Postpartum Stress Syndrome

Picking through "This Isn't What I Expected", I was looking over the spectrum, particularly Postpartum Stress Syndrom (adjustment disorder) and wondered more concretely how you differentiate between PPSS vs. PPD, PPA, etc.

Is Anybody Listening Out there?

This is some what of a rant post, but while I feel as though some of my efforts toward increasing awareness for PPD in my community are taken in, however, the majority of the time I feel like I'm speaking to def ears, blind eyes, and closed minds. It's amazing to see how much support PPD has back east and I have to think that's largely in part to the incredible pioneers who continued to make PPD an issue to those who were so quick to discount it. How do I make a bigger difference? How do I open minds, hearts, ears and eyes? Is it a matter of persistence? Is it a matter of knocking on the right doors and if I have knocked on the wrong doors initially, continue knocking?

Ugh. According to the Utah PRAMS Report (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) up to 64% of Utah Mom's report mild to moderate symptoms of PPD. Hello?! Why is this not being talked about in our neck of the woods! I have been trying to speak at the annual perinatal professionals consortium to address perinatal mood disorders (with no luck as of yet) because mental health and wellness continues to not even be touched. That is just not ok to me. Midwives telling me PPD doesn't exist with homebirths. OB's telling their patient's what they are feeling is normal or they can become dependent on medication or pull up their boot straps and be strong. Can ya tell I'm a little frustrated?

So, if you have made it this far through my rant, any thoughts on how I can make a larger difference in my community/state?

Placenta Encapsulation and PPD

Have any of you experienced Placenta Encapsulation with your clients as an alternative PPD mood booster to prescription meds?

Pediatric Nursing Triage

Hi Everyone--

We recently presented to a pediatric clinic and one of the nurses asked a question at the end that I thought was worth exploring. They field 500+ phone calls a day from mom's and dad's. The nurse wondered what things they could watch for and/or ask as they are interacting with these parents. One of the things I mentioned was a mom who called about their child's 100 degree fever and they are told to call if it goes higher. Then that parent calls three, four, five times NOT because the fever has gotten higher but because of anxiety and concern. But I'm sure there are many other things that could be observed via process not just by asking questions.

So my question to you all would be: What would you say to this nurse? What symptoms can be observed/assessed over the phone, what questions could be asked?

Thanks!

Kristin

Article ideas

I am considering writing a 3 part article series on PPD for a local women's magazine. One topic I know I would like to write about is the difference between PPD and The Baby Blues. Does anyone have any other ideas that you think the general public would like to know about? Thank you!

Home Visits

Alright clinicians, another question for you. What are your thoughts about home visits with PPD clients? I was thinking about Midwives and doulas often followup on the mother/father after the birth of the baby and have been thinking about the pros and cons of this. Thoughts?

Diagnosing

Hey all--

Just wondering how you are diagnosing PPD when dealing with the insurance companies. I've always been concerned about diagnosing as it is something that follows them and can haunt their future insurance coverage. I have a client who definitely has PPD, has insurance, needs help.

Thanks,
Kristin

Health Expo

Hello,
I have been invited to be a part of a Health Expo in Baltimore to promote my specialty of Postpartum Support. I plan to have brochures and cards and am thinking of a tip/fact sheet on PPD vs. Baby Blues. What else do you think the general public could find useful?

Thanks for any advice!

Meghan McNamara, LCSW-C
www.empathicconnection.com

Support Groups/ Community Outreach

Hi there!
I am so glad to see this blog up! I was thinking about starting a support group for PPD and was wondering what sort of models people have used? Also, have been thinking about doing some outreach trainings in the community at Mommy and Me's or similar venues- any ideas about formats for these would be appreciated. Would love to hear what you are all doing'?

Laura Kreiger, LCSW
Postpartum Depression, Boca Raton
2200 W. Camino Real, Suite 311
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Ph: 561-376-0164
Email: laurakreiger@gmail.com

The Good Mother

Like a few of you have mentioned, though my practice is aimed toward women experiencing pregnancy related issues, the reality is 15% of my client's are in fact PPD related. It's a little nerve racking because I don't feel I have a groove. When it comes to The Good Mother, it's still a challenge for me to gauge when I need to be softer in tone and persona and when I need to be more direct and firm.

Though a client may be in a really soft place they may need some counsel of direction and some affirming words of "you will get through this"--maybe they need less or the firm and more of the gentle hand....

Any tips or thoughts you clinicians have on this?

MedEdPPD-Great training resource!

So excited about this blog and the opportunity to collaborate with all the PPSC clinical experts. Thanks, Karen for getting this started!

I wanted to share an incredibly useful training resource with the group. For those who haven't perused the MedEDPPD website, you should. Not only is it a wonderful resource for the public, but also their provider section is excellent! In particular, under "Provider Tools," they have CME, CE Presentations, Case Studies for viewing as well as downloads of their first Thursday of the month Teleconferences. And they are totally free! I've been impressed thus far with those I've heard. Great way to continue our training and see other experts in the field in action.

-Erin Peterson

Any Brave Soul Willing to Take the Leap?

Anyone from a previous training care to share one of their (positive or negative) experiences that might benefit others just starting out in PPD clinical practice? Any words of warning? Any brilliant discoveries? ;) Email me if you are not able to post or have technical questions. (Remember you can write a new post or you can respond to a post by post a comment)

It has been suggested to me that you utilize an RSS feedreader such as Google Reader as the best way to keep up with posts. You will be able to see the activity that is taking place from your feedreader and can navigate directly to the page from the reader. We find this method easier than having to remember to visit the blog regularly to check for new posts. I, however, being technically challenged, find it easier to revisit the blog ;)

Welcome!!

We are hoping you will use this space to reach out to each other as questions or topics of discussion arise. I know you are all working hard to establish your practices and develop your referral base. Sharing ideas and brainstorming is a great way to reinforce your efforts as well as initiate creativity.

As you know, the small group format for our training enables clinicians to work closely together and many from various trainings have requested a forum to continue the dialogue. This is for YOU. I will peek in and of course, when questions arise I will do my best to interject, but for the most part, this is for all of you to respond to each others concerns.

I do ask that you protect the names and identities of any clients you may want to discuss and if anyone has any concerns regarding how this is working, do not hesitate to let me know.