The last digest had some posts about PPD that I found very disturbing.  I
agree that in some cases PPD can become a catch all phrase for women with a
wide range of postpartum adjustment issues, but Postpartum Depression is a
real illness that affects about 1 woman in 10.  The "baby blues" affect
about 80% of women and usually last no more than a couple of days.  On the
other end of the spectrum is Postpartum Psychosis which affects only one or
two women in a thousand and requires immediate intervention, hospitalization
and medication to protect mother and baby.  I can see how because PPD falls
in the middle of two extremes it can seem difficult to diagnose, but there
are several clear cut symptoms and some very good screaming tools out there,
the edinburgh postnatal depression scale for one.

Some symptoms which can point to PPD are:

Inability to sleep even when the baby is sleeping

racing thoughts, feeling "sped-up"

changes in appetite - usually a serious decrease in appetite and an
inability to swallow food

panic/anxiety attacks

inability to make decisions - even small ones such as which socks to wear
today

fantasies or images which seem like a VCR in your head on "loop" playing the
same images of harm coming to the baby or of blood or knives.  These
thoughts can be obsessive and very frightening but do not mean that the
mother is in danger of harming the baby.  These are not the same fantasies
as those which occur in Postpartum psychosis which are similar to
schitsopherenia in that they involve hallucinations, an outside voice giving
instructions, or delusions that the baby is satan or jesus

thoughts of running away or suicide

PPD is a very misunderstood illness and almost always requires both
medication and therapy to make a full recovery.  PPD does not always begin
immediately following the birth, it is very common to still be struggling at
seven months postpartum.  Most women do not feel fully recovered for at
least a year and should continue taking meds for a minimum of 6 months and
ideally for a full year *after* the disappearance of the major symptoms.

I realise this discussion is slightly OT for Lactnet but Postpartum
Adjustment does have a major impact on the breastfeeding relationship, both
because of medication and bonding issues.  I am speaking as a Social Worker,
a CBE, Doula and as a survivor.  I also counsel women in their recovery from
PPD.  I am going to post my own PPD story because I had very typical
symptoms.  (Sorry but I have to do this as a separate post,  my computer
wont let me cut and paste right now)  Thanks to all of you, I know this is
bending the topic guidelines for Lactnet but I know how important this is
and misinformation is so dangerous.

Corrine Mahar-Sylvestre
Quinte Doula Service
Postpartum Support Program of Quinte
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