her daughter Evelyn.
"If I was holding the baby I would think, 'What if I drop the baby on the stairs?' Things that weren't logical to the outside world."
She choked up last week as she explained how far she's come, how joyful she was to be preparing for Evelyn's second birthday party, which was yesterday.
Through POEM, and a combination of therapy and medication, Krantz has come out of the dark, she said. She now mentors other mothers…
Fearful mothers finding help | The Columbus Dispatch
For help, or more information about postpartum depression, call 1-614-315-8989 or visit www.poemonline.org.
“Moving Beyond Prenatal and Postpartum Depression” with Shoshana Bennett, PhD
Wherever you are in the world…join us for this Live Interactive Virtual Video Broadcast for Practitioners Physicians and Parents
“Moving Beyond Prenatal and Postpartum Depression”
with Shoshana Bennett, PhD
Clinical Psycholgist and Author of:
“Pregnant on Prozac”
“Postpartum Depression for Dummies”
“Beyond the Blues”
Saturday, February 06, 2010 from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM (PT)
Learn the critical KEY strategies that every new mother needs to know about coping with, and recovering from, Prenatal and Postpartum Depression
In the “Live Virtual Video Broadcast” with Shoshana Bennett, PhD we will explore how to:
Debunk the myths:
* “This should be the happiest time of my Life!”
* Discover creative ways to put the brakes on ‘Burn-out’
* Accept and Embrace the importance of Self Care
Also learn how to:
* Create an ideal sleep schedule
* Devise a co-op sleep plan
* Discover sleep solutions that work for all your challenges
And more!
We will also be taking questions and discussing topics from our participants from around the world!
Listen below to an audio invitation from Dr. Shosh to this event:
or, see a video invitation to the broadcast here.
To register: Click here
Time: October 28, 2009 from 11:30am to 1:30pm
Location: Hilton Seattle
Organized By: Heidi Koss-Nobel, MA
Street: 1301 6th Avenue
City/Town: Seattle, WA 98101
Website or Map: <mapquest>
Phone: 425-802-6607
Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)
Invite More People
Event Description:
Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D. (”Dr. Shosh”) is the author of Postpartum Depression For Dummies and co-author of Beyond the Blues: Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression . Her latest book Pregnant on Prozac was released on January 10, 2009. She’s also created guided imagery audios that are specifically focused on helping moms take care of themselves. National TV shows including “20/20″ and “The Doctors” feature Dr. Shosh as the postpartum expert and news stations consult her. Several publications including the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News have written articles on Dr. Shosh’s work. She’s interviewed regularly on national radio and television and has been quoted in dozens of newspapers and magazines such as the Boston Globe, Glamour, Psychology Today, New York Post, Self, Cosmopolitan, USA Weekend and the Chicago Tribune.
Dr. Shosh is a pioneer in the field and considered the “go-to” expert for postpartum depression. She is a survivor of two life-threatening, undiagnosed postpartum depressions. She founded Postpartum Assistance for Mothers in 1987, and is a former president of Postpartum Support International, www.postpartum.net . She has helped over 18,000 women worldwide through individual consultations, support groups and wellness seminars. As a noted guest lecturer and keynote speaker, she travels throughout the US and abroad, training medical and mental health professionals to assess and treat postpartum depression and related mood disorders. She earned three teaching credentials, two masters degrees, a Ph.D. and is licensed as a clinical psychologist. She is working to pass legislation that helps reduce the incidence and impact of postpartum mood disorders.
See more details and RSVP on Finding & Keeping Joy with Dr. Shosh
EMERGING TRENDS AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES IN MIDWIFERY
EMERGING TRENDS AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES IN MIDWIFERY
All Ohio Midwifery Forward 2010
February 5-7, 2010
Cherry Valley Lodge
Newark, OH
This is an excellent conference!
Just getting the word out for those who may be interested!
With Joy,
Caroline
Caroline Schleappi, CD(DONA), ICPD, CPCE, CHBE, IAT-PD
The Columbus Doula
The Hopewell Center for Perinatal Services, President
Online at www.HopewellPerinatalCenter.com
Phone 614.620.BORN [2676]
Call for Abstracts - Marce Society and PSI annual conference in October
Hello PSI Friends!
We are happy to remind you that The International Marcé Society and Postpartum Support International will hold their international meetings together in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on October 27-30, 2010. Below are details on submitting proposed presentations. The call for abstracts deadline is April 1, 2010.
You can submit your abstract directly from the Marcé conference website at www.marce2010.org.
Marcé Society President Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., M.S., has selected the overarching theme of the Marcé Society 2010 meeting: Perinatal Mental Health Research: Harvesting the Potential. Dr. Vivette Glover (UK) has agreed to chair the abstract review committee.
Structured abstracts will be considered (deadline April 1, 2010) for the following Presentation Formats:
· Oral Paper Presentations may be submitted by individuals. Sessions will consist of 20 minute presentations followed by discussion, and will be incorporated into a symposium with related papers. If papers are not accepted for oral presentation, they will be considered for poster presentations.
· Symposia. A chairperson must be named. The symposium must contain four papers, 20 minutes in length, with a 10 minute discussion period lead by the Symposium chairperson. The Chair may also present a paper. An overall abstract for the symposium, which provides the basis for the selection of papers, must be provided along with abstracts for each paper.
· Special Interest Group. This is a new format for the meeting that provides an informal discussion opportunity; no slides are allowed! Two organizers must be named to lead a discussion of a novel (not usually included in Marcé meetings) topic of interest to the membership. All members will be welcome to join the discussion.
· Posters. Posters are visual displays of program descriptions, research findings, clinical information or other topic content of interest to the Society.
The organizations:
The Marcé Society
The principal aim of the society is to promote the identification, treatment and research into all aspects of the mental health of women, their infants and partners during the perinatal period. Our interests span a broad range of disciplines and topics - ranging from basic science to health services research. The conference includes a wide range of topics of interest to the membership of the Marcé Society: 1) Promote discovery in the brain and behavioral sciences to fuel research on the causes of perinatal mental disorders; 2) Chart perinatal mental illness trajectories to determine when, where, and how to intervene; 3) Develop new and better interventions that incorporate the diverse needs and circumstances of women with perinatal mental illnesses and their families; 4) Strengthen the public health impact of research for women with perinatal disorders and their families. Presentations from representatives of all disciplines of health care and consumers of health care, from all countries, will be considered.
Postpartum Support International
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth. PSI was founded in 1987 to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional difficulties that women can experience during and after pregnancy. The organization offers support, reliable information, best practice training, and volunteer coordinators in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico, and more than 30 other countries. Working together with its volunteers, caring professionals, researchers, legislators and others, PSI is committed to eliminating stigma and ensuring that compassionate and quality care is available to all families. To learn more, call PSI at 800-944-4PPD or visit www.postpartum.net.
Accommodations: Sheraton Station Square
Pittsburgh is a lovely city that is situated on the confluence of three rivers (the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers form the Ohio River). Our meeting site is on the Monongahela River near that confluence. Shopping, a comedy club, river and city tours, and good restaurants are within walking distance.
Wendy N. Davis, PhD
PSI Program Director
503-246-0941
Biology at the root of debilitating perinatal and postpartum depressions | Health and Fitness - cleveland.com
By Angela Townsend, The Plain Dealer
The images are hard to miss -- and for some women, hard to live up to.
Magazine ads for high-end maternity wear -- and, it seems, every photo of celebrity pregnancies -- show images of women with impeccable hair and makeup and glowing smiles. Commercials for baby products depict an environment of easy bliss. Mom, Dad, baby and everyone else in their world appear healthy, happy, content.
It's no wonder, then, that anyone who falls short of these inflated images during and after pregnancy may feel a bit overwhelmed and guilty.
According to the March of Dimes, one in eight women suffers from postpartum depression, which can begin at any time within the first three months after delivery.
Unlike the "baby blues," a common condition that usually subsides within the first couple of weeks after birth, postpartum depression is real depression and can be so debilitating to the mother that it puts a newborn baby's health and care in jeopardy.
Perinatal (during pregnancy) and postpartum clinical depression are as severe and significant an illness as depression experienced by men and nonpregnant women, said Dr. Toni Johnson, associate director of behavioral medicine and counseling and director of emergency psychiatry services at MetroHealth Medical Center.
"It's a biological illness," Johnson said. "It has nothing to do with a person's character or desire to parent."
Women with a history of severe PMS are at higher risk for perinatal and postpartum depression -- and for depression during menopause.
"The reproductive cycle has a big impact on a woman's risk for depression," Johnson said. One common theory is that the hormones estrogen and progestin somehow influence brain chemistry.
That can provide essential clues as to whether a woman needs to seek treatment for depression, she said.
When Karen Gross of Lyndhurst begins working with a new client, she focuses immediately on the delivery.
"Sometimes, the way a woman's delivery goes [contributes to] postpartum depression," said Gross, a member of the Doula Network of Northeast Ohio. "Especially if it didn't meet her expectations -- if she wanted a natural childbirth but had to have an epidural or a cesarean."
Physical and hormonal changes, alone or coupled with life stressors, can precipitate the depression, Johnson said. For that reason, educating a woman early on about her reproductive life is important in the treatment of depression. But instead of focusing on changes in appetite, sleep and energy levels -- changes that often signal depression but that are hard to gauge in pregnant women and those who have just recently had babies -- physicians instead use another tool…
Susan Kushner Resnick lobbies for bill requiring screening for postpartum depression - The Boston Globe
Susan Kushner Resnick wrote a book in 2000 about postpartum depression because there wasn’t one when she needed it. After the birth of her second child, she had suffered four months of insomnia, anxiety, and unhappiness she knew wasn’t right but was undiagnosed by her doctor. Last week, the Massachusetts author spoke out in support of a state bill that would require screening for postpartum depression and referral for treatment. Her latest book, an account of a 1943 Montana mining disaster called “Goodbye Wifes and Daughters,’’ will be published March 1.
ELIZABETH COONEY
Q. Your memoir is called “Sleepless Days.’’ What was it like? …
Click to join postpartumyoungstown
It’s okay to reach out for help.
That’s why we’re here.
www.poemonline.org
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Postpartum Support International Free Phone Chats - DADS call too!
Posted by: "Wendy Davis" wdavis@postpartum.net
Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:32 pm (PST)
Postpartum Support International has free phone support chats each Wednesday
for Moms and the first Monday of every month for Dads. These sessions
provide a free forum for information, support, and connection. Our next Dads
call is coming up this Monday February 1.
THIS WEEK:
The Monday Chat for Men will be held on February 1, 8pm EST, facilitated by
David Miller, MD, PhD. David Miller, MD, PhD is an
obstetrician-turned-psychiatrist who specializes in women's mood disorders
with particular focus on Perinatal Mood Disorders. He is a founding board
member for Postpartum Education and Support, Inc. in North Carolina, and
maintains a private practice in Wake Forest, NC.
The Wednesday Chat for Women will be held on February 3, 9pm EST,
facilitated by Ilyene Barsky, LCSW. Ilyene Barsky, LCSW is a licensed
clinical social worker, PPD survivor, and founder of The Center for
Postpartum Adjustment,
This is a great opportunity to connect and receive support. You can join the
call to talk or just to listen to others discuss resources, symptoms,
options and general information with a professional member of Postpartum
Support International. You can talk from the privacy of your own home and
there is no need to pre-register or give your name. Sessions are
informational only and open to anyone with questions and concerns about
themselves, a loved one, friend or family member.
See this link for details.
http://postpartum.net/Friends-and-Family/Weekly-Chat-with-the-Experts.aspx
Postpartum Support Group
| Host: | |
| Date: | Wednesday, February 3, 2010 |
| Time: | 6:30pm - 8:00pm |
| Location: | D.D. & Velma Davis center at the Boardman YMCA |
| Street: | 45 McClurg Rd. |
Boardman, OH |
For more information contact leslie@poemomline.org
It’s okay to reach out for help.
That’s why we’re here.
www.poemonline.org
Friday, January 29, 2010
Supporting Women through Perinatal Loss A Workshop for Childbirth Professionals
Supporting Women through Perinatal Loss
A Workshop for Childbirth Professionals
Facilitated by Miriam Maslin
Sponsored by WholeCare Chiropractic
Wednesday, May 3, 2010
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
4434 Carver Woods Drive, Cincinnati, OH
All of us have experienced loss within our own lives - illness,
relationships, disappointments, shattered dreams, deaths - as well as with
our clients- unexpected outcomes...shattered dreams. These are the dark
places that few of us wish to visit, and yet, once we discover our inner
wisdom and strength, we can help to bring light and healing to our clients,
the people we love, ourselves, and the universe.
Miriam has been a presenter at both DONA and Birthworks
International Conferences and has been hosted in close to 50 US and Canadian
cities.
$125 Registration Fee (75% will be refunded for absence due to a birth)
Participation limited to 15 ~ Registration Deadline: March 11, 2010
5 DONA CEU's, 5 CAPPA CEU's, .5 MEAC CEU's (5 contact hours)
For information and registration: Miriam Maslin
E-Mail: miriam@miriammaslin.com ~ Tel: 516-478-9657
For directions: Ro Poggioli
E-Mail: lovelivenlaugh@hotmail.com ~ Tel: 513-886-2347
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wife, mother, grandmother, and retired interior designer, Miriam Maslin has
been a source of inspiration to many: young and old, secular and religious,
long-time searchers and those who are just beginning their own "Interior
Design". Her inner journey has taken her across the spectrum from the
beginning to the end of the life cycle -- she is a doula and has served as a
hospice volunteer. She incorporates both Polarity Therapy (a system of
energy/holistic healing) and spiritual teachings into her work. Miriam
has facilitated workshops for women's groups and professionals all over the
United States, Canada, and Israel. You can read more about her at
www.miriammaslin.com
Jenny's Light Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1 - iContact Community
No. 3, Vol. 1
Jenny's Light Newsletter - Volume 3, Number 1
Jenny's Light Links
Jenny and Graham's Tribute Video
Jenny's Light Candles and Apparel
Apply for the Jenny's Light Affinity Credit Card Today!!
Jenny's Quote of the Month:
“Ideas won’t keep. Something must be done about them.”
- Alfred North Whitehead
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In this issue...
1. $25,000 Grant Announcement and Application
2. Go Home Gorgeous™ Partnership Raising Awareness and Funds
3. 2nd Annual Jenny's Light 5K Run Announcement
4. Sale on all Jenny's Light Clothing 50% off!!
5. Follow Jenny's Light on Facebook and Twitter
6. Mailbag
7. Forward to a Friend- Rachel Swardson is our latest winner!
1. Jenny's Light Gives $26,000 in Grants!!
2010 Jenny’s Light Grant Applications are now being accepted through March 1st. We will award up to $25,000 total in grant awards to organizations that are helping increase awareness of perinatal mood disorders.
We are seeking proposals to fund projects or programs designed to increase awareness of perinatal mood disorders that address one or more of the following:
- Improve symptom knowledge and identification
- Improve knowledge of supportive resources
- Improve provider capacity to recognize and treat perinatal mood disorders
- Lessen stigma or misconceptions associated with perinatal mood disorders
Jenny’s Light is particularly interested in innovative projects that will reach women, families, and providers from diverse backgrounds.
Eligibility for Grants
Applicants must be non-profit organizations (exempt from Federal income taxes under section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), schools, governmental bodies, or under the supervision of such a group.
Funding
One or more grants up to a total of approximately $25,000 will be made to projects that best meet the above criteria.
Due date: March 1, 2010
Download Application
2. Jenny's Light and Go Home Gorgeous™ Team Up To Spread Awareness!
We are excited to announce that on January 1st, Jenny's Light began an awareness and fundrasing campaign with Go Home Gorgeous™, the Twin Cities' only in-hospital Postpartum Wellness service.
By working together, Jenny's Light and Go Home Gorgeous™ can truly be a force of wellness and empowerment for new parents everywhere. Promoting web traffic on the Jenny’s Light website will increase awareness of this potentially deadly disorder as well as advance the fundraising efforts that allow Jenny’s Light to continue it’s good works and outreach.
Go Home Gorgeous™ is the exclusive provider of Postnatal Body Therapy™ the only in-hospital wellness service in the country designed to help rest, restore and empower a new mother following delivery. This is the first step towards the self-care and self-awareness that is so critical to the health and happiness of a new family. Unsolicited feedback from labor and delivery nurses includes comments that new mothers who go home gorgeous sleep better, buzz less and request less medication. They have also reported an increase in attentiveness from new mothers regarding their discharge instructions. They are caring for themselves better. Read More...
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3. Announcing the 2nd Annual JENNY’S LIGHT 5K Charity Run
Sunday March 7, 2010 ~ Vasona Park ~ Los Gatos, CA ~ 10 am rain or shine!
· Very scenic, flat & fast 5k (3.1 mile course)
· Starts/finishes at Gateway Pavilion (near main park entrance off Blossom Hill Rd.)
· New for 2010… a Kids ½ Mile Fun Run! (ages 5&under – 12, $10, $20 race day)
· $25 entry fee before Feb 21, $30 Feb 21-Mar 5, $35 race day
· Awards to top male/female in age groups + top male/female baby joggers. Walkers welcome too!
· Silent auction & great raffle for all participants!
· Interested in volunteering or sponsoring this event, please contact becky@beckylavelle.com
· REGISTER TODAY at www.jennyslight.org or http://www.active.com/running/los-gatos-ca/the-2nd-annual-jennys-light-5k-charity-run-2010
**All proceeds go directly to Jenny’s Light**
4. Sale on all Jenny's Light Clothing 50% off!!
We have teamed up with Gear West Bike & Triathlon to bring you the official Jenny's Light clothing line. Gear West Bike and Triathlon has been serving the "tri-geek" and "roadie" community for over 13 years. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here to serve you and your needs! Feel free to stop in, or shop online. All proceeds go directly to Jenny's Light!!!
We now offer the following items:
- Jenny's Light T-Shirt
- Jenny's Light Winter Thermal
- Jenny's Light Kid's T-Shirt and onesies
- Jenny's Light Candle
- Jenny's Light Water Bottle
These items will make great holiday gifts and the sale is running from Thanksgiving through Christmas so order soon before they run out!
Short-sleeve tee as seen on Jenny's twin-sister Becky Gibbs Lavelle in the October 2008 issue of Glamour Magazine.
Also, visit the Jenny's Light Shop to see all of our items, including our candle, jewelry, stamps, mugs, etc...
7. Facebook & Twitter
Facebook Update
We currently have over 6,600 members of our Jenny's Light "Cause Page" and have raised almost $24,000. We are currently working on raising money to produce and distribute our informational cards directly to new mothers and families at the hospital.
Special thanks to everyone who has donated on Facebook as well as those who've raised money through the Facebook birthday fundraising application. If you have a Facebook profile, please join our cause, set-up your own birthday fundraiser and help us grow by recruiting your friends!
Thank you for your support!!!!
You Now Also Follow Us On Twitter
Jenny's Light is now on Twitter. Sign-up today to follow our weekly (and sometimes more) "tweets". It's easy and free to join. This is just another way we are trying to reach out to as many people as possible with our message. Click here to get started.
8. Website Update
Please visit our site and take a look around. You will notice several new features and additions. We are working on many more for October so be sure to check back often!
Website Stats:
Overall (Since website launched on April 1, 2008)
Visits: 60,357 from 114 countries
Absolute Unique visitors: 47,228
Pageviews: 241,098
Pages/visit: 4.10
Avg. time on site: 3:41
9. Mail Bag
We greatly appreciate your letters and emails of support, feedback and personal PPD stories. This month, we'd like to pass along these kind words:
Hello, my name's Danielle.
I first became aware of Jenny's Light (site) almost two years ago when I was working for a bike company (Gregg's Green Lake Cycles) that stocked clothing from a really cool bike company that I can't recall the name of now. But I remembered going to their site and seeing a link for Jenny's Light and it's stuck with me for a long time. I work in Death Care now as a receptionist and I also make memorial jewelry particularly for mothers who've lost young children. I would like to ask you if it's OK to donate a percentage of the proceeds of my memorial pieces to Jenny's Light and if it's permissable to list that on the information that I package my pieces in?
Thank you for your consideration!
Danielle
10. Forward to a Friend- Rachel Swardson Is Our Latest Winner!
Rachel will receive a Jenny's Light short-sleeve vintage t-shirt for forwarding last month's newsletter to the most people using the Forward To A Friend feature at the bottom of each newsletter. Thanks Rachel!
Pass It On! Please use the Forward To A Friend feature at the bottom of this newsletter to forward to your friends and loved ones. Every month we will send a special gift to the person who forwards that month's newsletter to the most people. Thank you!
Become a supporter today!
©2009 Jenny's Light — All rights reserved.
Site designed and managed by NADA advertising
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Mother Reach offers support for postpartum depression - Woodstock Sentinel Review - Ontario, CA
Posted By HEATHER RIVERS, SENTINEL-REVIEW
It can feel like there is no way out of the darkness.
When you're suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) or postpartum mood disorders (PPMD) --a term used to describe women with symptoms of PPD -- it's tough to think it will ever end, said Heidi, who did not want to use her real name.
But now the pregnant mother of an 11-month old child says a Woodstock support group called Mother Reach has helped her understand that she's not going to feel this way forever.
"It shows you there is a light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
Heidi said she was diagnosed with PPD six months after the birth of her first child and was referred by the Oxford County public health unit to the drop-in support group.
"I thought I'd come here once," she said.
Typically, Heidi had felt uncomfortable in other "mom groups" where the other mothers made being a mom look easy, she said.
Heidi said her symptoms included nighttime panic attacks and constant worry "for no good reason."
"I was crying a lot during the day," she said. "All of a sudden, I couldn't cope with anything. I'd stand in the grocery store and couldn't decide between two cereals."
For Teresa, who has also changed her name to protect her identity, PPD left her feeling completely isolated…
Mother Reach offers support for postpartum depression - Woodstock Sentinel Review - Ontario, CA
The Progress News: Foundation seeks to educate about postpartum depression
By Wendy B. Lynn Staff Writer
In 2007, Jennifer Mae Bowers lost her fight with postpartum depression in the most tragic way possible. However, out of that tragedy her family has found new hope by forming the Jennifer Mae Bowers Memorial Foundation for Postpartum Disorders to "create something positive from the tragedy that impacted so many of Jennifer's friends and family," according to her husband, Jeremy Condon.
Recently, the foundation presented a check to the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library as the first of two $5,000 grants to be presented to the library this year and next.
Paula Marshall, director at the library, said Condon first approached her about the grant and they discussed various ideas about how the money could be used at the library. Ultimately it was decided that the money would be used for parent and family resources and self-help, especially in the area of depression and postpartum depression disorder. The resources will not only be geared toward adults, but will also include information for children in the form of picture and storybooks.
The disorder is "very serious and very common, one in eight women experience it," said Condon, adding that postpartum disorders are dangerously complicated health issues that involve not only the mother, but also the husband, baby and the other members of the family.
The grant came about, said Condon, because his wife valued education and education is the foundation's core because it can mean the difference between tragedy and recovery. The foundation, a 501(c)(3), was formed by Jennifer Bowers' family using what they learned to advocate for proper treatment of the disorder…
The Progress News: Foundation seeks to educate about postpartum depression
Stress, Anxiety Can Up Risk of Depression in Pregnancy | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online
(HealthDay News) -- Stress, history of depression, lack of social support and unintended pregnancy are among the major factors that contribute to increased risk of depression in pregnant women, a new study shows.
Other important factors are maternal anxiety, domestic violence and having public insurance coverage, said the University of Michigan researchers, who reviewed 159 studies conducted between 1980 and 2008.
The study appears in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Depression, which occurs in about 12.7 percent of pregnant women, can cause problems for mothers and babies, including pre-term delivery, preeclampsia, sleep disturbances and disrupted mother-infant bonding.
It's important for physicians to know how to identify depression in pregnant women, said the study authors, who noted that not all women who test positive on depression screening tests have or will develop clinical depression.
"We are hoping that [health-care] providers can use the presence or absence of risk factors such as those identified in our study to enhance their assessments for depression in addition to the information they obtain from the screening test," study author Dr. Christie A. Lancaster, a clinical lecturer in the obstetrics and gynecology department at U-M, said in a news release.
Stress, Anxiety Can Up Risk of Depression in Pregnancy | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online
An Emerging Best Practice Model for Perinatal Depression Care
Dorothy K. Y. Sit, Cheryl Flint, Donald Svidergol, Joanne White, Michelle Wimer, Bettina Bish, and Katherine L. Wisner
Psychiatr Serv. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 January 27.
PMCID: PMC2811874
Published in final edited form as: Psychiatr Serv. 2009 November; 60(11): 1429–1431. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.60.11.1429.
Ohio questions high rates of C-sections | The Columbus Dispatch
By Harlan Spector
The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND -- New data on cesarean births in Ohio point to a troubling trend of unnecessary surgeries.
The state's new hospital-performance Web site, Ohio Hospital Compare, shows that more than one-quarter of first-time mothers considered unlikely to need cesarean surgery underwent C-sections anyway in 2008. The figures are consistent with a national cesarean birth rate that has climbed steadily since 1996.
Cesarean surgery is called for when there are problems, such as the baby is turned in the wrong direction. But across the nation, almost one in three births is now by C-section, and criticism has grown from health experts and birthing organizations.
Ohio health officials, under a mandate to collect and report hospital quality measures, are trying to put a finger on the problem by looking at C-section rates among women least likely to need one. They excluded mothers who have complicating issues.
Among 117 hospitals, they found wide variations in C-section rates for these low-risk women. Experts said that, at the very least, the data raise questions about whether hospitals with high C-section numbers are doing too many surgeries, which heightens health risks to mother and child and lengthens hospitalizations. Seven hospitals in the Cleveland-Akron area had rates exceeding 30 percent, which are among the highest in Ohio.
Ohio questions high rates of C-sections | The Columbus Dispatch
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Decline in U.S. birth weights in recent years stirs concerns over longterm impacts | Health and Fitness - cleveland.com
January 26, 2010, 4:30PM
HEALTH ROUNDUP
A glance at recent news
Birth weights decline in recent years
The study: Researchers from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute's Department of Population Medicine, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, analyzed data from nearly 37 million babies born full-term in the United States between 1990 and 2005.
Finding: The researchers had expected to see continued increases in birth weights, the result in part of women being older, weighing more and smoking less. Instead, they found that birth weights decreased an average of 52 grams (1.83 ounces) between 1990 and 2005. Birth weights of infants born to a subset of women previously considered to be at low risk (white, well-educated, married, nonsmoker, early prenatal care, vaginal delivery) weighed an average of 79 grams (2.78 ounces) less at birth during the study period.
Significance: The decline in birth weight might be evidence of serious issues on the horizon. Babies born small face short-term and long-term complications such as increased hospitalization and higher risk for chronic diseases in adulthood.
Comment: "A logical conclusion might be that trends in obstetric management, such as greater use of cesarean delivery and induction of labor, might account for these decreases in birth weight and gestation length," said Dr. Emily Oken, assistant professor of population medicine at Harvard. "However, our analysis showed that this was not the case."
Where published: The February issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Funding: The National Institutes of Health.
Kim West: Sleep, Motherhood And Postpartum Depression
Kim West, LCSW-C, known as "The Sleep Lady," has helped thousands of tired parents gently teach thei ...
I see postpartum depression (PPD) a lot in the families who come to me with sleep issues. Exhaustion is a risk factor for depression. And depression makes it harder to sleep coach successfully, which in turn breeds more exhaustion. Women experiencing postpartum depression don't always recognize the signs so it's important for family and friends to be on the lookout.
Postpartum depression is common and doesn't always start in the first few weeks after delivery. It's not good for the mom, and it's not good for the baby, who may have more trouble forming a secure bond with a depressed, unresponsive mother. Postpartum depression has biological components. Pregnancy hormones plummet, affecting brain chemistry; a history of depression adds to the risk. Exhaustion, stress, and new-mom anxiety play a role. Depression does not mean you are a bad mother, an unloving mother, a failed mother. It does not mean that you will not feel better and enjoy motherhood. It does not even mean you will experience a similar depression after every birth (although you are at risk). Check out www.postpartum.net for resources, or call the hotline, 1-800-944-4PPD.
Better sleep, exercise, nutrition, and social support can help. You should also have your ob-gyn or family doctor rule out a thyroid problem. You may also need therapy, drugs or alternative treatments, support groups, or some combination thereof. Doctors can help you find an antidepressant, if necessary, that you can take while breastfeeding…
Carole Sheehan's Profile | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online
Name: Carole Sheehan, M.A., R.N.
My Web site: http://www.carondelet.org/
Carole Sheehan is a nurse at Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona and the founder of the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition. She works to raise awareness about PPD and introduce screening as a method of prevention through prenatal visits. She also encourages the distribution of information about PPD to pregnant women so they have the tools and resources to get help when they need it.
My Updates
video: What Should A Woman Do If She Thinks She Has PPD? - Nurse Sheehan (VIDEO)
Posted by Carole Sheehan on Jan 25, 2010 - 11:14am
0 comments 36 reads
video: What Is Postpartum Depression? - Nurse Sheehan (VIDEO)
Posted by Carole Sheehan on Nov 29, 2009 - 2:58pm
0 comments 214 reads
video: What Motives You To Advocate For Women With PPD? - Nurse Sheehan (VIDEO)
Posted by Carole Sheehan on Nov 29, 2009 - 2:51pm
0 comments 111 reads
herstoryvideo: Carole Shares What Triggered Her PPD Symptoms (VIDEO)
Posted by Carole Sheehan on Nov 29, 2009 - 2:39pm
0 comments 182 reads
video: How Common Is Postpartum Depression? - Nurse Sheehan (VIDEO)
Posted by Carole Sheehan on Nov 29, 2009 - 2:33pm
0 comments 121 reads
Treating depression by stimulating brain's pleasure center
Even with the best of available treatments, over a third of patients with depression may not achieve a satisfactory antidepressant response. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a form of targeted electrical stimulation in the brain via implanted electrodes, is now undergoing careful testing to determine whether it could play a role in the treatment of patients who have not sufficiently improved during more traditional forms of treatment…
» Read full article on[ScienceDaily: Mental Health Research News]
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ohio Department of Mental Health | Getting Treatment
Getting Treatment
Finding the necessary treatment and support is essential in helping people move forward in their journeys toward recovery. Ohio’s public mental health system includes approximately 500 community mental health agencies. To find a list of certified and licensed providers in your region:
- browse our interactive map of providers or
- view our resource list to find other agencies and materials that can help.
Another place to access a wide variety of important information is Network of Care, which includes the following resources: a comprehensive service directory; links to pertinent web sites from across the nation; an easy-to-use library; a political advocacy tool and community message boards.
Temporary Assistance For Families Funds Available For Families Needing Short Term Mental Health And Substance Use Treatment Services
In the face of growing need for mental health and substance abuse treatment, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are notifying states about how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds can be used to help families in their communities in need of short term mental health or substance use treatment services.
The grant notification includes an explanation of how resources under the TANF Emergency Fund - a provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - can be used to support such services.
The TANF block grant provides states and tribes federal funds and wide flexibility to develop time-limited assistance programs, employment services for parents, and a broad array of specialized services - including mental health and substance abuse services - for struggling families in their communities. For example, a jurisdiction can use federal TANF funds to provide appropriate short-term counseling services such as mental health services.
"Now is a time of great stress for low-income families, putting those already vulnerable to mental health and substance abuse issues at even greater risk," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Carmen R. Nazario. "We recognize that the challenges facing families looking for a job are complex, and we are committed to building as many partnerships as possible in providing support to Americans in crisis."
"ACF and SAMHSA are working together to help ensure that TANF funds are available to states to support substance abuse and mental health services," said SAMHSA Administrator, Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. "These funds can be used to provide relief to families coping with these disorders and trying to achieve self-sufficiency. All too often mental and substance use disorders are overlooked and go untreated which undermines the potential for recovery."
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)
Ob-Gyns Encouraged To Screen Women For Depression During And After Pregnancy
Screening for depression during pregnancy and afterward benefits women, infants, and families, according to a new Committee Opinion issued today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (the College) and published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology...
» Read full article on[Mental Health News From Medical News Today]
Monday, January 25, 2010
Phlebotomy Technician Schools » 50 Foods Every Pregnant Woman Should Eat
Carolyn Friedman
Most people are already very familiar with the foods that pregnant women must avoid – alcohol, excess caffeine, raw seafood, and the like – but few take pause to think about what they should consume. Experts generally recommend that pregnant women stick with the portions recommended by the USDA’s Food Pyramid guidelines, with specific boosts to certain nutrients such as iron, folic acid, fiber, Vitamin C, protein, calcium, Vitamin A, magnesium, and a few others. These extremely valuable substances help both mother and child healthy and safe by promoting blood flow, building tissues in the brain and other organs, fortifying the immune system, strengthening bones and teeth, allowing for better vitamin absorption, and numerous other benefits. The following foods ought to find their way into a pregnancy diet, even if some of them must be ingested in moderation or within certain parameters.
These are, of course, merely suggestions. The best way for a pregnant woman to figure out what dietary path is right for her always has been and always will be consultation with a healthcare professional. Doctors and nurses are far better equipped to dispense advice based on a woman’s age, possible food restrictions, and overall health, as pregnancies and those experiencing them differ from instance to instance.
Phlebotomy Technician Schools » 50 Foods Every Pregnant Woman Should Eat
Health Workers Trained To Take Emotions More Seriously May Prevent Depression Among Patients
For most women, having a baby is a joyful experience. But it is not unusual for new mothers to be hit by grief, anxiety and depression. Global figures suggest that between 13 and 16 percent of women giving birth for the first time are struck by depression. For the second birth, figures boost to a worrying 30-40 percent...
» Read full article on[Pregnancy / Obstetrics News From Medical News Today]
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Health officials look at C-section rates in Ohio
By HARLAN SPECTOR, The Associated Press 2:21 PM Friday, January 22, 2010
Erin Denney, a 38-year-old mother of six, would not be counted in the new state measure because her first three children were born by C-section. But Denney said she ran up against cultural resistance when she sought to deliver her later children vaginally.
Her story highlights another reason C-section rates are high. A growing number of hospitals nationwide have banned vaginal births after C-section, due to risk of rupture of the uterus. That risk for women with the most common type of incision is 0.2 percent to 1.5 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic's online "Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Guide."
About one-quarter of obstetrician-gynecologists said in 2009 that they stopped performing vaginal deliveries after C-section because of liability concerns, according to a professional society survey.
The practice is driving the national C-section rate, according to the International Cesarean Awareness Network.
Denney, who lives in Parma Heights, said she had to search hard to find providers that would allow her to give birth naturally.
"They will push you to have a C-section," she said. "It's actually safer to VBAC than to have a C-section."…
Friday, January 22, 2010
WebMD Newsletter: Depression
Friday , January 22, 2010
In This Issue:
• Migraines, Depression: A Genetic Link?
• Unexpected Benefits of Depression Treatment
• 'Tired, beaten and truly lost.'
Is Your
Antidepressant Working?
Antidepressants aren't one size fits all. That means what helps one person may not work
for you. The Truth About Antidepressants
Also See:
• Beating Antidepressant Side Effects 
• How Different Depression Drugs Work
• Taking Antidepressants Wisely
Health News & Features
Migraines, Depression: A Genetic Link?
A new study shows that migraine sufferers are more likely to have
depression. Why the connection may lead to new treatments.
Also See:
• Surprising Headache Triggers: Your Boss (and More)
• Recognizing Symptoms of Depression
Unexpected Benefits of Depression Treatment
More sleep. Better love life. Improved health.
More ways depression treatment may help you.
Also See:
• 5 Reasons People Avoid Depression Treatment
• Common Myths About Depression
More From WebMD:
• Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help Bipolar and Depression?
• 9 Painful Symptoms of Depression
From The WebMD Network
• Suicide: Warning Signs and Ways to Lower Risk
Members Are Talking
'Tired, beaten and truly lost.'
"I vowed to never be like my suicidal mother," says this WebMD member. Now she's "out of control." She seeks help on the boards.
Read more on the Depression Support Group message board.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Doctors encourage depression screening during and after pregnancy | Booster Shots | Los Angeles Times
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are peak times for women to experience depression, and routine screening for the condition should be a priority, say the authors of an opinion paper issued today in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.Doctors encourage depression screening during and after pregnancy | Booster Shots | Los Angeles Times
An estimated 14% to 23% of pregnant women experience depression, while 5% to 25% will have postpartum depression. The illness carries serious repercussions for both mother and baby, noted the authors of the paper. During pregnancy, depression raises the risk of preterm birth and other adverse outcomes. After the birth, the mother is not only impacted by depression but infants can suffer cognitive, neurologic and motor skill delays because the mother's illness affects her interactions with her baby.
"We recognize that postpartum depression is a serious health issue that we need to direct more attention toward," Dr. Gerald F. Joseph Jr., president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a news release. "Screening for depression during pregnancy is also important to identify it early on and to help prevent a worsening of the condition after delivery."
-- Shari Roan
Help is available for perinatal mood disorders | independent.gmnews.com | Independent
The time when families begin preparing for the arrival of a new baby can be a time of joy, filled with hopes, dreams and high expectations for the future.Help is available for perinatal mood disorders | independent.gmnews.com | Independent
While many women feel this elation throughout their pregnancy, for some women, the periods before, during and after pregnancy are anything but happy, according to the Regional Perinatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
The consortium assists with the orderly provision and coordination of all hospital and community-based maternal and child health services within the region. This includes patient care from the prenatal phase through delivery and pediatric primary care.
According to the consortium, up to 80 percent of new mothers experience at least a brief episode of the “baby blues” — feelings of sadness, anxiety, loneliness or moodiness — within the first few days of giving birth. After a few weeks these symptoms typically disappear.
When symptoms persist or deepen, they may be a sign of postpartum depression or another perinatal mood disorder, a press release from the consortium states.
Perinatal mood disorders (PMD) include: anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorders and postpartum depression. The depression may be mild, moderate or severe.
According to the consortium, PMD is serious but treatable, and does not mean anything is wrong with a woman’s ability to be a mother.
PMD affects one in every eight to 10 women, but many people are uninformed. Any woman who has recently had a baby, ended a pregnancy, or has stopped breastfeeding can be affected by PMD, the press release states. The disorders usually occur within the first year after childbirth, miscarriage or stillbirth, but the signs of depression can appear earlier, when woman is pregnant or even planning to be.
While the exact cause is unknown, contributing factors may be biological, psychological or hormonal, according to experts. Family members can play an important role by recognizing the warning signs of PMD, helping the woman seek help and providing support.
The warning signs are different for everyone but may include the following: trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; feeling irritable, angry, nervous or exhausted; lack of interest in the baby, in friends and family; feeling guilty, worthless, hopeless, being a bad mother; crying uncontrollably; hypervigilance; thoughts of harming the baby or herself.
Perinatal mood disorders cause distress and adversely affect daily functioning and personal relationships. If left untreated, they can have long-term adverse effects on the woman and baby. Fortunately even the most severe cases are highly treatable, but the earlier treatment begins, the more effective it is. A woman’s obstetrician/gynecologist, family physician and pediatrician can all be effective starting points for assessment and referral for treatment.
Women affected by perinatal mood disorders have numerous resources available to them. In the Monmouth County area, they can contact the Regional Perinatal Consortium at 732-363-5400 for more information.
The N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services provides a 24-hour statewide PMD helpline, 1-800-328-3838,
answer questions and provide information on resources, as well as a comprehensive informational website, www.njspeakup.gov.
