Stanford MedicineX PPD Panel

We're told that having a baby is going to be one of the happiest times in our lives. The myth of motherhood is pervasive and all around - happy moms, happy babies - the picture of perfection.

But what happens when things don't go as planned? What happens when having a baby turns your world upside down and you're left unable to even get out of bed? Or eat? And leaves you a shadow of your former self?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth and we do a terrible job talking about it.  1 in 5 women who have given birth will go on to develop a maternal mental illness like PPD, anxiety, OCD or even psychosis. With maternal mental illnesses being so prevelant, why is there such silence and stigma?

We're four moms with four different PPD stories and we're on a mission to share our experiences and educate about the reality of being a new mom with a mental illness. We have an unprecidented opportunity to publically share our journies at Stanford Univeristy's MedicineX Conference this September.

I will lead a 45 minute panel discussion about the broad spectrum of mood disorders that all get lumped in together and called “postpartum depression” by healthcare providers and the public alike. The goal is to illustrate, using lived patient experience, how the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychosis can actually look and feel – and the remarkable challenge these add to the already difficult task of mothering an infant.

Our panel members (the lovely Cindy Lee Herrick, Amanda Cadran and Sara Beckel) each need to register to attend the full conference, and travel to Stanford this September. Because we’re without an academic home base so to speak, we’re without funding to help with costs. We need your support to amplify the patient voice and speak on behalf of women everywhere about the reality of postpartum mood disorders!

Our expenses look like this:

-  Conference registration fees - $1,700 each – three panel members = $5,100. - Registration fees have been raised as of May 2, 2017!

-  Conference registration fees - $199 – my rate is deeply discounted as I’m also participating in the ePatient program during the conference which entitles me to a discount through the ePatient Scholarship program. - Registration fee has been raised as of May 2, 2017. Special thanks to Claire Kerr-Zlobin of Life with a Baby!

-  Airfare – approximately $500 each – our team of four = $2,000.

-  Hotel - $149/night for double occupancy plus taxes. Two rooms for the nights of September 14-17 is approximately $1,400.

-  We will cover food, transport to and from the airport and incidentals.

A grand total of $8,700 USD or $11,500 CAD using today’s exchange rate.

We still need your help to raise funds for our travel costs!

Your help will be appreciated in more ways than you can imagine. Not only will our panel present, learn and grow as a team and individuals - thousands of others will hear about postpartum depression. This work will save lives!SaveSaveSave