Mothers Care prepares for dark side of pregnancy

Allison Murphy deals with mothers, getting answers to questions that moms and pregnant women have about subjects that aren’t easily openly discussed.|

Allison Murphy deals with mothers, getting answers to questions that moms and pregnant women have about subjects that aren’t easily openly discussed.

“Depression, dark thoughts, shame, guilt - these are all common feelings many women go through while they are pregnant and after they have given birth,” said Murphy, a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist. “We started Mothers Care in 2010 because it was clear many of these problems were not being detected. As a society, we still don’t educate and treat women for some of the downsides that can occur during a pregnancy.”

Petaluma gynecologist Anthony Kosinski and other doctors at St Joseph’s Health and the Petaluma Health Care District work with Murphy to help women deal with depression and other concerns.

Kosinski said there is still a stigma attached to mental health issues and depression that makes it harder for a woman to seek help.

“Women often struggle to come to terms with not doing well after they have given birth,” said Kosinski. “These kinds of struggles cause excess guilt. There is an expectation that this will be a happy time and when it is not, that increases guilt and sometimes shame, which then increases the likelihood of depression.”

An article in the December 2013 Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that nine percent of suffer depression during pregnancy and that 12 percent experience it after giving birth. The study suggested depression in the mother during pregnancy can lead to the child becoming depressed in their teen or adult years.

Murphy said the woman’s body goes through dramatic changes during and after pregnancy that bring mental health issues into play.

“A woman who is pregnant will increase her hormone levels by 92 percent in most cases, and then, after she gives birth, those hormones go away within 48 hours. That sort of withdrawal will always create problems, and in many women, those problems are simply not addressed,” said Murphy.

Mothers Care is funded through the Petaluma Health Care District and accepts most insurance plans, as well as direct pay options. The Mothers Care process begins with a woman’s visit to her doctor. Murphy prepares questions for the patients. The answers are then analyzed by Murphy and scored for likelihoods of depression and other mental health disorders.

“I try to normalize the situation,” said Murphy. “Being a new mother or having a child at any time can create fears. We have this impression that this should be the happiest time of a woman’s life, so when it becomes difficult, and those dark thoughts creep in, we want to let them know that there are treatments available.”

Murphy said pregnant women and mothers of newborns can feel isolated. She adds that women often are overwhelmed after the baby is born, saying that the experience can feel like “an earthquake.”

“Everything has shifted,” said Murphy. “Couple and family functioning, workload, biology, self-image and everyday schedules are all different.”

Murphy says sleep is a barometer of health during pregnancy in the months after the baby is born. “One of the most common problems we look for in pregnant women is their difficulties with sleeping. Difficulty sleeping can become very stressful and stress can create depression,” said Murphy.

Other factors considered include how often a woman has felt anxiety, deep sadness, or guilt after becoming pregnant. Murphy said anxiety can increase during pregnancy and after childbirth.

“Sometimes women feel agitated and aggravated,” said Murphy. “This can be accompanied by panic and general unease. Unfortunately too many women are expected to deal with these problems on their own. We let them know that they are not alone,” said Murphy.

She adds that another common aspect of trauma for pregnant women or new mothers is experiencing intrusive, repetitive thoughts.

“These thoughts can be alarming and are … associated with compulsive or avoidance behavior that may be new or reoccurring symptoms experienced prior to pregnancy,” said Murphy.

The pregnant woman discusses whether she has had panic and fear-based emotions, or if she has considered harming herself. She said pregnancy can often be diagnosed as a post-traumatic stress disorder and that maternal death rates are increasing.

A congressional report sponsored by U.S. Senator Richard Durbin found that “at least 50 percent of all new mothers undergo the ‘baby blues’ or a feeling of being letdown after childbirth. However, Durbin’s research indicated that treatment studies of women suffering from postpartum depression were few.

“Serious postpartum depression affects more than 10 percent of women who manifest symptoms, which may include excessive worry or exhaustion, sadness, feelings of guilt, apathy, phobias, sleep problems, physical complaints, and a marked fear of criticism of their mothering skills,” noted the Durbin report.

The study found that symptoms usually last from 3 to 14 months, but that the most severe form of postpartum depression - postpartum psychosis – was characterized by “visual and auditory hallucinations, paranoia, severe insomnia, extreme anxiety, depression, and deluded thinking.”

“While this severe form of postpartum depression occurs fairly infrequently, affecting an estimated 1 in 1,000 new mothers, it may have the most grievous consequences, including attempts at self harm, suicide, or harm to others,” said Durbin’s study.

Mothers Care also seeks to offer support for women who are lacking information or parenting skills and need emotional assistance. Murphy refers to this as “emotional nesting.”

“Emotional nesting’ is the process of emotionally preparing for your baby’s arrival, including addressing aspects of life that could negatively affect your pregnancy, birthing and the new parent experience,” said Murphy.

Another area Mothers Care deals with is the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby.

“The shock, sadness, and grief can be accompanied by self-doubt and sometimes self-blame,” said Murphy. “Women and couples often feel isolated experiencing hormonal changes and the reminders of the pregnancy and the baby. Looking forward to future pregnancy can be fraught with a mixture of courage, hope, grief, and trepidation.”

Kosinski said the questions and counseling from Mothers Care are helpful in distinguishing common signs of depression from normal physical aspects of pregnancy. He also said it is time for society to understand that mental health is a common physical issue.

“We still think of mental and emotional health issues as different and not equal to, say having back pain,” said Kosinski. “If a person has diabetes or high blood pressure, they seek treatments for those problems. We need people to see mental health disorders in that same way.”

Mothers Care is located at 205 Keller Street, # 201. For more information, call Mothers Care at 707.776.0959

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