Welcome
Here you will find a website designed to educate, support, and uplift mothers who are experiencing postpartum mood disorders. The funding for this site came from a mini-grant through the Huron County CA/N Council (Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention). Without their generous financial support I could not do this work.
I felt a calling to support postpartum mothers because of the emotional breakdown I went through after the birth of my oldest son who is now 10. I have my associate degree in early childhood development, I am currently persuing my Bachelor of Social Work, and I have worked with young children and their families for over 10 years. I am here to help.
Huron County is a rural county located in Michigan. A funny thing about us Michiganders, we like to use our hand as a map. If you think about the lower peninsula of Michigan looking like a mitten you would find Huron County at the “tip of the thumb.” With a population of approximately 33,000 we have only one birthing hospital that delivers around 300 babies a year; not very big compared to other places. One more thing about Huron County, we are surrounded by Lake Huron on three sides and the two counties south of us are also considered rural. Being in a rural setting has advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is a lack of postpartum support.
When I was suffering from postpartum panic and anxiety I didn’t know where to go. I felt alone, confused, angry, and embarrassed. I was overwhelmed and stressed out to the point that I was becoming very sick. I was at my wit’s end when I finally walked into the county mental health building on their free depression screening day in October 2001. I’d like to say that I got better quickly and that things were great after that but I don’t think that my dishonesty is helpful. It was a hard recovery but I am here today, 10 years later, to say that I made it.
I made it.
After the nightmare that is a postpartum mood disorder I always felt that I should do something to help other mothers. That “something” came about when I attended a conference in the spring of 2009. The Tree of Hope Foundation sponsored a training for nurses and social workers to become better at recognizing and treating postpartum mood disorders. Thankfully as part of my new job I was able to attend this conference. I heard amazing stories of recovery, of hope, and I felt that I could finally make a positive difference in my community with the amazing guidance of Postpartum Support International.
I made it. I am here today providing a service to my community just like I had hoped and dreamed of.
I am glad that you made it here. If you have found this site I hope you will find the starting point to your recovery. Postpartum mood disorders can be treated - you can feel better!
Melissa Stirrett
I felt a calling to support postpartum mothers because of the emotional breakdown I went through after the birth of my oldest son who is now 10. I have my associate degree in early childhood development, I am currently persuing my Bachelor of Social Work, and I have worked with young children and their families for over 10 years. I am here to help.
Huron County is a rural county located in Michigan. A funny thing about us Michiganders, we like to use our hand as a map. If you think about the lower peninsula of Michigan looking like a mitten you would find Huron County at the “tip of the thumb.” With a population of approximately 33,000 we have only one birthing hospital that delivers around 300 babies a year; not very big compared to other places. One more thing about Huron County, we are surrounded by Lake Huron on three sides and the two counties south of us are also considered rural. Being in a rural setting has advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is a lack of postpartum support.
When I was suffering from postpartum panic and anxiety I didn’t know where to go. I felt alone, confused, angry, and embarrassed. I was overwhelmed and stressed out to the point that I was becoming very sick. I was at my wit’s end when I finally walked into the county mental health building on their free depression screening day in October 2001. I’d like to say that I got better quickly and that things were great after that but I don’t think that my dishonesty is helpful. It was a hard recovery but I am here today, 10 years later, to say that I made it.
I made it.
After the nightmare that is a postpartum mood disorder I always felt that I should do something to help other mothers. That “something” came about when I attended a conference in the spring of 2009. The Tree of Hope Foundation sponsored a training for nurses and social workers to become better at recognizing and treating postpartum mood disorders. Thankfully as part of my new job I was able to attend this conference. I heard amazing stories of recovery, of hope, and I felt that I could finally make a positive difference in my community with the amazing guidance of Postpartum Support International.
I made it. I am here today providing a service to my community just like I had hoped and dreamed of.
I am glad that you made it here. If you have found this site I hope you will find the starting point to your recovery. Postpartum mood disorders can be treated - you can feel better!
Melissa Stirrett
Postpartum Progress's Katherine Stone, PSI Michigan Coordinator Nancy Roberts, PSI Michigan Coordinator Melissa Stirrett, and past president of Postpartum Support International (PSI) Birdie Meyer.
