I want to be excited about that PPD article, but my honest response is more akin to "No __ Sherlock"... I'm glad people are seeing that nutrition matters, but also of *course* it matters. If your brain is this huge organ that uses massive amounts of cholesterol and fat, and if serotonin and dopamine require protein to synthesize, and if the baby is already prioritized because of pregnancy and then breastfeeding, and if postnatal depletion is well documented.... but we just act like moms should bounce back and the fact that they struggle a bit is a surprise?
I mean.... I'm with you there. The emphasis on it being a minimum *help* and not a foolproof solution was at least a helpful reminder of the basics. But yeah.... complicated stuff there.
PPD also came up somewhere else recently, with regard to progesterone and even how complicated *that* can be with lack of studies, how women respond differently, its not always even helpful, etc etc. Which was kind of demoralizing to be reminded how little it seems is out there for actual help. And then the psych meds which seem to be this stupid and equally unhelpful knee-jerk offering to every single woman in this boat, which I find insane. (Can you tell this did not go well in the past?) This postpartum has been pretty good so far compared to last time, but I'm also trying to bracing myself in case.
Truly demoralizing how little is actually known in the rigorous scientific sense about childbearing women. I'm reminded of how I heard a whole lot of "uhhhh idk I guess you could try this herb" when I was undergoing serious lactation issues. From the credentialed professionals who were supposed to be qualified to help! Yikes! I feel like a good amount of it comes down to a lack of openness/curiosity, as well as obviously a lack of funding for quality research.
Yes, it's definitely a bit of the wild West, and it can be hard, because sometimes the meds are the right choice, but you often get stuck in the black and white binaries, where the people who will consider meds won't even think about all the things they could do before or in addition to them, and then the people who will do all the other things see meds as a failure. And we are very bad at considering other physiological causes of depression-like symptoms (how many women are hypothyroid and told it's depression postpartum? I will beat this drum foreverrrr), or examining things like how birth trauma and prior history play into postnatal mood disorders. /rant/
I haven't read what you've shared on embryo adoption, but Stephanie Grey Connors touched on this topic during the episode of Pints With Aquinas where they talked about IVF. It was interesting.
No problem! I've only read Love Unleashes Life, which discusses how to lovingly dialogue about abortion, but I think it's a good read for anyone who is going to be entering into dialogue on any important matter.
And this line from Essaying Discernment struck me as delightfully serendipitous, since I just asked for good essay recommendations- albeit for other reasons.
“Reading and studying excellent essays can help us figure out how discernment works because we can see it in operation.”
Also, I'm laughing, because "righting the massive reproductive ship” is certainly the quote for which I want to be remembered, so thank you. I always enjoy the way you keep open the discussion of fertility ethics, it's refreshing to have a place to reflect and discuss the topic.
I also loved the Rachel Joy Welcher piece in MO - I wondered if it would show up in Life Considered!
Thanks as always for including a mention of my work... you are a true champion of the arts and an uplifter of your fellows.
I want to be excited about that PPD article, but my honest response is more akin to "No __ Sherlock"... I'm glad people are seeing that nutrition matters, but also of *course* it matters. If your brain is this huge organ that uses massive amounts of cholesterol and fat, and if serotonin and dopamine require protein to synthesize, and if the baby is already prioritized because of pregnancy and then breastfeeding, and if postnatal depletion is well documented.... but we just act like moms should bounce back and the fact that they struggle a bit is a surprise?
I think we've lost the plot.
I mean.... I'm with you there. The emphasis on it being a minimum *help* and not a foolproof solution was at least a helpful reminder of the basics. But yeah.... complicated stuff there.
PPD also came up somewhere else recently, with regard to progesterone and even how complicated *that* can be with lack of studies, how women respond differently, its not always even helpful, etc etc. Which was kind of demoralizing to be reminded how little it seems is out there for actual help. And then the psych meds which seem to be this stupid and equally unhelpful knee-jerk offering to every single woman in this boat, which I find insane. (Can you tell this did not go well in the past?) This postpartum has been pretty good so far compared to last time, but I'm also trying to bracing myself in case.
Truly demoralizing how little is actually known in the rigorous scientific sense about childbearing women. I'm reminded of how I heard a whole lot of "uhhhh idk I guess you could try this herb" when I was undergoing serious lactation issues. From the credentialed professionals who were supposed to be qualified to help! Yikes! I feel like a good amount of it comes down to a lack of openness/curiosity, as well as obviously a lack of funding for quality research.
Yes, it's definitely a bit of the wild West, and it can be hard, because sometimes the meds are the right choice, but you often get stuck in the black and white binaries, where the people who will consider meds won't even think about all the things they could do before or in addition to them, and then the people who will do all the other things see meds as a failure. And we are very bad at considering other physiological causes of depression-like symptoms (how many women are hypothyroid and told it's depression postpartum? I will beat this drum foreverrrr), or examining things like how birth trauma and prior history play into postnatal mood disorders. /rant/
I am all about the rants. And the tips like you gave me in the past, and which I actually printed off for reference :’)
Delighted to be included in this round-up, as ever!
Welcher’s piece on poetry is wonderful! I’ve encouraged her to offer a workshop… I think she’d get so many eager students.
I haven't read what you've shared on embryo adoption, but Stephanie Grey Connors touched on this topic during the episode of Pints With Aquinas where they talked about IVF. It was interesting.
Ooooo I looked this up and it was a helpful summation of the sides of the issue. Thank you! I see she has a few books that look really great, too.
No problem! I've only read Love Unleashes Life, which discusses how to lovingly dialogue about abortion, but I think it's a good read for anyone who is going to be entering into dialogue on any important matter.
And this line from Essaying Discernment struck me as delightfully serendipitous, since I just asked for good essay recommendations- albeit for other reasons.
“Reading and studying excellent essays can help us figure out how discernment works because we can see it in operation.”
Now I’ve got another lens to bring to my reading.
The work and discernment section this week basically gathered itself :')
Thank you for the poetry section!
Also, I'm laughing, because "righting the massive reproductive ship” is certainly the quote for which I want to be remembered, so thank you. I always enjoy the way you keep open the discussion of fertility ethics, it's refreshing to have a place to reflect and discuss the topic.
Thank you for the mention, Haley!
thanks for the shout-outs, Haley. I'm honored!
also, Phantastes v Lilith—who you got?
Oh goodness.... If I had to..... I'd say Lilith. But honestly they are both full of the most dreamy and beautifully crafted lines.
same—it's like MacDonald can share his dreams through his writing. certain images just stay.