It won't be long before new Australian mums will be screened for postnatal depression thanks to the work of the national depression group beyond blue. The group is in talks with the federal government to introduce the test and also to support a British study of 1400 women that has revealed that mothers of twins and triplets are almost twice as likely to become depressed. According to recent stats, almost 16% of Aussie mums develop some form of depression and for the most part, help only comes when women are already depressed. A measure to screen new mums nationally would be a step in identifying the triggers for depression and getting women help much earlier. The truth is that many women become depressed antenatally (during pregnancy) but the depression is never identified until postpartum. Based on the results of the British data, beyond blue deputy chief executive Nicole Highet has said that Australian mothers of multiples are at a greater risk of becoming depressed often because of the trauma or challenges involved in getting pregnant (complications with IVF, for example) and in getting the babies into the world safely (caesareans, separation after birth, etc). This is aside from the fact that while having one baby is exhausting, having two or three newborns can be even more so. On top of this, the unrealistic pressures placed on mothers today only makes for a perfect platform for emotional collapse. Highet argues:
"Long-term untreated PND can cause delayed cognitive and emotional development in the baby. The benefits of picking up PND early are immense."
Postnatal depression especially effects the partners of women: Highet notes that 50-60% of partners are also depressed.
Help can not come soon enough. It's amazing: for all of the technology that has managed to save babies in the long run in the US and Australia, for instance, at the same time, technology has also managed to fundamentally change the ways in which women get pregnant, give birth and do motherhood. It is frustrating that with all of the changes that have come to maternity since the rise of hospital birth and obstetrics as a legitimate profession during the Industrial Revolution, there have been very few measures enacted that are solely designed to support mothers emotionally and psychologically. Up until now, we have been very focused on outcomes, making sure the 'products' of birth (e.g. babies) are healthy and that mothers come out on the other end alive. While this is an obvious mark of progress historically (especially in light of my recent post about birth in Tanzania), at the same time, if our mothers aren't happy and well, there is little chance that our babies will also remain healthy and well. Women who are supported (by partners, friends, families, midwives, etc) do much better statistically than women who go at pregnancy, birth and motherhood alone (and this is not implying that all women need to have partners to be good mums). Historically, it has been much more intellectually satisfying for medical professionals to focus on the physical problems associated with pregnancy and birth. Yet, the pastoral care for the mother is extraordinarily important perhaps even more so than the intensive care of infants. The people that ultimately care for babies are parents, and by and large mothers.
If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
Showing posts with label postnatal depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label postnatal depression. Show all posts
Is breast best?
Well, it seems as though the debate surrounding whether breast is best has been revived after the tragic death of a British mum, Kathy Isden, who committed suicide by falling off the roof of her New York apartment block as a result of feeling so distraught about not being able to breastfeed her son. Due to see a lactation consultant on the day of her death last November, the 29 year old first-time mum was found by her husband on a neighbour's patio early that morning. Although Isden was thought to be depressed at the time, it is still not clear whether she jumped or fell from the roof.
As so many mothers know, breastfeeding is not always easy and it is definitely not 'natural'. As horrific as this incident truly is, it is not surprising that something which is supposed to be a 'choice' for women, can have such devastating effects on those women that cannot perform according to our quite narrow social views of what makes mothers 'good'. While there are certainly other factors that probably contributed to Isden's death, nevertheless, the pressure to be a 'good' mother clearly had a hand in her decision to take her own life (if indeed it was suicide).
Thankfully, the Australian Breastfeeding Association has been blessed with some extra cash to better resource its national breastfeeding helpline. According to recent reports, the line has experienced a 30 per cent increase in calls since March, with more than 28,328 calls received between October and April.
As so many mothers know, breastfeeding is not always easy and it is definitely not 'natural'. As horrific as this incident truly is, it is not surprising that something which is supposed to be a 'choice' for women, can have such devastating effects on those women that cannot perform according to our quite narrow social views of what makes mothers 'good'. While there are certainly other factors that probably contributed to Isden's death, nevertheless, the pressure to be a 'good' mother clearly had a hand in her decision to take her own life (if indeed it was suicide).
Thankfully, the Australian Breastfeeding Association has been blessed with some extra cash to better resource its national breastfeeding helpline. According to recent reports, the line has experienced a 30 per cent increase in calls since March, with more than 28,328 calls received between October and April.
Gwyneth Patrow speaks out about PND
Us magazine reports that Lady Paltrow revelas in the May edition of Vogue, following the birth of her second child Moses, she suffered postnatal depression but didn't even realise it at the time."I felt really out of my body," Paltrow says after giving birth. "I felt really disconnected. I felt really down ... I felt pessimistic.”
It's so refreshing to hear that celebrities are indeed, 'real' women, and they do experience the same things that everyone else does. We like to think that fame and fortune make life ridiculously easy but the truth is none of that can shield mothers from PND.
Source:http://www.usmagazine.com/gwyneth-paltrow-i-battled-post-partum-depression
Jessica Rowe 'ashamed' to admit to her battles with PND
Interesting. Yesterday I was posting about how non-chalant the media has been in portraying Jessica Rowe's battle with PND as something she just sort of 'got over' without any substantive insight into just what exactly her experiences entailed. Thankfully, the picture becomes a bit candid in the Herald Sun today.
However, I am perplexed as to why Jessica Rowe suffering silently with PND is a 'stunning admission' or that this is her 'baby shame' according to the journalist. PND is definitely not uncommon and I can only applaud Jessica Rowe for sharing her experiences, not pretending to be a perfect mother merely because she is a recognisable face in the Australian media, and admitting that motherhood is life-altering. I can only imagine how much pressure Rowe felt having to talk about her pregnancy constantly when she was hosting Today, speaking about her IVF treatments and being a good mother.
On why she decided to share her story:
'I had to be true to myself and admit I'd suffered. At first I had planned to put it behind me. I'd recovered and wanted to move forward'.
On when she knew something was wrong:
'I was getting very anxious. I felt out of control. I worried about everything, like whether she'd get a cold - but beyond normal levels. I also had trouble breast-feeding. It also shocked me that I felt so ashamed of admitting it. Of not coping'.
How failed attempts at IVF contributed to her depression:
'I felt ashamed. How could I feel like this when I finally had this beautiful treasure? It's hard to fess up to'.
On when she felt she had recovered:
Rowe says she suffered for a month when Allegra was six weeks old before 'suddenly feeling like I was breathing fresh air again'.
Sources: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22125703-5012974,00.html
Herald Sun, 24 July, p.15
However, I am perplexed as to why Jessica Rowe suffering silently with PND is a 'stunning admission' or that this is her 'baby shame' according to the journalist. PND is definitely not uncommon and I can only applaud Jessica Rowe for sharing her experiences, not pretending to be a perfect mother merely because she is a recognisable face in the Australian media, and admitting that motherhood is life-altering. I can only imagine how much pressure Rowe felt having to talk about her pregnancy constantly when she was hosting Today, speaking about her IVF treatments and being a good mother.
On why she decided to share her story:
'I had to be true to myself and admit I'd suffered. At first I had planned to put it behind me. I'd recovered and wanted to move forward'.
On when she knew something was wrong:
'I was getting very anxious. I felt out of control. I worried about everything, like whether she'd get a cold - but beyond normal levels. I also had trouble breast-feeding. It also shocked me that I felt so ashamed of admitting it. Of not coping'.
How failed attempts at IVF contributed to her depression:
'I felt ashamed. How could I feel like this when I finally had this beautiful treasure? It's hard to fess up to'.
On when she felt she had recovered:
Rowe says she suffered for a month when Allegra was six weeks old before 'suddenly feeling like I was breathing fresh air again'.
Sources: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22125703-5012974,00.html
Herald Sun, 24 July, p.15
Jessica Rowe talks about postnatal depression
I was wondering what ever happened to former Today host Jessica Rowe. Since she was blatantly booted from Channel 9 following her maternity leave, there haven't been any photographs or mentions of her or her baby. Low and behold, she reveals in this week's issue of New Idea that she has been suffering from postnatal depression since the birth of her daughter, Allegra, in January. Now Rowe is back in the spotlight with a gig reading the news on Channel 7 and will be appearing in the next installment of Dancing with the Stars.
According the Sydney Morning Herald, Rowe says:
"I suffered postnatal depression, not for long, but I did have it. At first I didn't want to acknowledge it. I knew it wasn't right and that it was more then being sleep deprived. I pushed it away for a few days."
Upon visiting her obstetrician, Rowe says, "I remember talking to her and sobbing".
My only complaint is the New Idea headline shouting that Rowe 'beat' depression implying that somehow if she hadn't overcome PND she wouldn't have been as marketable or she would have been a less successful mother. I have yet to read the actual story but I wonder if Rowe talks about the dark times or if instead she glosses over it and just talks about how great it is to be back in action. I think women really need to hear that they aren't the only ones suffering in silence and that there is support out there if they need it.
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