In the New York Times: Understanding Maternal Mental Illness

This week in the New York Times, there is a two-part story on maternal mental illness. Highlighting the experience of two women who became ill during the postpartum period, the articles focus on the range of disorders which can emerge during the postpartum period — not only depression, but bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis.

Postpartum depression isn’t always postpartum. It isn’t even always depression. A fast-growing body of research is changing the very definition of maternal mental illness, showing that it is more common and varied than previously thought.

Thinking of Ways to Harm Her

After Baby, An Unraveling

: Is It Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Anxiety? What’s The Difference?

: ACOG Opinion: Depression Screening for All Pregnant and Postpartum Women

: More Pediatricians Are Screening for Postpartum Depression

: Perinatal Depression and Anxiety: How Long Does It Last?

: Brexanolone: Related to Allopregnanolone, Effective for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

One Comment

Mary Alice July 20, 2014 at 9:06 pm

I have noticed a dramatic change in personality and social coping skills after birth, with my siblings, daughter in law, various friends and myself. One sister, I believe, was consistent in giving birth x4 children, obsessing, rectal temperatures, warmth, over in tune to the child’s feelings and generally raising them based upon her own emotional status. She died of breast cancer, with the youngest child at 12 years of age. Older sister, was emotionally messy upon marriage and gave birth to a daughter, not having a maternal instinct in her composure and therefore the manifest began. Thought she was barren (and not the case) and proceeded to arrange, make money (stash and hide) for a Cambodian Adoption. Messy upbringing with ex-spouse seeing to this child’s well-being. I feel in my own circumstances that pregnancy as well as the responsibilities of child rearing (especially at infancy) are more than enough to tweak a women into places unknown.
I am respectful that this topic has become a concern and hope for future research, consideration and dialogue for much more than “Post Partum Depression”. I, to this day, feel I was a “shitty mother” based upon my heritage and relation to my sister’s feelings and those cited in your article. Please continue as this topic is quite new but with Mother’s suffering for such a long time.