XNUMX. 2023

ByEmily Taylor jean-claude junckerDVM, CVMRT CVH

theCareer girlVeterinary continuing education onlinenews,Emily Taylor jean-claude juncker, DVM, CVMRT, CVH discussed the perinatal mood disorders and some common methods against these symptoms.As a result of our veterinary industry now 90% are women, so this is important information!

Veterinary perinatal mood disorders

In addition to Mindful May, May is mother's mental health awareness month.Now, therefore, is to focus on during the transition to the mother of the best opportunity to mental health.

For decades, postpartum depression (PPD) has been in the public consciousness.For a time, the word "baby" is basically synonymous with the term "depression.Recently, it is clear there is a series of maternal mental health experience, some of which reached the definite pathological level, while others are not so serious but it is still a surprising and destructive.

About 80% of women experience postpartum depression, because in the next few days, after the birth of a sharp drop in hormone levels.This is usually a transitional stage, the nursing staff can be expected, almost 3-5 days after childbirth, mothers may spontaneously cry, mood, and the universal sorrow cannot explain.Invite my grandparents came to see the child is not a good day.

After the first few weeks after childbirth, may also have many other experiences.These include high alert, sensitive to sound and visual clutter, difficult to understand complex dialogue, forget words or details, sensitive to others' perception judgment, invasive thinking, sleep difficulties, and fatigue.All of these things are normal.They are not sick.They are the result of postnatal brain reshape rapidly unfold.However, under the condition of errors, these experiences can become severe enough to be sick.

Some of the more common mental health disorders include:

  • Postpartum depression (PPD) - 20-33%
  • Postpartum anxiety (PPA) to 11%
  • Postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder (POCD) - 11%
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder - 9%
  • Perinatal depression (including pregnant even pregnant)

I want to say is, although I don't have a specific statistical data to support it, but I found that the ratio of veterinary than those reflected by the statistics.I doubt that there are at least a third of the veterinary mother experienced perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), sometimes there will be a variety of diseases.

The development of the PMAD risk factors include:

  • Personal history of mood disorders
  • Family history of perinatal mood disorders
  • Lack of emotional and physical support, especially the communication with partners
  • Postpartum plan is insufficient, lead to daily stress
  • Previous miscarriage
  • Reproductive challenge
  • Unintended pregnancy
  • Birth trauma
  • Birth trauma
  • NICU check-in
  • Feeding challenge
  • High demand for baby
  • Financial stress
  • perfect
  • Among medical diagnosis
  • Major changes in social groups
  • Body image challenge
  • Identity transformation

When I check the list, it is clear why the incidence of PMAD higher in veterinary medicine.Veterinary pregnant have higher mental health history, perfectionist tendencies and reproductive challenge (because fertility delayed to more than 30 years of age or later).Once pregnant, because of age and lifestyle factors, often have medical diagnosis.In addition, in the United States, the professional postpartum support is very less, no common paid vacation, and lack of cultural awareness of postpartum plan requirements.PMAD signs is variable, it is in between the individual and of the same individual pregnant look different.The most important factor is how it affects your life.If it's ability to interfere with you to enjoy the baby and the life, is worth to ask for help.

Need to pay attention to the PMAD signs (and your partner and support circle to pay attention to signs of) include:

  • Anger, fear, and/or the feeling of guilt
  • Lack of interest in the baby
  • Appetite and sleep disorders
  • Difficulty concentrating/make a decision
  • Injury baby or their ideas
  • Felt very nervous
  • Recurrent panic attacks, shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations)
  • A lot of worry or fear
  • The idea of obsessive-compulsive disorder (continuous or invasive mental image is often associated with the baby)
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (again and again to do something to reduce fear and obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd)
  • Tax avoidance
  • Fear of obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Relive the trauma (dreams, thoughts, etc.)
  • Avoid events related to stimulate (thoughts, feelings, people, places, events details, etc.)
  • Increasing awareness, be agitated, sleep difficulties, alarmed, excessive startle response)

baby

Fortunately, you can actually do something to reduce ahead of timePMAD.

  • Improve the communication partner ahead of time.Handle your navigation, express line, seeking help, emotional conflict and the judgment
  • Practice mindfulness techniques to improve the mentality, reduce anxiety and perfectionism
  • Practice request and receiving help
  • Organization in advance for postpartum daily emotional support to contact friends and family
  • Hire a supportive delivery team.Critical of your provider and birthplace.Hire a guide le
  • In childbirth education classes, beyond the hospital course
  • Develop a clear expression of your voice to start a family
  • Postpartum plan, including specific mental and emotional self care, as well as the actual and physical support
  • According to the need to create a list of professionals, including maternal mental health professionals
  • Contact birth lactation consultant
  • Find a meet near your mother group (usually by the hospital/delivery center)

The most important thing is, I know you are not alone.This is very common.So common that I promise you, as a veterinary professionals and parents, your personal understanding and highly respected person has experienced PMAD.There are some resources can help.With your health care providers, therapists and friends to talk.You can in the case of suffering from PMAD continue to enjoy your children and your career and your life.But you need to support to do it.We should not do it alone.You are a smart, talented, well informed, strong veterinary mother.

The repository:
https://www.parents.com/baby/health/postpartum-depression/maternal-mental-health-disorders-and-how-to-ask-for-help/

https://www.postpartum.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PSI-PMD-FACT-SHEET-2015.pdf

https://pmadslo.org/selfassessment-in-english

Personal profile
Dr Emily Taylor Yunker has a doctorate in auburn university of veterinary medicine.She works in a north Carolina cary in small animal medicine.Dr Yunker or guide and childbirth educators, in the process of veterinary transition to maternal virtual one-on-one teaching, and specifically for veterinary teaching.She also as veterinary workplace all parents advocate of the writing and speech, let people realize the parents' demand, so that we can improve the welfare of the workplace and support staff retention.Dr Yunker and her husband, three children and three cats live in north Carolina pitts burroughs a (non-functional) near the farm.In her there is no free time, you can see her in the garden with herbs.

* please note that the point of view the author expressed in this blog, not directly by the VETgirl recognition.

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