The urgent need for postpartum depression awareness and research continues to be an important topic nationwide. As an example, this past month saw a flurry of activity around both the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act and the MOTHERS Act. On October 15, the Blocker-Stokes Act was passed by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 382 to 3; the bill has now moved on to the Senate for approval. Also, in an October 24th event sponsored by BlogHer, Postpartum Support International, and Postpartum Progress, more than 125 blogs across the country urged their readers to call Senate members and ask for their support of the MOTHERS Act. MedEdPPD.org will keep monitoring the progress of these two important legislative actions and keep you up-to-date on the latest happenings.
Postpartum Depression: Racial Differences and Ethnic Disparities in a Tri-racial and Bi-ethnic Population
Wei G, Greaver LB, Marson SM, Herndon CH, Rogers J, Robeson Healthcare Corporation.
Matern Child Health J. 2007 Oct 23; [Epub ahead of print]
This research investigated the differences and disparities of postpartum depression in a sample of African American, Hispanic, Native American, and White women.
Clinically identified maternal depression before, during, and after pregnancies ending in live births.
Dietz PM, Williams SB, Callaghan WM, Bachman DJ, Whitlock EP, Hornbrook MC.
Am J Psychiatry. 2007 Oct;164(10):1515-20.
This study estimated the prevalence of diagnosed depression and treatment among women before, during, and after pregnancies ending in live births. Approximately 1 in 7 women was identified with and treated for depression during 39 weeks before through 39 weeks after pregnancy, and more than half of these women had recurring indicators for depression.
Quality of life, postnatal depression and baby gender.
de Tychey C, Briançon S, Lighezzolo J, Spitz E, Kabuth B, de Luigi V, Messembourg C, Girvan F, Rosati A, Thockler A, Vincent S.
J Clin Nurs. 2007 Oct 11; [Epub ahead of print]
The authors compared the prevalence rate of PND and life quality in a cohort of 181 women and measured the short-term impact of the child's birth. Postnatal depression strongly negatively influenced all dimensions of life quality explored through the SF36. The baby's gender (having a boy) also significantly reduced quality of life, irrespective of depressive state.
InTheNews
Valerie Plame Wilson on Keeping Her Marriage Together
People.com, October 28, 2007
Valerie Plame Wilson, the former covert CIA agent unmasked after husband Joe Wilson wrote an op-ed critical of Iraq WMD intelligence, includes her struggle with postpartum depression in her new book.
BlogDay for the MOTHERS Act
BlogHer.org, October 24, 2007
Postpartum Progress are joining together to host Blog Day for the MOTHERS Act. Bloggers from around the country will write about the MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression on the 24th and encourage their readers to pick up the phone that day, call their Senators and urge them to endorse this critical legislation.
Ex-N.J. first lady combats depression
North Jersey.com, October 18, 2007
Mary Jo Codey, New Jersey's former first lady, was one of 6 women honored with the "Spirit of Womanhood" award from the Northern New Jersey Maternal-Child Health Consortium. Codey was cited for helping to improve the health of women and children in New Jersey by sharing her personal medical experiences with postpartum depression.
APHA 135th Annual Meeting and Expo: Politics, Policy and Public Health
When: November 3-7
Where: Washington, DC
The Latina Woman: Self Esteem, Postpartum Depression and Mental Health Issues
When: November 9
Where: Hoffman Estates, IL
On Their Turf: Creative Ways of Supporting Teens & Young Families
When: November 14-17
Where: Baltimore, MD
MedEdResources
Medline Plus: Postpartum Depression
MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.
NIMH Patient Recruitment - Postpartum Depression
The NIMH Office of Intramural Research portal for patient recruitment gives information on clinical trials studying postpartum depression.
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
The National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health provides national leadership to the maternal and child health community.
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