Were you "screened"?

[MilkTrance]

In another thread, in the Activism forum, there is a question of whether PPD screening should be mandatory.

Here's my story: I had very severe PPD. Probably OCD/PPD, but I will never know because I was not diagnosed. I was not diagnosed because I was too scared to go to the doctor. I was embarrassed. I needed someone to give me that "push", to be my advocate and leader. My husband could only do so much, not having any medical knowledge.

My PPD was quite bad -- I had visions of hurting my baby, and I was extremely depressed. I never left the house. Often didn't shower. Etc.

That was months ago, and somehow, some way -- story is complicated -- I am feeling "better" now.

But today, I went to the health clinic with my friend. They were giving 2-month vaccinations to the babies there. They gave every woman an Edinburgh PPD scale/form to fill out, and they provided further private counseling if needed, based on the results.

Because I chose not to vaccinate my baby on schedule, I did not receive this screening and therefore slipped through the cracks. I feel VERY angry, cheated, and very sad for myself. I missed out on some very precious moments with my son. I feel that I would have been a lot better off if I had been screened for PPD -- it would have been the "push" I needed to go get healthy.

More and more women are choosing not to vaccinate, for whatever reason. Will these women also "fall through the cracks" and not get screened for PPD?

What is the answer, then? How do we make sure that other new mothers who choose not to vaccinate do not miss out on the opportunity for help in PPD?

[mumto2]

Here in Australia, everyone is screened during pregnancy, a few days after the birth (if it is in hospital), at the 2 week baby visit where a child health nurse visits you at home, at the 6 week post partum checkup and the child health nurse 4 month old baby visit.

So, yeah, there is plenty of opportunity to realise you have ppd and be offered treatment. FWIW, I don't have ppd and am treated with scepticism, so it must be fairly common and commonly brought up too.

[Mosaic]

Agreed... we get screened at the mother's 6 week pp check-up. FWIW, I took the screening test and basically passed, but I still suffered debilitating PPD. A quiz with 10 yes/no questions isn't enough.

[g&a]

Here (alberta) they phone you up at about 4 weeks and do it over the phone. With baby #1 I failed and said I thought *maybe* I might have PPD. They said they would send a note to my doctor who would address it. He never even asked. So, yes, I was screened, but it didn't do any good.

With baby #2 I used a midwife and saw her so many times after the birth that she would have known. She did the PPD questionairre with me to keep the health nurse people happy, but it seemed silly at the time.

I'm glad they don't do it with vaccinations here. I have yet to vaccinate DD#2.

g.

[mom0810]

Screening IS now mandatory in Illinois where I live, so yes., I was screened. I wish it had been mandatory in 2005 when I had my first.

DUH- just saw this was for Canada...sorry.

[emmasmommy]

I was screened in Alberta when I took dd2 for her 2 month shots. I'm glad they do it over the phone too, I thought they just did it with shots. Different Health Authorities in Alberta probably do it differently.

I don't know if the little quiz was enough or not. Looking back, I probably did have minor PPD that was undiagnosed after both pregnancies, but I think more so after dd1.

[Limabean1975]

I did not get any official screening, but I am sure that in the many, many visits my midwives made to my house (here in Ontario) post-partum, they were watching closely.

[Storm Bride]

I told my doctors when I was pregnant with ds2 that I'd have PPD if I had another section. They never asked me about my mental state at all. My records from the hospital say "mood good" and have a bunch of stuff about how well I tolerated the procedures and all that stuff.

Of course, I'd have lied, anyway.

[MilkTrance]

Geez.

[bwylde]

errr...lost my post. I was screened, positive and nothing came of it. I guess since I didn't have a doctor, it was up to me to go to mental health services to get help, which I couldn't do; I was suffering but also in denial.

I'm all for screening but only if they actually follow up with it. They had a VON for my c-section problems, but not so much as a phone call regarding my PPD.

[MomToKandE]

I was screened at my 6 week checkup after baby 2 (with a CNM). I was not screened at my 6 week check after baby 1 (with an OB).

I don't know if the protocols changed between baby 1 and baby 2... I think it was the difference between a lousy OB and a great midwife.

[Paeta16]

I am in Ontario and I definitely wasn't screened. I got some questionnaire and failed miserably and when I told my family doctor she didn't want to put me on any meds b/c I was nursing. I had to fight to get medication that I knew I could take and I knew I needed. WTH is the point of having the screening questionnaire if the doctors themselves don't know what to do with you once YOU TELL them you have PPD.

I completely feel your frustration.

[the_lissa]

My midwives screen their clients, but the form they use is from the public health office, so I imagine public health nurses do it if you have a dr.

[aircantu1]

I honestly don't remember whether or not I was screened after #1 (probably because I wasn't depressed)

At my 6 week check up after #2 they did ask how I was feeling and if I felt I was bonding with the baby. After I burst into tears she gave me a few therapists' phone numbers and called me a few days later to ask if I had made a therapist appointment. I don't remember what I told her but I never heard from her again and never got treatment.

My first two were delivered with the same group of midwives. I used a different midwife for #3 and actually just had my 6 week check up today. I'm still pretty shocked that she didn't even mention my mood or ask about PPD AT ALL. And she knows my history.

[gwerydd]

i think i was, i don't remember, but it didn't make any difference. i still ended up in the hospital. my peri did make sure to ask me and reffered me to my first phsychiatrist. that dr. was terrible and caused me to panic and end up in the hospital, long story. i feel upset when i think how isolated i was after dd was born and came home. i got a lot of support while dd was still in the NICU but after we came home and my mom left i felt really really alone and i know that that really contributed to my PPD getting to the degree it did. i wish i had had more support after i came home.

[Neva]

My screening was always on good days so it never helped determine PPD. It took my mom saying something and she really didn't know the half of it for me to seek help. So for me the screening was useless. I also wasn't screened in MB but I was in BC. I moved to BC when DS was 4 months old.

[aircantu1]

DUH- just saw this was for Canada...sorry.

me too