Assistance available for postpartum issues

Assistance available for postpartum issues | nbs.gmnews.com | North South Brunswick Sentinel

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services wants residents to know that help is available for women who are suffering with postpartum mood issues.

Among the babies born in the United States every year, 35 percent are born from the beginning of June through the end of September. For every eight in 10 births, new mothers will experience at least a brief episode of the “baby blues” — feelings of sadness, anxiety, loneliness, or moodiness — within the first few days of giving birth.

After a few weeks these symptoms typically disappear. When symptoms persist or deepen in intensity, however, they may be a sign of postpartum depression (PPD) or another perinatal mood disorder (PMD).

PMDs include anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorders and postpartum depression. The depression may be mild, moderate or severe.

In New Jersey, women have numerous resources available to help them overcome the effects of PMD. The disorders can be serious, but they are highly treatable. Help is available, and it is important that a mother get the support and treatment needed to recover so that she can enjoy her baby. The first step is to ask for help.

Read more: http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2010-06-29/Front_Page/Assistance_available_for_postpartum_issues.html

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