How are you feeling?

Though it’s not often talked about, new and expecting mothers* go through many lows. And sometimes, those low moments turn into clinical depression. Did you know that 1 in 7 moms* experience a mood or anxiety disorder? If you think you might not be feeling your best, we encourage you to take a look at the items below.

• Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
  PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) are the most common complications of childbearing. This 10-question self-rating scale has been proven to be an efficient and effective way of identifying patients at risk for “perinatal” depression. This test was specifically designed for women* who are pregnant or have just had a baby.

• Know the symptoms
  PMADs can look like a lot of things beyond crying too much. If you’re having trouble sleeping, feeling uncontrollable rage, experiencing changes in your appetite, feeling disconnected from your baby or hyperaware of your baby, having non-stop or troubling thoughts, these might all be signs that something isn’t quite right. Take a look at these symptoms to learn more.

• Join our support groups for international moms* in Germany.

• Read Strength in Stories to learn about the experiences of international mothers* in Germany.

• In an emergency: Afloat does not handle emergencies. Families in crisis should call their physicians, dial 112 or visit their local emergency psychiatric hospital. If you believe you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of psychosis, contact emergency services immediately. For more information, see CLINICS below.

What does the mental health system look like for moms* in Germany?

How does the German mental health system work?

The Family Self-Help Psychiatry Federal Association for Relatives of Mentally-ill Persons (registered organization) published a very comprehensive guide in 2017 on how the mental health system works in Germany.

Finding Support

PERINATAL mental health care providers

Finding professional help for mater*nal mental health issues is not always straightforward. While there are plenty of English-speaking mental health professionals, not every one is necessarily trained in perinatal mood disorders. For moms*, speaking to a mental health professional who is not familiar with mater*nal mental health might mean she is pressured to unnecessarily stop breastfeeding in order to take medication, or she might encounter prejudice, feel misunderstood, or worse, receive inadequate care.

To better understand the mental health system in Germany, we have put together this blog post that includes links to databases of practicing mental health professionals across Germany. In many cases, it is possible to filter by language in order to find a professional that you can communicate with.

CLINICS

For mothers* suffering from a severe mental health crisis such as, but not limited to, postpartum depression or psychosis, many clinics in Germany offer mother*-baby units. These are specialized, safe, comfortable clinics (both as in-patient and/or as day programs) where the mother*’s bond with her baby is respected as she receives therapeutic, psychiatric, and sometimes physical therapy support.

• Find a list of mother*-baby units all over Germany can be found here.

cures/retreats

The German Mutter*-Kind-Kur is a rehabilitative retreat offered to mothers* (or fathers*) and their children, typically lasting 3 weeks and covered by the health insurance, pending a medical note from a doctor. The purpose of a cure is to prevent burnout and the exacerbation of depressive symptoms, but there may also be other reasons for attending a cure, such as a child’s chronic illness or other significant life stressors. Typically, a cure includes therapy sessions, physiotherapy, childcare, and leisure and bonding time.

• Find more information about the Mutter*-Kind-Kur here and through your health insurance.

EMOTIONELLE ERSTE HILFE

If you suffered a traumatic birth, are going thorugh a difficult pregnancy, and need support, Emotional First Aid might be a good option for you. This is a body-oriented counselling approach that supports a loving parent-child relationship already during pregnancy, birth and in the time afterwards. The goal of Emotinelle Erste Hilfe is a strengthened attachment between the parent and baby. With the help of targeted conversations, touching and perception exercises, Emotional First Aid aims to break the cycle of fear, tension and insecurity at an early stage. The closeness to the child is thus noticeably strengthened. A sensitive and loving dialogue is then more easily possible - even in these difficult moments.

• Find a local service provider of Emotional First Aid Germany-wide.

Medication

Embryotox is a reliable website that offers information about drug interactions when breastfeeding and taking medication.