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.
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."

Acupuncture May Ease Depression During Pregnancy | EmpowHER - Women's Health Online

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." …

New urban low-income moms risk depression - UPI.com

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 19^th and 20^th

· Louisville, Kentucky:  March 4^th and 5^th

· Visalia, California: March 14^th and 15^th

· Missoula Montana: April 15^th and 16^th

· Indianapolis, Indiana: April 22^nd and 23rd

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/

Support Group Meeting Tomorrow

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group meetings resume tomorrow evening, February 3.

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.

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

Register here…

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

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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