Dear Colleague,
Even among women who recognize that they are experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression, many may be reluctant to take conventional antidepressants. Alternatives to traditional therapy that may be useful alone or as adjuncts to pharmacologic treatment include exercise, aromatherapy, massage, and dietary supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids. Studies suggest a correlation between omega-3 deficiency and depression, and researchers have observed that perinatal women are particularly deficient in these essential fatty acids due to the transference of polyunsaturated fatty acids to the developing fetus. As part of our First Thursday teleconference series, Marlene P. Freeman, MD, provides a review of the rationale for consideration of omega-3 fatty acids in perinatal depression, pilot data, and suggested future research directions in this area. For more information or to register, click here.
Also, we have included in our Medical Updates section the link to a recently published article in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health that provides an overview of the benefits and use of Omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy.
Medical
Updates
Omega-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy
Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health; Volume 55, Issue 6.
During pregnancy, your baby gets most of his or her food from the foods you eat and vitamins you take. Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s) are an important family of building blocks needed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The two most important omega-3s are DHA and EPA. Omega-3s are important to health. They can lower blood pressure and reduce heart diseases and other health problems. Omega-3s improve your baby’s eye and brain growth and early development. Taking in enough omega-3s can lower your baby’s chances of getting asthma and other allergic conditions. They also may lower your risk of giving birth too early, and of having depression after you have your baby (postpartum depression).
Later Effects of Psychological Abuse During Pregnancy
Deborah Cowley, MD. Journal Watch. 2010;30(19)
Postpartum depression risk increases with psychological abuse, even without physical or sexual violence. Intimate partner violence affects 4% to 8% of pregnant women in the U.S. and is associated with postnatal depression. However, the effects of psychological violence on postpartum depression are unclear. To assess whether intimate partner violence during pregnancy, especially psychological abuse, is associated with later postnatal depression, researchers prospectively followed pregnant, mostly low-income women (age range, 18–49) enrolled in primary-care clinics in northeast Brazil through the postpartum period.
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Gwyneth Paltrow: 'I Felt Like a Zombie' with Postpartum Depression
people.com
Gwyneth Paltrow had a blissful time during daughter Apple's first few months of life in summer 2004. Two years later, when son Moses was born, things couldn't have been more different. The actress found herself living a nightmare.
Anticipating Postpartum Depression
germantown.patch.com
Not every woman suffers from postpartum depression after giving birth. What 80 percent of new mothers do experience are the "baby blues," says the Child Center and Adult Services, a mental health counseling organization in Gaithersburg.
Women embrace life after dealing with postpartum despair
indystar.com
Nationally, 10 to 15 percent of mothers suffer postpartum depression, including the more severe psychosis.
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Events
Calendar
Postpartum Support International Bright Lights Winter Gala
When: Saturday, January 15th, 7PM ET,
Reception & Raffle Open 7:00pm
Special Guest Carnie Wilson 8:30pm
Where: Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, CA
Maternal Mental Health Conference - Removing the Mask Of Postpartum Depression/Stress
When: Wednesday, January 27th, 2011
Where: Fredericton Regional Family Resource Centre - Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Med
Ed
Resources
Text4baby
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health by sending text messages to pregnant mothers that focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health. Sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 to receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to your due date.
The Smiling Mask
The purpose of The Smiling Mask is to create awareness, understanding, and acceptance of postpartum difficulties; to bring peace and validation to mothers and fathers by engaging and empowering families, and communities in the life changing and natural experience of parenthood.
Postpartum Progress
Promoting progress in treatment and comfort among sufferers of postpartum mood disorders, this blog is written by a woman diagnosed with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder after the birth of her son.
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