A book by our Web Site Patron :: Elaine Hanzak :: Eyes Without Sparkle :: Radcliffe Medical Press ISBN: 185775655X RRP: £16.95

An amazingly honest and true description of the reality of suffering Puerperal Psychosis and Post Natal Illness from the point of view of an ordinary woman who suffered PNI . As an ex -sufferer of PNI this could be any of us!
The book describes in detail the experience of Puerperal psychosis and Post Natal Illness - the effects on a family and how one can get through PP and PNI and use the experience to enrich your life.
Along the way Elaine also makes some good points about what medical professionals , families and friends could do that would really help someone suffering with PP and PN. I feel those relating to medical professionals and other caring professionals would be very helpful if medical professionals such as health visitors, GPs staff in psychiatric units and maternity wards and other hospitals read and took on board in their policies and practises - this view is only about what I took form this book . I am told that if you are still suffering PP or PNI when you read it - this can be disturbing to read but you see it form a different angle form myself - If anyone else wants to submit a review of this book, please email it to me
( review by Veritee)

Surviving Post Natal Depression By Cara Aiken, Publishers Jessica Kingsley ISBN: 1853028614

A good book with useful advice and information. There are case histories written by real mothers who have been through this illness. There are different 'types' and situations dealing with PNI and covers pretty much most of the problems we all face with this illness. I would say if you are having a 'bad' day don't read the women's stories, save them for a day when you are stronger. Cara also explains about being a mother and what it entails. I found it a good book. ( Review by Deborah)
This is a book I contributed to. I think if you have PNI you have to read it. (Veritee) It can be ordered online from:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/
1853028614/qid=950183283/sr=1-9/026-3317971-7013859

Minus Nine to One: The Diary of an Honest Mum by Jools Oliver,ISBN: 0718146832

Jools Oliver does not say she had PNI or indeed any other major difficulties with being a mother or parent, but Jools certainly presents it how it is and gives us the nitty gritty of the shocking realities that all mothers - even those married to celebrity chiefs - have to endure.

Again it is a book that makes you realise that you are not alone in finding being a mother stressful at times. And her descriptions can be quite funny.

I was interested to learn that Jools has polycystic ovaries and therefore had trouble conceiving ( I really sympathise with this as I have had many close friends who have PSO - fumy enough the organisation on the web that supports women with polycystic ovaries has a name simular to my name see: http://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/ and laughed at her description of Jamie Olivers embarrassment during the conception process ( men !) and her descriptions of her birth and the realities of starting out refusing pain relief and ending up gratefully with an epidural - so grateful that she feel in love with the anaesthetist who at that point offered her more support than Jamie who suffers from a needle phobia...

Anyway it goes on from their and it is a good read - although I did feel a little inadequate after reading it .
The realities of cons=caption, childbirth and motherhood are the same for many of us - but I was left feeling why did I get PNI and Jools did not?

From her own descriptions she does not seem any more adjusted or ready for begin a mother than the rest of us..

But some of us get PNI and some do not .

WHY?

( review by Veritee)

Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, Brooke Shields (May 3, 2005) Publisher: Hyperion Books ISBN: 1401301894

This book seeems to have two publishers!

Hardcover 224 pages (May 26, 2005)
Publisher: Michael Joseph
ISBN: 071814841X

This book has been one of the most honest pieces of work I have ever read. Her journey is painful and terrifying and this comes through clearly in her writing.

Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression Shoshana S. Bennett, Pec Indman Paperback 144 pages (July 1, 2003) Publisher: Mood Swings Pr ISBN: 0971712417

One of the shortest, simplest but best books on PNI I have ever read - American though( Veritee)

Depression After Childbirth, Katharina Dalton. isbn: 0-19-263277-9.

A heavy going book, but very informative. The author mentions how our diet and progesterone can influence the severity of PNI and PMS. Very detailed and scientific, best left until you have recovered if you are finding it hard to concentrate, she has some good theories but as none of them have been replicated by other medical doctors her work is not seen as having value. Her treatments work for some women but not all. Interesting read.( Review by Deborah)

POSTNATAL DEPRESSION- facing the paradox of loss, happiness and motherhood.
Author Paula Nicolson. ISBN:0-471-48527-6

It is a very good book which explains how we as mothers find our lives so complex emotionally. It helps you to understand the emotions we feel as part of motherhood with PNI and to make some sense of them.
I ordered it for the mums in my group via Amazon. They posted it to me in days-excellent service!
it costs approx.£7-20p. ( Review by Deborah)

I thought this book had some important points to make about - put simply - the pull between your happiness and joy at having your baby and grief at the loss of many things including freedom, sleep, perhaps body shape, maybe a job? time with your partner, - this could be a long list!
Paula calls this a paradox. However for me it errs on the side of considering PND to be socially environmental and personally constructed. In other words it is a depression as any other but with its cause to be due to the environmental, personal and social factors around for the woman at the time of the birth.
As such it does not take into account the similarities of women with PND, experiences and the fact these symptoms differ from people with clinical depression and these mothers probably would not have had depression if they had not had a baby, but an interesting and useful book on the subjec just the same t : ( review by Veritee)

Post Natal Depression, Psychology, Science and the Transition to Motherhood, ISBN 0-415-16363-3

all but throws out any theory that PND in women who have given birth could also have hormonal and factors about giving birth amongst its cause. I think that as yet know one knows and until the medical research is done (Paula did some very good research for her books - but it is not enough and not conclusive enough for me and actually goes against my own experience) no one will, but at this stage it is dangerous to dismiss the possibility of PND having chemical/hormonal factors and of it being a very different illness to clinical depression - as these books by a qualified psychologist may be used to justify treating women with PNI/D in a mainstream psychiatric unit without their babies!! ( Review by Veritee)

I wish someone had told me-a realistic guide to early motherhood. Nina Barrett. isbn: 0-89733-442-6.

A book although useful to mothers of newborns is just as useful to mothers in the first year of motherhood I feel. There are 12 chapters which start by putting a question/scenario e.g.:
IDEAL: There is such a thing as a Good Mother, and if you try hard enough and make all the right choices, you can be one.
FACT: It is possible to be a good mother-if by ''good'' you don't really mean ;;perfect'' which many women do. This chapter takes a look at where our image of ''ideal mothers'' comes from: Mythical mothers; memory mothers and media mothers.
The subjects begin with painless labour! Weepiness following the birth, raising children etc. marriage. Another book I feel should be given out in antenatal classes! ( Review by Deborah)

The Birth of a Mother-how motherhood changes you forever. Daniel Stern, Nadia Bruschweiler -Stern and Alison Freidland. isbn: 0-7475-3649-X.

This book is very good. I wish it was given out at all Antenatal clinics and women would read it before giving birth to their first child! It mentions about the emotional and mental changes we go through in order to 'become' mothers. It says when these changes are interrupted for whatever reason ie premature birth it causes our minds to 'miss' an important part of the complete process it needs to go through in order to complete the psychological transition into motherhood. Not too heavy. ( Review by Deborah)

Misconceptions-truth, lies and the unexpected on the journey to motherhood. Naomi Wolf. isbn:0-99-27416-7

A good slightly feminist perspective on motherhood. Good and interesting if you want to read the ''wider issues'' surrounding motherhood and all it entails.Naomi tells it like it is including a brief mention about PNI and postpartum adjustment to motherhood. A generally good read!Naomi also explains about being a mother and what it entails. I found it a good book. ( Review by Deborah)

I am now 53 and was a feminist in the early 1970 , so have an interest in feminist theory I find this book great from an academic perspective. But perhaps not very useful for someone currently suffering PNI and is not interested in the actual day to day realities of getting though with PNI

( review by Veritee)