|
12:12:21 |
Webmama_Tina |
today we're so happy to have cynthia
good mojab! |
|
12:12:32 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I'm very glad to be here! |
|
12:12:36 |
Webmama_Tina |
cynthia, why don't you introduce
yourself and tell us a little about your
background and expertise |
|
12:13:43 |
Webmama_Tina |
and the topic for today is: In this
Mothering Live Chat, “The Hardest Job
You’ll Ever Love: Myths and Facts about
Maternal Stress and Depression,” Cynthia
will talk about depression and its
symptoms, myths that can keep mothers
from getting the help they need,
strategies for coping with the everyday
stresses of mothering, and resources for
support and more information. Although
her talk focuses on mothers, much of the
information is also relevant to fathers
as they cope with their own or their
partner's stress or depression. |
|
12:14:28 |
Webmama_Tina |
and i'm so glad to see you all! if you
have any online groups and friends you
can invite, please help us spread the
word...i've already spammed a couple
communities :) |
|
12:15:03 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I am a professional in two fields:
clinical psychology and lactation
consulting. I write, research, and speak
about topics related to psychology,
culture, and the family. |
|
12:15:47 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I also have a private practice,
LifeCircle Counseling and Consulting
(www.lifecirclecc.com). I provide
counseling and consulting services
in-person, as well as by phone. |
|
12:16:36 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Many of my clients are breastfeeding
mothers who had a difficult time finding
a mental health professional that was
adequately knowledgeable about and
supportive of breastfeeding. |
|
12:17:24 |
Webmama_Tina |
here's the clickable link:
www.lifecirclecc.com it will open in a
new window for ya, mamas. :) |
|
12:17:40 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I have an MS. in clinical psychology, am
an International Board Certified
Lactation Consultant, am a Registered
Lactation Consultant, and am Certified
in Acute Traumatic Stress Management. |
|
12:18:04 |
Webmama_Tina |
don't mind me as i post my little spiel
for latecomers... |
|
12:18:07 |
Webmama_Tina |
Welcome to this week's Mothering
Sponsored chat! This is a moderated
chat. Please make sure you read and
fully understand the Moderated Chat
Instructions before participating in
this chat. Instructions can be found
here:
http://www.mommychats.com/modrules.htm
...A Friendly Reminder: Please do not
post unless it is your turn to ask a
question. If you have a question, please
post a single ?" and you'll be added to
the queue. Have your question ready when
your name is called." |
|
12:18:36 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I'm a member of Mothering magazine's
Expert Panel and I answer questions
about breastfeeding and maternal mental
health. |
|
12:18:57 |
Webmama_Tina |
at this point, mamas, feel free to start
throwing out your question marks and as
soon as cynthia's ready to start taking
questions, angie will let you know when
to go. :) |
|
12:19:25 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I'm ready any time, Tina. |
|
12:19:45 |
housepoet |
? |
|
12:19:57 |
MOD_Angie |
upcoming chatter(s): housepoet |
|
12:20:03 |
MOD_Angie |
go ahead housepoet |
|
12:20:50 |
housepoet |
Hello Cynthia, I'm Noel and I help run
the breastfeedingisnormal.org chat on
Wednesdays. What Im wondering is what
are your favorite words to say to a mom
that you think is suffering from PPD.
Like your opener." |
|
12:22:21 |
jasonsmom |
? |
|
12:23:24 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
That's a good question! It really
depends on the situation. In my role as
a clinical counselor, a mother has
already approached me because she
recognizes that she needs help. My first
steps are to listen well and to express
my understanding of what she is saying
so that she feels heard or can correct
my understanding. |
|
12:24:23 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
If she herself has not brought up the
issue of depression, but is seeing me
for a different reason, and based on
what she is saying, I begin to think she
may be experiencing depression.... |
|
12:26:24 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
then I might say something like, Jane,
what you have been telling me suggests
you may be experiencing depression."
Then I might let her know which symptoms
she is reporting that lead me to suspect
depression. A conversation usually
follows where we talk about the symptoms
of depression and I clarify how often
and in what manner she is experiencing
those symptoms." |
|
12:27:09 |
housepoet |
thank you! |
|
12:27:11 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I would certainly let her know how very
common depression is, particularly in
the first year postpartum (up to 20% of
women experience it). |
|
12:27:39 |
kristenandmadeleine |
? |
|
12:27:45 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Women need to know that they do not
cause themselves to experience
depression. It's not a character flaw or
a sign of weakness. |
|
12:27:49 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
You're welcome! |
|
12:28:01 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Next question, please. |
|
12:28:12 |
MOD_Angie |
upcoming chatter(s): jasonsmom
kristenandmadeleine |
|
12:28:17 |
arianamama |
? |
|
12:29:14 |
jasonsmom |
Hello Cynthia! My question is: Is it
possible to experience PPD after the
first year? What advice would you give
to mothers who are experiencing some
sort of depression (maybe not PPD?)
because they have been forced to go back
to work? |
|
12:30:50 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Postpartum depression, by definition, is
depression experienced in the first year
after birth. However, depression that
begins postpartum, which remains
undiagnosed and untreated, can certainly
continue after the first year.
Depression can occur after the first
year postpartum, and while it would not
technically be called postpartum"
depression, many of the factors that
contribute to postpartum depression
could be playing a role." |
|
12:31:23 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
For example, role conflicts (like
between the role of mother and the role
of employed woman), fatigue, stress, too
much work and too little support. |
|
12:32:56 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Regardless of whether depression is
occurring during the first year after
birth or beyond, treatment is important.
One of the challenges in finding
appropriate treatment is that depression
inherently interferes with functioning
(though the manner in which it
interferes varies)--which can make the
search for treatment that much harder. |
|
12:33:55 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
A woman who is experiencing depression
that seems related to her experience of
mothering might consider working with a
mental health care provider who has
experience with and understands
mothering issues, such as postpartum
depression. |
|
12:34:18 |
jasonsmom |
ok, thanks! |
|
12:34:23 |
MOD_Angie |
upcoming chatter(s):
kristenandmadeleine arianamama |
|
12:34:31 |
kristenandmadeleine |
Hello Cynthia! I am very intersted in
becoming a lactation consultant but I
have no health care schooling or
anything. Everything I have seen says
that you have to have nursing school or
be a healt care worker already. Where
would start? |
|
12:34:55 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Postpartum Support International has a
great deal of information on their
website about depression. My website has
many links, including theirs, for
information about depression. |
|
12:34:59 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
You're welcome! |
|
12:38:29 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
A variety of routes exist for becoming a
lactation consultant. The International
Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
(www.iblce.org) has information about
becoming an International Board
Certified Lactation Consultant. While
nursing school or already being a health
care provider is certainly a useful
background for becoming an IBCLC, it is
not, at this time, required. I know many
IBCLCs whose foundation is that of a lay
breastfeeding counselor (e.g., a La
Leche League Leader). The website of the
IBLCE would be a good place to find
initial answers to your questions. |
|
12:38:51 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Best wishes! |
|
12:38:55 |
kristenandmadeleine |
Thanks a lot |
|
12:38:58 |
MOD_Angie |
upcoming chatter(s): arianamama |
|
12:39:04 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
You're welcome! |
|
12:39:21 |
Webmama_Tina |
Welcome to this week's Mothering
Sponsored chat! This is a moderated
chat. Please make sure you read and
fully understand the Moderated Chat
Instructions before participating in
this chat. Instructions can be found
here:
http://www.mommychats.com/modrules.htm
...A Friendly Reminder: Please do not
post unless it is your turn to ask a
question. If you have a question, please
post a single ?" and you'll be added to
the queue. Have your question ready when
your name is called." |
|
12:39:32 |
arianamama |
I help run a small breastfeeding peer
support group online and we see SO many
women who *want* to breastfeed but stop
because of what seems to be PPD or
stress. |
|
12:39:39 |
arianamama |
Is there anything we can do to help
lower the number of women this happens
to, either while they're still pregnant
or while they're in the middle of it? |
|
12:39:46 |
arianamama |
It's so sad to see the women months or
years later say that they stopped BF
because of PPD and they wished they
hadn't. |
|
12:40:20 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Absolutely. Postpartum depression is
often depression that is diagnosed
postpartum but which began during
pregnancy. |
|
12:40:57 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Similar rates of depression exist during
pregnancy and postpartum. Up to 20%.
Even higher for mothers of multiples,
premature babies, babies in the NICU.... |
|
12:42:55 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Repeated, routine screening for
depression during pregnancy, and
repeated, routine screening during the
entire year postpartum is essential. If
all ob-gyns, pediatricians, lactation
consultants (lay and professional)
routinely and repeatedly screened for
depression, we would be able to help
mothers begin treatment for depression
much earlier. |
|
12:43:29 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
The earlier we can identify depression,
the earlier a mother can get treatment,
the less impact that depression will
have on her experience of mothering and
breastfeeding. |
|
12:44:39 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
is a widely used screening tool, takes
just minutes to administer, and can help
a health care provider identify
depression in mothers so that referral
to a health care provider can be made.
It is available on a variety of
websites. |
|
12:45:20 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
The more that health care providers talk
about depression, the more women will
feel comfortable revealing what they are
experiencing. Many women suffer in
silence. Many health care providers
don't ask. This is unacceptable. |
|
12:47:12 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Prevention is also an important
component of lowering depression risk.
Mothers need good postpartum support.
They need to know during pregnancy how
important this is, so that they can
arrange for support to be available to
them postpartum. Support can come from
family, friends, members of their house
of worship, etc. Women were not meant to
mother alone, especially in the early
weeks postpartum! |
|
12:48:31 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Mothers also need EARLY and effective
help with breastfeeding problems. Pain
is a risk factor for development of
depression. And, pain during
breastfeeding is an extremely common
reason for weaning. |
|
12:50:18 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Sore nipples are almost always the
result of latch and positioning that
need adjustment. Things can look good on
the outside, but if the nipple comes out
of the baby's mouth with a compression
stripe across the tip or is shaped
somewhat like a new tube of lipstick
(rather angled), then the latch wasn't
what it needs to be to avoid pain and
injury. |
|
12:51:09 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Women also need support to grieve the
loss of breastfeeding. This is a loss
that is virtually unacknowledged in US
society. Women can grieve deeply--and
with little or no support. |
|
12:53:08 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
An excellent resource is the book, The
Hidden Feelings of Motherhood: Coping
with Mothering Stress, Depression and
Burnout. Every mother's support group
would benefit from this book in its
lending library--or at least the book
listed on a resource list." |
|
12:53:25 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Kathleen Kendall-Tackett is the author. |
|
12:53:37 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Do we have another question? |
|
12:53:58 |
arianamama |
Is there anything specific we can do to
help the mother grieve the loss of a bf
relationship? |
|
12:55:48 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Yes. First, find people who recognize
the loss of breastfeeding as a real
loss. People who will not respond with
something like, You did your best.
What's important is that you can feed
your baby." or "What's the big deal?" or
some other statement that may be well
meaning, may even be true, but serves to
communicate that a mother's feelings are
somehow wrong." |
|
12:56:21 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
That's a first step for a mother, but I
see you wanted to know what others can
do... |
|
12:58:06 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
So others have the opportunity to
recognize the loss of breastfeeding as a
real loss. When a mother is grieving,
she needs the opportunity to talk about
her loss. So, more than anything, she
needs us to listen. We can ask questions
like, What did you expect breastfeeding
to be like?" "What does the loss of
breastfeeding mean to you?" to show how
sincerely we are interested in her
experience. We can echo back what she is
saying so that she feels understood
and/or has the opportunity to clarify." |
|
12:58:54 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Mothers can share their triumphs and
joys with just about anyone. But losses
can be shared only with those who will
listen without conveying that the mother
shouldn't be feeling what she is
feeling. |
|
13:00:46 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
If a health care provider regularly sees
women who are grieving the loss of
breastfeeding, they would be helped by
learning more about grief. An excellent
book on grief is Grief Counseling and
Grief Therapy" by Worden. It doesn't
have a word about breastfeeding loss in
it, but it is a compassionately written
and well-referenced book on grief for
professionals who want to be more
effective with helping their clients
grieve well." |
|
13:01:25 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Do we have another question? |
|
13:01:31 |
Webmama_Tina |
i think we're out of time |
|
13:01:34 |
Webmama_Tina |
and questions :) |
|
13:01:43 |
Webmama_Tina |
we didn't have anymore in queue did we
angie? |
|
13:01:56 |
MOD_Angie |
nope |
|
13:02:01 |
Webmama_Tina |
ok perfect! :) |
|
13:02:12 |
Webmama_Tina |
thank you SOOOO Much cynthia! this was
very informative!!! |
|
13:02:19 |
Webmama_Tina |
i know noel wants to tell ya
something...LOL |
|
13:02:24 |
housepoet |
GREAT CHAT |
|
13:02:36 |
kristenandmadeleine |
thanks a lot |
|
13:02:39 |
arianamama |
Thank you SO MUCH what wonderful info |
|
13:02:40 |
housepoet |
oh man, Cynthia, I jus wanted to say you
were so right on the money about
validating women's feelings |
|
13:02:58 |
Webmama_Tina |
:) |
|
13:03:01 |
housepoet |
that rarely happens that a mother is
told that her feelings of loss are ok.
Thank you so much for speaking about
that. |
|
13:03:08 |
Webmama_Tina |
truly! |
|
13:03:12 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
You're very welcome! Thank you all for
participating. Maternal stress and
depression need to be out in the open so
that women can feel comfortable talking
about it and can get the help they need
and deserve. |
|
13:03:30 |
Webmama_Tina |
it seems just like validating those of
us who feel a loss for having had a
c-section...same concept |
|
13:03:34 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
You're welcome. I'm glad the information
was helpful. |
|
13:03:44 |
Webmama_Tina |
our society just blows our feelings
off...but they are REAL |
|
13:03:51 |
kristenandmadeleine |
Yes it does. I got told to get over my
PPD. I had a scary delivery, baby and I
almost died couldnt take her home and Im
just supposed to get over it |
|
13:04:15 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
Absolutely. Women grieve deeply about
the loss of an expected experience of
breastfeeding, birth, mothering, etc.
Women's roles are so devalued in our
society that our losses are devalued as
well. |
|
13:04:18 |
housepoet |
YES TINA |
|
13:04:31 |
Webmama_Tina |
yup |
|
13:04:36 |
housepoet |
I was totally thinking about birth the
same way too. 'oh you have your baby,
and that's all that matter.' I hate that
line |
|
13:04:37 |
Webmama_Tina |
*nodding head furiously* |
|
13:05:04 |
Webmama_Tina |
oh me too noel! there's a great article
about that called you should be
happy"...its short sweet and SO to the
point" |
|
13:05:11 |
kristenandmadeleine |
Omg, housepoet I hated that. its not
how the baby is born, its that she's
okay" Well its all well and good when
it's not them" |
|
13:05:28 |
housepoet |
send me that link please I'd love to
read it |
|
13:05:47 |
Webmama_Tina |
yup and i'm sure they do the same thing
for moms about breastfeeding too...oh as
long as your baby is being nourished,
what does it matter?" like you said
cynthia" |
|
13:05:49 |
Cynthia_Good_Mojab |
I'm working on a chapter about the
impact of traumatic birth on maternal
mental health and breastfeeding. The
book is for primary health care
providers. I hope it will help folks
recognize how deeply impacted a mother
can be by a negative or trau |
