When the Bough Breaks: A Documentary About Postpartum Depression
The film When The Bough Breaks is a valuable documentary concerning postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Brooke Shields is both the narrator and Executive Producer of the feature-length and shocking documentary, which explores the very public health concerns affecting 1 in every five postnatal mothers. Brooke had also written a memoir about personal struggles with PPD. It is unfortunate and painful that the documentary features women who are guilty of infanticides and families who have been affected by suicide. The film explores the death of babies, silence amongst the affected women, and missing signs of the disease challenges it attempts to solve. All people should see the film although it is not very easy to watch. The opening scene is Lindsay Gerszt’s home movie as she boasts of a positive pregnancy test as her husband films. She is shocked a little, scared, and excited at the same time. Perhaps, the mixed emotional reaction on the Bradley’s is because they realize their lives are about to change forever.
However, for Lindsay, things became a bit different. As she puts it, she began to experience anxiety and panic attacks following her pregnancy, after which she started experiencing postpartum depression after her induction and difficult childbirth. She was well aware that she was at very high risk for PPD because she had suffered many difficulties with depression before getting pregnant. Thus, Lindsay argues that “[literally], I used to drop my son off at school and get in bed and waste the day sleeping because it was too painful.” Her depression [baby blues] was much more intense, even though she had support from her family, a doula, and a psychiatrist. She continues to state that “I was prepared, but nothing can prepare you. It felt like I was out of control, and it was never going to go away. I didn’t know how I was going to get through it. It’s like this monster that you can’t escape”. She is screened experimenting with various medical remedies, including treatment for trauma, EMDR, acupuncture, supplements, medication, etc.
Several other women have documented while sharing their narrations concerning perinatal mood disorders. The disorders include several mental health disorders that women experience during and after pregnancy. Some of the characters in the documentary include Peggy Tanous of The Real Housewives of Orange County, celebrity chef Aarti Sequeira, actress Tanya Newbold, and singer Carnie Wilson. According to the film, about 20% of women have a perinatal mood disorder, out of which depression is the most widespread type of pregnancy and childbirth complication. The documentary also explores the disorder of postpartum psychosis, which affects between 1 and 2 out of 1000 women. A key symptom of the disease is an increase in the rate of infanticide and suicide risk. Brooke Shields attempts to enlighten viewers on the topic and to draw compassion and empathy for the affected families. For instance, Lindsay is grateful that the film will help educate health care providers and the general public, and in the destigmatization of perinatal mood disorders.
The film provides more invaluable information on the relationship between pregnancy and the two disorders. Although it is the most widespread complication associated with pregnancy and childbirth, it is not universally screened for. The case is different from, say, gestational diabetes, which, even though it affects about 7% of women compared to depression that forms the largest share of the 20% of women who struggle with perinatal mood disorders, is universally screened for. The reason for such an unfortunate disparity is that mental health cases are widely stigmatized. Thus, the documentary sheds help viewers to understand that the disorders affect women just like any other disease and that it is not the choice of women or a percentage part of the population to choose a condition that they suffer from.
The reasoning is reflected in Raul Martinez’s statements in the film, “I think people forget that mental illness is a sickness of the brain, which is an organ of the body. When you have heart disease, there’s no stigma attached to it,” she says, “When you have a mental health issue, the brain chemistry actually changes.” His wife, Kelly, committed suicide as a result of the illness. Apart from the general arguments on whether it is necessary to adopt mandatory PPD screenings, or either healthcare or maternity leave for mothers, there features the question of law.
There is an argument in the film on legally and culturally de-stigmatizing women who suffer from PPP. When it comes to prosecution, for instance, the UK’s Infanticide Act of 1938 has been positively hailed because it bars women from facing trial if they are found culpable for infanticide involving their own children aged below one year. However, the general outcome is that these women are always subjected to a broader form of stigmatization that is associated with their pharmaceutical and mental illness treatment. The good thing, however, is When the Bough Breaks promotes awareness, education, and treatment for those suffering from postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
Website Review
- PSI Mission and Vision
The mission and vision of Postpartum Support International:
The mission of Postpartum Support International is to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide. It is the vision of PSI that every woman and family worldwide will have access to information, social support, and informed professional care to deal with mental health issues related to childbearing. PSI promotes this vision through advocacy and collaboration and by educating and training the professional community and the public (PSI, 2020).
- Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health Overview
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are the overall terms given to mental health issues related to pregnancy and postpartum illnesses. Some of their symptoms include the depression, irritability or anger, difficulty bonding with baby, panic or anxiety, sleeping and eating problems, recurrent upsetting thoughts, feelings of craze, the constant worry of hurting oneself or child, feelings that one should not have given birth to the child, etc. (PSI, 2020). Many women experience mild mood changes during pregnancy or postpartum periods.
However, depression or anxiety affects between 15 to 20% of women during these periods. No woman is immune to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, with symptoms appearing along the continuum of between any period between pregnancy and the close of the first one year following childbirth. Apart from postpartum depression, women can also experience depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar mood disorder, postpartum psychosis, etc. (PSI, 2020). The diseases are treatable.
- PSI Educational Brochures – English and Spanish
The PSI brochure is available in both English and Spanish languages. The resource is very informative and useful because it provides relevant information on the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that can be used by hospitals, parents, clinics, groups, and families. Apart from the symptoms and treatment methods for each of the diseases, it also provides valuable information and support sources, including phone support, websites, PSI Newsletters, and training (PSI, 2020). In other words, it is a one-stop-shop for all the PSI services and relevant resources.
References
PSI. (2020). Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health Overview. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/learn-more/pregnancy-postpartum-mental-health/
PSI. (2020). PSI Educational Brochures – English and Spanish. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/resources/psi-brochure/
PSI. (2020). PSI Mission and Vision. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/about-psi/psi-mission-vision/
Lippman, J. (Director). (2017). When the Bough Breaks [Motion Picture].