BlogHer - Brooke Shields promotes postpartum depression legislation - Comments

Story of hope

orato — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:44:42 -0500

Here is a story of hope from a woman wo overcame postpartume depression:

http://www.orato.com/node/2886

New Mothers need more than flowers and cards, they need federal

congressionalblackcaucus — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:44:15 -0500

Five months after giving birth to a healthy child, Melanie Blocker Stokes, beautiful and accomplished in her professional and private life, decided to jump off a high rise building to her death. Melanie suffered from postpartum depression, which is a mental illness that afflicts millions of women nationwide. It is a devastating mood disorder which strikes many women during and after pregnancy and is the single most frequent serious complication of pregnancy.

Ever since Melanie took her own life back in June of 2001, I have become an advocate for aggressive research, education, and treatment of this disease. I have been working on legislation since 2001, and while the then-republican lead Congress dragged its feetâ€”hundreds of thousands of women battled this serious illness without support. I fully believe that if men suffered from postpartum depression, that Congress would have passed my bill a long time ago.

Nevertheless, I am excited that after six long years, Congress is now poised to finally do the right thing for millions of mothers suffering from postpartum depression. With 120 co-sponsors, and growing, The Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Research and Care Act, H.R. 20 is well on its way to becoming law.

On May 11, my legislative effort was strengthened by famed actress and model Brooke Shields who has suffered from postpartum depression. Shields visited Congress to urge my colleagues for support both my bill and Sen. Robert Menendezâ€™s similar legislation that he introduce on the Senate side.

The need for resources to combat postpartum depression grows more and more significant each year. Research indicates that some form of postpartum depression affects approximately 1 in 1,000 new mothers resulting in upward of 400,000 new cases each year. Of the new postpartum cases this year, less than 15 percent of mothers will receive treatment; although scientists argue, with treatment over 90 percent of these mothers could overcome their depression.

All too often postpartum depression goes undiagnosed or untreated. Unfortunately, what little research and treatment is available is even less accessible for minority communities. Too many new mothers are losing touch with reality with distorted thinking, delusions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or mania. At an Energy & Commerce hearing on this bill, May 1, the National Institute on Mental Health stated that minorities were significantly under-represented in their research. Additionally, a representative from the American Psychiatric Association concluded that minority communities are under-reported and under-treated with regard to postpartum depression and the stigma of mental health.

Untreated, postpartum depression can lead to further depression, substance abuse, loss of employment, divorce and further social alienation, self-destructive behavior, or even suicide. Untreated, postpartum depression impacts society through its affect on the infant's physical and psychological development, child abuse, neglect or death of the infant or other siblings, and the disruption of the family.

This is why I have been a tireless advocate for a national standard of care for health professionals and funding coming through Congress to the proper sources that will help eliminate this problem. Postpartum depression is a treatable disorder if promptly diagnosed by a trained provider and attended to with a personalized regimen of care including social support, therapy, medication, and when necessary hospitalization.

Congress must give new mothers nationwide more than just flowers and congratulation cards; we must give them the tools they need to combat and even avoid postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression

Leletto — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:48:29 -0500

I think that postpartum depression is widespread. However, I don't think that most of the cases can be diagnosed in the short time that a mother is in the hospital. It usually happens after discharge. There are different levels of postpartum depression. Not everyone is as serious as others. Some mothers become obcessive with being the perfect mother while others may put their hand over a kids mouth to stop the crying or something that can hurt the child. The father should also report cases where mothers start acting strange after having a baby without the fear that his kids will be taken away or that his children will not have a mother. There needs to be some type of good support system. Something should be done that will protect the babies and give the mother a chance to get help without losing her children. Home health should go out and check on these new mothers to see if there is a problem. I think it is a shame that the only time something gets attention is when it happens to a movie star. There are other people in this world too.

I think awareness is

jewelmcjem — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:40:08 -0500

I think awareness is oh-so-very important, but the idea of mandatory screening kind of creeps me out. I, for one, would not agree to such a screening before leaving the hospital. And how would they propose to screen those who use birthing centers or homebirths?

--Gem

Bloggin' away at My So-Called Homeschool

"It is estimated that

Melinda Casino — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:27:24 -0500

"It is estimated that postpartum depression (PPD) affects from 10 to 20 percent of new mothers."

Wow, I had no idea the percentage was this high.

I can only second Catherine's comment, it's great that Brooke Shields is spreading awareness of this.

Melinda
Contributing Editor, Feminism & Gender

This is such an important issue...

Catherine Morgan — Mon, 14 May 2007 18:48:16 -0500

This is such an important issue, it's great that Brook Shields is bringing awareness to it.

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

Brooke Shields promotes postpartum depression legislation

Jennifer Satterwhite — Mon, 14 May 2007 18:28:34 -0500

On Friday, Brooke Shields joined Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) in promoting the MOTHERS Act, a bill to combat postpartum depression through research, screening, treatment and prevention. Also included in this momentous event were former New Jersey First Lady Mary Jo Codey, Carol Blocker and other leading advocates.

"Moving forward on legislation to address postpartum depression would be a terrific Mother's Day gift for the hundreds of thousands of new mothers who are struggling with this serious condition," said Sen. Menendez. "We must attack postpartum depression on all fronts with education, screening, support, and research so that new moms can feel supported and safe rather than scared and alone. I would like to thank Representative Rush for his leadership, as well as Mary Jo Codey, Brooke Shields, Carol Blocker and the other leading advocates in attendance for their commitment to beating this often debilitating condition."

It is estimated that postpartum depression (PPD) affects from 10 to 20 percent of new mothers. In the United States, there may be as many as 800,000 new cases of postpartum conditions each year. It is about time that more people get behind these new Moms and support them. Many of the women here at BlogHer are familiar with the agony of PPD.

The Mothers Act creates funding for educating and screening new moms for the condition. Brooke Shields, well known for her battle with post partum depression after the birth of her daughter, went to Capitol Hill today to introduce the bill.

Actress and mother Brooke Shields says, "I was incapable of holding or looking at or kissing or smelling or singing to my perfect tiny little baby."

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), the nation's oldest women's health care association, is proud to support "The Mom's Opportunity To Access Help, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression (MOTHERS) Act," introduced last week by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Richard Durbin (D-IL).

The MOTHERS Act will ensure that new moms and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services. In addition, it will increase research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for postpartum depression.

We need your support to help this legislation become law! Ask your Senator to co-sponsor the MOTHER'S ACT (S. 3529)â€”call (202) 224-3121 or visit the Senate Website to contact your Senators.

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BlogHer Contributing Editor Jenn Satterwhite also blogs at Mommy Needs Coffee, Mommybloggers and Aggroqueen.