[imatter2]

One of my friends from church is expecting a very unexpected baby in December. She's struggled with depression in the past and I'm sure it won't suddenly stop being an issue just because she's had a baby! I want to give her the 2010 copy of Thomas Hale's book, Medications and Mother's Milk, at her shower but I wonder, would you be offended? Would you take it as me ASSUMING she's going to "need" it? (which, admittedly, I am). I'm half thinking of giving it at EVERY baby shower I attend from now on, it's so important and an issue so close to home for me. Tiff would just be my first foray into it.

[NuckingFutz]

If you feel really strongly about it, you might want to give it to her in private. Opening a gift like this in front of others could pose an ackward moment for everyone due to the stigma of mental illness. Was wondering why you want to give it to her at the shower?

[imatter2]

Originally Posted by NuckingFutz

If you feel really strongly about it, you might want to give it to her in private. Opening a gift like this in front of others could pose an ackward moment for everyone due to the stigma of mental illness. Was wondering why you want to give it to her at the shower?

I am not sure it would indicate an assumption or "stigma" of MI necessarily, though in this particular case it might. I post actively on a nursing mother's website (though I haven't nursed in many years, when i joined the site I was still nursing my first baby!). We constantly see new members with questions like "is it OK to take Benadryl? Sudafed? Claritin? Zantac? This or that antibiotic?" and the so on and on, all of which are covered in the book - in fact it covers pretty well everything.

As for giving it at the shower - well, it's the only thing I could afford to buy as a gift if I did it, the book's pretty expensive ($35 on Amazon!). But you are probably right that giving it privately would be better...

[imatter2]

Originally Posted by Phrick

I am not sure it would indicate an assumption or "stigma" of MI necessarily, though in this particular case it might. I post actively on a nursing mother's website (though I haven't nursed in many years, when i joined the site I was still nursing my first baby!). We constantly see new members with questions like "is it OK to take Benadryl? Sudafed? Claritin? Zantac? This or that antibiotic?" and the so on and on, all of which are covered in the book - in fact it covers pretty well everything.

As for giving it at the shower - well, it's the only thing I could afford to buy as a gift if I did it, the book's pretty expensive ($35 on Amazon!). But you are probably right that giving it privately would be better...

Also I guess it ASSumes that the mom will be at least trying to breast feed her newborn, something else that could be embarrassing at a shower. hmmmm.

[NuckingFutz]

You could always ask if she plans to breastfeed. BTW, welcome to PC!

[imatter2]

Thanks for the welcome! Having had every single family member from Grandmas to aunties to cousins having nursed their children, and having spent so much time on nursing sites that's another thing I tend to forget (even though I only was able to nurse my second son 2 months before my first psych admission which effectively put an end to our nursing relationship)... not every mom breastfeeds! And that's OK!

[NuckingFutz]

I come from a long line of people who have children myself. I would definately ask her if she intends to breastfeed. the book sounds like a great help if she will be.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by nuckingfutz

i come from a long line of people who have children myself.

[Amazonmom]

I would give it to her privately, but it's a great book. I use it all the time at work. I want to breastfeed my next child while taking meds so I know I will need one myself....

the only thing I see wrong with the edition I have is the info he has on Lithium is over 30 years old, and lists only the dose for acute mania instead of maintenance.