BlogHer - Postpartum Depression - Comments

Mothers Act

blocker771 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:05:48 -0500

Mother’s Act advocates get very shrill and angry at anyone who questions their advocacy and especially they get very shrill, angry and THREATENING towards anyone who presents the truth of what this bill is really all about, which they refuse to look at or discuss. The most repugnant aspect of this bill is how psychiatric interests work so hard to smoothly misrepresent the unnatural (drugging of pregnant mothers) as natural or okay when prior to psychotropic drugs, mothers were always counselled by traditional Western medical authorities not to take any drugs or as little as possible. How the authority of traditional doctors was usurped by nonmedical quasi medical(?) authorities would make an interesting investigation. Also, Mother’s Bill advocates are strangely silent about the birth defects that have been linked to these drugs and existing litigation against drug companies for compensation for the death, damage and disability to newborns linked to these drugs. The other point about the Mother’s Bill is that it is ironically named for a psychiatric victim and the legislation provides for millions of pregnant women to be able receive without their informed consent the damaging treatment that the woman named for this bill unfortunately was victimized by receiving without her informed consent.

your blog made me cry.. it

mom2brody — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:05:36 -0500

your blog made me cry.. it was beautiful... she is a lucky little girl to have 2 moms who love her..

i am an adoptive mom and every night i tell my baby boy how much I love him and how much his dad loves him.. then i also tell him about his birth mom and how much he means to her and how she loves him... i never want there to be a doubt in this mind that she loves him...

God bless you and your angel too!

I'm sorry you've been

Amy Gates — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:16:21 -0600

I'm sorry you've been battling depression for so long. Is there anything in particular that's worked for you that might help out others as well?

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

"We need to value ourselves.

Amy Gates — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:14:16 -0600

Thank you for your comment. You said, "We need to value ourselves. And make the time for ourselves."

I think this definitely holds true for all moms, but it is easier said than done. Balance is something I strive for constantly.

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

Working Mom

claudia60 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:49:47 -0600

I'm a full-time, working mom and I've been battling depression since the birth of my second daughter ('97). Even though I do believe that my depression is due to my hormonal problems, my working status has played a role in it. Since 1997, I've worked full-time, part-time (for a year) and occasionally (for 3 years). Being a mom and wife are stressful roles, but a job definitely adds to the stress. First, there is the guilt that you cannot always participate at school-related functions, or that you can't invite your kids' friends after school because you work. Then, there is the fact that there is someone (boss/customer/client) who needs your time or deliverables within a certain time frame. My happiest time was probably working part-time because I was doing interesting work, earning money, and enjoyed extra time with my girls.

Scheduling Issues

rebellious thinker — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 06:27:23 -0600

Working moms are vaunted for our scheduling prowess. It's so much easier to take care of everyone else and everything else than ourselves. At some point we need to realize that if the engine needs help, it's better to fix it than wait for it to breakdown. I guess when we stop lauding ourselves about how much working moms can do (and all moms in fact), then maybe we can give ourselves a ME breather. How many moms go to the doctor when they're sick? We usually take care of ourselves with tea. It doesn't work for flu just like ti doesn't work for depression. We need to value ourselves. And make the time for ourselves.

Laura, www.RebelliousThoughtsofaWoman.com

So many of the blogs

sugarbritches26 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:56:31 -0600

So many of the blogs (generally mommy blogs, sheesh) I read deal with depression of some sort. I always feel for these women, women who are talented, funny, articulate, but stuck in a very dark place. I leave reassuring comments when I feel they most need it. There was a blogger in particular who I was so fond of, she would yo-yo up and down, happy to sad. She refused to take medication but she always seemed to feel better after receiving many encouraging comments from her readers. She has since removed her blog and I wish I knew how she was doing. I hope she is okay and happy. In her case she had a supportive Internets, as do most of the blogs I read that are battling depression. They are lucky though, because there are always those troll lurking, waiting to suckerpunch you when you least expect or need it.

A.A.

This topic has been on my mind, too.

rocksinmydryer — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:07:31 -0600

I had a guest poster at my own blog last week, and she wrote on the subject of PPD. It was so incredibly well-received, with several women coming out of the woodwork to say "YES! Me too! And I've never told anyone!" That is healthy.

But then you hear about the Briggs story, and you know (and I know, because I've been there too) that when you're in a very dark place, one tear-down will bear so much more weight than a hundred affirmations.

The internet is what it is, I guess. I suppose all we can do is to build enough supportive communities that the odds are higher that a person in need will find a good one.

Shannon @ Rocks In My Dryer
www.rocksinmydryer.net
BlogHer Contributing Editor, Mommy and Family

Pregorexia

centerforeatingdisorders — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:24:48 -0600

Thanks for the great entry on pregorexia. It seems like everyday more and more “rexia” terms are popping up. The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt recently wrote an entry on their blog about “pregorexia”. They agree that while the media definitely plays a role in the development of eating disorders, most “pregorexics” had body image and disordered eating issues long before their pregnancy. Be sure to check it out here: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/2008/11/18/the-truth-behind-%E2%80%9Cpreg...

It is amazing what getting

Kian Yamaguchi — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:03:14 -0600

It *is* amazing what getting a full night's sleep will do for you. My baby (the youngest of my 7) is 18 months. I stopped nursing him at 16 months. I got a full nights sleep shortly thereafter and lo-and-behold, I'm nearly human again.

I still can't get anything done with him and his 3 year old brother hanging on me, but at least I'm sleeping.

Good luck!

http://mamafasha.blogspot.com

http://MKSkinCare.myarbonne.com

Leave Hate Out of Your Life

Creatively Belle — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:55:46 -0600

I'm not a big fan of the celebrity culture but I don't get all the negative talk about another woman trying to say something constructive.

Yes, we all lead different lives and we do tend to have the shared experience of being really busy (well I don't know anyone who isn't and all the posts here are from busy women) but why bother being negative?

So what if what a blogger (celebrity or not) is talking crap or not - why have a go at them? How about instead finding something positive to say about it?

I have a friend who's great at keeping a clean, tidy house with a bunch of flowers - she's survived breast cancer and has decided living that way makes her feel better so she makes it happen.

I'd like to live in a tidy place with flowers but it only happens sometimes and that's fine. I do exercise regularly and that's for me and my family - healthy exercising and eating reduces cancer and heart illness risks by 85% and I'm too well loved not to do it.

Maybe having a celebrity say the same thing will encourage even one other mother to put herself first sometimes so the family benefits from it? Maybe it isn't for everyone to hear this message from her but so what? Find something good to say and say it with good grace, leave hate out of your life.

Kind regards,

Belinda

Great Earring Holders - great presents and no more messy jewelry tangles!

I hear ya!

Chrystibella — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:59:52 -0600

I was going to say the same thing about men being fixers. I have learned that before I even comment on a TV show we are watching to say.... "Now DON"T change the channel, but....."

I have told my husband many times when I was depressed that I don't expect him to fix me, just listen. He's pretty supportive but I do hear what you were saying.

What I hate the most is getting into a routine of sitting in front of the TV when I'd rather go for a drive or do something else.

As for your husband, he probably feels like a failure if you are not happy and he can't fix it.

JC gave excellent advice. Made me feel better. LOL! I'm depressed because my son is moving away for college. Empty nest syndrome has hit me like a brick.

I hope you feel better.

~ Chrysti

http://Chrystibella.com

Never been preggers but...

luiyuming — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:43:24 -0600

I don't have kids but looking and <i>being</i> like Gwyneth Paltrow is also not achievable for ordinary women who are childless.

~~there's wanderlust in my soul, pep in my step, and lotsa love for the big plan called Life~~

Am I missing something?

norarachel — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:13:12 -0500

I would want to hear the context for the quote - did Emma Thompson say - and people who get an epidural or have a c-section are less impressive? From just the quote itself, I don't entirely understand your pique. So she counts this as one of her accomplishments, that does not imply that she looks down her nose at people who did it differently. I am proud of my labor, just as I am proud of not running off and joining the circus when my daughter turned into a crazy toddler.

I have made a lot of parenting decisions that make me feel good abot myself. This in no way implies that I think that people who make different choices are inferior. I'm just happy with what works for me. This all feels like a bit of a tempest in a teapot.

http://www.nonlineargirl.com

Yes, yes and yes!

Fairly Odd Mother — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:07:46 -0500

I've had three kids: the first was an emergency c-section; 2nd was a long, and slow labor with a lovely epidural and some 'please stop throwing up' drugs; 3rd was totally natural, but super, super fast. All three were amazing experiences and I could NEVER say that my son's birth was a bigger 'achievement' b/c I didn't have drugs!

Just holding a newborn baby in my arms was the most amazing achievement, each and every time.

Fairly Odd Mother

http://fairlyoddmother.blogspot.com