[Kerry Goodwin]

Kerry – kerry@hearthacupuncture.com

[Kerry Goodwin]

Thank you Ece! I completely agree and am really glad you posted about this!

I am very interested in this training as well posted in the OBAA and will make sure to check it out!

[Kerry Goodwin]

Hi everyone! I am deeply interested in mood disorders during pregnancy and postpartum. I am finding in the initial stages of my research that my questions keep growing and my direction feels less clear. So I’m guessing there are several potential projects I could focus on. I am considering using the next few months to hone my research skills, learn from all of you as much as I can and find a clearer path to my future project, likely in the form of a case study.

I haven’t been able to attend live in the zoom meetings as often as I would like at this time but am finding the recordings immensely helpful! Hopefully posting in the forum will provide me a little more direction. Thank you all for so much wonderful help and conversation during the live discussions. Below are my two primary areas of interest.

1. Antenatal anxiety and depression and its impact on postpartum mood disorders. <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>How can I aim my research/case study/lit review to provide information to midwives and OB’s to share with their patients that acupuncture and acupressure can offer a positive impact on mood support during pregnancy and postpartum. Showing this continuity of care through the antenatal period will expand into the postpartum period improving patient outcomes and reduction in postpartum depression and anxiety.

2. The impact of trauma on the birthing person and how it affects postpartum mood disorders. How often and at what level are patients who have experienced trauma during labor and delivery or birth injustice receiving follow up care and support. What practices are currently in place to follow up and screen patients by birth workers and what interventions are in place to support them to prevent postpartum anxiety and depression or support them when a mood disorder is experienced.

What impact would acupuncture and acupressure provide if given within hours after delivery and for the first 12 consecutive weeks following to improve their experience, recovery, and well being (regardless of birth trauma or not). The ability to hold space, listen, receive acupuncture and use of press tacks, guided acupressure techniques, mother warming, and general support will have a profound effect on a birthing person’s outcome and experience even in the face of trauma after delivery.

1. Who follows up- (doula, OB/midwife, pediatrician etc)

2. When do they follow up

3. What screening tools are used

4. Do the tools in place support all populations after birth

5. What methods are used for support

6. Is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale beneficial enough in recognizing postpartum mood disorders

7. Is pharmaceutical medication more supportive than CAM methods for postpartum psychosis or postpartum depression and anxiety

8. How is the partner or family member involved in helping this process

9. Does this impact bonding with baby

10. What are the initial signs and symptoms- insomnia, fatigue, body pain

[Kerry Goodwin]

Hi! I’m really looking forward to developing my writing skills and connecting with all of you through the writer’s group! I’m new to this process and had a few questions come up after the first meeting and beginning the assignment of creating an annotated bibliography. First, how detailed should our topic or question be, I am stuck on how broad or specific I should focus my research. For example if I am searching for mood disorders during pregnancy and its impact on postpartum, this search yielded SO many articles and references. Do you recommend creating a search question or topic that would be much more specific? Second, throughout the first meeting it was mentioned several times to stick to “the method” of writing and that there is a specific outline to follow. Is this something we will begin to go over or is this information available in the resources. I did check there but did not see where I might find it. Thank you!

[Kerry Goodwin]

Hi Sarah,

Thank you so much! That is really helpful to hear, I will check out the reference you posted and the sources she listed.

[Kerry Goodwin]

Hi Claudia!

Thank you for this detailed response! This is really helpful and gives me a better starting point. Looking forward to this week’s meeting!