Eye on Health - Postpartum Depression

It can be the most amazing moment of a woman's life the birth of a child. But for some women t...  More »

It can be the most amazing moment of a woman's life the birth of a child. But for some women that moment of joy can be followed by a time of trouble. In this week's Eye on Health, Postpartum Depression is the topic. Mark Bell sees it and he wants all healthcare workers to be on the lookout for it...postpartum depression. Last week he discussed the topic with medical personnel at Trinity Health's 30th annual Symposium on Perinatal Medicine and Women's Healthcare...His message was for them to be watching for it...but also for everyone to do the same... (Mark Bell, D.O.) andamp;quot;The family is the front line. They must be able to give information to the doctor if they have a feeling that things are not going well.andamp;quot; Postpartum Depression can be deadly not just for the mother, but for baby as well. There are many documented cases of a new mom taking the life of her newborn. Not all cases are this severe of course... (Mark Bell, D.O.) andamp;quot;Well pregnancy and being a new parent is lots of pressure and that is why they are feeling this way and that is understood but it is primarily diagnosed by the lack of ability to take care of themselves and their child.andamp;quot; Bell says for family around a new mother trouble that lasts beyond two weeks after the birth needs to be reported to a doctor. 'Baby Blues' as it is known can last a few weeks...but beyond that is when trouble sets in... (Mark Bell, D.O.) andamp;quot;It is after that point and even during the point you see she is doing well, you see she is not bouncing back, that is when the problems start to happen and then they start to reject the family and self.andamp;quot; After last week's Symposium, more healthcare workers will be watching even closer for this type of depression. With your Eye on Health, andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/perry-olsonandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;Perry Olsonandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt;, KX News.  « Less