Todd Woodbridge’s post match interview at the 2011 Australian Open with Kim Clijsters doesn’t go as planned. Woodbridge apparently sent Rennae Stubbs a text message asking if Clijsters was pregnant. Clijsters claims the text message said, “She looks really grumpy and her boobs are bigger.”

Although much time and effort has been expended trying to unlock the secrets of this condition, no definitive single factor can be identified that in itself leads to post partum depression. Several issues have been singled out as important factors that contribute in part to the condition. These include prenatal depression, lack of self esteem, prenatal anxiety, and chronic conflict with a spouse.

Other known conditions that may contribute to the ailment might also include a perceived lack of social support, a history of depression within the family, low social status and even the fact that the pregnancy was not a planned event. As if this list of potential factors is not long enough, several other issues are known factors common to post partum depression sufferers. Additionally, mother’s race, social class or sexual orientation have been noted conditions that are common to many sufferers.

Consider an instance where a mother may experience a lack of social support and is forced to manage the affects of these stressful events by herself. This eventually causes the mother to shift her energy to satisfy the demands of pure survival as an alternative to totally expending her energy into a new being that may be considered expendable in that over stressed mental state.

When observed and diagnosed in the early stages, intervention can successfully treat and eliminate the condition. The prognosis for a complete recovery is good when professional assistance is sought and put into practice. A key component of the treatment involves educating the women about the causes and effects associated with post partum depression.

Support groups can be found in most large towns and cities where the self-help groups work in unison with the medical community to provide highly important social support. Women either pregnant or planning to become pregnant should be screened regularly by their health practitioners so that the early detection is possible.

Thanks for your time!

I can admit to myself that I’m self medicating with alcohol – but i do so to avoid what feels like anxiety attacks and breakdowns. I need help, but I don’t know how to go about getting any, it’s hard enough for me to complete a chore…

I need help and this is my baby step towards doing so…(pun not intended)

I would really like to know what I can do to make this go away or ease up a little bit. Because I hate feeling like I can’t do this.. and I hate being scared to death about being a mother.. but then I’m so excited to see my little angel for the first time and teach them right from wrong. I couldn’t be more happy that I’m pregnant so don’t get me wrong, I just get in these moods where it completely brings me face down into the dirt.

feel free to share your stories.
I just am kind of asking for help in this situation.

thanks <3

What is the cause?

Hormones! Just that, hormones, the increase and/or loss of hair when it comes to pregnant women and new mothers is usually due to the flux in the level of female hormones, which basically is known as estrogen. Within the term of pregnancy most women would experience an increase in their scalp hair, which is because at this time there is a surplus of estrogen being pumped around the body. This causes their metabolisms to be sped up and nutrients spread to everywhere in the body including the scalp causing the increase in scalp hair.

After child birth however is the complete opposite whereby there is a decrease in estrogen in the body to return the body to its normal levels that it was before the pregnancy therefore resulting in what we deem, hair loss. Basically since the extra nutrients in the scalp can not be provided by the hormones anymore there is nothing to support the increase in hair therefore the hair gained falls out. There are also other causes that add to pack when it relates to this type of hair loss like discontinuing the use of contraceptives, miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion and hormonal imbalance resulting from various reasons.

Most women fortunately do not have to worry considering this effect is only temporary and most come out of this problem without even taking any treatment for it since the body does the work for itself. There is however some cases whereby the hair loss continues after the predetermined period and becomes something to worry about especially if the person was already afflicted with very thin hair in the first place. No real need to worry though since there are treatment options available to help out in form of hair care and hair nutrition which are the major factors in promoting healthy hair after child birth.

Hair Care

Proper hair care has been found to be in this case a major helper in the restoration of the hair to a thicker and lusher growth. Some of these methods however should be avoided during this time though because they put too much stress on the scalp such as pigtails, cornrows, hair weaves and braids. Using tight hair rollers is also not recommended. The application of essential oils is also helpful as they promote healthy hair growth which may include lavender, neroli, patchouli and sandalwood. Shampoos and conditioners containing biotin and silica are also advisable options available. What should also be noted is that wet hair should not be rubbed hard since the hair is usually brittle at this time.

Nutrition

As with all others symptoms the body may experience a healthy diet is always the way to go and especially so for hair loss after pregnancy. Foods like fruit and vegetables are usually the most ideal for the promotion of healthy hair and growth. Also along with you doctor advice which he/she can advise you to a prescription of nutritional supplements which can include Vitamin B, Vitamin, C, Vitamin E and zinc which an excellent source of nutrients for the hair.

Looking into the Signs of Emotional Stress

It is said that the most common emotion that a woman feels after having abortion is relief. Relief that the tensions of an unwanted pregnancy are gone and that the whole ordeal is finally over.

There are many other conflicting emotions that women may feel after abortion. They often find themselves experiencing and coping with unexpected feelings and problems. These may include regret, shock, confusion, trauma, sadness, anger, depression, long-term grief reactions, flashbacks of the incident, memory repression, and even sexual dysfunction.

These emotions might persist for a few days following the abortion. It can hinder the patient from being able to work and doing other physical activities, and sometimes rendering her altogether dysfunctional.. There are also instances where the woman adopts sleeping problems that may turn into depression. It is important that the advice of a physician be sought. Depression may or may not follow the experience, but it is still important to know the signs. Some possible signs of depression are the following:

a)Lack of appetite

b)Emotional outbursts

c)Intense sadness

d)Introversion, refusal to mingle with anybody

e)Possible threats of suicide.

Understanding the Physical Changes and Effects

Emotional trauma aside, there are also physical abuses that a woman must cope up with when she undergoes abortion. These are the following:

a) Infection of the uterus. Symptoms may include severe pain and fever. When left untreated, these symptoms may lead to the development of a more serious infection,     which could result to infertility.

b) Excessive hemorrhage. Profuse bleeding for a few days could result to a blood transfusion or hysterectomy.

c) Perforation and damage to the uterus. The tools used during abortion are the cause to this, and sometimes, a major operation is required to minimize the damage.

d) Effects on later pregnancies. The severe injury to the cervix and uterus may result to miscarriage and even ectopic pregnancy.

e) Breast cancer. There are some studies that could prove that there is an increased incidence of breast cancer among women who have undergone abortion.

f) Death. Deaths have occurred after abortion due to heavy bleeding, severe pain, or from complications with the anesthesia. Risk of death increases after the first three   months of pregnancy.

Taking Care of Yourself After the Abortion

Here are some important and helpful tips on how one should get a fast recovery following an abortion:

1.Stay off from work or file a leave from your office.

2.Take in lots of fluids.

3.Take vitamins and eat healthy foods.

4.Sleep well during the night.

5.Take the antibiotics and other medications that were prescribed.

6.Don’t exercise.

7.Refrain from any sexual activities.

Reasons For Post Pregnancy Memory Loss

Lack of sleep is the most anticipated reason for post pregnancy memory loss, as it reduces productivity and efficiency, thereby, causing restlessness among new moms. This in turn affects the brain’s memory power, causing memory loss. In order to avoid this problem, it is recommended to take small naps during the day, as it can do wonders to your memory.

Stress is another challenge that is faced by the new mom, which results in a constant attack on you brain cells, thereby, reducing memory power. To avoid stress, moms should try to relax by watching TV, exercising, or doing yoga. Walking is considered to the best stress buster, in addition to meditation that can do wonders to your body as well as brain.

Improper diet during or post pregnancy life is a major cause of post pregnancy memory loss. Insufficient amount of vital nutrients like Zinc, Vitamin B12, Iron, and folic acid can adversely affect the memory, Iron being the most important of them. Eating healthy food rich in these nutrients like, spinach, legumes, nuts, during pregnancy is very important, as the baby requires these nutrients to grow.

Last but not the least, the other factor responsible for post pregnancy memory loss in the moms is the fluctuation on the hormonal levels during pregnancy, birth, and lactation. The two most important hormones, Cortisol, which is a stress hormone and directly affects the hippocampi, two regions critical for memory functions and Oxytocin, which is a labor inducing and milk injection hormone, are released during labor and delivery. Therefore, more is the labor; more is the chances of these hormones being released, which ultimately damages the hippocampi.

Ways To Improve Memory – Both Now And Post-Pregnancy

In order to overcome this short-term post pregnancy memory loss, moms can use several techniques, which have shown considerable improvement in memory. Some of them have been given below:

Actively recall information while learning.
Periodically, review learned information.
Mnemonics

Using the above-mentioned techniques will result in a positive affect on your mental as well as your overall well-being. However, this can be achieved only through consistent efforts. With a little practice and hard work, you will find yourself with a sharper mind even more than your pre pregnancy days.

Since I never actually had treatment, I am unsure what is usually done and want to have some knowledge before I talk to my OB next week about coming up with a potential treatment plan to have ready in case it happens again.

Anyone have experience that they feel comfortable sharing? I know how hard it is to talk about, think about and admit to.
I do appreciate the advice, but I can’t do anything besides a hospital with a NICU as much as I would love to do something else. I have to be carefully monitored because my first baby was in distress and nearly died in the birth canal due to twisting into a wrong position at the last minute. They did a huge episitomy and pulled him out before working on him for 45 minutes to get him to pink up and breath normally.

This time around, I will be monitored and watched more closely than normal.

To a number of them, this period is a dramatic change from the norm and instead of being happy that the belly is free, they suffer from postnatal depression.

It is also what is commonly called the baby blues and not easily understood by other people around the mother.

Recently a mother who is my relative refused to breastfeed her two-week baby, and it got really sick and helpless.

The husband and other people who know her felt disgusted by her behavior as a mum and none thought of the possibility that what she had was postnatal depression.

Apparently, a new kid is such a big responsibility for the first time mum both emotionally and financially and she is bound to feel weighed down, but it is an innocent being that suffer in the process.

Symptoms

Some mothers feel angry and irritable, weep easily and feel extremely low. I once was a neighbor to a young woman who got really depressed after giving birth, and as a consequence, her breasts lacked milk for the child.

As if this was not enough, she would leave both of her children for a whole day and it was me who the helpless child cried to.

In fact it cried even at night when nothing came out of its mothers breasts. She at times would respond by whipping the bigger child or calling it bad names.

As people near these mothers, we need to understand that the sudden change of lifestyle they undergo is not easy, and they need medical intervention, to be able to accept their responsibility to their babies.

Some mothers do not experience the baby blues during all the times they conceive, others get these repeatedly while a few endure it with some of their children.

Also postnatal depression may be intense or mild and sleeping more or separating from the baby for short periods until this feeling is gone can easily deal with the latter.

When we notice that a mum’s mind and actions seem detached from her baby, it would be advisable to encourage her to speak up her mind with you for this can ease her tension.

When the depression in mothers is severe, they suffer from psychological problem and hormonal changes are known to take a major contributory part.

The hormone that arouses the uterus to prepare for pregnancy is formulated slowly in some women bodies and postnatal depression results when its levels fall suddenly just before delivery.

This is called progesterone. Also deficiency in zinc and essential fats can result to the same because a mum transfers most of her zinc to the baby ahead of giving birth hence the possible deficit.

Essential fats are not made by our bodies from any other substance except what we eat that should contain them.

Several herbs that may not interfere with breast milk can be taken by the mother to balance her hormone levels.

If she visits the doctor, who is very important, he or she will recommend medical prescription best to treat her case of depression.

It is not that such women hate their new babies but the condition they suffer from is triggered by many factors that she and her gynecologist can work out together and come up with solutions.