We are ever closer to our goal of better understanding and protecting America’s mothers from postpartum related mood disorders thanks to the incredible focus of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez.

The MOTHERS Act has been successfully included and passed in the Senate version of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Senator’s office will now continue to work closely with House advocates to ensure it remains in the reconciled version of the bill which will then be presented to Congress for final passage.

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Dr. Shosh comments:   This is truly fabulous news and long-awaited. Many years of tireless effort has gone into this bill. My colleagues and I are confident that the Mothers Act, now included and passed in the Senate will pass in Congress as well. If you have not already signed the petition to show your support, please do  http://perinatalpro.com/

New research, ‘Blood mononuclear cell gene expression signature of postpartum depression,’ is the subject of a report. “In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children (Genesis 3:16) seems as relevant today, with one of seven mothers afflicted by a depressive episode, constituting the most common medical complication after delivery. Why mothers are variably affected by mood symptoms postpartum remains unclear, and the pathogenesis and early molecular indicators of this divergent outcome have not been described,” scientists in Jerusalem, Israel report 

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Dr. Shosh Comments:  Although there is still quite a bit to learn regarding why some women are hit with postpartum depression and others are not, this interesting study may have brought us closer to unraveling the mystery.  There are numerous factors most likely involved in the physiological vulnerability of some women.  There are also psychological and emotional factors which play into the whole scene.  Bit by bit, with excellent research, the jigsaw puzzle will be solved.

Legislator and wife Mary Jo have worked to break down the stigmas attached to the illness

Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey Saturday signed a joint legislative resolution designating Oct. 20 of each year as “Postpartum Depression Awareness Day” in New Jersey.

Codey signed the resolution in Roseland while Gov. Jon Corzine is temporarily out of state. As Senate president, Codey (D-Essex) was the sponsor of the resolution along with Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex).

It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression (PPD). The resolution (SJR20) is designed to create an entire day centered around the illness in order to increase awareness so that women will be encouraged to talk openly about it and, more importantly, seek help. The resolution requests that the governor issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and residents to observe this day with appropriate activities and programs.

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The massive health care reform bill the U.S. Senate passed on Christmas Eve also would study the causes and treatment of postpartum depression.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., included five pages on depression as part of his efforts to get the nation to mirror the way New Jersey addresses the mental-health disorder. The entire bill comprises 2,409 pages.

Postpartum depression, also called perinatal mood disorder, affects as many as one in eight mothers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2006, New Jersey became the first state in the country to require hospitals and clinics to offer depression screening to new mothers. The patients are not obligated to take the simple 10-item questionnaire called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It is designed to detect possible signs of depression by asking questions such as, “In the past seven days, I have felt sad or miserable: most of the time, quite often, not very often or not at all.”

“It is a screening tool. Just because one tests at high risk does not mean they have postpartum depression,” said Celeste Wood, assistant commissioner with the state Department of Health and Human Services.

“It can trigger further referrals to mental-health professionals or peer counseling to provide support,” she said.

The state estimates that each year 11,000 to 16,000 mothers suffer from some form of the disorder. Women can develop symptoms during their pregnancy or months afterward, Wood said.

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