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In addition, Dr. Issokson says that fertility medications, comprised mostly of reproductive hormones, typically make patients "feel out of sorts emotionally." Add to that the knowledge that "any major life stressor that occurs around the time of childbearing becomes a risk factor for PPD," and you may have a volatile combination.
Issokson also believes that mothers of multiples, a group more common in the infertile population, are more susceptible to PPD because of the inherent multiplication of stress, demands, and economic responsibilities with twins or more.
Obviously, not every case of PPD ends in tragedy... Another woman in Houston shares her story with us. Stacey Glaesmann knows firsthand some of what Andrea Yates may have been going through at one time. Glaesmann survived infertility, only to later experience postpartum depression.
Fortunately, she sought help immediately and stopped her illness in its tracks.
When Glaesmann stopped taking birth control pills in 1997, she assumed she'd be pregnant in a couple of months. Like many of our readers, she began charting her BBT when conception did not occur so readily. Six months down the road, Glaesmann's OB/Gyn (who is also a fertility specialist) ordered some tests run and instructed her to use an ovulation predictor kit. As it turned out, she wasn't ovulating at all.
She feels extremely lucky that it only took one round of medication to help her conceive her daughter, who is now a rambunctious two year old. Pregnancy, on the other hand, was a disappointment.
Rather than feeling elated at being pregnant, she was terrified that she would lose her precious baby.
Accordingly, Glaesmann ate very healthy and maintained a moderate exercise program in order to assure a healthy baby, but she didn't like being pregnant.
© Tracy Morris
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