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HEALTH REPORT

BABY BLUES?

Getting help early can help you avoid PPD

For 75 percent of new moms, the hormonal changes and sleepless nights that accompany a baby's arrival - not to mention the 24-7 demands of a newborn - trigger an emotional roller coaster. And for about one in 10 women, moods dip low enough and the blues linger long enough to become a serious concern. Fortunately, it's possible to avoid postpartum depression (PPD) by seeking help early, says Cindy-Lee Dennis, Ph.D., an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Toronto.

Dennis, who recently published a review of PPD prevention studies, says emerging evidence indicates that women - particularly those at high risk of PPD - who receive individual home visits by a health professional within a few weeks of developing symptoms have shorter, less severe bouts of the blues than women who wait to get help.

Here are steps Dennis suggests to protect yourself.

— Check your emotional history. Have you ever had depression or baby blues? Do your parents have a history of depression? If you or a family member has had a mood disorder, you're at higher risk of PPD.

— Gather support. Don't be reluctant to ask for help from friends or family during those first stressful weeks. Seek out a local mothers group that feels comfortable for you.

— Think ahead. Before your due date, ask your doctor or midwife to recommend a therapist (just in case).

— Take time to de-stress. Have your partner watch the baby while you read or take a relaxing bath. Be good to yourself, even if it's for only 15 minutes a day.

— Call early. If the blues last more than a week, call the therapist, or, if you don't have one, your physician or midwife. Take the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale screening test via www.prevention.com/links to find out if the feelings you're experiencing might be PPD. It may help you decide whether you need counseling.

- Rodale

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