POST NATAL DEPRESSION profile picture

POST NATAL DEPRESSION

POST NATAL DEPRESSION AWARENESS PAGE ..

About Me

WHAT IS THIS PAGE ALL ABOUT???
I HAVE DEDICATED MY TIME AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF POST NATAL DEPRESSION TO GATHER INFORMATION, RESOURCES, SUPPORT/CRISIS CONTACTS & RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR MOTHERS OF AUSTRALIA WHO ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME ADJUSTING TO MOTHERHOOD.
FOR THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY SUFFERING PND & THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND MADE IT THROUGH TO THE OTHER END!
MY HEART GOES OUT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!
YOU ARE THE WOMEN WHO INSPIRE ME TO BECOME A BETTER WOMAN, MOTHER & FRIEND!
I HOPE THIS PAGE IS OF SOME HELP TO YOU!
Hi! My name is Melanie and I'm a 22 year old Proud Mother from Sydney, Australia.
My son is 17 months old and we truly enjoy each others company now....however, the beginning seemed like a dark, isolating, guilt ridden nightmare! BR />
Post Natal Depression is a SERIOUS Mental Illness that can be brought on during pregnancy (pre-natal depression) and/or following the birth of your child.
You could have 3 children, yet only suffer PND with your 1st & 3rd child, or with only your 2nd..etc
In June 2007 I was hospitalised in a Mother/Baby Unit in Sydney and lived there for 6 weeks with my son and 7 other Mothers and their babies and that experience has truly changed my life, my behaviour, my family, my communication and my care for others and most importantly..myself!
I understand, first hand that PND is not openly talked about within groups of friends/family/workplaces and it should not go unrecognised as it can be a very isolating, scary, helpless, black hole depression if you don't get help.
One of the HARDEST phrases in the world to say is: I NEED HELP!
So here's a chance to find out a little bit more information about this devestating condition and hopefully it might just help a friend, a sister, a mother or even yourself!
PLEASE feel free to message me about anything at all..PND information, Hospitilisation Information, Help Resources..that is what I have dedicated this space for. Please take care of yourselves and the Mothers you know! There IS light at the end of the tunnel, but first you have to admit that you're in the dark.......
Mel xx

***Please Note: Symptoms depend on the severity of P.N.D.***
Around one in eight mothers develop postnatal depression (PND). It can happen either a few days or weeks after the birth, with a slow or sudden onset. Some women may even experience depression during the pregnancy (this is called antenatal depression). The range of symptoms experienced depends on the severity of the depression, and may include:
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
Feelings of inadequacy and guilt
Negative thoughts
Feeling that life is meaningless
Feeling unable to cope
Tearfulness and irritability
Difficulty sleeping or changes in sleeping patterns
Low sex drive, none at all
Anxiety, panic attacks or heart palpitations
Loss of appetite
Difficulty concentrating or remembering things.
Disturbing/Suicidal thoughts/actions
•You wake up feeling exhausted, every day, even after a long sleep.
•You find it hard to concentrate on something, or organise yourself, or other simple tasks.
•You feel you’re a failure as a mum.
•You can’t feel much, as if experiences are happening to someone else.
•You find yourself feeling tearful, and sometimes weeping, and you aren’t sure why.
•You lose track of time, and find hours go by and you can’t be sure what you’ve been doing.
Hi Everyone,
It's Mel aka PND
.. .. - Get Your Own
.. .. - Get Your Own
.. .. - Get Your Own



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My Interests


Myspace Graphics - At Myspacejunks.com

<Check out this Fabulous Website, run by a very Inspiring woman who has seen PND first hand and is now donating her precious time to helping other Mothers in the Community get their lives back on track!

AS SEEN IN WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE

Helping Mums Australia wide via our club membership and daily organizational blog!

Help in Meal Planning, Household Organisation, Family Routines, Time Management & Mother to Mother Support.

Don’t let motherhood get you down - talk to someone who understands and can help you reorganise your life so that stress becomes a thing of the past.

WWW.THEMUMMYPLANNER.COM.AU

WWW.BRAINLINK.ORG.AU

BrainLink Services are dedicated to improving the quality of like of people afffected by conditions of the brain and providing support to families. BrainLink specialises in supporting those affected by stroke, head injuries and brain tumour; and people with progressive neurological diseases such as Parkinsons disease or Muscular Dystrophy.

WWW.BRAINLINK.ORG.AU

www.copmi.net.au

Website of the Australian Children Of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) initiative. The site provides information for people working with children, parents and families affected by parental mental health problems. It also has links to information for families, children and young people. For example, you can download or order a free copy of a booklet entitled The Best For Me and My Baby, which was written with and for women with a mental health problem or mental illness – and their partners - who are thinking about having a baby, are new parents or are about to have a baby. The COPMI initiative also supports workforce development in this area and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

WWW.COPMI.NET.AU

WWW.CAREERMUMS.COM.AU Search for part time flexible jobs, job share, contract and temporary positions, casual employment, work from home, volunteer, and freelance employment. Mums can apply for a part time job online, and they can post their profile on our candidate board. WWW.CAREERMUMS.COM.AU

WWW.MERCYMINISTRIES.COM.AU

WWW.MERCYMINISTRIES.COM.AU

WWW.BABYBUMPS.COM.AU

WWW.EVERYDAYHERO.COM.AU

Anyone can raise funds for causes they care about with Everyday Hero.

WWW.EVERYDAYHERO.COM.AU

I'd like to meet:



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Books:

Actress Brooke Shields had always longed for a child but after several gruelling rounds of IVF and the birth of her daughter Rowan in 2003, she contemplated suicide.
"I had no desire to pick her up. My crying increased as the days went by. I remember looking out of my window and considering jumping.
"The scary thing was how rational I felt. It wasn't dramatic; it was matter-of-fact and made perfect sense. That was what was so devastating. It was as if I'd been body-snatched."
Brooke had severe postnatal depression (PND), which often strikes women who have had a long labour and emergency caesarean, as she had. It can also affect high achievers; Brooke admits to needing to be "little Miss Perfect".
With the support of her husband and friends, Brooke sought therapy and tried an antidepressant. She firmly believes her depression was caused by a chemical imbalance which is curable: "You don't need to suffer and soldier on."
Now better, she's "in heaven" with Rowan, and after her West End run in show Chicago, plans to try for another baby. She wrote Down Came the Rain: A Mother's Story of Depression and Recovery, to help other mums.

Heroes:


My Blog

MySpace PND Interview!

Mothers & Fathers, I would like to inform you of some very exciting news regarding my PND Awareness MySpace page. I was contacted by a woman who works for MySpace in Sydney a month ago and she req...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:49:00 PST

Depressed During your pregnancy? Ante-Natal Depression

A woman may be suffering from antenatal depression if she feels some of the following symptoms during her pregnancy: Inability to concentrate and difficulty remembering Difficulty making decisions ...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:33:00 PST

Think your Partner/Friend might have PND?

How do I help my friend/partner? If you are a partner, friend or family member of someone who is experiencing post natal depression, it may be a confusing time for you. You may wish to help them but n...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:41:00 PST

Help for you - PERTH

Post Natal Depression Support Association (PNDSA) Inc Offers support to women and families affected by Post Natal Depression. Provides information and raises awareness in the community, co-ordinates t...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:19:00 PST

Help for you - ADELAIDE

Parent Helpline  http://www.cyh.com/ph: 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia)for mobile callers, ph: (08) 8303 1555 (normal rates apply)The Parent Helpline is a telephon...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:02:00 PST

Help for you - HOBART

Council of Single Mothers and Their Children (Tasmania)Phone: 6223 5079PO Box: 201 Strickland Ave, Cascades, 7004Region: StatewideDescription: To ensure that all children have a fair start in life. To...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:57:00 PST

Help for you - QUEENSLAND

HELP RESOURCES FOR QUEENSLAND:    Pregnancy Help & Counselling QLD Inc.Level 2,Bowman House276 Edward StreetBrisbane QLD 4000(07) 3233 0328Counselling Freecall: 1800 777 690Weekdays 8am...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:53:00 PST

Help for you - SYDNEY

St John of God Hospitals, www.sjog.org.au Private Hospitals Burwood & Richmond locations Highly recommended, Award winning  Mother+Baby Unit St Benedict Unit - St John Of God Hospital - ...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:09:00 PST

DO YOU HAVE POST NATAL DEPRESSION?

Do I have post natal depression? You may be thinking that you have not been feeling yourself since you had the baby. You may have wondered about why this is, and put it down to reasons such as increas...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:19:00 PST

Websites for PND Information

Australia www.myspace.com/postnataldep please help me spread Awareness www.babybumps.com.au PND Support Groups in Sydney www.sjog.org.au PND Mother/Baby Private Hospital in Sydney www.t...
Posted by POST NATAL DEPRESSION on Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:44:00 PST