FOURTH LINE AUTO C m OO d / yEAR For Oil Your Car's Needs Drive Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection T kne -U ps · B rake s · E xha ust · C o o in g S yste m s C A A A p p ro v e d S h o p 559 Speers Road (9 0 5 ) 8 4 2 -3 0 0 1 FftrilSJr \ V l- :i) N l- :S I> .\Y A P R I L : j . J ( X ) 2 · I ' a g e C l evoking `how are you questions' from all and sundry. But after the baby's birth, the focus moves to the newborn child. And if mom is developing postpartum reactions, her symptoms may be ignored or minimized. For this reason Pass-Can has developed four questions for family doctors to ask moms during postnatal exams. It'scu rre n t, it'sd assic. it'scolourful... It'so ursp rin gco llection .W ith fab u lo u snew p ieces arrivin gdaily you'll fin deveryth in g you'll n eed tosh in eth is sp rin g .C o m ean d seeu s , an dyou'll never sh o pretail ag ain . By Consignment ilsWdgirRd. n Offidal Media Sponsor L a iio W c i/ * O p co ' f c t . « d > I S k .ITT j x .y rr* % j Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com Helping mom overcome postpartum depression By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Postpartum depression is a complication for women, who have just given birth, that is a common as hemorrhoids. The big difference is, hemorrhoids are immediately identified and treated without shame or upset. It's not that easy for postpartum depression. Even though the mood disorder is reported to affect 15-20 women per every 100 births, it continues to be shrouded in secrecy and stigmatized, said Christine Long, Executive Director of the Oakville-based agency called PASSCAN, which stands for Postpartum Adjustment Support Services Canada. The support offered to new moms, when Pass-Can began in 1974. is still a core element of the service more than 25 years later. Many other programs have also been created and. unlike any other agency in Canada and the United States, fathers are included in the treat ment process. Through education, media exposure and recently organ ized conferences directed to improving responses from health care workers, the depression that is traced back to writings of Hippocrates in fourth century BC is finally getting its due. "Life is a risk factor for postpartum mood disorder," said Long. It can be triggered by stresses everyone has in common, like finan cial worries and relationship difficulties, birth, death, or job loss, moving homes, a history of physical or sexual abuse, alcoholism or other drug addictions, and so on. The list is of stresses is seemingly endless. " Who among us doesn't face some of those risk factors." asked Long. The earlier women are treated, the better the outcome and the less likely chronic depression and other mood disorders will follow over the long term. Maternal suicide, infanticide, child abuse and family breakdown are implicated if treatment is not sought, said Long. And research supports evidence that even women with a history of postpartum mood disorders can be medicated prenatally during subse quent pregnancies, and with counseling reduce their symptoms after the birth. All too often moms suddenly become invisible to family and care givers when their babies arrive. A pregnant mom becomes the focus. I. Are you able to sleep while baby is sleeping? The brains of postpartum women deprived of sleep are almost split. One side knows the exhaustion must be relieved with sleep. The thoughts racing through the other side of her brain are lofty `why' questions, and worries over seemingly extensive to-do lists. This side usually wins and keeps mom awake. Sleep deprivation is anxiety producing and often mimics phys ical symptoms such as a heart attack: cold sweats, chest tight ness. difficulty breathing and swallowing. A trip to emergency often results in typical tests to determin ing a heart attack and when no such evidence is found, women are often released. "But the emergency room doc tor or nurse should next be ask ing the woman whether she has had a baby in the past two years," said Long. A light should turn on for the practi tioner that the symptoms are a postpartum reaction. 2. What are you eating? Increases or decreases in appetite, producing either rapid weight loss in the first month after delivery or rapid weight gain are dangerous signs. Some women don't eat because it feels like a lump in their stomach or throat is preventing Barrie Ersklne · Oakville Beaver swallowing or digestion. On the other end. some women crave car Christine Long, Executive Director, hugs her son Adam. 12, her bohydrates as a quick fix energy booster. 3. Are you able to get out? Some postpartum women become agoraphobic, fearing their babies will get sick or that they are too overwhelmed by the task of getting themselves and their child ready to go out. Executive Assistant at PASS-CAN. Adam was a Poster Child for PASS-CAN when he was three years old. "He's the reason I joined PASS-CAN," said his mother. But. in many cases patients are demanding more from the medical community. " We have heard of many women taking our literature into their doctors' office, telling them this is what I have (postpartum depres sion) and I need your help'." Huge increases in the number of calls logged onto PASS-CAN's national Parent Information Line (1-800-897-6660) and also rising demands for literature on the subject is a clear indication of the momentum building among women and men. said Long. Trained, on-call volunteers answered just 300 telephone inquiries 10 years ago. More than 14.000 were handled last year, said Long. Similarly the 2,000 information packages sent out across Canada in 1995 skyrocketed to 35,000 last year. 'The need is quite obviously great." said Long. Yet while public and professional awareness increases in large part because of PASS-CAN's efforts, funding hasn't. Long spends 90 per cent of her time as the organization's executive director, looking for funding sources. * " Without our volunteers a lot of our work wouldn't go on." For more information about PASS-CAN's programs, or to support the agency through its fundraising event, call 905-844-9009 or check out its website at www.passcan.ca. 4. Are you having any scary thoughts about you or your baby? It's estimated about 80 per cent of moms have scary thoughts and rest assured it is just a hormonal reaction, said Long. Perceived worries about knives being inflicted on the baby, falling down the stairs with baby in your arms, drowning the baby in the bath, or worries about the child being sexually abused are the most typical thoughts and are shared by women across all cultures, said Long. When such thoughts become intrusive and so repetitive they force mom to change her lifestyle in dramatic ways, such as avoiding the kitchen while holding the baby (for fear of the knives), or moving the crib to the main floor (to avoid the steps) are a cause for postpartum treatment. " Primary care for women is usually provided by family doctors and when their awareness is heightened regarding postpartum depression symptoms, treatment is usually manageable within their practice," said Long. To this end, PASS-CAN has organized an international conference that will take place in King City, north of Toronto, in June. The theme Heartache and Hope, Living Through Postpartum Depression intends to educate healthcare professionals and researchers as a means of improving treatment and better identification of symptoms. Fine art auction for PASS-CAN, HFS An Auction of Fine Art will be held on Wednesday April 10 to raise funds for PASS-CAN. Postpartum Adjustment Support Services - Canada and Halton Family Services (H FS). The event will be held at The Oakville Club, 56 Water St. The art preview and silent auction, with cash bar and light refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m. The live auction, with auc tioneer George Minarsky, begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. f It a l ia n Le a t h e r fo r SU & 0 H E S B A R &. G R I L L E O y S T E R " Serious Seafood ... 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