It’s a fact of life that almost every aspect of human behavior is blamed on something else, no matter how far fetched the link might seem. Well you can judge this one for yourself, but according to the latest reports, researchers are claiming that pregnancy magazines are to be blamed for the baby blues.

I am sure that the publishers of these magazines may be more than a little upset at this charge, but let’s see what the researchers had to say. In their opinion, these magazines offer pregnant women a somewhat unrealistic view of pregnancy and giving birth. They claim that it is treated as a ‘beautiful, big adventure’, giving the impression that everything related to pregnancy such as getting the nursery ready or going back to work, is easy.

The researchers say that when women find that things are not as portrayed by these magazines, it causes them to slip into depression. In their opinion, many new mothers are at risk of post-natal depression when they can’t be pampered the way some of the women in the magazines are.

The study titled ‘The Making of Modern Motherhoods‘ was done by the Open University through funding provided the Economic and Social Research Council. Women were reportedly interview during the later part of their pregnancies, and twelve of them were interviewed again after they gave birth. The study also looked at eight pregnancy magazines.

I do feel that like everything else in this world, motherhood and pregnancy have become highly commercialized. The idea behind a magazine after all is to gain revenue through advertising. But I can’t help but wonder if this research is being fair, not only to the publishers, but also to pregnant women and new mothers everywhere.

Postpartum depression is a serious issue. I am not sure that human beings, even considering our susceptibility to clever marketing campaigns, can be so easily misled. I feel that the majority of pregnant women have few illusions if any, about what pregnancy entails, and what happens afterwards. In all honesty, you simply can’t plan for everything. You might want to have a natural birth and end up having a c-section. You may be planning around your due date and the baby may come two weeks early or two weeks later.

Don’t take this as harsh, but maybe women who are led to believing that it is all easy going after reading a few magazines should share some of the blame, not just the publications themselves. This research seems to suggest that pregnant women might be as easily led as children seeing ads during Saturday morning cartoons. In other words they simply don’t give women enough credit.

I am not by any means discounting what the women interview for the study may have been going through. But we can’t be sure if they covered enough women for the study to really come to that conclusion. So what do you think? Are pregnancy magazines really to blame for the depression some women feel after giving birth?

Postpartum depression isn?t just something that affects women.

According to Will Courtnay, a psychotherapist and founder of a group for men struggling with postpartum depression, the condition can affect men as well. According to Courtnay, some new studies suggest that as many as 1 in 4 new dads struggle with depression after the birth of their child.

Male postpartum depression is different than just the “blues”. The signs of the condition are usually more severe. Signs of postpartum depression are the same as the symptoms for generalized depression, except these symptoms begin soon after the birth of a child. They include: intense sadness, lack of interest in activities, a sense of worthlessness, change in appetite and sleep habits, and irritability.

Men who have a spouse suffering from postpartum depression have an especially high risk of developing depression. Half of all men who have depressed spouses also are struggling. Men are also less likely to seek help if they are depressed.

Experts suggest that it?s best to be proactive and not ?just wait? for the symptoms to go away. If you struggle with depression, seek help before your child is born. Counseling can help you work through issues and also adjust to your new responsibilities as a parent. Experts also suggest counseling as a couple as well as individual counseling. Such sessions can help a couple learn to communicate their fears and work on solutions to those issues. Ideally, counseling should start before the baby is born and continue after the birth.

The birth of a baby should be a joyful time, so people have long been puzzled as to why so many mothers suffer from post-partum depression, PPD.

PPD is depression which affects mothers of newborns, and symptoms can range from mild sadness – the “baby blues” up to the most severe form, post-partum psychosis, which is a very serious condition.

Up to 80 percent of women suffer from PPD to some extent. Many experience at least a few weeks of postpartum blues. 10-15 percent have depression that may last a month or more and a few percent experience severe psychosis that can last up, or even more than a year.

A study released this week from Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine seems to have identified the likely cause of PPD.

Here’s what the doctors think happens to cause PPD. It’s all to do with a chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that effects mood, and is known to cause depression when serotonin levels are unbalanced.

Serotonin also plays an important role during pregnancy. Serotonin in the mother’s blood supply plays an important role in helping nutrients and oxygen to get to the baby.

After the baby is born, serotonin levels in the mother’s blood start to rise, and interact with receptors in the now-empty uterus, stimulating production of another chemical called interleukin-1 beta. Interleukin-1 beta is involved in regulating the way the brain detects serotonin, and until the interleukin-1 beta levels return to normal, the mother’s brain doesn’t detect serotonin properly, resulting in depression.

The Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine has just received a federal grant to study more women, and hopefully prove their theory. If it turns out serotonin and Interleukin-1 beta are to blame, then treatments for PPD based on controlling levels of interleukin-1 beta in the blood may be life-changing for women who suffer from PPD.

• More information on PPD

Zinc is a mineral that is involved in the functioning of over 300 enzymes and takes part in a great many biological functions. This means that inadequate intake can lead to a range of problems. It was first discovered to be an essential element in 1934. It is the mineral that is most commonly deficient, it is estimated that one fifth of people across the world are deficiency in zinc.

Food processing reduces the quantity of zinc in the food. When food is boiled, the zinc is leeched out into the water. There is a increased need for zinc for people who are under stress, suffering from infections and pre menstrual syndrome, who are on the contraceptive pill, who have excess copper, who have frequent alcohol consumption, who have unstable blood sugar levels and those who have a genetic increased need for zinc.

Symptoms of a zinc deficiency include a blank mind, confusion and lack of concentration, depression, loss of appetite, lack of motivation. It also seems that a deficiency in B6 and magnesium leads to poor dream recall.

Zinc supplementation is recommended in a whole range of conditions, which can be sorted into various categories.

Digestive problems such as food allergies, diarrhea and gastric ulcers. Zinc is essential for digesting food proteins and the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Skin problems such as acne, stretch marks, eczema and psoriasis. Zinc is important for collagen production, elastin synthesis and DNA repair.

Neurological conditions such as ADHD, autism, anorexia, schizophrenia and post natal depression.

Immune system conditions such as general immune system weakness, gingivitis and herpes. Zinc is important for many immune functions, such as protein synthesis.

Hormonal conditions such as pre menstrual syndrome, menopausal problems and fertility. Zinc is important in o estrogen production.

Other conditions such sickle cell anemia, Down Syndrome, high cholesterol, burns, hormonal imbalances, fertility and growth.

Good food sources include oysters, herrings, wheat, oats, meat, eggs, seafood, nuts, seeds, black eyed beans and tofu. Alternatively a supplement can be taken. A dose of 15mg is recommended for a standard long term dosage, with larger quantities to be taken under professional advice.

Zinc (Zn) – Easy Way to Natural Beauty

International Zinc Association ? Zinc and Human Health

Zinc ? Contributing to Better Health

Zinc Health Article

This information is not meant to constitute medical advice, please speak to your doctor before changing your diet.

Every day in America, women who have been prescribed anti-depressants find out they are unexpectedly pregnant. One of the first things they might think is: Will the medication harm my baby?

Good news comes from Canada this week, where researchers studied over 2,000 women and found no link between anti-depressant medication, and an increased risk of birth defects.

Women in the study had been taking anti-depressant medication some or all of the time in their first trimester, or within the 30 days before becoming pregnant.

Many women who take anti-depressants feel that they can safely stop taking them during their pregnancy: partly because of mood-lifting hormones generated by the pregnancy, partly because of the joy of being pregnant, partly because of a decision to being medicine-free while pregnant.

Anti-depressant medications can be literally life-saving for some women, and greatly improve the quality of life for others. It’s a relief to hear that mothers who have been prescribed anti-depressants can still take their medicines without fear of harming their babies.

It’s important to talk with your obstetrician about every medicine you are taking, and to talk with the doctor who prescribed the medicine before stopping, changing or reducing the dose you take.

I read an article today about a Japanese family who began a tradition of decorating a small, artificial Christmas tree back before WWII. That tree, and it’s symbol of more joyous times became a rallying point that carried the family thru the heartbreak of WWII, the atomic blast, and other heartbreaking events. Even during the war, when anything western would mean arrest, the family still kept up the tradition. A picture near the article shows an elderly Japanese man decorating a small fragile tree with ornaments.

This will be our son’s first Christmas. He won’t remember this year at all, but his sister’s have already spelled it out for him–and reminded me just in case I forgot(which I didn’t) all the things that we need to do for “Christmas” to happen.

The elves always come after Thanksgiving–no one knows when–but usually appear after someone has been exceptionally nice or things like that. They leave small gifts(found at the Dollar Store at the North Pole I suppose) in stockings and leave as quietly as they came. The elves started that tradition at my grandmother’s house 35 years ago. Back then, they gave scented Avon perfume and soap of course, but it’s still the same concept.

And of course, the Advent calendars that my great-grandparents would get for each of us so we could count down the days until Christmas. This year, our son watched his sister’s open up their calendars, but next year….just you wait!

Then, there’s always Christmas cookies! Though I am now living several states away from the rest of the family, my sister’s and I still continue the tradition started with my great grandmother, who baked extra treats during the Depression to sell to help feed her large family. My grandmother and my mother continued the tradition, as did my mother with us. When she passed away at a young age, my sisters’ and I continued the tradition. Despite divorces, job cuts, illness, or impending arrival of babies, we still got together to bake with all of our children. What a crazy, messy, fun time! Now, we each bake a recipe and box it up and send it to the others as we are far apart. A little bit of love in a box.

Every year, my grandfather would buy us a cookie cutter for Christmas. It was usually of something important that happened during that year, so it was special. As I bake my cookies this year, I pulled out the cookie cutters and told the stories to my children about a great-grandfather they never got to meet and the importance of each one of these special reminders of his love.

We all feel very blessed that we’ve been entrusted with a new life to share these traditions with. And, who knows, perhaps my grandchildren will be doing the same with their children, 70 years from now.