These books are all part of the Postpartum Support Williamsburg collection:
I reccommend anything by Karen Kleiman, a licensed clinical social worker and founder and director of the Postpartum Stress Center near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she treats women with postpartum depression and their families. Here are a few books that we recommend by her, all available new and used on amazon.com (the titles are linked to the amazon page):
"This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression" is an excellent book that is available new or used on amazon.com. From the prologue:
Although postpartum illness affects each individual woman in a unique way, many of the issues precipitated by this crisis are very similar among its sufferers. By addressing these common themes, this book is designed to help you understand postpartum depression and to engage you in an active effort to recover. Each chapter begins with a statement or question commonly made by someone suffering from postpartum depression, followed by information and suggestions based on our experience treating women for depression and anxiety after childbirth."The Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for living with Postpartum Depression" is another book that several mothers have mentioned was very helpful for their significant others to be exposed to. One mother purchased the audio book version and listened to it with her husband on a road trip - I think this is a brilliant idea. From the Introduction
You know things are not right at home. You've just had a baby. You, and everyone else, expected that life would be wonderful and full of joy. But it's not. Whatever your reason for picking up this book, let me reassure you with one point: You may not want to read this, but it will help you confront these issues. The problems at home need to be addressed. You know it. She knows it. So, here are some facts:
- Research has shown us that a woman's depression will improve markedly with the consistent support of a significant other
- The longer you pretend that the depression will go away by itself and deny it is happening, the longer her recovery will take.
You've just had a baby, and your're having thoughts that are scaring you. Thoughts that don't make sense. Thoughts about bad things happening to your baby by accident, illness, or by your own actions. Maybe your thoughts are about harm coming to your partner or yourself. You wonder, Why would I be thinking these things? Maybe I shouldn't have had this baby. Maybe something is wrong with my mind. Could I be going crazy?...we are confident that our readers will find the information and support they need [in this book]. In moving forward, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of unwanted thoughts during motherhood, including how common they are, why they occur, and what a mother can do about it."Therapy and the Postpartum Woman: notes on Healing Postpartum Depression for Clinicians and the Woman Who Seek their Help" is a hardback book for someone interested in a clinical focused read of how talk therapy works for postpartum depression. From the Foreword:
Postpartum depression is not a moral failure, an ethical dilemma, or a symptom of weakness. It is a medical condition that often begins long before the baby is delivered. It is a neuropsychiatric illness that affects every cell in a woman's brain and body, some more obviously than others. But women who develop it rarely see it as a true medical illness no less real or serious than postpartum thyroid disease. Unfortunately, the same lack of insight plagues partners and clinicians in all too many instances.I also recommend "The Brooke Sheilds Book", as I refer to "Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression". I think this book is excellent to give to mothers, grandmothers, and other family members or friends who just may not understand what a mom is going through. Booke Shields writes in a very open and easy to read style.
"The Mother-to-Mother Partpartum Depression Support Book" by Sandra Poulin is a collection of stories from women who have survived postpartum depression and can serve as an excellent reminder that you are not alone and you will get better.
"Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year" by Anne Lamott is not a postpartum depression specific book; however, I recommend this to anyone and everyone. Anne Lamott is candid and funny. This is a great read that can help mom's remember that sacrifice does not exclude laughter.
"Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed" by Glennon Melton (author of the Momastery.com website) is not only a book about a survivor of postpartum depression but also a survivor of drug and alcohol abuse and an eating disorder. She is thoughtful and funny. She relies heavily on her Christian faith to help her through her recoveries.
