Bill to Focus on Postpartum Depression

Via Belly Tales, a bill (S.3529) has been introduced in the Senate (on 6/15) by sponsor Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and co-sponsor Richard Durbin (D-IL) which would provide grant funds for expanded education of new mothers about postpartum depression, and require follow-up care with these mothers to screen for the condition. It would also generate additional research on PPD, via the National Institutes of Health.

Read the bill text (the legislation will be referred to as the "Mom's Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act" or the "MOTHERS Act.")

Senator Menendez's press release

The Amercian College of Nurse-Midwives endorses the Act

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Grief Becomes a Force for Change

PPD Information:

Postpartum Depression - American College of Nurse-Midwives

Depression During and After Pregnancy - National Women's Health Information Center

Postpartum Depression and the "Baby Blues" - American Academy of Family Physicians

Postpartum Depression - MedlinePlus

Recognizing Postpartum Depression - NPR's All Things Considered, commentary from a rural job counselor

Postpartum Depression - Planned Parenthood

Postpartum Depression - March of Dimes

The Postpartum Blues - March of Dimes

Technorati Tags: legislation; postpartum depression
MeSH Tags: Depression, Postpartum