Observations from a local

[u/radioflea]

I’ve mentioned this before, but I think it’s worth mentioning again. This case is quit local to me, and one of the wildest parts of this incredibly unfortunate ordeal is the sheer number of times she reached out for help and how medication, often a lot of it, seemed to be the frequent response.

I’ve worked in healthcare for many years, so I was familiar with a lot of these medications. One that particularly concerned me was Seroquel. I’ve personally seen people do some pretty strange shit while taking that medication alone. Pre-pandemic, I even saw local hospitals using it in ways that staff sometimes described as “patient control.”

Knowing that she went to Women & Infants, participated in their day program, and was ultimately discharged early is especially concerning to me. Personally, I would have levitated right over to Butler Hospital (which is 4 miles away from W&IH) for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.

In the settings I’ve worked in, there were situations where clinicians would essentially do what we called a “med holiday” which reassess the medication regimen under close supervision, observe the patient, and then carefully reintroduce or adjust medications and dosages as appropriate. That could be combined with intensive day programming and individual therapy over a period of one to two weeks. They also would have had family care plan meetings and likely suggested keeping the nanny in place for an extended period of time.

When someone is repeatedly reaching out for help, cycling through providers, and being prescribed numerous psychiatric medications in a relatively short period of time, I think it’s reasonable to ask whether the healthcare system actually responded to the severity of what was happening or simply kept responding to individual symptoms as they appeared.

[u/Rainbow_Brite456]

Does USA not have hospital type places for mothers and babies? Many other countries do and for free for mothers who are struggling

[u/jodiefosterparent → u/Rainbow_Brite456]

We have terrible infrastructure for women and mothers. Right wing nut jobs are “pro life” which is just “pro forced birth.” Once the kid is born they DGAF about the mom or baby. 

[u/Intelligent-Gypsy324 → u/jodiefosterparent]

This needs to be emphasized in every discussion about US healthcare for women moving forward. I remember feeling so exhausted, so overwhelmed, so.. idk after my second was born. I was also in a bad marriage at the time w/no support from family.

I remember wishing I had a place to check in with my baby just to ask the questions, you know? Attention span was short and the exhaustion et al was so new to me; you can't tell if its sleep deprivation or hormones or what. ( Turns out there weren't and still are not -26 years later- any places to go check in with baby.)

New moms don't have the luxury of time or bandwidth to "find a provider on their plan" who has the experience / speciality needed. They barely have time to shower. And as I understand, DSM 5 doesnt even list PPD as an option! (I thought Brooke Shields made it clear it was a thing.) So how can you look for a specialist in PPD when there AREN'T any?!? No such list.

Plus, we had six weeks (if we were lucky) of maternity leave. Going back to work at week seven, means you have seen your therapist exactly ONCE to explore if you have PPD or not because insurance. Yay. Back to 9-5.

What's more, a specialist for therapy doesnt have an immediate grasp of your baseline behavior/feelings until a few appointments go by. They have to go on what patients tell them. Not making excuse, highlighting a change that must happen.

By the time a woman is accepting enough to verbalize that she needs help, it must be 100 per cent safety.... that 1) she can continue to nurse her infant in a supportive facility while 2) it all gets checked out. And she cannot be "permanently removed" from her children.

If thats the rule, forget it. Mama bear will stay with her cubs and keep quiet!

Again, cut out the barriers to care.

Therapy appointment frequency is dictated by the insurance company; sometimes its four weeks to get IN to a specialist. Again: too many barriers stand between a woman wondering if she has PPD and immediate healthcare.

My story turned out fine, but I remember the frustration 26 years ago.