There was something about her tone of voice that really intimidated me. You see the doctor that I had just hired asked me a question, “You do want your child to be socialized, don’t you?” Even though I heard this term alot in college, I had not associated it with my own loved ones. So I didn’t really know how to answer her. I felt uninformed and very much like I had missed an important tenant of parenting somehow. Being one of the best in her field was why I sought her out after all. But not only was she l-a-t-e for our initial appointment, she made no effort to even apologize.

Dr. Leon Speroff recently stepped down as director for the Women's Health Research Unit at Oregon Health & Science University

EmpowHer: Dr. Speroff, can you explain the World Health Initiative & if HRT is safe?

Do you wonder if Melanie Stokes had any Postpartum Psychosis warning signs while she was pregnant? In this interview you'll get a very solid insight into Melanie's world, how badly she wanted to have Sommer Skyy and if there were any PPP signs during pregnancy.

How did Carol Blocker discover her daughter's mood was not normal? Find out when you listen to this portion of the interview with Melanie Stokes' mom.

In this portion of our interview, Carol Blocker explains the Postpartum Psychosis symptoms.

Hear about the warning signs Carol noticed for Melanie Stokes’ Postpartum Psychosis and the advice she gives to families that uncomfortably find themselves in the same situation.

The mother of Melanie Stokes, Carol Blocker, shared with EmpowHer all the different ways her daughter kept planning her own suicide.

Her Facts
Postpartum psychosis is rare. It occurs in 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and usually begins in the first 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder or another psychiatric problem called schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and obsessive thoughts about the baby. A woman may have rapid mood swings, from depression to irritability to euphoria.

Melanie Stokes' is one of the world's best known names on the issue of Postpartum Psychosis. Since Melanie's tragic death, her mother Carol Blocker has taken on the responsibility of raising her granddaughter Sommer Skyy.

Get an update on the life of Melanie's baby Sommer Skyy, how she's handling the loss of her mom, where she's living and how old she is.

When Melanie Blocker Stokes became pregnant, she seemed to have everything in place. She was a successful pharmaceutical sales manager happily married to a physician. But on February 23, 2001, Sommer Skyy was born, beautiful and healthy. That's when Melanie's mother, Carol, realized something wasn't quite right with her daughter.

In this interview Melanie's mom, Carol Blocker recommends a supportive book and provides an update on Melanie's Bill, legislation named after her daughter.