Dr. Bill Stratbucker, M.D.

PostPartum Depression and the Medical Home

Many new moms feel happy one minute and sad the next. If you feel better after a week or so, you probably just had the "baby blues." If it takes you longer to feel better, you may have postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression can make you feel restless, anxious, fatigued and worthless. Some new moms worry they will hurt themselves or their babies. Unlike the "baby blues," postpartum depression does not go away quickly. Very rarely, new moms develop something even more serious. They may stop eating, have trouble sleeping and become frantic or paranoid. Women with this condition usually need to be hospitalized.

Dr.Bill Stratbucker comes on the show to discuss Postpartum Depression and how your childs Pediatrician plays a part in the screening and diagnosis of this form of Depression. He will also discuss the Medical Home concept and how screening for family concerns fit in with this model of care for children?

Dr. William Stratbucker M.D. is a general academic pediatrician at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development at Michigan State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He sees patients from newborn to 18 years of age, many times with a medical student or pediatric resident physician. It is his fourth year here after working in Chicago for six years at Rush University Medical Center where he also received my master's degree in clinical research. Medical school and residency training were in Omaha, Nebraska at the University of Nebraska and Creighton University. During my post-doctorate training in clinical research, he focused on the issue of postpartum depression and the impact on developing infants as well as the role of the pediatrician in screening new parents for this disorder and referring them for help. He continues to study the care of the newborn and the role of the pediatrician within a medical home setting.

Melanie Cole, M.S.

3 / 3 / 2010