The Postpartum Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Postpartum Depression [Paperback]

Paul Meier (Author), Todd Clements (Author), Lynne Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2009

Eighty percent of all pregnant women struggle with depression during or after their child’s birth. But there is good news about postpartum mood disorders—they are almost 100% treatable. In the definitive guide to postpartum depression, written from a Christian perspective by a team of experts including best-selling author and popular psychologist Dr. Paul Meier (Happiness Is a Choice), The Postpartum Survival Guide explains why this depression occurs, who’s at risk, how to treat it, and where to find God in it all. Coauthor Lynne Johnson, RN, provides a woman’s perspective on the issues of motherhood and depression. Using real-life stories and practical advice from medical professionals, The Postpartum Survival Guide offers hope-filled solutions that will help new mothers enjoy this special time in their lives. Plus, it also contains helpful resource for fathers, family members, friends, pastors, counselors, and medical practitioners.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414312830
• ISBN-13: 978-1414312835
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,819,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Meier, M.D., is a nationally recognized psychiatrist and founder of the Meier Clinics. He is also the best-selling author or coauthor of more than 70 books, including "Love Is a Choice," "Happiness Is a Choice," "Mood Swings," and "Love Hunger." He holds an M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine and completed his psychiatric residency at Duke University. He also holds advanced degrees in human physiology and biblical studies. Dr. Meier was one of the original founding members of the Focus on the Family Physicians Resource Council (PRC).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended primer, May 18, 2009

By 

Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Postpartum Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Postpartum Depression (Paperback)

While 80% of all women experience some degree of postpartum depression after the birth of a child, this common mood disorder is still viewed with disdain amongst some sections of the Christian community as well as in the world at large. Many women are told to `buck up', pray more, and get it together. The shame a woman feels when accused of spiritual shortcomings only compounds the problem when the cause is often biochemical.

Thankfully Dr. Paul Meier is on a mission to change all of that for Christian women, and as a woman who has and does experience postpartum depression in spurts, his work has blessed me immensely. The writing team of The Postpartum Survival Guide approaches depression from a medically oriented perspective, though they include suggestions for nutritional and lifestyle changes as well. Meier is both a psychiatrist and ordained minister, Dr. Todd Clements is also a psychiatrist, and Lynne Johnson is a psychiatric nurse. The strongest voice is that of Dr. Meier; when personal illustrations are shared they are drawn from Meier's experiences. Johnson's touch can also be felt through some of the feminine touches, though her role was primarily the compilation of case studies and translating them into story form.

This concise guide to postpartum depression is an excellent primer to the illness. The authors share both an introduction to the disorder, sections written specifically for husbands, nutrition and lifestyle advice, and suggestions for further treatment. Written from a Christian perspective, the presence of God at work in the lives of each patient is a given, but you'll not find heavy theological musings here. Eminently practical suggestions are shared throughout, alongside true-life examples from depression survivors.

Having suffered from postpartum depression following two of my three pregnancies, I deeply sympathized with the women who shared their stories of struggling through the darkness of depression. Dr. Meier's work has equipped me to tackle afresh my symptoms, and I have already found much improvement through further research into the suggestions made in the Survival Guide. The authors are quick to suggest appropriate medications throughout, but those interested in trying a natural approach will also find many helpful suggestions within.

However excellent the title is in general, I was disappointed to find the authors making some inaccurate statements concerning midwifery and breastfeeding. Midwifery is portrayed as dangerous, and nursing past six months as somewhat foolish. As a mother of three home-birthed babies I can attest to the safety of homebirths in most circumstances, and I've also been delighted to practice extended breastfeeding with my children.

Despite these statements, I highly recommend The Postpartum Survival Guide to any mother struggling with sadness, lethargy, and moodiness following delivery. Just read it with a pinch of salt. Based on the symptoms and strategies shared within I've finally discovered a likely cause for my extensive hair-loss. By pointing out thyroid malfunction as a cause for hair loss amongst postpartum women, I'm now supplementing my diet with additional iodine, which has resulted in a miraculous improvement in mood and energy. With a more complete understanding of brain biochemistry I'm also now supplementing with vital amino acids as Dr. Meier recommends for all of his patients.

While your symptoms may differ from mine, I'm confident that this work will touch upon your particular needs. While it is not the most comprehensive work dealing with the issue, it is certainly well-rounded, providing natural as well as medical interventions and explores all of the salient points. I feel extraordinarily blessed to have read this work, the lifting of unnecessary shame alone well worth it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource, July 6, 2009

By 

Martha A. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Postpartum Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Postpartum Depression (Paperback)

This little book is just packed with info about PPD, which effects so many women in small ways to serious ways that will effect them the rest of their lives. I think this book is a great tool for those in the medical profession to have on hand as a reference guide for women to read and realize the feelings they have experienced are normal and if it gets bad, you can fix it. There was a few minor things that I think could have been better researched as there was a comment in one chapter about about how homebirth is statistically unsafe, which is not true at all, if attended by a properly trained midwife with low risk patients, the above reviewer stated it fairly well about that. It was simply not true what he stated, but it was minor.
Over all though, this book was one of the best, inclusive short guides to PPD for a mom to read and be informed. I think even moms who simply have experienced the hormonal ups and downs after childbirth would benefit from it.
I liked how it addressed how PPD can stem from a birth experience that did not go the way you planned for emergency reasons, such as stillbirth, handicaps, C-sections, and others.
If you know a mom who is struggling, this would be a great one to have on hand to lend her as something that can help many women.

5.0 out of 5 stars Postpartum Delight, June 29, 2009

By 

Margaret Chind "Creative Madness Mama - Quilt... (Atoka, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Postpartum Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Postpartum Depression (Paperback)

What an incredible resource. This book is written to pregnancy soon to be mothers, fathers, other friends and family of pregnant mothers and more. Coming from so many different angles this is a book that shows that some postpartum depression can be completely normal and it is how you handle it (and not ignore it) that really matters. In my opinion there are some things that I am hesitant to agree with in manners of breast feeding and such, but I can understand where the authors are coming from in making their point. I have also found that where some things I was adamant about my decision, from reading their psychological medical point of view, I can now see how a different decision or an open minded scenario might be preferable to every one's health. I truly feel that reading this book has been a benefit to my pregnancy and suggest it to others to read as well.