How To Avoid Depression During The Holidays

When holiday seasons quickly approach, you may find that you are preparing meals, wrapping presents, getting the house prepared for guest, trimming the tree and more. Holiday seasons used to be something that would feel like it would last forever now everything is so rushed that it feels like the seasons come and go so quickly. For some people, Christmas is not so memorable and they may become depressed and feel sad and alone. Read more

Parents of Twins Have More Mental Health Problems

There’s a reason why they call twins “double trouble.” According to a study presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona, Spain, mothers and fathers of twins have more mental health symptoms following their babies’ delivery, as well as one year after birth, than do parents of single babies. Although we often hear about women suffering postpartum depression, especially due to elevated hormone levels following a multiple birth, the study also reported that fathers of twins had more anxiety, depression, sleep problems and social dysfunction than other fathers.

The study also compared parents who conceived twins spontaneously against parents who conceived twins through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Mothers of twins who conceived through ART had less symptoms of depression before the birth, probably because they had been better prepared for the likelihood of twins due to their procedures.

Dr. Unkila Kallio of Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland, one of the study’s researchers, says that her findings support the policy to try to reduce the number of twin pregnancies by encouraging single embryo transfers (implanting only one egg at a time) in order to improve the psychological health of expectant and new parents. Dr. Kallio also recommended better support for parents expecting twins, especially fathers, who usually receive less social support than mothers do. Fathers may also bear the increased responsibility to financially support their growing family, which can add stress to their lives.

If you’re an expectant or new parent of twins, it’s natural to feel tired, anxious and fearful about the monumental changes in your life. But if you find these feelings overwhelming, or they’re seriously affecting your performance as a parent or spouse, be sure to speak to your doctor about the types of support available. Having twins can certainly cause “double trouble” for many parents, but they are also “multiple blessings” when parents receive the proper information, guidance and support they need.

Source: European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (2008, July 8). Parents of Twins Report More Mental Health Symptoms Than Parents of Singletons. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 16, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080707100159.htm.

Moms and Depression: You Aren’t Alone

I was just reading a blog post over at Moms Talk Network about moms and depression. It’s something many if not all moms go through. Some not as severe as others but any and all depression need to be handled and dealt with. Yet, please don’t ever feel you are alone in coping with it. There are so many resources available out there for help. Take that first step and reach out for it.