Universal Mother Birth Services

The time after you bring home your new baby is a beautiful and exciting time. But you may be filled with all of these emotions, of what to expect and what to do. Postpartum doulas are knowledgeable professionals who assist families during the critical period after the birth of their baby. We mother the mother and offer physical, emotional and informational support to the family as a whole aswell as practical help. Doulas are trained to know when things aren't progressing normally and to suggest appropriate resources for help.http://www.motherwoman.org/

The following services are offered but not limited:

~Overnight care

~ Emotional Support

~Breast Feeding Support

~Newborn Care

~Infant Massage

~Babywearing/various diaper choices

~Household Duties: grocery shopping, meal prep,laundry,tending to other children and more.

~Most important Helping you ease into motherhood~

Q. What is postpartum depression?

A. Postpartum depressions can range from transient "blues" following childbirth to severe, incapacitating, psychotic depressions. Studies suggest that women who experience depression after childbirth very often have had prior depressive episodes. However, for most women, postpartum depressions are transient, with no adverse consequences.

Q. What are the symptoms of depression?

A. Symptoms of Depression include:

·         Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood

·         Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex

·         Restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying

·         Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism

·         Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning awakening

·         Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain

·         Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"

·         Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

·         Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

·         Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Q. What is the treatment for postpartum depression?

A. The most commonly used treatments for depression are antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Which of these is the right treatment for an individual case depends on the nature and severity of the depression and, to some extent, on individual preference. In mild or moderate depression, one or both of these treatments may be useful, while in severe or incapacitating depression, medication is generally recommended as a first step in the treatment. In combined treatment, medication can relieve physical symptoms quickly, while psychotherapy allows the opportunity to learn more effective ways of handling problems.

For More Information.....

You can find out more about postpartum depression by contacting the following organizations:

National Institute of Mental Health,

Depression After Delivery, Inc.

This information was abstracted from a fact sheet developed by the National Institute of Mental Health.

All material contained in the FAQs is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services; citation of the source is appreciated.