The US is one of very few countries that considers maternal infanticide as murder.  What??  Other countries don’t consider killing your infant as murder?  No.  Britain passed their Infanticide Act back in 1922 & 1938 which cast such an event as manslaughter.  They recognized Postpartum Psychosis (PPP) back then.

Here’s the article, HERE about State Representative Farrar’s legislation.  It’s very good–accurate.

Our own Hawaii PPP incidences have been covered HERE which talks about a woman in 1965 who did virtually the same thing as Andrea Yates, drowning her five children.  Mrs. Young was sent to the State Hospital.  Five children.  Remember that and then explain why 40+ years later how a young mother in Hawaii gets potentially 20 years in prison.   That story is HERE

Karen Kleiman of her Postpartum Stress Center in NJ writes,

“Current screening tools for postpartum depression and anxiety do not assess for scary thoughts which are pervasive and highly distressing. Here is a look at the PPSC’s guide for healthcare providers who (hopefully) will begin to integrate a one-question screen into their practices.”

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19266870/Scary-Thoughts-Guide

Of the women here in Hawaii that I talk with, probably at least half of them will admit to scary thoughts.  This is considerably more than general write-ups about “PPD” suggest.

Please know, these thoughts are a kind of “baby proofing” for potential dangers–what could possibly harm my baby–and not an indication of some Freudian “deep seated issue” or other babble-babble.  The thoughts are obsesssions, as in obsessive compulsive disorder type of obsessions.  Obsessions, we learned at the PSI conference in Texas (2008), occur “in context”.  So a teen’s obsessions are often about their sexuality–are they gay, will they have a boy/girlfriend, will they ever have sex.  A new mom’s obsessions are about potential harm–physical, illness, etc.–coming to her baby.  “What if I dropped the baby over the railing?”  “What if the knife I’m cutting up dinner with [harmed] my baby!”  “What if the bath water is too hot?”  “The bath water could [harm] my baby!”

These thoughts are pretty normal in the postpartum world.  And they are treatable.  Hospitalization is not necessary.  Read Karen’s article.

It’s two days later and I think I’m almost caught up on sleep again.  I think we moms have settled out again, feet firmly on the ground.

Going to any kind of training and hearing about “PPD” from experts–hearing about it from people other than your peer “PPD moms” or your therapist, I’ll say this for all of us, does have an impact.  Even 15 years out, there’s always some little nugget that gets underneath and has you questioning your parenting skills or brings you back to the “did I do right for my baby?” thinking.

We had our usual Tuesday support group the next morning and processed the events from Monday.  This was after a phone call or two to check in about possibly raw emotions.  If there are moms outside the support group that had some emotional upheaval from the training, please follow the links and call PPD Support Hawaii or talk it out with a trustworthy friend.

Our wonderful volunteer Elaine is compiling the reviews, so I’ll get back to you on that.

Verbally though, people had many, many positive things to say.  The energy felt that way as well.  Thank you for being open to learning more and for your positive energy throughout the event.

Perinatal Mood Disorders

(aka Postpartum Depression)

 —Awareness & Treatment

Check out our sister site, PPD Support HI for  a telephone support warm line, a weekly mom & baby support group, referrals to PPD-informed providers, and information about PPD.

Yes, Hawaii, now you can “attend” a Postpartum Support International 2-day training–Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care.  This is a full 8 hours each day and the best training on the topic available.*

You can do this for the remarkable cost of only $75/person.  There is one little hitch, and the reason for the quotation marks.  The training is in Oklahoma… but  available by webcast.

Postpartum Support International’s (PSI) 2-day training

“Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders: Components of Care”

Live in Oklahoma and via live interactive webcast, viewable from home or office computer, for only $75.  PSI offers this same training as a two-day pre-conference session with its annual conference.  This is that same training without the expenses of air travel, meals, car rental or accommodations.

http://oica.org/projects_and_issues/health/hm_hb/hmhb_invitation_2009.html

Wednesday May 20th, Thursday May 21st

The course is evidence-based and includes information concerning screening, assessment, and treatment of Perinatal Mood Disorders.

Featured Speakers include: Dr. Pec Indman and Meeka Centimano, LCSW.

The  conference runs from 8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m.  CDT both days–that means…3:15 a.m -11:15 a.m. HST.

*I am a PSI volunteer.

The focus of this blog rally is to increase signatures to a growing list of supporters at Perinatal Pro and encourage phone calls to the Senate H.E.L.P. Committee in support of the MBSMA.

We are asking you to email Susan Dowd Stone at Perinatal Pro (susanstonelcsw@aol.com) as well as call every member of the Senate H.E.L.P. Committee to voice your support for the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHER’S Act. (When you email Susan, be sure to include your name, state, and any affiliations!)

The time is NOW. American mothers deserve to be heard. They deserve to not fear coming forward. Won’t you speak up for them?

For more information, check out Katherine Stone’s post on Postpartum Progress, HERE.  She includes the Capitol operator’s phone number, at 202-224-3121.  After you read her blog, call.

PLEASE add your name as a supporter!

The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, sponsored by Senators Menendez and Representative Rush will:
* help provide support services to women with postpartum depression to postpartum psychosis
*help educate mothers and their families about these conditions
*support research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for the whole range of prenatal and postpartum mental health conditions.

eta:7/17/09–this does not ask to mandate anything.  Not even screening.

It PASSED THE HOUSE and now goes to the US Senate.

Read more about S. 324/H.R. 20 HERE

Add your name to the growing list, with mine:
Email Susan Stone, LCSW susanstonelcsw at aol.com with name, state, any credentials, and permission to be listed (Susan is the past president of Postpartum Support International).

The list of supporters from all 50 states will be delivered to Congress on Mother’s Day.

Please help reach the goal of 1000 signatures per state in support of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.

4/15/09 30 names from Hawaii now…

5/1/09 33 supporters from Hawaii now…

and has since 1/26/09. H.R. 20, NOW is the time to pass Postpartum Depression legislation also known as the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act

Thank you, Ms. Hirono!

It had to happen eventually, right?  Yes, moms, you’ll be able to connect to a support group from the comfort of your own home.  You won’t have to have a webcam, necessarily, to start.  Your facilitator will have one and you’ll be able to sign in via Instant Messenger or voice alone, on Yahoo.

PPD Support HI will be starting this, once a month to begin with, on the 3rd Wednesday evening of each month… 9 pm. HST.  Contact them via the previous link, and then their “Contact Us” tab.  They also have a weekly daytime group, face to face–check it out on their website.