Betty-Shannon Prevatt, MA, LPA

Home • Infertility • Postpartum Depression • Mind/Body • Coaching • About Betty-Shannon • Appointments/Directions

Online Resources:

For Moms:
Postpartum Education and Support Postpartum Support International Postpartum Progress Motherisk Online PPD Support Group MGH Women's Mental Health Center MedEdPPDFor Dads:
Postpartum Dads Project Boot Camp for New Dads Postpartum MenPPD Resources:

Print:
Click titles for Amazon info
Beyond the Blues by Shoshanan Bennett, PhD and Pec Indman, Ed.D., MFT

Delivery From Darkness: A Jewish Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Postpartum Depression by Baruch Finkelstein

Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression by Brooke Shields

The Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for living with Postpartum Depression by Karen R. Kleiman, LCSW

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions by Pamela Wiegartz

Pregnant on Prozac: The Essential Guide to Making the Best Decision for You and Your Baby by Shoshana Bennett, PhD

Parenting Resources:

Print:
Click titles for Amazon info
1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas Phelan

Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How To Calm, Connect, and Communicate With Your Baby by Tracy Hogg

Postpartum Depression

Moms Supporting Moms - a free support group for women experiencing anxiety and/or depression related to childbirth and motherhood. The group meets every Thursday night. For information about meeting times and location, call 919.454.6946

New Leaf Behavioral Health - offers a Prenatal Support Group for moms in their second and third trimester. For more information, please call 919.781.8370 or visit their website

From the moment a woman learns she is pregnant, she begins to experience a myriad of emotions. While many of these emotions are positive, feelings of anxiety, sadness, grief, or irritability are not uncommon. Parenting brings major changes to a person's lifestyle which can be quite overwhelming. These feelings are common, but if they begin to interfere with your ability to function or if they last longer than a week, you may benefit from therapy.

15-20% of all women will experience a form of postpartum mood disorder (depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress) at some point in the 12 months following the birth of a child. Too often women go without treatment and suffer in silence, afraid that they are the only ones to feel this way. The following questions highlight symptoms of a postpartum mood disorder.

Are you feeling sad or depressed?
Do you feel anxious or panicky?
Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?
Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?
Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?
Are you able to sleep when everyone else is asleep?
Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can't get out of your mind?
Do you feel as if you are "out of control" or "going crazy"?
Do you feel like you never should have become a mother?
Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?

If the questions above are describing how you feel, help is available. One of the worst fears women report is feeling that you are "crazy" and that by seeking help someone will take your baby away. The most important thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to take care of yourself. Rest assured that you are not alone. With some support you can get back to your "old self" again.

Betty-Shannon takes a three-pronged approach to facilitate the recovery from Postpartum Mood Disorders: Biological, Psychological and Social. Every aspect of a new mom's life is impacted by the upheaval created by the new baby (or babies) so of course, you will look together for resources in all of these areas to speed recovery.