A Mother's Tears: Understanding the Mood Swings that Follow Childbirth (Hardcover)

~ Arlene Huysman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common illness, yet it is often overlooked and undertreated. This book is a challenge to physicians to consider PPD a significant disorder and an alert to new mothers and their families to recognize and seek professional help for PPD when it occurs. Huysman, a clinical psychologist specializing in mood disorders, provides a basic look at PPD: its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and therapeutic interventions. She extends the current thinking to suggest the existence of Progressive Postpartum Depression (PPPD), which affects mothers months or even years after childbirth and can be debilitating and dangerous. The book offers case histories of women who have overcome PPD and PPPD and of others who tragically harmed their children or themselves because their illness was never diagnosed. An important chapter by a clinical social worker with specific suggestions for getting help is also included; recommended for public and health sciences libraries.?Linda M.G. Katz, Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

A clinical psychologist specializing in mood disorders provides a primer on the causes and cures of postpartum depression--a common but long-overlooked illness.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 191 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press; 1ST edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888363703
• ISBN-13: 978-1888363708
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,832,840 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Professional Read vs. Mother's Book, April 29, 1999

By A Customer

As a professional clinician, I found this book to be clearly very informative on the signs and symptoms of PPD/PPPD. As a mother potentially suffering from PPD, I found this reading quite disturbing as far as the potential extent that PPD can be manifested in some individuals. The author seems to reach conclusions about mothers who have killed their children and covered up the murders that becomes scary. If these seemingly sane mothers could kill their babies because of a disease that is so common, then why aren't stronger measures being taken to make sure that mothers in this country are more supported by families and the medical profession. The author makes this point quite clear and as a professional this book will change some of my clinical assumptions about new mothers. However, as a new mother, I would consider this a loud wake-up call. I would recommend this book highly to professionals who deal with pregnant and/or postpartum women and their spouses, especially those who might be in a position to suggest treatment plans or refer anyone exhibiting symptoms. As a PPD mother, I wish my OB/GYN or pediatrician had have read A Mother's Tears, but I was not prepared to consider suicide or murder as symptoms of PPPD. The suggested books and videos and organizations are worth the price of the book for a referral source.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend for public and health science libraries., February 5, 1999

By A Customer

Postpartum depression (PPD)is a common illness, yet it is often overlooked and undertreated. This book is a challenge to physicians to consider PPD a significant disorder and an alert to new mothers and their families to recognize and seek professional help for PPD when it occurs. Huysman, a clinical psychologist specializing in mood disorders, provides a basic look at PPD:its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and therapeutic interventions. She extends the current thinking to suggest the existence of Progressive Postpartum Depression(PPPD), which affects mothers months or even years after childbirth and can be debilitating and dangerous. The book offers case histories of women who have overcome PPD and PPPD and of others who tragically harmed their children or themselves because their illness was never diagnosed. An important chapter by a clinical social worker with specific suggestions for getting help is also included; recommended for public and health sciences libraries.Linda M.G. Katz, Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book if that is what you are looking for, July 11, 2002

By A Customer

This book is excellently written, authoritative and easily read, and will appeal both to the practitioner as well as expectant mothers and their families. The footnotes and bibliography are well done. If you are unaware of the extent of PPD, then it will open your eyes. It explains exactly what it is all about. Any technical jargon is footnoted at the bottom of the page with clear definitions. What bothered me is that it goes on and on with saddening case stories of infanticide, some of which seem only questionally related to a PPD background. After the first 100 pages, I felt that I was reading a compendium of child killings, rather than how a mother and her family should handle her depression. An important topic as it is, especially for practioners and husbands to know that they should look after the new mother with devotion and TLC, it goes a little too far with all the bizarre tales. Although it includes a list of resources to turn to, the book as a whole is more of an eye opener than a guide. Also, for a 190 page book, it's a little pricy.