Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Postpartum Depression-The Most Common Complication of Childbirth


Did you know that between 10 to 20% of all women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, often referred to as "postpartum depression?" That's about 1 in 8 women, which is why postpartum depression is sometimes cited as being the most common complication of childbirth.

The general term "postpartum depression" is used to describe a range of disorders, including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis. The symptoms associated with these disorders are more serious than the "baby blues" experienced by up to 80% of mothers. Unlike the "baby blues," which often go away after the first month or so postpartum, these more serious symptoms can last for months if left untreated.

A woman with postpartum depression might experience feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, irritability, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and lack of interest in her baby. Those with postpartum anxiety often experience extreme worries and fears, often over the health and safety of their baby. Women with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder have repetitive unwanted thoughts or feel the need to do certain things over and over to reduce their anxiety. Postpartum PTSD is generally caused by a traumatic childbirth experience and often includes strong feelings of anxiety and flashbacks to the trauma. Postpartum psychosis is very rare, but extremely serious, and those experiencing it may have hallucinations or delusions that lead them to consider harming themselves or their baby. The symptoms associated with any of these disorders can appear anytime during the first year after giving birth.

Although postpartum depression and anxiety disorders are relatively common, many OB-GYN's don't discuss the symptoms or warning signs with their patients, so women experiencing the symptoms may feel isolated or alone. The good news is that there are effective and well-researched treatment options that help women to recover. Treatment may include increased self-care, social support, therapy, and sometimes medications.

The Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor is proud to partner with the Postpartum Depression Support Group of the Greater Ann Arbor Area to offer a free support group for women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety. The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month from 10:30 am to noon at the Lamaze Family Center (2885 Boardwalk). Women, their partners, babies, and other supports are welcome.

If you or sometime you know are experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety, know that support is out there. For more information about the Postpartum Depression Support Group of Greater Ann Arbor, you can call 734-418-2683.



Saturday, July 27, 2013

Winner of Our Blog Giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who entered our blog giveaway! Our winner is:
Kendra
Kendra, I can leave the goodies at the Lamaze Family Center for you to pick up next week. Leave me a comment to let me know if that is okay.

Stay tuned for future blog giveaways...

Monday, July 22, 2013

Lamaze Family Center Blog Giveaway!!

WHAT?: Lamaze Family Center blog giveaway

WHERE?: Here and on our facebook page

HOW DO I ENTER?: It's simple. Just post a comment either here on our blog or on our facebook page telling us what you like best about Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor. The contest runs from Monday July 22nd-Friday July 26th. On Friday I will randomly pick a name from among those who entered comments and that will be our winner!

WHAT CAN I WIN? A cute back-to-school collection for the under 5 set. It includes a reusable lunch tote, a jump rope, 3 packs of simple flashcards, a board book, an activity pad, some stickers, and some crayons. See below for a picture.
Let's see how many comments we can get. Please share our blog and facebook page with your friends and family, or anyone else who might benefit from our classes. Thanks!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Importance of Early Childhood Education

When you hear the phrase "early childhood education" you might think of kindergarten or elementary school. Recent research shows, however, that the path to school and job readiness begins at birth. A child's brain development is shaped by early experiences, which set the foundation for all future learning.

 According to the Zero to Three organization:

"During the remarkable first three years of life, the brain creates 700 new neural connections every second. Synapse formation for functions such as hearing, language, and cognition peak during this time- before children reach preschool. These peak periods create the important foundation for higher level functions that will be built on top of them. During this sensitive period, early experiences influence whether this important foundation will be strong or fragile. The early years thus present a prime opportunity to positively influence the course of a young child's life."

Investing in early childhood education gives a great bang for the buck, as the diagram below illustrates:



Economists estimate that for every dollar invested in early childhood programs, a savings of anywhere from $3.50 to $17.00 can be expected in future public expenditures.

Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor has long believed in the importance of early childhood education, and seeks to provide the resources to help families at this crucial time. Our Parent Toddler playgroups offer a unique opportunity for children and their special adult to spend quality time together playing. Kids can work on gross and fine motor skills, language development, and can practice social skills. Parents can ask questions and get support from the instructors and their peers. 
New Parent Toddler playgroups start in August! If you or someone you know has a 12-36 month old, you can learn more or register for a class by clicking here. On vacation? Join us in September for our fall playgroups. Joining a Lamaze playgroup is a great way boost brain development!

To learn more about the importance of early childhood education, visit the Zero to Three website by clicking here.

New Location for Lamaze Family Center Blog!

We've updated our blog! Links to older blog posts can be found to the right of the new blog post.