Support the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act by signing online petition - it's EASY!

I've written about the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act quite a bit on this blog, and I've recently heard that an online petition is being circulated now to garner support for this wonderful bill that will have such a positive impact on new moms and in the realm of perinatal mood disorders in general. I want to spread awareness of this online petition and encourage anyone reading this to sign it. It's so easy. I just signed up to have a letter sent via email to my local legislator.

All you need to do is go here:  http://capwiz.com/ndmda/issues/alert/?alertid=12832296 

You'll want to scroll down to the bottom of the page where it says "take action now" and enter your zip code.  It couldn't be easier!

Asthma story still hitting the press 3 days later.....

So just today the story ran in the Winnepeg Free Press. What's up with that? You'd think this would be old news by now. More disconcerting to me is the fact that this study is still getting attention. Ugh.

Give me a break -- so now they're telling us we cause our kids' asthma!!

Okay, I wasn't even planning on writing a post today, but I'm just incensed by this article that just this minute hit the internet..... It's what I'd peg as another "meanstream" media story.

So, here it is: according to Canadian researchers who apparently studied 14,000 kids born in 1995, of whom 7% were diagnosed with asthma by the time they reached the age of 7. The researchers focused only on maternal stress/depression as a factor causing the incidence of asthma. According to them, the result of the study shows that kids who have moms that are depressed are 25% more likely to develop asthma.

Now, down towards the end of this article, it does say: "The researchers aren't blaming stressed moms for children's asthma." Yeah, sure they aren't....

Is something wrong here?!?! What about factors that actually have a direct correlation to asthma, ... say, I don't know, like AIR QUALITY?

I swear, as if we moms who've survived postpartum depression don't already have enough to feel guilty over.... now we have to worry about our kids blaming us for their asthma.....

What to do if you're suffering from PPD but don't have health insurance ... here's one idea

Ever since I've started blogging about my own postpartum depression experience and also about the amazing resources that are out there for women and their families who are suffering, I often hear from new moms who are looking for help but don't have health insurance. This is such a huge issue, but after doing a little digging, I've been able to find some free resources that are out there.

For one, a wonderful organization called Postpartum Support International offers free phone sessions on an 800 line. These free sessions happen every Wednesday and are hosted by a PPD expert. This is an awesome, free resource that I think would be helpful to so many new mothers out there, as well as to their spouses, family and friends. Please check it out.

Postpartum Support International is now offering free Perinatal Mood Disorder Informational sessions via 800 teleconference line. The sessions are open to women who feel they may be suffering from a pregnancy related mood disorder, as well as to concerned family and friends. Callers will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain information from PSI healthcare professionals. This new program started Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at 3pm eastern standard time and will continue weekly on Wednesdays, alternating between 3pm and 9pm eastern standard time. The sessions are limited to the first 15 callers.Participants must call 1-800-944-8766 five minutes before the call begins. After the 15th caller joins the call, no other callers may join.This is a tremendous resource!! Check www.postpartum.net for dates, times and facilitators.