Customer Reviews

Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding And Treating Prenatal And Postpartum Depression

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"Contrary to popular mythology, pregnancy is not always a happy, glowing experience! Approximately 10 percent of women experience depression. Of these, about 15 percent are so severely depressed that they attempt suicide."

During a time when you would imagine most women would be happy and fulfilled in their new roles as a mother, many women experience the nightmare of postpartum depression. While many of us have heard of postpartum depression (PPD), I was unaware of prenatal depression. In fact, this book presents five postpartum mood disorders that can also occur during pregnancy.

Since depression can have fatal results, it is essential to get counseling. This book is not intended to be a replacement for individual counseling, medical assessment or group support. "Beyond the Blues" shows the reality of Prenatal and Postpartum depression. It is one of the most well-organized books I've seen on any type of depression. You can quickly assess the condition and find help, treatment options and support.

The authors wrote this book to help provide critical information to psychotherapists and clients. Shoshana S. Bennett, Ph. D., founded "Postpartum Assistance for Mothers in 1987" and also holds her second masters degree in Psychology and a doctorate in Clinical Counseling. Pec Indman, Ed.D., MFT has a doctorate in counseling and a masters degree in health psychology.

Our Stories - Shoshana and Pec show how they became aware of perinatal mood disorders. You soon realize the lack of sensitivity out there in the "real world" and can't believe we humans are not more nurturing. For some women, becoming a new mom can be a shocking experience when they start feeling suicidal.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychiatric Illness - An excellent chapter showing how perinatal mood disorders are caused by hormonal changes. The authors explain a variety of mood disorders. Some are not "considered a disorder" but can be experienced by 80 percent of mothers. What I found interesting was the "risk factors." PMS and PMDD are risk factors. This chapter contains stories of women who went through one of the mood disorders. I was shocked at how much I didn't know about pregnancy even after reading numerous books on the subject.

Women With Postpartum Mood Disorders - Once you have analyzed your behaviour or the behavior of a friend/client, you can then find a therapist, website information, find people to support you, understand the value of medication and develop a healthier lifestyle. The section on "myths" was enlightening.

Partners - You will be especially encouraged by the "What to Say, What Not to Say" comments. Learning to be encouraging should be an essential life skill.

Siblings, Family, and Friends - A great chapter on how you can explain this disorder to children, family and friends. Love the list of "What you can do to help."

Health Practitioners - The authors present answers to the questions they have been asked over the years. They deal with signs, symptoms and treatment. This is just an excellent chapter for doctors who are going to be asking the pertinent questions. Later, in the Appendix, there are Medical Terms with definitions.

Treatment - Yes, there is hope. Read this chapter to find out how you can use a combination of therapies to encourage a more balanced mood. It was interesting to consider the "impact of medication vs. the impact of illness." It was very comforting to know that SSRIs or TCAs can be used during pregnancy. This was news to me and will give you a sense of security, especially if you have realized the risk factors involved in getting pregnant in the first place. The authors also discuss drugs that should not be taken during pregnancy. You can even use sleep aids? Who knew! This was very helpful. There are even charts showing what treatment should be used during what stage. Doctors need this information!

Resources - A collection of websites and organizations to help you take care of yourself and do more research. You may also want to read additional books on this subject. A list is provided. The book ends with a helpful index.

If you have ever been depressed, you know that sometimes just knowing someone understands what you are going through, can be very healing. "Beyond the Blues" is a beautiful gift to women struggling with pregnancy-related mood disorders. This is literally a book that could help you save your life or the life of a woman who needs your emotional support.

Highly Recommended as essential reading for the human race! If you know someone who is pregnant or if you are pregnant, you should read this book. You know, I even think this book will be helpful for anyone dealing with a situation in which they are caring for someone experiencing depression.

Especially Recommended to:

New Moms taking charge of their health
Anyone who is considering becoming pregnant and wants to evaluate the risk factors.
Primary Care Providers
Pediatricians
OB/Gyns and Midwives
Psychiatrists
Doulas
Nurses
Lactation Consultants
Childbirth Educators
New Parent Group Leaders

~The Rebecca Review

As a survivor of PPD myself, as well as a support group leader and clinician, I found this book to be just what the doctor ordered. The verbage is in lay terms, making it easy to understand, whether you're a new mom, a support person or a clinician. It contains all of the must-know facts about postpatum illness. The most helpful section to me was the "Do Say" and "Don't Say." I wish I had that book back when I was suffering. I would have had my friends read it! "Snap out of it" was a common phrase and that just made me feel worse. I highly recommend this book, no matter what your role is in the life of the sufferer.

I can honestly say that I have purchased about 15-20 books regarding PPD in the last year and this book has been the most informative, encouraging and beneficial to me, along with being easy to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone suffering from PPD, or a spouse/friend of someone suffering from this. When you are a sufferer, you find yourself agonizing over why you are feeling the way you do. Finally, someone has written a book that answers all the questions you are asking. This book will help you get through your day, this book will help you realize that this dark cloud will not stay forever, this book will help you get better.

Please be sure to order the new, updated 2006 edition of Beyond the Blues, A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression. ISBN0971712433.
Moodswings Press

This book was such a beneficial resource to me as a new mom. It's a concise, easy-to-read, extremely informative tool that helped me fully understand my post-partum depression and what I could do about it. Also helpful are the sections targeted at spouses, family, and friends. PPD can be so difficult and devastating, and it is essential to equip yourself with the knowledge and resources to get past it. This book is an essential resource in this journey. Thanks to the authors for writing this critical tool.

The authors provide a sensitive, comprehensive yet understandable overview of what prenatal and postpartum depression is, the common symptoms and the various treatment options. Succinct and an easy read, it validates the feelings of hopelessness and despair that affect "between 15 and 20 percent of women who give birth each year". The book reviews the six postpartum mood disorders-the largest percentage of which encompasses postpartum depression-along with personal anecdotes from patients and their treatment outcomes. This book provides a non-judgmental, supportive "I've had those EXACT feelings" comfort level for the new mom who is suffering and doesn't know why. There are short chapters specifically for spouses and family and friends with bullet points on what to say and what not to say. Also, it addresses clinicians and offers suggestions on specific questions to ask to determine if someone may be at risk for postpartum depression. Overall, a thoughtfully written book offering a tremendous amount of information and "cut to the chase" explanations on a widely misunderstood but very treatable illness.

so many folks fall into depression during or shortly following pregnancy. changes in the body, hormone levels, neurotransmitters, SLEEP DEPRIVATION, changes in perceptions of who we are, what is expected of us, finances, support from family and friends, our bodily image, realization of the seriousness of the new responsibility ... it's natural to feel this depression, for many folks, for the first time in their lives. this book takes folks for where they're at, provides numerous treatments / techniques / exercises that many people have found helpful in pulling themselves out from post-partum depression. this was a fairly light read, welcomed, and motivating! good to very good content. many people have reported to me that this book has been helpful to them. i think that it is a very good book and is worth the price. some folks, especially those who've had episodes of depression or family histories of perinatal depression might consider reading the book as a way of reducing the likelihood of onset. it offers some helpful information for family and friends.

This new 2003 edition has been expanded to include an index, some personal stories, and a chapter for family and siblings. As a practicing therapist, I find it very practical and informative, and yet it also is written so that it can be useful to the lay person as well. It helps identify women at risk and offers guidelines for prevention and treatment. It also provides answers to many controversial questions about medications while pregnant or nursing. A clear and down to earth contribution!

I definitely recommend this book for anyone that has experienced or is experiencing postpartum depression. I wish I would have had this book when I had my first child. After reading this book I even gave it to my husband to read and he was able to get some valuable information from it as well. I think it helped me understand that I was not alone in my struggle and removed the mystique of what postpartum depression is exactly. It helped my husband understand what I had gone through and helped him to play a more supportive role in my future pregnancies which I think was key in me not going through postpartum depression again. Now when I hear of a first time mom being pregnant I always recommend this book.

It was such a relief to be able to read something that was so honest and had real life stories of other mother's experiences with PPD. To know you're not the only one who feels this way and that it can be treated or possibly avoided was so comforting.