The Working Momma

Archive for June, 2009

I know that I am a little late posting about this but I figured it was better late than never since it is something so near and dear to me.

Right now, the US government is working on helping the post-partum depression cause. You can read about their efforts by going here to read about the Melanie Blocker Stoke’s Mother’s Act. I have yet to go online and read about it simply because I am sure that I would get lost in all of the legalese but from what I have read about it on other sites is that it is to help in the research for diagnosis and treatment of post-partum realted illnesses.

I am not a fan of the government being involved in my healthcare at all since they can’t even keep the drug system (FDA) out of Big Pharma’s back pocket but I do think that this congressional bill or act could really do a lot of good. First off, it opens up people’s eyes and brings post-partum related illnesses into the spotlight. It is already doing this just in the blogging/twittering community. It raises awareness. It makes people think. It shows all of those that are suffering right now that they are not alone, that there are other’s that have been there and done that. Secondly, there is potential for improvements in screening programs. I went to my 6 week post-partum check-up but I doubt that the average American does. So many people are without healthcare these days that going in for a follow-up just isn’t high on the priority list especially when you have all of those newborn checkups to pay for.

Enough of that, I don’t have much time left to write but I thought this was important. Many women are suffering from this. I was one of them. It is horrible and no one should have to suffer in silence. We should be able to get the help we need, whether counseling, medication or both, it should be available. Our children’s future’s depend upon us as mothers. How can we possibly do a good job when we are suffering? I had to practically beg for help. And the help that I received was not enough and I ended up even worse off than when I started. I can only imagine what happens to other people, especially those that don’t/can’t ask for help. They are probably the one’s that we see on TV or read about in the paper that did something horrible to their children. Is it really all their fault. They are sick and needed help yet they were overlooked and not identified as needing help. Just think of how many lives could be improved just by making more accurate diagnosis and providing better forms of treatment.