A Place All Her Own: Hospital Opens Freestanding Clinic Dedicated to Postpartum Depression

In years past, when a new mom wasn’t feeling “herself”, she was oftentimes disregarded and shrugged off as “having a case of the baby blues”. She was expected to buck up, put on her big girl panties, get over it, and start being a mom.

Feelings and emotions that years ago used to be taboo to discuss, whispered only between the best of girlfriends, are now being openly recognized, and taken seriously by the medical community.

According to an article by Ann Heppermann of NPR, one hospital has taken the treatment of postpartum depression to the next level. I am so very proud to report that this Monday, the University of North Carolina opened up the country’s first freestanding perinatal inpatient psychiatry unit!

So what can patients expect from this cutting edge clinic?

According to Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, who directs the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders:

• Breast pumps and comfortable rocking chairs.
• Staff that is compassionate and understands the complexities of postpartum depression and anxiety.
• Therapy rooms geared towards both individual therapy and family therapy.
• Extended visiting hours for mom to bond with baby and create routine, even when mom is hospitalized.

I, too, am a mother who has suffered from postpartum depression. It gives me great joy that as a country, we are making positive strides in women’s mental health. My hope is that other States across the country take note of what UNC had done, and additional clinics are opened.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a really big deal. Three hip-hip hoorays for the folks at UNC!