26 - JACKSON HOLE WOMAN, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Beyond the
‘baby
blues’ A new group helps moms tackle postpartum issues
By Kelsey Dayton
M
elissa Turley was used to success in her work, her volunteering and her politics. The Jackson town councilor assumed motherhood, something she looked forward to, would be the same as the rest of her life: work hard and succeed. But shortly after giving birth to son George, now 16 months old, Turley found herself unable to settle into motherhood the way she expected. She couldn’t relax. She didn’t sleep at night or even nap when George slept during the day. She couldn’t stop finding things to do. One afternoon, a friend helped Turley get situated with George in the hammock outside. As soon as the friend left, Turley left the hammock to busy herself, unable to sit still. She called it “monkey mind,” her inability to calm her brain.
She didn’t feel tired but, instead, constantly exhausted. Since she was breast-feeding, she worried about taking medication to help calm her. Her anxiety came to a head when she was hospitalized after spending three full days and nights without sleep. Turley had postpartum anxiety. With the help of medication, psychotherapy, alternative medical treatments such as acupuncture, a change in her diet, and the support of friends, Turley bounced back, but it took almost six months before she felt like herself. “I wasn’t prepared for the complete loss of control and self,” she said. Once happy and healthy, Turley wanted to find a way to help women in her situation, so she started a postpartum support group. Postpartum mood disorders such as anxiety and depression See Postpartum on 27
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Melissa Turley carries her 17-month-old son, George Stump, as they head outside to play at their home on Clark Street. Turley is organizing the Perinatal Advocacy Project for parents affected by mood disorders associated with pregnancy.
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