<p align="center"><b>POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION PREVENTION PLAN</b></p>

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<td valign="top" width="252"><b>Pro-active education:</b>

ü  Self-education

ü  prenatal education

ü  Phone list of supports available in the community:

_____________ (e.g.: Family Doctor)

_____________ (e.g.: PPD Support Group)

_____________ (e.g.: Family/Friend)

Contact Public Health for info, too!</td>
<td valign="top" width="252"><b>ANSWER EDINBURGH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION SCALE (EPNS) – </b><a href="http://www.thesmilingmask.com"><b>www.thesmilingmask.com</b></a><b> under Valuable Resources, then Assessment Tool:</b>

<b> </b>

Test after two weeks postpartum and on a regular basis:

ü  self-assess

ü  Professional assess

ü  support person assess<b></b></td>
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<td valign="top" width="252"><b>Self-identify risk factors:</b>

ü  History of mental illness

ü  Family history of mental illness

ü  Unplanned pregnancy

ü  Level of social support available:

ü  Spouse

ü  Family

ü  Friends

ü  Traumatic life events while pregnant

ü  Traumatic labour and delivery

ü  Level of coping skills related to stress

&nbsp;

<b>WHAT DOES YOUR HELP LOOK LIKE?</b>

ü  Cooking

ü  Cleaning

ü  Laundry

ü  Care of your child

ü  Help getting to appointments

ü  General baby care

ü  Breastfeeding guidance

ü  Organizing coffee or exercise dates to get out of the house

ü  Someone taking you to a PPD support group

ü

ü

ü

ü

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<td valign="top" width="252"><b>Adopt a support person:</b>

Use a code system to rate feelings and coping skills:
<p align="center"><b>RED: </b>EMERGENCY<b></b></p>
<p align="center"><b>BLUE:  </b>SADNESS<b></b></p>
<p align="center"><b>GREY:  </b>FLAT  OR NO EMOTION<b></b></p>
<p align="center"><b>GREEN:  </b>COPING WELL<b></b></p>
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<b>SUPPORT PERSON’S ROLE:</b>

ü  Telephone support

ü  Able to manage low level counselling

ü  Able to determine if you are able to manage on your own<b></b>

ü  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Educated in signs and symptoms of PPD</span>: hopelessness, tearfulness, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, anxiety, anger, obsessive compulsive thoughts of harming yourself and/or baby, irritability, and fatigue. Physical symptoms include: headaches, numbness, chest pain, and hyperventilation.<b></b>

<b> </b>

<b>DIAGNOSED WITH PPD BY DOCTOR</b>***<b>:</b>

ü  Educate on medications

ü  Seek a Psychologist/ Counsellor specialized in PPD/OCD/ Psychosis

ü  Seek PPD Support Group

ü  Get proper rest, relaxation, nutrition and physical activity<b></b>

ü  Seek therapies that treat the body, mind, spirit and emotion<b></b>

ü  Know that this, too, shall pass. <b><i></i></b></td>
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<td colspan="2" valign="top" width="252"><b>Remember the first step towards decreasing symptoms from escalating is acknowledgement and asking for and/or accepting help!  Honour you and your family’s health and happiness.</b></td>
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<td colspan="2" valign="top" width="252">*** Just as with a hairdresser, you have to find a medication, Doctor and Counsellors that you trust and are comfortable with on this insightful journey.  Also, visit <a href="http://www.atlc.org">www.atlc.org</a> for valuable parenting guidance.</td>
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<p align="center"><b> </b></p>
<p align="center"><b>A happy, healthy Mother makes for a happy, healthy family!</b></p>