On May 11, 2007, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey introduced the MOTHERS Act to Congress along with Representative Bobby Rush of Illinois, actress Brooke Shields, former New Jersey First Lady Mary Jo Codey, Carol Blocker, Postpartum Support International president Susan Dowd Stone, and author Sylvia Lasalandra. The bill, which was launched just in time for Mother's Day, is similar to Representative Rush's Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act (H.R. 20), which has been introduced in the House of Representatives. If you haven't already written to your US State Representative or Senator, please do so NOW! Finding your Congressman is as easy as clicking here.
May's First Thursday teleconference, "Postpartum Psychosis," was presented by Katherine L. Wisner, MD, MS. An important topic that was discussed in the presentation was altruistic homicide delusion. Andrea Yates suffered from this delusion; she thought that by killing her children she was doing what was in their best interest. It is crucial to look for symptoms of altruistic homicide delusion in any psychotic patient, but particularly in postpartum women. It is most commonly associated with causing harm to children.
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Patterns of sleep disruption and depressive symptoms in new mothers.
Goyal D, Gay CL, Lee KA.
J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2007 Apr-Jun;21(2):123-9.
This study describes the patterns of sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms in a sample of childbearing women from the third trimester through the postpartum period.
Healthcare worker's perceptions of barriers to care by immigrant women with postpartum depression: an exploratory qualitative study.
Teng L, Robertson Blackmore E, Stewart DE.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2007 May 14; [Epub ahead of print]
The authors interviewed healthcare workers working in Toronto, Canada, regarding their experience of providing care to recent immigrant women suffering from postpartum depression. They wanted to identify potential barriers to care that recent immigrant women may encounter as perceived by healthcare workers and identify challenges healthcare workers felt they faced as providers of care to this population.
Cesarean section on maternal request: reasons for the request, self-estimated health, expectations, experience of birth and signs of depression among first-time mothers.
Wiklund I, Edman G, Andolf E.
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007;86(4):451-6.
The purpose of this study was to investigate first-time mothers undergoing cesarean section in the absence of medical indication, their reason for the request, self-estimated health, experience of delivery, and duration of breastfeeding. We also aimed to study if signs of depression postpartum are more common in this group.
InTheNews
Sen. Menendez Introduces Bill That Would Increase Postpartum Depression Research
kaisernetwork.org, May 14, 2007
Senator Robert Menendez (NJ) said he would introduce a bill (S 1375) that would increase PPD research at NIH and would provide grants to state and local health care workers to increase screening and treatment of the condition.
Brooke Shields promotes postpartum depression legislation
sbsun.com, May 14, 2007
The actress speaks out in favor of the bill being considered by Congress that would help screen for and treat PPD.
Analysis: Pregnancy depression neglected
United Press International, May 7, 2007
At the 55th annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, experts discussed how postpartum depression is often overlooked because it is assumed that pregnancy protects women from depression and that PPD is within a woman's control.
MediSpin, Inc. First Thursday Teleconference: Appropriate Screening Techniques for PPD
When: June 7
Where: www.MedEdPPD.org North American Women’s Health Care Forum
When: June 15 - 16
Where: Baltimore, MD
Postpartum Support International 21st Annual Conference
When: June 20 - 23
Where: Kansas City, MO
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses
When: June 23 - 27
Where: Orlando, FL
MedEdResources
National Guideline Clearinghouse
The National Guideline Clearinghouse is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents.
American Academy of Family Physicians
A national association of family doctors that maintains high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive healthcare to the public.
The Online PPD Support Group
The purpose of this site is to offer information, support, and assistance to those dealing with postpartum mood disorders, as well as their families, friends, physicians, and counselors.
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