Conquering Postpartum Depression: A Proven Plan for Recovery

As a patient of Dr Rosenberg, and a PPD survivor, this book is essential in explaining that PPD sufferers are not crazy, should not feel ashamed or embarrassed, and find hope and solace that it can be treated. Dr. Rosenberg's is an OB/GYN, Psychiatrist, and Pharmacologist in MI. His book explains (and I strongly concur) that there is help out there for PPD, and to not accept anything less than sincere concern from a doctor who specializes in PPD. A "regular psychiatrist" may not be educated enough about the hormone/chemical imbalances of PPD to properly treat this side of it. Also, locate a support group, or refer to postpartum.net (PSI) to find one in your area. There are many, many people who want to, and can help you!! This marvelous book confirms all of this, and should be required reading.

Dr. Rosenberg's book helped me realize that I was not alone in my feelings of despair. I went to doctor after doctor, and told them the same things I told Dr. Rosenberg, but it appeared and was true that Dr. Rosenber was the only one who really understood. I'm positive his multiple backgrounds help him to understand women and what they go through. This book is a 10+

I am a personal patient of Dr. Rosenberg and also know Dr. Greening quite well, and they are both excellent! I had a serious bout of post-partum depression after my second child and Dr. Rosenberg's approach saved me from doing a lot of harm to both myself and my family. (My obstetrician was of no value in this regard)It is such a shame that such a common affliction is rarely talked about and even more rarely treated. Severe postpartum depression is one of those things that not every one experiences, but if it happens to you, you would sure want to be informed. Dr. Rosenberg includes not only talk-therapy ideas, but drug therapy as well. Any kind of depression is a mood disorder and is heavily influences by hormones. And just as you would treat other medical afflictions, this one should be treated also. Many women accept several discomforts as part of the "experience of being pregnant" (i.e. heartburn, morning-sickness, etc.). But there is no reason one should have to endure the pain of post-partum depression. Please, for your own health, take a look at this book and keep yourself informed on the topic if you plan to get pregnant, because most obstetricians are not trained properly in this area.

This book should become a regular addition to every therapist's shelf of prescriptive reading, right along side "Getting the Love You Want" by Harville Hendrix, and "The Dance of Anger" by Harriet Lerner. Parents-to-be could even place it alongside the classic baby preparation manual "What to Expect When You're Expecting." A fairly quick, easy read, this book truly captures the essence of the issues associated with postpartum depression, and presents the clinical side of the picture in very clear, accessible language. At the same time, anecdotes are used to paint very personal pictures of the entire gamut of emotional experiences often associated with childbirth. These examples help women answer the question, "Is this normal?", and determine when they may need additional assistance in coping with their emotional upheaval, dispelling many of the myths associated with child birth and the post-natal period along the way. The program outlined to manage the clinical condition known as "postpartum depression" is comprehensive and well-balanced, offering sufferers a proven recovery system. My one complaint is that all too often, this kind of comprehensive assessment and treatment is not routinely offered, and the reader should be warned that they may well have to educate themselves and, especially, to demand that they be taken seriously and that all aspects of the condition be addressed as thoroughly as Dr. Rosenberg and his co-authors suggest. The greatest strength of this book lies in its warm, reassuring tone, which normalizes the postpartum emotional experience for most women, and gently encourages others to recognize when they truly need assistance and to seek help when necessary.Definitely a strong addition for the self-help literature on a widely (and sadly!) misunderstood topic.

Postpartum Depression seems to wander into the nation's limelight every couple of years due to large scale tragedies - the most recent example being that of Andrea Yates and the deaths of her children at her own hand. Based on the statistics offered by this trio of Michigan based doctors, it is surprising the topic doesn't surface with more regularity.Nearly four of five women suffer from some sort of mood altering during and after pregnancy, on various levels. For the most part, even the women who are experiencing these mood changes view them negatively. After all, girls frequently look forward to having babies their whole lives, and why in the world would they not be excited, why would they be feeling down? Even more often, husbands, family and friends understand even less.The problem with the women having concerns over their feelings is that they often do not let anybody know they're having them. In cases where the mood swings are slight, it leads to an unnecessary lack of pleasure with the pregnancy. In cases where full-blown cases of postpartum depression develop, the lack of discussion can lead to disaster.Dr. Ronald Rosenberg has utilized his expertise in pharmacology, along with his position as an OB/GYN, and further studies as a psychiatrist to come up with a plan for recovery for women suffering at all different levels of this depression. His plan includes medical treatment, counseling - a field in which Dr. Greening is an expert, developing a social support system, and parent training skills, where Dr. Windell's skills come to the forefront. As the title states, this is a proven plan for recovery - with numerous examples of situations different women were in and how the plan affected their lives. The book is written with a clean, concise style. Each chapter begins with "Points to Ponder in this Chapter," a listing of anywhere from three to ten issues that the chapter highlights. The chapters are also included in a very straightforward manner, beginning with an explanation of what postpartum depression is, moving towards how to determine if you, or a loved one, are affected, and up through the various stages of the plan to recovery.This book thoroughly explains all aspects of postpartum depression in a manner that should make it easier for expecting mothers, and their families, to understand and accept what is happening. It is a book that all OB/GYN's should be forced to read (too many of them still don't understand postpartum depression well enough to help their own patients), and should be given to every pregnant woman, and read by her and the father of her expected child.