Since it is estimated that more than 40 percent of pregnant women report having depressive symptoms, the importance of diagnosis and treatment for depressed pregnant women is vital. Pre-term delivery is the leading cause of infant illness and death.

“Depression during pregnancy needs to be paid attention to and brought to the forefront of prenatal care,” study author, De-Kun Li says, “but the treatment doesn’t have to be medication. The safety of antidepressants during pregnancy is still an unsettled question. For minor [depression], all they probably need is to be getting emotional and physical support from their spouse and family.”

The writer, Meghan Whitmer, shares lots of tips on how she saved money while expecting, along with what she wishes she’d done differently. In these tight times, every bit helps!

The report first analyzes trends in women’s work experience prior to their first birth and the factors associated with employment during pregnancy. Changes are placed in the historical context of the enactment of family-related legislation during the last quarter of the twentieth century.

The next section identifies the maternity leave arrangements used by women before and after their first birth and the shifts that have occurred in the mix of leave arrangements that are used.

The final section examines how rapidly mothers return to work after their first birth and the factors related to the length of time they are absent from the labor force.

In addition to updating childbearing, employment, and maternity leave trends, the report provides details on changes many new mothers experience in the number of hours worked, pay level, and job skill level after the first birth. These changes are examined in relation to whether a woman returned to the same employer she had during pregnancy or changed employers after the birth of the child.

A portion of the conclusions from the report are pasted below including this line: “In addition, more women are working within a year of giving birth (64 percent in 2000–2002 compared with 39 percent in 1976–1980 and 17 percent in 1961–1965).”

We all knew mothers returning to work within the first year after birth had dramatically increased since the 60s. My question is, why are childcare options still so poor in this country considering 64 percent of families need high-quality, affordable care for their babies?

Wherever you stand on the “beaten to death” debate of at-home parents vs. parents who work outside the home, I think we all can agree that children need and deserve high-quality care.

REPORT CONCLUSIONS

Since the 1960s, women have experienced gains in education beyond the high school years and have continued to delay childbearing to older ages. The work experience of women both before and during the pregnancy preceding the birth of their first child has also increased. Women are more likely to work both before and during their pregnancy than they were 30 to 40 years ago and are working later into their pregnancy. Sixty-four percent of women who worked during their pregnancy in 2001–2003 did so into the last month of their pregnancy. In addition, more women are working within a year of giving birth (64 percent in 2000–2002 compared with 39 percent in 1976–1980 and 17 percent in 1961–1965).

One in four women quit their jobs before or shortly after the birth of their child in 2001–2003. Paid leave benefits were received by 49 percent of pregnant workers in 2001–2003; 39 percent of pregnant workers received unpaid leave; and 9 percent took disability leave. Data in this report also show that 83 percent of mothers who returned to work within 12 months of their child’s birth returned to their same employer. Women who returned to their same employer had a good chance of returning to a job with the same pay, skill level, and hours.

Movie Synopsis: Birth: its a miracle. A rite of passage. A natural part of life. But more than anything, birth is a business. Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to examine and question the way American women have babies.

The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights, and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal. Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?

The Business of Being Born will be shown in Sacramento in March as a benefit for Chicks In Crisis. Chicks in Crisis is dedicated to reducing the number of infants facing abandonment, foster care, abuse, or death by giving pregnant women in crisis the opportunity to make informed choices for themselves and their children, while developing the skills necessary to become productive members of the community.

If you can’t make the Sacramento screening, go to the The Business of Being Born website here to find information on where you can see it in your area and to view clips from the movie.

Sacramento screening: The Business of Being Born

Thursday, March 13, 6:30 pm
Esquire IMAX Theatre
1211 K St., Sacramento, CA 95814
www.imax.com/sacramento
(916) 446-2333

Tickets: $20/includes small popcorn & soda

Tickets available at the Chicks in Crisis Store, 8359 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite 103, Sacramento, or call Chicks in Crisis Toll Free at (888) 208-8086 or locally at (916) 441-1243.

According to a December 2005 article in The Guardian, Dr. Fisk says, “What I realized was that caesareans were done a certain way because they’ve always been done a certain way, but in fact they can be done differently – and in a way that parents love.”

Other doctors are sometimes shocked when they hear what Fisk is doing. “They say, but surely you have to get the baby out fast so she can get oxygen straight away? And I say, when the baby is being born she’s still attached to the umbilical cord and is still getting oxygen from the placenta. Caesarean birth can be gentle, just as vaginal birth can be gentle. Obstetricians are too hung up on getting from the point of incision to the birth of the baby as quickly as possible: that’s been the benchmark of a skilled surgeon. But I’m challenging that because, from the baby’s and from the parents’ point of view, it’s not very helpful.”

Read the entire article, including a description of one family’s experience of a gentle caesarean, here.

Thank you to my doula friend, Consie, for tipping me off about this caesarean method. I’m surprised we haven’t heard more about it in the U.S. considering Dr. Fisk has been using the method for years. In a gentle caesarean, parents feel more involved, breastfeeding is easier because there is skin-to-skin contact right after birth instead of the baby being whisked away, and the babies are calmer because the birth occurs slowly.

If you’ve had a caesarean section, what do you think of the gentle caesarean philosophy? I highly encourage pregnant women to explore this method more so they can discuss it with their doctors. American doctors need to get on the bandwagon about it! Many new moms I’ve worked with found their caesareans to be a traumatic experience. Why not make this surgical procedure better for both babies and parents?

Our guest is licensed clinical psychologist, Dana Paskowitz, Ph.D., who runs support groups and has a special interest in working with women around issues of pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and parenting. To see Part 1 of my discussion with Dana, go here.

MB: Dana, would you please share what you’ve observed in your pregnancy support groups, along with comments women have made about how being in the group helped them?

DP: One of the most common comments I receive is that they are so happy to have the opportunity to develop such close relationships with other pregnant women. Often these relationships develop into close friendships.

Support groups can be especially helpful to women who are new to a town, and who would would like to meet other local moms-to-be. In addition, most women love setting time aside each week to celebrate their pregnancy and their unborn baby.

MB: What are the benefits to new moms of joining a postpartum support group?

DP: Living with postpartum depression is often an isolating, traumatic experience for women. Soon after arriving home from the hospital with their new baby, women may suddenly feel extremely overwhelmed, emotional, irritable, disconnected, and alone. In addition, it is not uncommon for these new moms to feel extremely guilty for not feeling “connected” to their new baby. They may even question whether they were ever meant to be a mom in the first place.

By seeking out and participating in a postpartum support group, moms will meet other new moms who have experienced the very same feelings. Within the confines of a safe and non-judgmental group, they will find that the other participants provide much needed support and encouragement as they listen and share their own strategies for fighting the depression.

Moms learn to challenge their own negative self-thoughts (”You are not alone”, “you are not crazy”, and “you are not a bad mom”), and become more motivated to improve their own self-care through sleep, exercise, fresh-air, nutrition, stress-reduction, etcetera.

MB: How can women find these support groups in their area?

DP: I would suggest they ask their physician/midwife and/or contact their local baby store, as they are often familiar with local resources. *

MB: Thank you so much for your time, Dana! This is great information.

* For more resources on postpartum support groups, check the Postpartum Depression section in the left-hand column for organizations that may be of help.

She is also a trained doula, and has a special interest in working with women around issues of pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and parenting.

Dana runs an ongoing Pregnancy Support Group. Today I’m picking her brain about how these groups work and, whether you’re pregnant with your first or your fourth, how you can benefit from joining one.

MB: Why should pregnant women join a support group?

DP: Groups offer women an opportunity to develop friendships with other moms-to-be, discuss their feelings and concerns, receive support and feedback, and learn/practice new coping and relaxation skills.

Participants often gain invaluable information and support from each other in groups, and often feel as if their participation is a “gift” to themselves and their baby.

MB: How are support groups usually run? How do you run yours?

DP: Pregnancy support groups can be run in many different ways. In the groups that I facilitate, a small group of women (4-7 participants) commit to attending the hour and a half long weekly sessions. Participants are often at various stages in their pregnancy, which adds to the richness of the group.

In addition, the groups consist of a nice blend of first-time moms-to-be and moms who are pregnant with their second or third child. At each session, the women informally discuss any and all topics that are relevant to them including physical discomforts, emotional changes, body image, baby’s health and well-being, childbirth, parenting, relationships, sexuality, work issues, self-identity concerns, and self-care.

In addition to these topics, a guided relaxation exercise (including guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, etc) is offered at the conclusion of the meeting.

Monday: More with our expert, Dana Paskowitz.