Have you heard about the major changes being enacted by the Chinese government on adoptions to American parents? Under the new restrictions, parents who take antidepressant medication and/or have a history of depression are prohibited from adopting from China.

Others who are no longer eligible to adopt are single mothers, couples who have been married less than two years, anyone who has been divorced and re-married less than five years, a couple that includes an adult over age 50 or who is overweight, etc.

According to the Chinese government, these restrictions may...or may not...be temporary. FYI, China is currently the number one nation for American overseas adoptions.

If you're thinking of adopting a child - whether from the U.S. or abroad - the National Council on Adoption is a good place to start educating yourself and gathering information. For a good primer on international adoption, click here.

Posted by Sarah M. at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (9)

The Marce Society has produced a comprehensive self-study aid for midwives, childbirth educators, doulas, community health workers, and home-visit nurses: "Emotional Effects of Childbirth."

This 154-page print resource is an updated and revised edition of the first printing, published in 1994. It can be ordered directly from The Marce Society as an individual publication for personal study, as a CD with organizational rights to reproduce for educational purposes within an organization, or as a four-ring hard copy with the reprint rights.

Posted by Sarah M. at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The latest edition of PSI News from Postpartum Support International features a great column by Dr. Sandra Nolley of the University of Washington, Seattle, who reports on the Marce Society's Biennial International Scientific Meeting in September 2006 in the U.K.

A couple of striking excerpts of Dr. Nolley's report from the meeting:

On PPD in developing nations:
"Women in developing, and therefore low-wealth, countries, are twice as likely to experience PPD as women in developed, high-wealth countries. Most prevention intervention studies in developing countries have not been effective, but a recent randomly controlled study of rural women found a 30 percent decrease in infant mortality in women who participated in mom-to-mom support groups during pregnancy."

On the causes/triggers of PMDs:
"Although most clinicians and postpartum women believe there is a hormonal trigger for postpartum mood disorders, most human research has not found any difference between the reproductive hormone levels in postpartum women with and without PMDs.

Rubinow (2005) summarized animal research where the levels or changes of estrogen and progesterone in female brains triggered affective disturbances only in some females, but had no effect on other females. He used the term 'context of vulnerability' to describe this difference between women and described some of the possible mechanisms. Greater understanding of the underpinnings of the regulation of affective state is necessary to help identify therapeutic targets to reduce the suffering of women with these disorders."

The next Marce Society Biennial Scientific Meeting will be held in 2008 in Australia.

Posted by Sarah M. at 07:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The currently reigning "Mrs. Canada," Irene Serra-Selitto, has made postpartum depression (PPD) her platform issue, and says she will use her high-profile position to help raise awareness. Serra-Selitto is herself a survivor of PPD.

As part of her responsibilities, Mrs. Canada will make 12 public appearances during the year to promote her platform issue. She's already appeared on the Canadian TV show Daytime, and spoke at a sporting event.

Canadian news outlets or civic organizations wishing to book an appearance by Serra-Selitto shoudl go to www.canadapageants.com or call 1.866.-574.STAR (7827).

Posted by Sarah M. at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

A new study conducted in Sweden finds that the reported prevalence of depressive disorders among ob/gyn patients varies from 10 percent up to a staggering 40 percent.

Which reminds us once again that ob/gyns and their nurses really are on the front lines, with a responsibility to screen for, diagnose, and treat or refer the significant number of women suffering from depression and mood disorders.

The Postpartum Stress Center in Philadelphia, founded by Karen Kleiman, has some excellent online information and on-site training for healthcare professionals. To check it out, click here.

Posted by Sarah M. at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

BBC News is reporting on an innovative approach to treating new mothers experiencing severe postpartum mood disorders. To my knowledge, this is a one-of-a-kind treatment program not yet implemented in the U.S.

NHS St. John's Hospital in Lothian, Scotland will open a new unit in August 2006, which allows new moms to keep their babies with them while they receive inpatient care and begin their recovery for postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders.

Quoted by the BBC, a spokesperson for the hospital says, "This new unit will enable mothers to have their babies with them at a time of personal difficulty and this will hopefully be a comfort for them."

Linda Irvine, programme manager for mental health and well-being for NHS Lothian, told the BBC, "At the moment, it is difficult for new mums who need inpatient treatment for mental health problems to have their babies with them in hospital. This new unit will mean that mums and babies can stay together, which is in everyone's interests. We plan that the unit will be as home-like as possible and a focus group of mothers has played an important role in advising us on what they would like."

In addition to the inpatient unit, the hospital will staff a special perintal team who will cooperate with community mental health workers in Lothian, providing help to mothers who are receiving treatment for postpartum disorders at home.

This news out of Scotland is especially encouraging, considering the recent public outcry in the U.K. about the failings of the health system in responding to women with postpartum depression and other mood disorders. The findings from a new research survey conducted by Mind, the National Association for Mental Health in Britain, has drawn media attention and is fueling a new dialogue on the topic. The 36-page report, "Out of the Blue? Motherhood & Depression" is available as a free, downloadable PDF.

I really like Mind's recommendations for change in British healthcare. These are the same things we need here in the U.S.:

* Better training is needed for health professionals, to enhance their skills and knowledge about perinatal mental health. Such training would best be developed with the input of women who have actually experienced perinatal mood disorders.

* Standard maternity services should be required to address emotional wellbeing, and to provide continuity between ante- and postpartum support.

* All maternity services in hospitals should have a clinician with some designated interest/special training or experience in perinatal mental health.

* Whenever possible, popstpartum women entering inpatient care at a psychiatric facility should keep their babies with them, for the benefit of both mother and infant.

Posted by Sarah M. at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)