BlogHer - postpartum OCD - Comments

Postpartum depression and blogging for the mothers act

JCK — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:38:15 -0500

Just wanted to let you know that I have blogged on this today. I admire all of your work in getting this out there. I don't have personal experience with it, but support any act that would help the women suffering from this.

My link is: http://motherscribe.blogspot.com/2007/10/bloghersact-for-mothers.html

JCK

Body image issues and eating disorders during and post-pregnancy

5resolutions — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:24:34 -0500

Thanks for this wonderful post. We have been paying close attention to recent studies and news headlines showing that many pregnant women and new mothers are struggling with serious body image issues and disordered eating (which is often linked to depression). This is another mental health issue that is shrouded in secrecy and stigma--particularly because the "lose the baby weight" and "get your body back" messages are so normalized in our culture. We thought you might be interested in our roundup of some highlghts:
http://5resolutions.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-moms-depressed-and-unhappy-...

Thanks,
Claire & Magali
5 Resolutions to Transform the Fashion and Beauty Industries

IS that what it was?

MissMelx4 — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:36:58 -0500

I spent most of my 4th and last pregnancy suffering from depression. I remember thinking life would be better if I were to lose the baby. When she was born 6wks premature and spent the first 10 days of her life in the NICU I became even more depressed and fill with guilt. She was 2 mos old and 9/11 came, I didn't live anywhere near where it happened yet my life was upside down. I began having panic attacks and anxiety, I couldn't even go out by myself. I would get all ready with the kids and I couldn't put my foot over the threshold. I began losing my hair, gaining more weight...I was a mess. The Dr. said it was PPD but I don't think it was that simple. I had a bad reaction to medication so I created my own way back to better mental health...I decided to work on my body and lose weight. It gave me focus and I began to really talk about what I went thru. I never had the luxury of getting therapy...not a lot of women can because either they don't have the insurance OR they are the working poor and can't afford the copay to go as much as what is needed.

Its so important for women who have suffered to talk about it, its nothing to be ashamed of. I was soo ashamed wishing that I had lost the baby but I know now that it wasn't because I was a bad mother it was because I was struggling to breathe and live and I felt like I was getting sucked down deeper.

Thank you for the article...it made me feel better to put a name to what I new was something more than PPD.

~Melissa
Mom to Matt-13(ADHD), Jesse-11(Autistic), Gabriel-7(ADHD) and Emma-6
www.thruthicknthin.com

rage and ppd

wannabe hippie — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:20:22 -0500

After the birth of both my girls I suffered from amazing bouts of rage. I thought something must be wrong with me but never considered PPD since I wasn't sad: I was pissed off all the time. Luckily for me I gave birth the second time with a homebirth midwife and she was on top of it. Not so with the midwives at the birth center where I had my first. It amazes me how little the medical community really understands about the pp hormonal circus some of us have suffered.

Thanks for speaking up!

--
Elaine
mama to two girls gone wild, Lily (4) and Anya (2)
www.WannabeHippie.com
and
Mama Says Om

Katherine, I've marked my calendar for Oct. 24

Lisa Stone — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 09:44:47 -0500

...and blogged your intiative in our newsletter here: http://www.blogher.com/mothers-act-join-us-oct-24-save-womens-lives. I'm really excited to join with you and see how we can make sure this important bill to help save women's lives doesn't die in committee!

Following your lead...

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

i suffered from antenatal depression

laurie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:27:45 -0500

during my pregnancies. I had never heard of it before it happened to me and it was a truly frightening experience. Thanks for including it on your list (and for writing so openly and beautifully about your experience).

laurie
www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com