Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for pregnant and breastfeeding women. One omega-3 fatty acid in particular called DHA is considered essential for the optimal development of an infant’s brain and eyes, both during pregnancy and after birth. In addition, DHA may help prevent preterm labor and may help protect against postpartum depression.

During pregnancy, your baby receives DHA from you through the placenta. Transfer of DHA from mom to baby is greatest during the third trimester, a period of rapid development for the brain and nervous system. After birth, breastfed infants continue to receive DHA through their mother’s milk.

The potential benefits of a diet rich in DHA during pregnancy and while breastfeeding have been under investigation for many years. Studies comparing infants born prematurely with full-term infants have found that preterm infants tend to have lower DHA levels as well as delayed visual and cognitive development. Other studies looking at breastfed babies versus formula-fed babies (most formulas do not contain DHA) have found that breast-fed infants tend to have better visual acuity early in life.

DHA supplements are widely available. Some brands though, such as Nutrition for Two’s Vitrel-3, claim their active ingredient is “cervonic acid.” Cervonic acid is simply another name for DHA. These companies use the different name though to charge you twice as much for the same product.

Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are encouraged to pay special attention to their diets to ensure an adequate consumption of foods rich in DHA. It is never too early to start helping your baby’s eyesight develop properly.

Cold-water fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel and whitefish, are our best dietary sources of DHA. Indiscriminate consumption of fish, however, is not recommended for pregnant women. This is because many of our streams and oceans are contaminated with mercury, which can be harmful to a developing nervous system. While nearly all fish contain trace amounts of mercury, long-lived, larger fish that feed on other fish accumulate the highest levels and pose the greatest risk to people who eat them regularly. For these reasons, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that pregnant women or those thinking of becoming pregnant avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. The FDA has determined that up to 12 ounces per week (3 ounces is a normal serving size) of other cooked fish is safe for pregnant and nursing women. A good substitute for women who choose not to eat fish are DHA-enriched eggs now available in many stores.

For the infant, breast milk is an excellent source of essential fatty acids, including DHA. While infant formulas supplemented with DHA and AA have been available for several years in countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Latin America, they have not been allowed in infant formulas sold in the United States until recently. Currently, there are two brands of infant formula on the market in the United States that are supplemented with DHA and these can cost 10 percent to 20 percent more than regular formulas.

Oh the mood swings! One minute you can be laughing and then suddenly break into sobs over absolutely nothing. This is one of the “joys” of pregnancy that most women experience.

Not only do women experience it, but their partners, other children and family members experience it as well. Your mood swings can affect you and those around you.

Mood swings generally start during the first trimester as a woman’s hormone levels start rising. They can level off during the second trimester, but tend to come back full force during the third trimester, as the impending labor draws near. For first time mothers, the thought of labor and being completely in charge of another human being’s survival and happiness can cause fear and terror.

Some women are on cloud nine throughout their pregnancies, some women cry, and others start to do things like laugh all the time. Angelina Jolie recently admitted that while pregnant, she can’t stop giggling.

While mood swings during pregnancy are completely normal, if you feel like you aren’t acting normal, or there is something peculiar about your mood swings, be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife about it. In a few cases, the mood swings may actually be masking prenatal depression. Most of the time, your doctor can prescribe something to help you feel better, and feel more like yourself.

by Lee-Anne Robert

Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. I can remember feeling so big and unattractive throughout my two pregnancies, and secretly wishing for the pregnancy to be over so that I could have my body back and fit into my normal clothes. It’s sad to say, really, because pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and the fact that you created this little human being that is developing in your body should make you feel wonderful through every step of the way.

Oh, but those pregnancy blahs kick in! Your stomach is growing, you cannot fit into your normal clothes, you can’t see your feet, you waddle when you walk, your feet and legs are swollen, and other additional physical changes make you feel, well, blah! Sometime during your pregnancy, you may even start to feel bored with the pregnancy and/or feel depressed. Yes, those raging hormones kick in too.

Here are some tips in helping to beat those pregnancy blahs:

1. Eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Choose healthy foods and ensure that your intake is nutritious.
2. Exercise. Even a short walk in the outdoors will uplift your spirits.
3. Make yourself feel attractive by taking the time to groom yourself. Do your hair and put on makeup. We all feel so confident and alive when we look good.
4. Buy maternity outfits that will make you feel good. Don’t buy just because they fit you.
5. Ensure to include pretty accessories in your daily wardrobe such as nice earrings or a pretty scarf. Most of us raid our spouse’s closet for clothes that we can wear throughout our pregnancy. Lovely accessories even dress up your spouse’s wardrobe.
6. If you start to feel bored with your pregnancy, choose an activity that you will enjoy to help you through the boredom. Many woman will prepare for the baby by going shopping or decorating the nursery. Other woman choose a hobby such as gardening, preparing a scrapbook, writing in a pregnancy journal, etc.
7. Roughly 10 percent of women experience mild or moderate depression during pregnancy. If you feel persistent depression or anxiety, seek professional help.
8. Spend quality time with your spouse. Go for a romantic dinner or out to a movie. Enjoy this time because it’s hard to find time after the baby is born.
9. Take time out for yourself. Motherhood is just around the corner so take this time to enjoy your independence.

Although it may seem like 9 months is taking forever, really, it goes very quickly. Enjoy the wonderful experience of pregnancy each step of the way. There will be a time in our lives when our children have grown up and we wish to live the pregnancy experience all over again.

You can beat the pregnancy blahs! Feel good about being a woman and feel good about bringing a wonderful new baby into the world.

About The Author
Written by Lee-Anne Robert, a mother of two young children and owner of Cuddles ‘n Gifts, info@cuddlesngifts.net

During the first trimester a woman often feels very fatigued. Shortly after she gets out of bed, or even right upon waking, she may have the urge to just lie down and go back to sleep. Many women will begin taking naps during the day because they are so tired, or going to bed hours earlier than normal to try to fight the fatigue.

Why is being so tired so common in the first trimester? When a woman first gets pregnant, and the egg implants in the uterus, the body starts working twice as hard. The egg is multiplying in size daily, the uterus is growing, the breasts are growing, and the body is left feeling tired and worn out. Because pregnancy is a huge change for a woman’s body, feeling tired is expected.

During the second trimester however a woman generally gets a break. At this point, the baby’s organs and limbs are formed, and the heart is beating, so the body doesn’t have to work quite as hard to sustain the pregnancy. A woman gets her energy back and doesn’t feel as tired anymore. It is definitely a stage of pregnancy a woman should enjoy.

With the third trimester in full force, a woman starts to feel tired again. By this point the baby is just growing and the uterus starts growing more rapidly, putting a lot of strain on the woman’s body. Normal everyday activities can leave a woman feeling tired, as well as the extra last minute preparations and shopping she will be doing as the baby gets closer to its due date. She will find that she is back to taking naps daily, or at least wanting to take naps daily, as well as going to bed earlier, and sleeping in later.

It gets worse! If you think you are tired now, just wait until after the baby arrives! Try to rest as much as you can before the baby is born, because sleep may become a distant memory for the first few months of a baby’s life.

If you feel extremely tired and do not believe you are pregnant, there are other reasons why you may feel fatigued. Stress and depression can cause a woman to feel like she wants to sleep all the time. Physical exhaustion can also be a cause. If you are sick, or are getting a cold, you might find that you are more tired as well. If you are unsure, contact your doctor.

Most of us have heard of post-partum depression. Sometimes called baby blues, this is the depression that can affect women anytime during the first year after their new baby is born. The statistics show that 10-20% of women will experience some form of post-partum depression after their baby is born. Most of these cases are easily controlled by medication that can be prescribed by the mother’s doctor or midwife.

What About Antenatal Depression?
Antenatal depression is less widely known and is depression that some women feel while they are pregnant, and it is more common than we think, but not nearly as common as post-partum depression, and generally not as severe. It can appear during any trimester of the pregnancy and can last until after the baby is born. But what causes it?

Any number of things can contribute to a woman being depressed during pregnancy. Hormones can be a factor, and the pregnancy can often leave her feeling overwhelmed, and unable to handle things. A woman’s current life situation and/or stress level might also be a contributing factor to her depression.

What Are Some Signs of Antenatal Depression?
There are many signs of antenatal depression, so always ask your provider for help in dealing with any problems you may feel you re facing. Some women might find it hard to get excited about their pregnancy and their baby. They might feel disconnected or feel like it is someone else who is having the baby, not them. They may not be able to feel a bond with the baby growing inside of them, even as the baby starts to move and kick.These are all feelings that many women experience, and it is always best to talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust.

Some outward signs that family, friends and co-workers might notice are the mother’s stress level going up, and her lack of patience increasing as well. Small things that used to not bother her may now be causing tears, shouting, or temper tantrums. She may pick fights with her family and friends, she may yell more and get frustrated at her previous children, for things that shouldn’t matter, or become frustrated by things that those around her may not even notice.

How Can You Help?
If you are the mother-to-be, and you experience any od these feelings, you should talk to your doctor, explain what is going on, and ask what can be done about it. There are anti-depressant medications that can be taken while pregnant, which may help reduce your feelings of anxiety.

If you are a family member or friend, try to offer patience and support to the mother as she goes through this. If you aren’t sure she realizes it, ask her how she is feeling and suggest she talks to her doctor. If you attend her appointments with her, casually bring it up as a concern when you both talk with her doctor, and see if they have advice on what can be done. Let the doctor help the mother-to-be, as he or she may offer solutions to help the mother-to-be enjoy the experience of her pregnancy.

by: Anne Cavicchi

The first week of your baby’s life brings big adjustments for both of you. You are adjusting to being a mother and caring for your baby and your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. It is a time of great joy — and possibly immense fear! Although you’ve been preparing for the birth of your baby for months, now he is here and depending on you for everything which can seem overwhelming. Don’t expect too much of yourself during these first days! If anyone offers you help — take it!

During your baby’s first few weeks of life, he will be concentrating on getting to know you and his surroundings. Your baby needs to be handled so that life outside the womb seems as little different as possible to life inside the womb. Your baby’s needs, while they may seem overwhelming to you, are really simple: food, warmth and comfort from cuddling. Wrap him snugly and warmly, hold him closely, handle him slowly, and feed him when he’s hungry. Your baby will have the routing and sucking reflexes as well as tongue thrust. These are needed to get nourishment from the breast or bottle. You can also use this time to bond with your baby with lots of skin to skin contact.

Whether you decide to breast or bottle feed, feeding in the first few weeks is not an effortless process. Try to have early feeding sessions in a quiet setting with as few distractions as possible. Make sure you are in a comfortable position as it takes new babies a while to eat and you don’t want to end up stiff and sore. Cuddle and caress your baby as feeding time is a wonderful opportunity to show your baby how much he is loved.

If you are breastfeeding, be patient while you and your baby are getting the hang of it! The benefits of breastfeeding are many and in order for it to be successful, it is important to start out right. Keep in mind though it may take several weeks until you both feel comfortable and get a feeding schedule down.

Most new moms feel and experience:

About The Author
Anne Cavicchi is a Canadian wife and mother of one boy and two step-daughters. She also owns Annie’s Maternity Corner where you’ll find everything you need for pregnancy and baby! Great products, articles, information and more to see you through pregnancy and baby’s first years at Annie’s. www.maternitycorner.com.

by Sara Duggan
MommieCare

Hello my name is Sara and I am the proud Mommie of 2 beautiful boys. I enjoy my job very much. I can say that now with much confidence, but there was a time that I couldn’t. There was a time that I despised being a Mommie. I can remember that just the touch of my children sent me into a rage. This made me feel very sad and empty. Although I had these negative feelings, somewhere deep inside of me I still wanted, with all my heart to be the Mommie I was meant to be to my two little boys. I didn’t know what was going on with me. I read up on Postpartum Depression prior to the birth of my boys but what I was going through did not match up to what I had read.

I thought I would be a little flighty, weepy, and sad, but I also thought that it would go away soon after it came. Another thing I didn’t know is that Postpartum Depression can happen anytime within the first year after the birth of your child. (I didn’t experience postpartum depression with my second child until about 3months postpartum.)

Many people, like myself, think they know what postpartum depression is but, unless you have lived it, you will never know. Most women experience the “baby blues” which is crying and a little mood swings. They usually occur anywhere between 3 days to 2 weeks after she has the baby. It soon subsides and she starts to feel like herself again.

Postpartum Depression is something completely different. It is like a deep hole that you sink into and can’t get out of. It is feeling like you are unworthy to be a mom or to be alive. It is feeling like everything you say and do is wrong. It is not being able to care for your hygiene needs or the needs of your baby. It is not being able to get out of bed in the morning; the afternoon, the evening, and pretty soon, you’re just not getting out of bed. It is thinking that your children/husband/partner will be better off without you in their life. It is wishing you did not have this baby to care for. It is feeling like running away. It is angry outbursts and loving caresses. It is not wanting to hold the baby, hear the baby, or love the baby.

Sometimes it is intense fear of going outside, paranoia, or fearing someone is trying to take your child away from you. It could also be overly obsessing over the cleanliness and health of you and your child, to the point where you do not feed or care for the both of you properly.

Sometimes someone may look like a “together” Mommie, doing all the “things” she is supposed to be doing, but on the inside she is a wreck about to explode. All of these and more go on inside the head of a Mommie experiencing Postpartum Depression. More than likely, she is not aware of these feelings or does not completely understand what is going on inside of her. Is it normal? Should she tell someone? What if they think she is crazy? Or worse, What if they think she is a bad Mommie and take her baby away?

It is wise to note that PPD can happen anywhere from 3 days after the baby is born to 1 year postpartum. A mom can do well for the first 5 or 6 months postpartum and fall into a deep depression. Also, if you have had PPD with previous pregnancies, there is a chance that you will have it in subsequent pregnancies. Make sure you let your care provider know if you have had PPD in the past and they can curtail the symptoms before they cause deep depression. There are medications available today that are safe to take while breastfeeding. So don’t let that keep you from taking care of you. After all, if you take care of you, you’ll be able to care for your baby!

Although this is a dark place, with help, the time you are in the “hole” is lessened with medication and talk therapy things can and will get better. PPD affects a lot more women than most are willing to admit. It is very normal. It is a sickness and needs to be treated right away at the first signs. For a preliminary test to see if you are risk for Postpartum Depression, visit http://postpartumstress.com/ppd_risk__assessment_during.html

It is also helpful for husbands/partners to read the questions because sometimes it is they who recognize the signs first. Contact your doctor or therapist when you feel these symptoms. Sometimes all you need is talk therapy and a support group. Other times medicine may be necessary to get your hormones to balance out. For help online go to http://www.ppdsupportpage.com

Another illness likely to appear after the birth of the baby is Postpartum Psychosis. (Andrea Yates is the most recent publicized case of Postpartum Psychosis recognizable by most American.) This is a very dangerous disorder. It can occur from 3 days to about 2 weeks postpartum. Its symptoms include paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU GET THE MOTHER TO A DOCTOR OR AN EMERGENCY ROOM. This is nothing to take lightly. She could harm herself or others, including her children.

Having said all this, I would like to add, that PPD is very treatable. The sooner it is noticed and treated the sooner the mom will feel better. You can get past it. You can see the light at the end of the “hole” and you can get out. I am an example of this.

One more thing before I close, most women, about 80%, have baby blues and they go away within 2 – 3 weeks. Some even experience a heightened time of awareness and clearness. They feel Good and Happy with Mommiehood.

Something that you may want to keep in mind when preparing for the birth of your child is a Postpartum Doula. What is a Postpartum Doula you may be asking? Well, it is someone specially trained to support, encourage, and educate the Mommie during her postpartum period. You can check out the National association of Postpartum Care Services NAPCS for recommended certified doulas.

A postpartum doula will provide the Mommie with physical support, emotional support and household support. Unlike the Baby nurse, who is there for the babies needs, a Postpartum Doula is there for the Mommie. However, Postpartum Doula’s do not diagnose medical conditions for the Mommie or the baby, but they will refer them to a healthcare provider. Postpartum Doula’s do not take over the care of the baby, but assists the Mommie, in learning to care for her and her baby’s needs. To better understand the differences between the “baby blues”, “Postpartum Depression” and Postpartum Psychosis, visit http://www.geocities.com/mommie_care/defineppd.html where you will find my Definition of Terms.

References for further Study:

Postpartum Education For Parents
Wings of Support
Center for Postpartum Adjustment
Just For Dads
Postpartum Recovery: Things to Know Before You Give Birth
Postpartum Depression and Breastfeeding
Depression After Delivery
California Postpartum Health Alliance
Mood Disorder Questionnaire
Building A Support System

Personal Stories:

Ruth Rhoden Craven (March 9, 1966 – December 5, 1999) – http://www.ppdsupport.org
Karen’s Story – http://www.bcrmh.com/womens_voices/karen.htm

Postpartum Doula’s:

DONA, Doula’s of North America:
CAPPA, Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association

About the Author:
Sara Duggan is the proud Mommie of Noah and Jonah. She is the wife of Terrence, her best friend. She owns MommieCare, a place for Mommies to turn to when they need information or products to enable them be the BEST they can be. She is a Volunteer Doula and plans on opening a Volunteer Postpartum Doula Practice in the Near Future. For more information visit http://www.geocities.com/mommie_care/index2.html – sara@raisingason.com

Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression is a severe form of depression that affects 10-20% of new mothers and at times new fathers after the birth of their baby. It may not easily pass, and in some cases medical intervention may be necessary. It can normally be diagnosed as early as one month postpartum, after the baby blues should have faded. A woman’s doctor or midwife can prescribe medications if needed.

Causes of PPD
Not all causes of postpartum depression have been identified but there are some ideas and known facts in the medically community. Postpartum depression might be caused by the following things:

• Anti-natal depression
• Low self esteem
• Childcare stress
• Prenatal anxiety
• Life stress
• Low social support
• Poor marital relationship
• History of previous depression
• Infant temperament problems/colic
• Maternity blues
• Single parent
• Low socioeconomic status
• Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy

There are other factors that may cause women to have postpartum depression. In many ways it is one of those situations where it is different for every woman.

Symptoms of PPD
Like the causes, the symptoms of postpartum depression vary widely. Some include:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Feelings of guilt
• Difficulty concentrating
• Persistent weepiness or sadness

These are similar to the symptoms of the baby blues, however they are much more intense when connected to postpartum depression. If a woman feels these symptoms strongly after her baby is born she should visit her doctor to see if he can help.

Postpartum Psychosis
Extra severe cases of postpartum depression can be referred to as postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis is very rare occurring in just 0.1-0.2% of women who have recently had a baby. Postpartum psychosis includes all of the severe symptoms of postpartum depression, but it can also often include the mother having hallucinations and delusions.

Treatment
The good news is that there is treatment available for postpartum depression and even postpartum psychosis. There are medicine’s that can be prescribed, including medicine that is safe for breastfeeding women to use. Your doctor might also recommend counseling. If postpartum psychosis is diagnosed within the first couple of days it is often possible to reverse the effects within a few weeks with medicine vs. it taking several months to cure, even with medication, if not diagnosed right away.

If you think you may be suffering from postpartum depression it is important to remember that you are not alone and that there is help out there. Be sure to make an appointment with your doctor to get help.

Unfortunately we are not talking about the blue of your baby’s eyes. We are referring to the mild form of sadness a mother may experience after she delivers her baby.

Also known as maternity blues or maternity baby blues, baby blues are very common and occur in as many as 75-80% of new mothers. It is not postpartum depression unless it is abnormally severe.

What Causes Baby Blues?
When the placenta is delivered after the baby is born the part of the body creating the hormones shuts down abruptly. This causes a woman to react as if she is going through withdrawals from the high levels of estrogen, progesterone and endorphins that she had during her pregnancy.

In addition to the changes in hormones there is the exhaustion that sets in, whether it is physical, mental, or emotional after the baby is born, as well as sleep depravation you probably feel that can contribute to the baby blues.

Symptoms of Baby Blues
Symptoms may include some of these:

• Weepiness and bursting into tears.
• Sudden mood swings.
• Anxious and hypersensitive to criticism.
• Low spirits and irritability.
• Poor concentration and indecisiveness.
• Feeling ‘unbonded’ with baby.
• Restless insomnia.

Baby Pinks
Another, less referred to and less known feeling a person may have after giving birth is call the baby pinks. This is referred to when a person is overly happy and exuberant. This can be a sign of impending postpartum depression or psychosis.

If you have recently had a baby and you feel a bit of sadness, call your doctor to talk to him about it. He can help you judge and decide if you are experiencing a simple form of the baby blues, or if there is something more serious going on.

When was the last time you got a complete night of sleep? Probably not during the last weeks of pregnancy, and more than likely you haven’t gotten at least eight uninterrupted hours since your baby has been born. During the first few weeks, if not months of your new baby’s life, sleep may become a distant memory.

When your baby is first born it is very likely that his days and nights will be mixed up. While in the womb the baby was rocked to sleep as you moved around, and was probably awake more at night while you were asleep. For the first few days or couple of weeks your baby might have trouble adjusting to your sleep/awake schedule.

If you are one of the lucky ones and your baby’s schedule isn’t totally messed up, he still probably won’t be sleeping all night. A baby’s stomach is very little and they can only eat enough generally to fill them up for a couple of hours at a time. It is likely that your baby will be up every 2-3 hours in order to eat. Many times your pediatrician will tell you to wake your baby up if he sleeps more than three hours. Just because it gets dark outside doesn’t mean that your baby doesn’t need to eat and you will still need to wake him up every 2-3 hours.

Because of your baby’s sleep schedule, you probably haven’t gotten much sleep yourself. It is easy to say, “Sleep when your baby sleeps”, but much harder to do it, especially if you have other kids, have work to do, or a house to take care of. Some women are lucky to get a nap in during the day while their baby sleeps, others don’t get to rest at all. When night time comes around you will find yourself cat napping around your newborns feeding schedule, not really getting adequate rest.

If at all possible, having the baby’s father help in the middle of the night is a great idea. Even if it is just having dad give the baby a bottle of expressed breast milk, or formula for one feeding so that you can sleep a 4-6 hour stretch, it may help how you feel and your mood greatly.

Issues like postpartum depression and exhaustion can come into play for you if you do not feel rested and you are not getting sleep. All these things can make you unhappy leading to sadness, frustration or anger. If you are stressed, it is likely your baby will feel it and be stressed as well. It is important to keep yourself feeling good so that everyone in the house will be relaxed and happy. After all, if mom isn’t happy, no one is happy.