NEW MOM MOOD CHECK!
Between feedings and diaper changes, your mood may be the last thing on your mind after having a baby. But taking stock of your emotional well-being is crucial. "Although half of all women develop 'baby blues' that lift after a few weeks, 13 percent experience postpartum depression that can last up to a year," says Lauren B. Zoschnick, M.D., medical director of the Livonia Health Center in Michigan. "Many women may not experience symptoms until months later, when they return to work and are faced with extra responsibilities."
To take stock of your mental state, ask yourself the following: Have you blamed yourself unnecessarily when things went wrong? Have you been anxious or worried without good reason? And have you felt irrationally scared or panicky? According to a new study in Pediatrics, these three questions were just as effective at identifying postpartum depression as professional screenings. If you answered yes to any of them, consult your physician, who can screen for underlying causes and prescribe a treatment plan.-
Juno DeMelo Shape Magazine March 2009
