Comments on: When Health Care Providers Say the Wrong Thing http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/when-health-care-providers-say-the-wrong-thing/ MGH Center for Women's Mental Health Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rebecca Helms http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/when-health-care-providers-say-the-wrong-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-39819 Rebecca Helms Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:41:24 +0000 http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/?p=1057#comment-39819 After my second daughter was born earlier this year, a nurse tried to stop me from taking an anti-anxiety medication. Initially she succeeded. This med had been reviewed and approved by my docs and pediatrician for both pregnancies. This conflict served as a trigger to me as a bipolar patient and I struggled with a severe mood swing in the hospital because it was withheld. When my first daughter was born, the same thing happened, at a different hospital. The nurses questioned my decision to take my meds and nurse. Of course, I had been through several sessions with the best specialists in our area to review these meds for use during pregnancy and during nursing. In that case, the nurses then left me alone, and did not assist me in general or with the routine postpartum care. I had a level 4 tear which became infected and it took several months to recover. All of this was extremely traumatic. Meanwhile, my baby was isolated in a separate nursery after she was born due to some of her health issues. I didn't need any of these complicating factors to worsen an already difficult situation. After my second daughter was born earlier this year, a nurse tried to stop me from taking an anti-anxiety medication. Initially she succeeded. This med had been reviewed and approved by my docs and pediatrician for both pregnancies. This conflict served as a trigger to me as a bipolar patient and I struggled with a severe mood swing in the hospital because it was withheld.

When my first daughter was born, the same thing happened, at a different hospital. The nurses questioned my decision to take my meds and nurse. Of course, I had been through several sessions with the best specialists in our area to review these meds for use during pregnancy and during nursing. In that case, the nurses then left me alone, and did not assist me in general or with the routine postpartum care. I had a level 4 tear which became infected and it took several months to recover. All of this was extremely traumatic.

Meanwhile, my baby was isolated in a separate nursery after she was born due to some of her health issues. I didn’t need any of these complicating factors to worsen an already difficult situation.

]]> By: Kirstin Johnson http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/when-health-care-providers-say-the-wrong-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-36389 Kirstin Johnson Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:48:06 +0000 http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/?p=1057#comment-36389 Thanks. Excellent recommendation from NAMI. Thanks. Excellent recommendation from NAMI.

]]> By: Karen http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/when-health-care-providers-say-the-wrong-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-31720 Karen Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:12:16 +0000 http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/?p=1057#comment-31720 Thank you for addressing this issue. When I found out that I was pregnant with my first child, I stopped my antidepressants cold turkey. After a month or so, I fell in to the deepest and most horrible depression of my life. I started counseling, and even became part of a research project at MGH Center for Women's Health, just so that I could have even more face time with mental health professionals. Even though I wanted with all of my heart to not have to take any type of medication during my pregnancy, I decided that the benefits outweighed the risks (or doubts). The medication helped drastically, and in turn allowed me to be a loving and strong mother for my newborn daughter! I didn't even suffer from postpartum depression! I'm sure that is because I had been taking my antidepressants for several months before delivery and continued to this very day. I would also like to add that I continued my medication right through my second pregnancy, and did not experience depression at all. Thank you for addressing this issue. When I found out that I was pregnant with my first child, I stopped my antidepressants cold turkey. After a month or so, I fell in to the deepest and most horrible depression of my life. I started counseling, and even became part of a research project at MGH Center for Women’s Health, just so that I could have even more face time with mental health professionals.

Even though I wanted with all of my heart to not have to take any type of medication during my pregnancy, I decided that the benefits outweighed the risks (or doubts). The medication helped drastically, and in turn allowed me to be a loving and strong mother for my newborn daughter! I didn’t even suffer from postpartum depression! I’m sure that is because I had been taking my antidepressants for several months before delivery and continued to this very day.

I would also like to add that I continued my medication right through my second pregnancy, and did not experience depression at all.

]]> By: Nicole Rawcliffe http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/when-health-care-providers-say-the-wrong-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-31491 Nicole Rawcliffe Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:37:24 +0000 http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/?p=1057#comment-31491 Brilliant article! This is exactly what I needed to hear, my husband and I are going to consult with a medication research department through a local hospital to find out the best/safest med to be on during pregnancy. This will be our 3rd (4th counting miscarriage) pregnancy. We are just in the gathering info. stage right now, but I love the encouraging words of this article. We are only sharing our decision with supportive friends and family! Mothers dealing with depression and having to make hard decisions should NEVER be made to feel bad, it is because of our concern for our children that make us wonderful mothers! Brilliant article! This is exactly what I needed to hear, my husband and I are going to consult with a medication research department through a local hospital to find out the best/safest med to be on during pregnancy. This will be our 3rd (4th counting miscarriage) pregnancy. We are just in the gathering info. stage right now, but I love the encouraging words of this article. We are only sharing our decision with supportive friends and family!
Mothers dealing with depression and having to make hard decisions should NEVER be made to feel bad, it is because of our concern for our children that make us wonderful mothers!

]]> By: Lori Bobo http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/when-health-care-providers-say-the-wrong-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-31034 Lori Bobo Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:44:31 +0000 http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/?p=1057#comment-31034 Dr. Freeman, This article was very helpful. Some of my collegues in the mental health field still make these judgements about their pregnant clients. I am going to make copies of it and pass it around. Dr. Freeman,
This article was very helpful. Some of my collegues in the mental health field still make these judgements about their pregnant clients. I am going to make copies of it and pass it around.

]]>