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Nurse's group helps new mothers cope

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: July 8, 2009

UNIVERSITY AREA - Is it the "baby blues" or something more?

This is a question June Vinyard, nurse leader of the Women's Center at University Community Hospital, has focused the better part of five years on in hopes of identifying and helping new mothers faced with postpartum depression.

Unlike the commonly discussed baby blues in which feelings of anxiety and sadness appear two to three days after delivery and subside within a week or two, the often debilitating symptoms of PPD can last several weeks or months.

Feelings of ongoing guilt, loneliness, difficulty caring for the baby or yourself and the inability to sleep or eat are signs of PPD. It can seriously affect a woman's quality of life and her ability to function as a mother.

There is no single cause for the condition, but factors such as hormonal changes, an unexpected childbirth experience, severe lack of sleep, stress and a history of depression may be triggers. It affects 10 percent to 20 percent of new mothers.

A brochure published by the hospital stresses that PPD is not the fault of its victims.

To help identify women at risk for the condition, Vinyard implemented a voluntary screening questionnaire in April for new moms at the center to take prior to leaving the hospital. It consists of 12 questions, all of which patients are asked to check with either a "yes" or "no" response.

If a person's answers indicate there may be a problem, Vinyard said a nurse or social worker will visit prior to discharge to assess her issues and seek permission to call her at home. A copy of the questionnaire is sent to the woman's health care provider and the original is filed with her medical records at the hospital.

"In the past it has been something that people have generally not talked about because people would think they were crazy," Vinyard said. "But the screening has been shown to be sort of like a silent tool. When we go in and talk to these people, it opens up a dialogue."

In May the weekly Mom to Mom Connection Support group was launched at the center with licensed mental health counselor Lorraine Kushner at the helm. The forum where women are encouraged to discuss their emotions as a group has attracted three to four women each session.

A young woman with a history of depression spoke of her prior inability to divulge the illness to anyone besides close family members.

"In the past I've filled out surveys the way I thought they wanted me to be," said the first-time mother of an 8-week-old baby boy. "But on this survey I didn't lie because I knew I was going to take him home."

The mother of an infant girl and 2-year-old daughter, who suffers from bipolar disorder, said she also had difficulty talking about her problem.

"I thought it was a great idea for other people but not me," she said, but with the birth of her new baby, she admitted to having a health issue that often manifests in extreme mood swings.

She spoke about the fact that her physician wants her to slowly wean her baby off breast milk so she can get back on her medication as soon as possible.

The fear, she said, is that she remembers her symptoms of severe depression were brought to the forefront when she stopped breast feeding her elder child.

"I know I should be happy but I'm not happy," said another mother of two young daughters who said she has generally been the strong, seemingly always cheerful person in her family.

She doesn't like to burden others with her problems, including her doctor.

"I feel very unappreciative and I say, 'How do deserve something so precious?' but I don't want to go into my doctor's office and cry," she said.

Kushner pointed out the importance of seeing the physician who delivered her baby.

"There is hope and it's not your fault," said Kushner, who also recommends taking medication if it can stabilize a woman's moods. "Bite the bullet."

Vinyard is pleased with the results of the program so far.

"It's rewarding and I'm pleased we are providing information and resources they might need and women are stepping forward," she said. "It's not really our job, but we want them to be successful."

The program is specifically meant for women who are patients at the UCH Women's Center, but anyone seeking help may call Vinyard at (813) 615-7350, or visit www.uch.org or Postpartum Support International's site at www.post partum.net.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 731-8026.

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