What Am I Thinking: Having a Baby After Postpartum Depression

by Karen Kleiman

For many women, having a baby delivers all the profound joy they anticipated and brings happiness beyond description. For women who experience depression after the birth of a baby, this joy can seem elusive. Instead, women with postpartum depression (PPD) are often gripped with feelings of deep sadness, confusion, anxiety, and despair, and they are deprived of their anticipated joy in their first precious months with their baby. At some point, the question of having another baby arises. If you ask a woman in the throes of a depression this question, she may say, no. No more children. If you ask a woman who has recovered from postpartum depression if she wants more children, she may say, yes, but I'm scared to go through that again. This book was written to accompany these women on their journey toward a subsequent pregnancy after postpartum depression. What Am I Thinking contains essential information for a woman and her family who plan on having another baby after a previous experience with postpartum depression. As these women know, planning another pregnancy can be a process filled with profound anxiety, indecision, fears, and self-doubt. What if I get depressed again? What if it's worse this next time? What if something terrible happens? What if I'm making a mistake? Filled with self-help strategies, current treatment recommendations, and practical advice, this book offers women the hope, confidence, and support they need to make this journey in spite of their anxiety. With this resource and available knowledge in hand, they are likely to feel more empowered, enabling them to proceed with confidence.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2005

About the author

Karen Kleiman is well known as an international expert on postpartum depression. Her work has been featured on the Internet and within the mental health community for decades. In 1988, Karen founded The Postpartum Stress Center, LLC, a treatment and training facility for prenatal and postpartum depression/anxiety disorders where she treats individuals and couples experiencing perinatal mood & anxiety disorders.

Karen has been interviewed for, featured in, and reviewed by local and national TV, magazines, radio shows and health websites. Her national television appearances include Inside Edition, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and The Katie Couric Show. A few popular magazines that have featured her work or interviewed her include: Self Magazine, Fit Pregnancy, Parenting, Working Mother, Star, and Mothering Magazine. Karen is featured as an expert on PsychologyToday.com as a “Best Voice in Psychology” as author of her blog, “This Isn’t What I Expected: Notes on Healing Postpartum Depression”.

Reviews

[Kent District Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Being pregnant with my second child, I have become all too aware of the depression and anxiety that came along with my first baby. This book helped me work through those very real fears, and gave me solid instruction in preparing for my next postpartum stage in life. For all the future moms who need a little reassurance and guidance – this book is for you! It’s simple, short, and accessible (something you need with pregnancy brain).” – Abby at Wyoming

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason my original review of this was posted as a comment...I was new to the site. Editing it into here:

This could have been an excellent book - it's short and concise, and put words to a lot of feelings I have about expecting #2 after PPD with #1. But it became frustratingly heteronormative and incredibly sexist (husbands don't *mean* to be insensitive, but they're dudes, they can't help it!) and other such bullshit. The book also tried to present a "neutral" view of taking medication while breastfeeding that basically skewed towards worrying women that it's too dangerous and ignoring ample medical knowledge that shows there are many perfectly safe options. It also subtly argued against various attachment parenting techniques without acknowledging that these can actually be helpful ways to manage PPD symptoms/the stress and anxiety of parenting (such as breastfeeding, or room/bedsharing). So, I wanted to like this book, but had to skim the last few parts out of frustration and was left deeply dissatisfied.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life after postpartum depression begets many emotions, especially when it comes to contemplating having a child after it. It may have taken a family by complete surprise after a first child with no previous history of mental health disorders or any other risk factors. Subsequent contemplations of pregnancy or of pregnancy itself usher in anxiety about another bout of postpartum (this time with a vulnerable child already outside the womb who needs care), joy, relief to be at the point of wanting another child and having the teacher of experience (and support) on one’s side.
To a point, worry about another postpartum episode demonstrates a woman’s careful consideration and diligence. Kleiman is clinically more concerned when a woman who has experienced a PMAD is not feeling any nervousness about a new pregnancy. Cautious but not debilitating worry (and this distinction is to be monitored by the couple and involved practitioners) springboards a woman into preparing for the future for her health and safety.
Candidly sharing women’s lived experiences of postpartum depression, Kleiman guides readers into showing how women and families navigated having a baby post-postpartum depression as well as offer prompting questions with note sections for writing thoughts down for future women and families as they prepare for another child.
Scenarios such as the appearance of symptoms during the new pregnancy or the postpartum need to be considered along with identifying clear support people (which may include friends, family, spouses, therapists, doctors) and concrete plans that are able to be executed. Some decisions, such as medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, need a cost-benefit analysis that is as unique as the family having the baby. Kleiman presents a useful blend of informational (risk factors, women’s lived experiences) with prescriptive instructions (how husbands can be supportive without inadvertently dismissing feelings, the assessing of current circumstances and support women must be aware of, how women can communicate with medical professionals so a PMAD is not missed in diagnosis).
The slim physical book belies its thoroughness of information and planning potential for women and families.

*** For more relationship resources, please visit my website, www.thecouplessyllabus.com ***

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were several things in this book that I really needed to hear and that I believe will really help me as I have this next baby. A lot of the book didn’t really interest or apply to me, but it probably would for many mothers. Overall, I’d recommend it as a quick read for those considering or having a second child after PPD.

[Marinna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So appreciative of this book. Karen Kleiman is THE expert in maternal mental health and it's so helpful to have a book that lays out what you can do to ease future pregnancies after experiencing PPD. Helpful for both clinicians and laypersons, and short enough to be a manageable read when you already have a babe at home. Would recommend to any mom thinking about subsequent pregnancies after PPD.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread of a book I read years ago. I found it so helpful!

[Sera Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for women/families who have experienced postpartum depression and are either having another baby or considering it. It would also be a great tool for therapists who work with postpartum women and families. The book is full of practical advice and information backed up with research. There are worksheets to help the reader get to the root of fears and apprehensions as well as suggestions for coping with anxiety. There is an excellent tool at the end for husbands/support people for what to look for, what to listen for, what to do, what not to do, etc. This is a small book and a very easy read. I finished it in an afternoon, and I highly recommend it to any woman who has gone through postpartum depression and has concerns about it happening again with subsequent children.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource for anyone trying to make a decision about whether or not to have another baby after PPD or for women who have already made that decision and want to be prepared for the possibility of PPD again.

[Ellen Mallernee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book about PPD. It was warm (versus clinical) and full of great insight and ideas. Plus it addressed all my areas of concern. I think it will be a big help to me and I would strongly recommend it to any other moms-to-be who are worried about PPD reoccurring.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource for moms/families considering having another baby after the trauma of PPD and the like. It's encouraging and honest.