There’s a very special fundraiser/benefit show at Sons of Hermann Hall this coming Saturday, October 3rd.

A couple of people I care very much about, and consider to be dear friends, went through hell…postpartum hell…

What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is a serious illness that can occur in the first few months after childbirth. It also can happen after miscarriage and stillbirth.

Postpartum depression can make you feel very sad, hopeless, and worthless. You may have trouble caring for and bonding with your baby.

Postpartum depression is not the “baby blues,” which many women have in the first couple of weeks after childbirth. With the blues, you may have trouble sleeping and feel moody, teary, and overwhelmed. You may have these feelings along with being happy about your baby. But the “baby blues” usually go away within a couple of weeks. The symptoms of postpartum depression can last for months.

In rare cases, a woman may have a severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis. She may act strangely, see or hear things that aren’t there, and be a danger to herself and her baby. This is an emergency, because it can quickly get worse and put her or others in danger.

It’s very important to get treatment for depression. The sooner you get treated, the sooner you’ll feel better and enjoy your baby.

What causes postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression seems to be brought on by the changes in hormone levels that occur after pregnancy. Any woman can get postpartum depression in the months after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

You have a greater chance of getting postpartum depression if:

You’ve had depression or postpartum depression before.
You have poor support from your partner, friends, or family.
You have a sick or colicky baby.
You have a lot of other stress in your life.
You are more likely to get postpartum psychosis if you or someone in your family has bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression).

What are the symptoms?
A woman who has postpartum depression may:

Feel very sad, hopeless, and empty. Some women also may feel anxious.
Lose pleasure in everyday things.
Not feel hungry and may lose weight. (But some women feel more hungry and gain weight).
Have trouble sleeping.
Not be able to concentrate.
These symptoms can occur in the first day or two after the birth. Or they can follow the symptoms of the baby blues after a couple of weeks.

If you think you might have postpartum depression, fill out this postpartum depression checklist(What is a PDF document?) . Take it with you when you see your doctor.

A woman who has postpartum psychosis may feel cut off from her baby. She may see and hear things that aren’t there. Any woman who has postpartum depression can have fleeting thoughts of suicide or of harming her baby. But a woman with postpartum psychosis may feel like she has to act on these thoughts.

If you think you can’t keep from hurting yourself, your baby, or someone else, see your doctor right away or call911 for emergency medical care. For other resources, call:

The national suicide hotline, National Hopeline Network, at 1-800-784-2433.
The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
How is postpartum depression diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms.

Be sure to tell your doctor about any feelings of baby blues at your first checkup after the baby is born. Your doctor will want to follow up with you to see how you are feeling.

How is it treated?
Postpartum depression is treated with counseling and antidepressant medicines. Women with milder depression may be able to get better with counseling alone. But many women need counseling and medicine. Some antidepressants are considered safe for women who breast-feed.

To help yourself get better, make sure to eat well, get some exercise every day, and get as much sleep as possible. Seek support from family and friends if you can.

Try not to feel bad about yourself for having this illness. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad mother. Many women have postpartum depression. It may take time, but you can get better with treatment.

I have two kids, less than three years apart. That was hard enough. I can’t imagine going through Postpartum Depression on top of everything else a new mom might have to experience.

My friends Toby and Shelley Shook went through this at a time in their lives that they expected to be incredibly happy. Shelley is absolutely the opposite type of person you might think postpartum might effect. She’s active, athletic, a successful attorney and happily married. Her story tells of how excited she and Toby were to welcome their daughter, and how devastating postpartum was on their marriage and family.

Read Shelley’s story here.

Join us at Sons of Hermann on Saturday, October 3rd for a Benefit Concert and Silent Auction. Let’s beat the hell out of this condition for good.

Details:

Saturday, October 3rd
Sons of Hermann Hall
Performing: Steve Holy / Deryl Dodd
$20 Cash Donation – Cash Bar – Door Prizes!
Here is a list of Auction Items
Come on out and join us for this great cause and fantastic live music event!