Wellness for Nurses

February 17, 2016April 12, 20171 Comment

by, Lori Boggan, RN

The closing of one year and start of a new inundates us with self improvement posts, the year’s super foods, super exercise, or super drink. According to The Global Wellness Institute, wellness is a trillion-dollar industry worldwide that we buy, eat, and drink up.

We want so badly to find a quick solution to weight loss, health, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s a fact that Americans suffer from stress related diseases. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, numerous studies have shown that stress in the workplace can be linked to cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, workplace injury, and impaired immune function, to name a few. This is a very strong and clear indication that we are stressing ourselves to death!! Continue reading →

Healthy Eating Tips for When You’re At Work

February 3, 2016April 26, 2016

Nurses live a busy lifestyle, often times you are taking care of others instead of yourself. We recently asked our members to share what healthy eating tips they would share with their follow nurses, and here’s what they had to say! Continue reading →

Not your mother’s Pap smear: what women need to know about cervical cancer screening

January 26, 2016April 26, 20163 Comments

by Sue Woodson, CNM. MSN
Certified Nurse Midwife at Jefferson Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ltd., Charlottesville, VA

Tips for Clinicians and their Patients

“What do you mean you only want to see me every 3-5 years? I am used to coming EVERY year for my pap smear!”

In the US, women generally think having a Pap smear is the main purpose of an annual exam as a way to screen for cervical cancer. This perception is understandable given that as a result of regular Pap screening, the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in US women has dropped by at least 80% since the 1960’s. Today, annual pap smears are rarely performed every year, yet, many women continue to confuse a pelvic exam (physical assessment) with a Pap smear (lab test). To address this misperception women’s health nurses must educate women about the screening tests offered during an annual exam and why and when they are recommended. Continue reading →

6 Tips For Postpartum Care for Mom “The Patient”

December 1, 2015April 26, 20161 Comment

by, Kristen Wesley “The Mom”

There is a moment after labor when you realize that not only is your sweet little baby a patient, but that you are too. At least for me, that was something that hadn’t really registered. On the day that my little baby girl Isla was born I very quickly began to understand we would both need a ton of care in the hospital and at home.

You would think from all the books I read, articles I scoured, and the numerous second hand accounts from friends I received, it would have sunk in. But it just didn’t. It literally never occurred to me that I’d be a patient too during and after labor and birth. Continue reading →

Take A Walk In My Postpartum Shoes (Part 2)

October 20, 2015April 26, 2016

See the first part of Danni’s Story posted September 1

by, Danni Star

After overcoming my PPD, I gave birth to another daughter and thought I knew what to look out for and was thankful not to experience the same intensity of symptoms again. What I didn’t realize is that PPD comes in so many different forms.

I went to lunch with a good friend after my second child was born. I don’t know why but I unloaded how I had been seeing my anxiety rise again, how bad it had gotten, my intrusive thoughts and how I literally kept thinking of worst case scenarios.

She urged me to go see a maternal mental health doctor. I took my time but the following week my anxiety was at an all-time high and I could feel myself falling apart so I called the doctor and she said she would squeeze me in that week.

A few days later I was in her office sweating profusely, heart racing so bad I felt like it was going to explode out of my chest and I couldn’t sit still. She asked a million questions and I answered them extremely honest. I told her that I felt anxious all the time, like a walking ball of nervous energy. That even at work when I am in my zone I still feel so out of place.

I told her that my biggest fears are losing my children, Slim, my husband, and Claire, my best friend. I have literally dreamed all of their funerals repetitively- I don’t know maybe as a coping mechanism.

As I am saying these things, I still think she is going to tell me I just have anxiety and that we will get through it. I keep referring to “when I had Postpartum Depression.” I keep referencing how it felt then.

And then the bomb drops. She tells me that I am suffering from PPD. I instantly start bawling. No I am NOT, I had that before and this is different, I don’t want that. I can’t have that; it almost killed me and ruined my life and my marriage. I go to work, I laugh, I function…how is that possible?

She explains to me that all I know of PPD is the most severe, that I am experiencing moderate PPD. I feel hurt, angry, and mad at myself for not realizing, after all I have been here before. I think back to all of the things that I just described to her and I realize she’s right, if any of my friends would have told me what I told her I would have known instantly, so why didn’t I realize it about myself?

Instead, just like before, I will beat this. I will attend support groups, I will try my hardest not to only function normally at work. I will follow the doctor’s treatment plans and I will talk it out. I am scared, this is my biggest fear realized but I am going to be ok.
I WILL TO BE OK! My nemesis has returned but my fighting spirit will be its kryptonite.

Postpartum depression is my truth. An ugly truth that I just so happened to conquer and you can too. You are worthy so be open, learn what is going on and don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Danni Starr
Danni Starr works daily as co-host of the nationally syndicated “The Kane Show.” Danni fell in love with radio at 19 and 11 years later, she still considers it her first true love. As a Mother and wife Danni is the “Den Mom” to the show & offers open, honest, opinions and advice.

GET SUPPORT

Postpartum Support International: 1-800-994-4773 or postpartum.net
National Postpartum Depression Hotline: 1-800-PPD-MOMS

REFERENCES AND LEARN MORE AT

AWHONN’s Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Pregnant and Postpartum Women Position Statement

http://www.health4mom.org/postpartum-depression/

Take A Walk In My Postpartum Shoes (Part 1)

September 1, 2015April 26, 20163 Comments

by, Danni Starr

An open letter to all the moms, soon to be moms or family supporting moms!

On December 31st, 2011 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! It was something I had dreamed about for so long. I remember the day after she was born crying on the phone with my midwife because I was so overwhelmed. She was so little and I didn’t really know what to do.

Being a little overwhelmed is common, medical specialists call it the baby blues. Post-birth, most moms (as many as 85%!) experience some form of the baby blues. This could be feeling irritable, exhausted, needing to cry for no reason or worrying that you won’t be a good mom.

I did not have that. I had something that damn near sucked the life out of me.

Once we returned home from the hospital, I rarely got off of the couch for 30 days. I got up to feed the baby and change her…I didn’t even eat. I remember just feeling so weird. Everything was robotic. Must feed baby, must change baby…I don’t even remember enjoying any of it.

I remember my husband picking me off of the couch giving me a hug and saying babe, you do not smell good…I am going to take you to the shower. He literally stripped me down and put me in the shower and helped wash me. Many times with post-partum depression (PPD) the mom is too tired to notice the symptoms, and it is a husband, partner, a family member or friend that shares that something just isn’t quite right. I am thankful for my supportive system every day.

One night I was so tired that I actually Googled how many sleeping pills I could take without dying. I didn’t want to die, but I did want to be pretty close so that at least I would sleep for a few days. I literally had a bunch of pills laid out on the ottoman. I started to down them and then I thought. What if I am unconscious and she starts crying?! Nobody will hear her. I didn’t want her to cry and not have help. So I begged God to let me fall asleep and I threw the pills away. She saved my life.

Then the paranoia set in. I started to think that something very terrible was going to happen. So I started to place emergency items around the house. Things I would need to run away with. I made sure not to be too obvious because I didn’t want my husband to be on to me. One day he left to go to the store. I remember it so clearly, “babe I’m running to the store be back in a few.”

He stepped out of the house and I threw all of my emergency items in a bag, grabbed the baby and ran.

My grandpa was staying in a nursing home at the time and I knew nobody would look for me there so I went to his house and I hid out. I had NO contact with the outside world for days. Yes, I kidnapped my own child because at this point I was pretty unstable.

My husband and best friend were texting like crazy. Finally about ten days in I received a message from best friend which said, “I love you, but right now I have to love your baby more and I will call the police because I know you need help.” I finally told her where I was but begged her not to come. She sent a family friend who is a nurse to see me.

The nurse showed up and told me I had postpartum depression. I had no idea that 15% of new moms experience PPD which is way more intense than the blues, and encompassed so many of the things I was feeling and thinking. But at the time I didn’t know any of that, all I knew is that I just wanted to disappear. I hated everything, I couldn’t function and I was mad that I wasn’t connecting with such a precious little baby.

I never wanted to hurt my baby but I know many women who suffer from PPD do, and I would be lying if I said that I never wanted to hurt myself.

I don’t even remember when I started feeling better. There is so much about that time that scares me, so much more that I could share, but even writing about it makes me feel horrible. It’s a place I NEVER want to return to, and I would NEVER wish it upon anyone.

There were periods of time where I felt that I was bordering on insanity.

Follow the rest of my story in my Part 2 post publishing October 9th – National Depression Screening Day. Take care of yourself!
Danni Starr
Danni Starr works daily as co-host of the nationally syndicated “The Kane Show.” Danni fell in love with radio at 19 and 11 years later, she still considers it her first true love. As a Mother and wife Danni is the “Den Mom” to the show & offers open, honest, opinions and advice.

The above story is adapted from Danni’s original post: https://www.facebook.com/notes/danni-starr/take-a-walk-in-my-postpartum-shoes/572481839449596

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