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:
      POEM Youngstown

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:

  1. Jenny's Light T-Shirt
  2. Jenny's Light Winter Thermal
  3. Jenny's Light Kid's T-Shirt and onesies
  4. Jenny's Light Candle
  5. 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

Jenny's Light Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1 - iContact Community

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.

Manuscript: | Abstract | Full Text | PDF–42K |

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

 

By Plain Dealer wire services

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.

Decline in U.S. birth weights in recent years stirs concerns over longterm impacts | Health and Fitness - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com

Kim West: Sleep, Motherhood And Postpartum Depression

Kim West

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…

Kim West: Sleep, Motherhood And Postpartum Depression

Carole Sheehan's Profile | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online

Carole Sheehan

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

Carole Sheehan's Profile | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online

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:

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.

Ohio Department of Mental Health | Getting Treatment

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)

Temporary Assistance For Families Funds Available For Families Needing Short Term Mental Health And Substance Use Treatment Services

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."…

Health officials look at C-section rates in Ohio

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.'


Top Story
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.
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
Doctors encourage depression screening during and after pregnancy | Booster Shots | Los Angeles Times

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.
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.
Help is available for perinatal mood disorders | independent.gmnews.com | Independent

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: e-Update 2010

 

New Podcasts: Treatment-Resistant and Postpartum Depression

Decisions

All the Way Well: Alternatives for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Listen to the podcast
For people who struggle with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), the “usual” treatments like talk therapy and medication don't help much or don't help at all. The sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable persist. In this podcast, Glenn J. Treisman, MD, PhD, presents the notion that all treatment for mood disorders should strive towards the goal of being "all the way well." He discusses alternatives for treatment, consultation, and follow-up, and offers information that is invaluable for those with TRD or those who are supporting family and friends with mood disorders.

Dr. Glenn Treisman is professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and of Medicine, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is also the course director for the Educational Alliance for Consensus on Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), with which DBSA is a partner.

Postpartum Depression: More than Just the Blues
Listen to the podcast
Having a baby is a happy time for most women, but many women feel sad, afraid, or anxious after childbirth. While many women experience some mild mood change, or “blues,” during or after the birth of a child, 10-15% of women experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety…a more serious problem called postpartum depression (PPD). In this podcast, DBSA talks to Shoshana Bennett, PhD, a two-time survivor of life-threatening, undiagnosed postpartum depression, and Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW, an award-winning psychotherapist, author, and mental health expert. Ms. Stone has long been a staunch advocate for the Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act (H.R. 20, S.1375) legislation that will provide PPD public awareness campaigns, education, and funding for research and vital services. Learn more about this legislation and how to support it.

Susan Dowd Stone is chair of Postpartum Support International’s (PSI’s) President’s Advisory Council, as well as an adjunct lecturer on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work.
Dr. Shoshana Bennett is a licensed clinical psychologist and the former president of Postpartum Support International (PSI). She is also the author of several books, including
Pregnant on Prozac and Postpartum Depression for Dummies.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: e-Update 2010

My EmpowerHER Conditions Digest

EmpowHER - Improving Health. Changing Lives.
Postpartum Depression

herstoryvideo:
Reva Shares When She Noticed Her PPD Symptoms (VIDEO)
Posted Reva Jan 20, 2010 - 3:04pm
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herstoryvideo:
Reva Shares Advice For Women With Postpartum Depression (VIDEO)
Posted Reva Jan 20, 2010 - 2:57pm
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Friday, January 15, 2010

Healthy Mom, Happy Families: Understanding Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders

 

In the DVD Healthy Mom, Happy Family: Understanding Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders you meet four women – Nicole, Kim, Nina, Denise and husband David. All of the women have suffered and recovered from perinatal mood disorders.  In sharing their experiences, these women will help reassure and educate new mothers, their family members and friends, and health care professionals. Their poignant stories are complemented by up-to-date information from three experts in the field: PSI President Birdie Meyer RN, MA; Pec Indman EdD, MFT; and Caroline Little Cribari MD, PhD.
Movie length: 13 minutes.

Healthy Mom, Happy Families: Understanding Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders

What Is Postpartum Depression? - Katie Monarch, L.C.S.W. (VIDEO) | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online

 

Katie L. Monarch:
My name is Katie Monarch and I am the Project Director for the Post Partum Depression program at St. Joseph Hospital, and we applied for a grant, which we received through UniHealth Foundation for three years to start a formalized postpartum depression program. And so what we did with that is, we designed an educational component as well as a screening, and what we are currently doing is we screen 100% of our moms here at St. Joseph Hospital through our Bridges program using the Edinburgh Depression Scale.

When a mom scores moderate to high off of that Edinburgh Depression Scale then the program follows that mom either from the time that she goes home or at four to six weeks she will receive a follow-up call from us doing the Edinburgh Scale again, and then she also receives another screening at three to six months.

Moms are able to enter the program at any time, and once they enter the program they receive treatment through individual counseling with a licensed clinician once a week, as well as a support group with other moms on a weekly basis.

The Post Partum Depression program is a little bit different than say a Mommy and Me group in the sense that it allows the moms to talk about how they are feeling, are they enjoying this, how are they bonding with the baby, how are they getting along in their relationships, how is their anxiety, sadness, any type of feelings that they may have.

We also work with our OBs, pediatricians, and family practice doctors, and we actually notify the OBs if a mom scores at bedside moderate to high, sending them a letter that lets them know that when their patient comes in, please let her know that she did score moderate to high on the scale and to give the Post Partum Depression program a phone call.

OBs’ offices as well as pediatricians make referrals. If they see more that they think may need a little bit of help, if she is tearful, if she is just not coping well, if she is overwhelmed, exhausted, they call as well, and the program will make a referral.

Postpartum blues begin at anywhere from three days and last up to ten days. And those are days that you may experience feeling down, tired, a little bit overwhelmed, but you do see some light. You can see that there is some blue in the sky. You can find some joy in life and the things that you like to do. You can find some joy in the baby or with your significant other, but you have some periods where you are depressed and down, but you have periods where you are feeling good.

Postpartum depression can last anywhere from right after birth up to a year. That’s where you have more bad days than you have good. So if I wake up on a continuous basis and I am just extremely overwhelmed, I am anxious, I am not able to sleep, I am having some thoughts of “What have I done? Oh my gosh! I don’t know what to do with the baby. I am frightened.” I start having perhaps some panic attacks, I am breathing, I think I am going to be fainting, than you are probably going into a postpartum depression. And the depression is basically lack of sleep, like I said, feeling overwhelmed, feeling anxious, sometimes having some obsessive thoughts about something, perhaps maybe the cleanliness of the baby. I have to change the baby every hour on the hour, or thoughts such as, ”I am afraid to carry the baby because what if I drop her or what if she rolls off the bed,” even though she may be one or two days old.

So that’s the difference. The difference between postpartum blues is, it’s kind of a depression that all of us experience in our lives, where postpartum depression continues and it just doesn’t seem to get any better.

About Katie L. Monarch, L.C.S.W.:
Katie Monarch is the Project Director for the Post Partum Depression program at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, where she helped design an education-focused facility. At this hospital all new mothers are screened for postpartum depression through the Bridges for Newborns program using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

What Is Postpartum Depression? - Katie Monarch, L.C.S.W. (VIDEO) | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online

Monday, January 11, 2010

27% of low-risk births in Ohio done by C-section | chillicothegazette.com | Chillicothe Gazette

BY JESSICA ALAIMO • CentralOhio.com • January 11, 2010
More than a quarter of the low-risk babies born in Ohio to first-time mothers are born by a Caesarean section.
There is also a wide disparity in these numbers within state hospitals, according to 2008 data just released by the Ohio Department of Health. The rates range from 6.6 percent to 60 percent.
Women who undergo C-sections face the normal risks of surgery -- infection, blood loss and an extended recovery time. Babies have a greater chance of respiratory problems or injury from the incision, medical professionals say.
Genesis Bethesda Hospital in Zanesville is near the state average. Dr. Bijan Goodarzi, an obstetrician at Bethesda, said the hospital also handles riskier pregnancies referred from elsewhere.
The hospital does not perform vaginal births with a previous Caesarian.
C-sections are frequently justified in low-risk situations, Goodarzi said. Women or unborn children might have physical reasons why surgery is needed, such as a contracted pelvis or fetal hemorrhaging.
Others are determined on a case-by-case basis. Once, Goodarzi said, a woman's husband was ready to be deployed to Afghanistan. While she wasn't ready to go into labor, doctors determined a C-section could be performed safely, so she could give birth before her husband left.
Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark has one of the lowest rates in the state --16 percent.
Dr. Elizabeth Koffler, an obstetrician at LMH, said the rise in the national rate, which is at 32 percent, has to do with more women having twins or triplets and also maternal obesity.
Women who request a C-section tend to have a fear of labor and also a fear of future complications, Koffler said.
Unlike some hospitals, Licking Memorial does do vaginal births after Caesarians, she said.
At Coshocton Hospital, nurse Amanda Poorman said C-sections are performed when they are medically necessary or directed by the obstetrician.
"For most of our primary (Caesarian sections), moms have at least had a trial of labor," Poorman said.
Twenty-nine percent of births were done by C-section there, but only 20 percent are primary operations -- meaning 9 percent had previously given birth by surgery, Poorman said.
At Berger Hospital in Circleville, the number of C-sections has remained constant at about 17 percent, said Barb Poole, director of maternity services.
Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton has the state's lowest C-section rate among first-time, low-risk births. Of these 1,315 births, 88 were Caesarians, a rate of 6.6 percent.
The hospital specializes in high-risk births, so there are a number of specialists on staff, said Dave McKenna, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Miami Valley.
"Some hospitals are too quick to do C-sections," McKenna said. "Babies do better after vaginal delivery. There is a lower rate of admission to the neonatology critical care unit due to low rates of respiratory problems ... they're more likely to successfully breast-feed."
Jessica Alaimo can be reached at (740) 328-8576 or jalaimo@nncogannett.com.
27% of low-risk births in Ohio done by C-section | chillicothegazette.com | Chillicothe Gazette

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Percentage of C-sections varies greatly in different parts of Ohio | bucyrustelegraphforum.com | Bucyrus Telegraph Forum

By Jessica Alaimo • CentralOhio.com • January 9, 2010

More than a quarter of the low-risk babies born in Ohio to first-time mothers are born by a Caesarian section.

There is a wide disparity in these numbers within state hospitals, according to 2008 data just released by the Ohio Department of Health. The rates range from 6.6 to 60 percent.

Women who undergo C-sections face the normal risks of surgery -- infection, blood loss and an extended recovery time. Babies have a greater chance of respiratory problems or injury from the incision, medical professionals say.

Janet Runner, vice president of patient care services at Bellevue Hospital in Sandusky County, said even though the hospital's C-section rate is higher than the state average, the mothers and babies have good outcomes.

"We have a system in place where we check all C-sections for appropriateness," she said.

Many women request scheduled Caesarian sections. When that happens, doctors have a frank conversation with the mom-to-be about the risks involved.

Total C-sections in Sandusky County stayed level, around 22 percent, between 1990 and 1995. They dropped off between 1996 and 2000, and have increased since then, according to state data.

In the late 1990s, the hospital had midwives on staff. Since midwives spend more time with their patients, the mom is more likely to give birth vaginally.

But more recent research showed having a traditional birth after a previous Caesarian is harmful to the mother. So more women who had a C-section had the procedure for subsequent babies, said Dr. Elizabeth Koffler of Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark.

Now, only a limited number of hospitals allow vaginal birth after Caesarians, which has become a special procedure.

Dr. Cynthia Flynn at Memorial Hospital in Fremont said repeat procedures are driving the hospital's increase in C-sections.

Generally, the decision to have a primary C-section is made by the doctor, but the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports a woman's right to choose a C-section for any reason, Flynn said.

Dr . Guy Capaldo, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Women's Care in Mansfield, said the C-section rate in his area is on par with the national average.

Common reasons for low-risk pregnancies to end in C-sections are because the baby is too big, or because it is not coming out head first. The baby also may have fetal hemorrhaging or some other symptom that requires a quick delivery.

Capaldo said he tries to avoid C-sections simply by request.

"They come in, they want to pick the day, want to pick the time that they'll have their baby," Capaldo said.

When that happens, he discusses the risks of both birthing methods. Going into labor has far fewer risks, he said.

Dr. Bijan Goodarzi, an obstetrician at Genesis Bethesda Hospital in Zanesville, said C-section requests don't happen often, but when they do they're handled on a case-by-case basis.

Once, Goodarzi said, a woman's husband was ready to be deployed to Afghan-istan. While she wasn't ready to go into labor, doctors determined a C-section could safely be performed, so she could give birth before her husband left.

There is some evidence C-sections are better for the woman's long-term health. Brazil, Goodarzi said, has the highest level of C-sections. Those women also have lower instances of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton has the state's lowest C-section rate among first-time, low-risk births in the state. Of these 1,315 births, 88 were Caesarians, a rate of 6.6 percent.

The hospital specializes in high-risk births, so there are a number of specialists on staff, said Dave McKenna, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Miami Valley.

"Some hospitals are too quick to do C-sections," McKenna said. "Babies do better after vaginal delivery. There is a lower rate of admission to the neonatology critical care unit due to low rates of respiratory problems. They're more likely to successfully breast-feed."

jalaimo@nncogannett.com 740-328-8576

Percentage of C-sections varies greatly in different parts of Ohio | bucyrustelegraphforum.com | Bucyrus Telegraph Forum

Friday, January 8, 2010

Cincinnati Doula Training May 21-23, 2010

Posted by: "Pamela Bell"
Fri Jan 8, 2010 7:32 am (PST)

toLabor (formerly ALACE) Birth Doula Training May 21-23

Learn more about pregnancy and how to support birthing women and their
families at this 3-day hands-on training with experienced instructor, birth
advocate and doula Therese Hak-Kuhn. The training will be held at
Grailville in Loveland, just north of Cincinnati, Ohio on May 21-23. You
will receive resources and information about birth options and choices, all
necessary information to complete your full toLabor certification and begin
your career as a doula. Attached is a detailed brochure outlining the
organization and the training. A registration form is included in the
brochure and discounts are available for early registration and for doulas
previously trained with other organizations.
Please feel free to forward this information to lists or individuals you
think may be interested and help spread the word!
For further information or questions or if you are not able to view the
attachment, please contact Pam Bell at 513-313-2068 or
womenswisdom@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Pregnant women at risk for depression if stressed, lack social support | University of Michigan Health System

 Educating clinicians about how to identify and treat serious illness in expectant mothers is crucial to minimizing complications, researchers say

Meet the expert:
Christie A. Lancaster, M.D., M.S.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Some pregnant women are more likely to be depressed than others.

A new U-M study published in this month’s American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, finds that factors such as stress, mental health history, social support, and whether a pregnancy was intended, contribute to a woman being more at risk of experiencing depression than others.

“Depression has been associated with adverse outcomes for both mom and baby, including pre-term delivery, pre-eclampsia, sleep disturbances for both mom and baby, and maternal-infant attachment effects, in addition to its impact on the mother's daily quality of life,” says Christie A. Lancaster, M.D., M.S., a U-M clinical lecturer in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and lead author in the study.

Depression, experienced by as many as 12.7 percent of pregnant women, is a serious complication that, if identified, can be treated during pregnancy.

Lancaster and a team of researchers set out to study risk factors that could help doctors evaluate a patient’s risk for depression while pregnant.

The study consisted of a literature review that evaluated 159 English-language articles published between 1980 and 2008 conducted in the U.S., Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Those studies looked at risk factors such as maternal anxiety, life stress, history of depression, a lack of social support, unintended pregnancy, type of medical insurance, domestic violence, lower income, lower education, smoking, relationship status and poor relationship quality.

Numerous studies have been conducted regarding postpartum depression, but few have looked at risk factors for depression while a woman is pregnant.

U-M researchers felt that studies that concentrate on post-partum depression are not adequate in evaluating depression risks in pregnant women because factors such as pregnancy intention and social support may vary before and after the arrival of the baby. Therefore, those factors could potentially be related to depression at one time point but not another.

Because more organizations are now promoting screening women for depression during each trimester of pregnancy, researchers deemed it important to identify the risk factors.

Study results showed that maternal anxiety, life stress, prior depression, lack of social support, domestic violence, unintended pregnancy, relationship factors and public insurance have a high correlation with depressive symptoms in pregnant women.

Authors of this study say it’s imperative for practicing clinicians to be educated in identifying depression in pregnant women.

At the University of Michigan Health System, all pregnant patients are screened for depression during pregnancy even though not all women with a positive screening test will have or develop clinical depression.

“We are hoping that 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 that they obtain from the screening test,” Lancaster says.

Additional authors: Christie A. Lancaster, MD, MS; Katherine J. Gold, MD, MSW, MS; Heather A. Flynn, PhD; Harim Yoo; Sheila M. Marcus, MD; Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP; all of the University of Michigan Health System

Funding: This study was supported by Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program

Journal reference: doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.09.007

Pregnant women at risk for depression if stressed, lack social support | University of Michigan Health System