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Expecting or New mother - What you
can do to feel better
What is a Postpartum
Mood Disorder (PPMD)?
Could
I have PPMD?
Common
feelings and fears of women with PPMD
PPMD
Stories - New!
What
you can do to feel better
 How
to talk to your healthcare provider
How
your health care provider can help you
Where
to get help
Resources
What you can do to
feel better [Also see, PPMD
brochure]
Do
not blame yourself. You are not alone in feeling the way
you do. Do not feel ashamed or guilty for your thoughts
and feelings. You are not a bad mother.
Ask
for help. Talk to your partner, family, friends and health
care provider. Do not be ashamed of your feelings. Delaying
help may delay recovery.
Take
care of yourself. Try to rest, eat healthy foods and get
some fresh air and exercise.
Take
time for yourself. Accept offers for help with household
chores and baby-care so you can have a break.
Join
a support group with other parents; it is helpful to talk
through your feelings in a supportive environment.
Get
counseling. Counseling is a very effective way to treat
postpartum mood disorders. Ask your health care provider
to refer you to a counselor. Some services will accept you
without a referral, too.
Consider
medication. Your health care provider may recommend medication
that is safe to use while breastfeeding and is not addictive.
You can find additional resources available
on the Internet in the links
section of this website.
What your partner, family
and friends can do.
[Top of the
page]
How to talk with
your health care provider
It is not always easy to talk to you doctor
or another healthcare provider, but it is important for you
to get help. Here are some tips to help you talk to your care
provider.
Take
someone with you to the appointment.
Write down
what you want to say.
If you have
a symptom checklist, check of all your symptoms and show
the list at the appointment.
Find someone
you are comfortable with and who will listen to you.
If you did
not get the help you are looking for go back and try again
or speak to a different care provider.
[Top of the
page]
How your healthcare provider can
help you
Your healthcare provider can help you by
asking you questions about how you have been feeling lately
in order to assess your needs. After he/she addresses your
concerns and wishes in regards to the treatment options available,
your healthcare provider can offer the following:
Support
groups help by creating hope and understanding that you
are alone in feeling the way you do. Your experiences and
allows you to share them with other women in similar situations.
Visits
with a public health nurse or other professional can also
help. Talking with a care provider can create a safe environment
for you to discuss your feelings without being judged.
Counseling
can help with mild to moderate symptoms of depression and/or
anxiety. Especially if you do not want to take medication
while breastfeeding, counseling may be a good option. It
will also provide you with the opportunity to talk about
your feelings in a safe environment. There are two types
of therapy most commonly used:
Interpersonal Psychotherapy or IPT
focuses on the new roles of parenting and how to adjust
to them. It can also help resolve marital or relationship
problems that come with new roles.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT helps
to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones
to improve your coping skills.
Medication
can be prescribed when symptoms are moderate to severe.
Discuss with your healthcare provider safety of taking antidepressants
if you are breastfeeding. Motherisk helpline can also answer
your questions about medication and dose safety.
[Also see, Motherisk
website]
[Top of the
page]
Where to get help
Your
healthcare provider (family physician, midwife, nurse,
OB/GYN, psychiatrist)
Your local
Public Health Agency at www.alphaweb.org/ont_health_units.asp
or call: INFO line at 1 866 532 3161
Your local
hospital's emergency department
Your local
crisis intervention line
Telehealth
Ontario: 1 800 797 0000 or TTY 1 800 797 0007
Mental
Health Services Information Ontario: 1 866 531 2600
http://www.mhsio.on.ca/PPMD
Motherisk:
416 813 6780
http://www.motherisk.org
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