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1 In 4 Moms In AK Suffer From Depression During, After PregnancyFor those who feel they’re out of options, health officials remind mothers of “safe surrender” optionsRelated Content
ANCHORAGE—State health officials say more than one in four mothers in Alaska suffer from depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy. Kris Green is the parent support services manager for the state’s women’s, children and family health section. But before she worked for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Green worked at the Children’s Hospital at Providence Medical Center for 15 years. “When I was at the hospital, I heard from families that this was an unmet need,” said Green, who then helped set up a state-wide support system and network for mothers, and parents, overwhelmed by the sudden new responsibilities of parenthood. New mothers told her they were overwhelmed and felt alone in their feelings of desperation. Turns out, though, Green said, more than 25 percent of Alaska moms feel the same way, although the degree of the desperation and anxiety varies—“from just feeling kind of sad and down to ‘Why don’t I love my baby? What is the matter with me? Why am I so tired? Why am I crying all the time? I should be happy I have a healthy happy baby’ to the woman who becomes very despondent.” “Psychosis,” however, is “extremely rare,” Green said. For extreme cases, there's the safe surrender for infants act, which was signed into law in 2008.
The law only allows for the surrender of an infant younger than 21 days, who has not been physically injured, to a peace officer, physician or hospital employee in a hospital or hospital emergency room or a volunteer or employee of a fire station. Providence also provides postpartum support with a weekly support group for mothers on Mondays at 2 p.m. at the maternity education center on the hospital campus. The family support counselor can be reached at (907) 212-2065. There is also a 24-hour national hotline for postpartum support. That number is (800) 773-6667. |
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religion sucks said on Saturday, Aug 27 at 10:32 AM
gods country? oh you mean Israel right? the self anointed gods chosen eastern European tribe of Ashkenazi Khazar who now reside in israel because their ancestors converted to judaism in 700 ad. oh ya right the god of muslims jews and christians, the only god.... ya right, next you will claim our country is founded on jesus the imaginary son of god and the fictional bible.
73006617Anonymous said on Friday, Aug 26 at 1:25 PM
In my opinion, people get depressed when they don't see a good future for themselves or thier families. Look at the state of OUR country and tell me Your not depressed or worried!! MOMS carry even more weight on thier shoulders that most of us men will never understand. Try to explain to your young children that every AMERICAN owes 40K dollars to our National DEBT!!!!!! Or try to explain to them there will be NO JOBS when the get older!! Here comes even more depression.
72972861Louise Midkiff said on Monday, Aug 22 at 10:12 AM
The old "knowledge" is completely off key. Let's get a grip. Not all women are born mothers. That being said, anybody can get depressed, overwhelmed and anxious about a new experience or too much of even a good thing or too much of anything. It is certainly okay to ask for help. That doesn't make you any less of a mother or any less of a real woman. You don't need to just suck it up. That is actually a bad thing. IF you have a grandmother or neighbor that you trust talk to her. Believe it or not, it's okay to leave the baby with someone you trust for the weekend and take a break, but then COME HOME and be fresh after that and remember that alcohol and drugs are not the answer. For you who are comparing depression with murdering your child; shut up and let someone who knows what they're talking about take care of the problem.
72732909Bobbi said on Monday, Aug 22 at 9:06 AM
I love my children also but you never know how you are going to react until you actually have a child. Everyone tells you that when you have your child you will feel this overwhelming love and a lot of women don't feel that way so they do feel alone and feel like something is wrong with them.
72729052akbandit said on Sunday, Aug 21 at 11:00 PM
The article is not about depression in general, rather, depression connected to pregnancy. Women can't know ahead of time how their bodies will react, how hormonal changes will affect them. Should all women therefore avoid pregnancy? It's not, as one ignorant comment suggests, about women sleeping around, or knowing whether they want children. It's about biology. And to the woman whose husband refuses to help-kick the bum to the curb already! It can't be any worse without him, can it?
72709861akbandit said on Sunday, Aug 21 at 9:24 PM
It's not about depression in life in general, it's about depression connected to pregnancy, which causes hormonal changes in the woman. That can lead to physical, mental and emotional variations (daily mood swings, PPD, etc) which are not only different for every woman, but different for every pregnancy for the SAME woman. So in regard to ignorant comments about women sleeping around, or deciding whether to have children- no woman knows (until the pregnancy) what the effects will be. Some women never experience depression connected to their pregnancy. But it's essentially a crap shoot every time. Does that mean women shouldn't have babies? Not so good for mankind huh? THAT is the point of the article- that it's a very common issue, and needs to be dealt with in a supportive way and that help IS available to families who need it. I'd be wary of the 'surrender for infants act'. I'd be willing to bet it's a slippery slope, and requires a mental evaluation before the infant is returned.
72708644Ms. Understanding said on Sunday, Aug 21 at 10:38 AM
@Jean, not all women sleep around like alley cats, nor are they all the same...I'm just saying this because all those women feeling depressed aren't just sleeping around. They can be happily married, engaged, in a domestic relationship, you never know that. So don't be saying stuff like that. Think before you say stuff like that. Didn't your parents teach you anything? And it's not about not wanting to have babies, it's some sorta process after having a baby. Did you ever have fear of anything you had to face at least once in your life? Think about it...
72689139JEAN MASSEY said on Sunday, Aug 21 at 5:40 AM
If you don't want children, keep your legs together and quit sleeping around like alley cats.
72678164New Mom said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 11:44 PM
Unless you have personally delt with depressing during or after pregnancy you have no right to judge what women are going through. You should spend your time trying to help those people out instead of judging them.
72672559me said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 11:21 PM
I have been severely depressed for much of my adult life, but never once had the thought to hurt my baby! I just dont get it. They are the loves of my life! One of the reasons I feel depressed, overwhelmed, and alone, is because I get no help from my husband, who "deserves" his alone time, his "me" time, and he never, never helps me out. This, and he wants me to get a job to help pay the bills. Great, now I will be working 23 hours a day instead of 18.
72672357valley mom said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 6:14 PM
i totally agree with cooljulie...she makes some really good points.
72666684Jean said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 5:12 PM
No excuses, if your depressed for having a child, don't have them. These kind of women come up with the lamest excuses.Kill a baby ,then get the death penalty.QUIT MAKEING EXCUSES FOR MURDER.
72665076cooljulie said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 5:07 PM
@Just me- Nor did I imply that they wanted abortions or that depression is tied to not wanting a baby. My point was regarding the people who are so worried about unborn babies, but can't/don't spend time helping the ones already born. If they have free time to picket, why not spend that free time helping with babies who are actually human beings in existence as individuals? @truthlover- instruction on how to pray to reduce oppression? What the heck does THAT mean? Oppression comes from an outside source. You deal with that at a very local level.
72664954truthlover said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 11:37 AM
Pregnant and new mothers need very high, 2-5 grams per day, of Omega three fatty acids, DHA,vitamin C (same levels), and tryptophan. This will prevent much depression. Also teaching on the difference between depression and oppression, with instruction on how to pray to to reduce oppression.
72655554just me said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 7:04 AM
cooljulie- I don't see anywhere in this article where it said the mom killed her newborn because she wanted an abortion. No where in the article did it even talk of abortion. You are wrong if you think women suffer from depression simply because they do not want their child.
72646887Lauren said on Saturday, Aug 20 at 12:31 AM
so sad...dont they know they are in Gods country??
72638651cooljulie said on Friday, Aug 19 at 10:23 PM
Maybe some of the people who spend so much time protesting abortion should step up and spend some time helping take care of babies who have actually been BORN. Make yourselves available to help single (or otherwise) mothers, whether it's by babysitting, shopping assistance, rides to medical or other appointments, or just having coffee and being supportive and listening. Half these people who love to march and picket on behalf of the unborn can't even change a diaper. Better yet, offer to ADOPT an unwanted baby. Oops, sorry, now I'm dreaming.
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