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A mental health provider was kind enough to leave the below comment on my blog. I found it so unsettling that I want to put it front and center as a post. I personally feel that this mental health provider is an absolute hero for standing up for her patient the way she did. If only every woman with depression or PPD had a patient advocate like her!!! Please read and let me know what you think. (I just wish I knew what insurance company this was.....)

Anonymous said:

This mom is in the throes of postpartum depression and could use a big hug from our community. Let's all visit her blog, read her story and leave her a comment to show support.

http://hopefeelsgood.blogspot.com/2008/0...

I just read the EmpowHer news story about Gwyneth Paltrow's recent interview where she says that her postpartum depression was staved off when she started eating healthy, doing acupuncture, and getting in touch with her spirituality.

I send many kudos Gwyneth's way for recognizing that she had PPD and was able to find techniques that helped.

At the same time, I want to offer a word of caution that sometimes PPD is so severe that no amount of vegies, prayers or needles will make an impact.

I wasn't single back in the days when I had my babies, and fortunately had a very supportive husband who helped me when I suffered through PPD and later helped me avoid suffering through it again. Now that I'm single and writing this PPD blog, I can only wonder what happens to all of the new single moms out there who are faced with PPD....

Becoming a new mother is an intense experience that affects all areas of your life including work, relationships, identity, and emotional health. Motherhood adds stress to life, no matter how good you feel. The challenges of caring for a newborn, other children, home, and whatever else can cause problems for you physically and emotionally - unless you have good support. One form of help available to you is a parent coach.

I am passionate about advocating for change in the perception of post partum depression and psychosis. It's very important that young women provide support for one another.

I am passionate about advocating for change in the perception of post partum depression and psychosis. It's very important that young women provide support for one another.

New moms have specific contraceptive needs. They want birth control that is effective, simple to use, can be used over a long period of time, and allows for sexual spontaneity. An important question often asked by new moms is, “How soon after giving birth do I need to start using birth control?” Usually, doctors recommend that birth control be started six weeks after giving birth (if medically it’s okay to have sex) or when menstruation resumes.

Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders: Perspectives and Treatment Guide for the Health Care Practitioner asin: 082610116X binding: Hardcover list price: $54.00 USD amazon price: $43.20 USD

REVIEWS

With the publication of Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders: Perspective and Treatment Guide for the Healthcare Professional, Stone & Menken offer professionals and students pursuing this specialty a uniquely comprehensive overview of the issue from the perspective of many renown leaders in womens reproductive mental health. Experts from research, medicine, treatment and advocacy offer their experienced views on evaluation, treatment and interventive approaches when confronting affective disorders in pregnancy and the postpartum.