Postpartum depression is a type of depression a mother develops after her baby is born.  Are you at risk?  This type of depression has nothing to do with how strong you are, or how much you love your baby.  One in eight moms develop a postpartum mood disorder and a surprising 80% of women go undiagnosed.  Actresses like Brooke Shields proved that nobody, however rich or famous is immune to this disorder.  It’s okay if you are affected.  Acceptance is the first key.  Understanding that you are at risk is the second.  There are different degrees of the disorder.  The hormones such as progesterone and estrogen drop after the baby is born.  These hormones interact with your brain chemicals thus detecting your mood. 

The following are symptoms to keep your eye open for:

• You’re sad/anxious for more than 2 weeks
• You’re not interested in taking care of your baby or yourself
• You’re not enjoying anything
• You have trouble sleeping when the baby is asleep or you oversleep
• You just don’t feel like yourself
• You get angry or irritable towards friends/family
• You don’t feel like eating or you are overeating

Those with PPD first need to understand they are not alone.  Seek the correct help.  Many health professionals and even your health care provider can assist you.  Some doctors will prescribe therapy or some even medication.  Many medications can be taken while breastfeeding as well. Emotional support is crucial if diagnosed with PPD.  There are many support groups and treatment programs. 

Being a mother is extremely demanding, but taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your child.  Trust your instincts, be honest with yourself, know that you’re not alone, seek the right help, and make you and your family happy and healthy.

(Photo credit: Flikr)

According to this recent press release, a new online collaborative network for egg donor agencies has been created called the Donor Network Alliance.

The portal features over 1000 egg donors of every shape, size and race. For use by intended parents, donor agencies and fertility clinics, the site is a resource to search for egg donors and create unification in the efforts to help couples with fertility issues.

DNA began with three competing egg donor agencies in Chicago (Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR), The Center for Egg Options Illinois (CEO) and ConceiveAbilities), and now collaborates with agencies from California, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington DC, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia and others. The website will soon be launching internationally. The goal of DNA is to have a total of 8,000 egg donors listed in their database by the end of 2009.

The egg donation and surrogacy industries are largely self-regulated, which likely creates many open doors for opportunities such as DNA, and other fertility efforts. Earlier this month, the Egg Donation and Surrogacy Professional Association (EDSPA) announced that, in light of the negative press generated by “Octomom” Nadya Suleman, the organization plans to create an internationally recognized group of assisted reproduction professionals in hopes of providing, “a filter for agencies and be a place where intended parents, surrogates and egg donors could find security,” when participating in fertility services.

In the meantime, do you trust organizations like DNA or other assisted fertility services if they are not legally regulated?

After giving birth, many women think the pain is over. However, many women experience extreme pain when their milk comes in.

Engorged breasts can be very painful. Often women jump in a hot shower, thinking the warmth will relieve the pain. This, however, is one of the worst things you can do. The hot water can actually make the swelling worse.

Looking to get relief for engorged breasts? Here are some tips:

Place raw cabbage leaves in your bra. I know it sounds strange, but it works!

Use a breast pump to empty some breast milk from your breasts.

Let your baby nurse as often as she wants. This will help your breasts learn how much milk they need to produce.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Place ice packs on your breasts to relieve the swelling. After about 10 minutes, massage the breasts.

(photo credit: carf)

Most women, pregnant or not, have heard that dying one’s hair during pregnancy is a big no-no. But is this really true? Or is it just an old wives’ tale concocted by someone’s paranoid mother?

Chemicals from hair dye seep into the body via the scalp and can be found in the urine. Because of this, doctors suggest that expectant mothers hold off on permanent hair dye until the second and the third trimesters–if they must dye their hair at all. Hair dye is shunned during the first trimester because the fetus is developing important neurological functions at that time, so any exposure to chemicals could cause birth defects.

If you’re worried about using dye at all during your pregnancy, there are some alternatives. Hair mascara, which goes on with the use of a wand, can provide highlights without the aid of chemicals. You can also use natural products found in your kitchen, like beet and carrot juice for redheads, lemon juice and chamomile tea for blondes and strong black coffee or tea for brunettes, for a color pick-me-up.

If you decide to go for hair dye during the last two trimesters of your pregnancy, there are some ways to reduce your exposure to chemicals. When doing your own color job with a home kit, make sure to do so in a very large, ventilated room and choose a product with the least amount of chemicals. If you go to a salon, try to get the first appointment of the day to avoid exposure to tons of chemicals from all the dye jobs, perms and relaxers taking place in the room. Using semi-permanent dye is also a way to reduce exposure to chemicals. Highlights are a good choice too because the dye does not touch your scalp during the process.

Aricka Flowers

(photo credit: purplekitten)

If you don’t have a regular period, you may not see a missed or late period as a sign of pregnancy.

Luckily, there are a number of other ways you can determine whether it may be time to prep yourself for a new addition:

• Abdominal cramping–this can take place when the fertilized egg buries itself into the uterine wall, which occurs about six days after conception.
• Cravings for certain foods
• Darkening of areolas
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Headaches
• Increased sensitivity to odor and/or noise
• Light bleeding–implantation bleeding can take place 6 to 12 days after conception. The spotting can last for a day or two and is very light.
• Lower backaches
• Nausea and/or vomiting–usually begins anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks after conception. Some expectant mothers stop having the symptoms 3 to 4 months into their pregnancy, while others experience them the entire time.
• Tender or swollen breasts–these symptoms are much more intense than what can be experienced right before a period. This symptom can occur as soon as 1 to 2 weeks after conception.
• Your basal temperature is high–for those who are monitoring their basal temperature, you can rightfully suspect pregnancy if it’s remained high for 18 days or more.

The best way to determine whether you are pregnant is to take a home pregnancy test. Most home kits can accurately detect pregnancy about one week after you’ve missed your period.

(photo credit: altamar)