Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Motherhood

by Karen Kleiman, Amy Wenzel

What if I drop my baby when I go down the steps? What if I burn the baby in the bathtub? Thoughts like these can be frightening to new mothers, but are a common symptom pregnant and postpartum women can experience. Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts addresses the nature of these intrusive, negative and unwanted thoughts. Kleiman and Wenzel offer answers to the women who seek information, clarification, and validation in this useful resource for healthcare professionals working with these mothers. Written by two clinicians who have established themselves as leading experts and authors in this specialized field, this book maintains a compassionate tone that will be a voice familiar to many women in the postpartum community. Whether you must confront these negative notions personally or in your practice, this book will explain what these thoughts are, why they are there, and what can be done about them.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Psychology, Self Help

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2010

About the author

Karen Kleiman is well known as an international expert on postpartum depression. Her work has been featured on the Internet and within the mental health community for decades. In 1988, Karen founded The Postpartum Stress Center, LLC, a treatment and training facility for prenatal and postpartum depression/anxiety disorders where she treats individuals and couples experiencing perinatal mood & anxiety disorders.

Karen has been interviewed for, featured in, and reviewed by local and national TV, magazines, radio shows and health websites. Her national television appearances include Inside Edition, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and The Katie Couric Show. A few popular magazines that have featured her work or interviewed her include: Self Magazine, Fit Pregnancy, Parenting, Working Mother, Star, and Mothering Magazine. Karen is featured as an expert on PsychologyToday.com as a “Best Voice in Psychology” as author of her blog, “This Isn’t What I Expected: Notes on Healing Postpartum Depression”.

Reviews

[Lesli · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Full Disclosure: I'm a postpartum therapist and always looking to expand my professional library. Although this is directed towards mom's who are struggling with postpartum mood and anxiety symptoms, I found portions to be a bit dense for laymen. As a clinician, I appreciated the perspective and information and thought it was well presented. I would caution new moms that this is bit technical but I can see recommending it to some of the women with whom I work.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for practitioners who work with new parents or pregnant women. There are not enough healthcare providers who are savvy with the anxiety that can strike many many women postpartum, and they are definitely not educated about how to assess and handle intrusive (or scary) thoughts. Moms, this book is for you if you have just had a baby and you are having thoughts that scare you. You are not alone, and it is OK to reach out for help. This book is especially helpful if you are having scary thoughts and aren't sure who you can talk to about them. Don't handle it alone!

[Missy Dec-Tawney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book informative and helpful, but wished it had been recommended sooner. I didn't realize scary thoughts were this common and just thought I was crazy or just I'll-equipped to be a mother. Ah so nice to know I'm not alone.

[Perch · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Licensed Professional Therapist this was a useful read, focusing on a topic that likely hasn’t been given much focus or is clumped into pp-depression. This is probably full of jargon and not an easy or reassuring layman read for pregnant or hopeful mothers. Bottom line, PP changes in emotion, (especially anxiety) are normal and should be discussed with loved ones, other mothers and professionals. Moms are all in this together and want to support one another!

[Marinna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such essential reading for any new mom who is experiencing scary thoughts. Karen Kleiman is a master at validating women and their experiences. This book is helpful for both moms and clinicians. There are workbook-like activities to complete and each chapter breaks things down with takeaways for moms and clinicians. All of Karen Kleiman’s work is so important in understanding perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for a continuing education training. I love the way the the authors directed the text towards both mothers and clinicians. I wasn’t sure that would work but it absolutely coheres. As someone who is both a clinician and a mother, it touched me at both levels. I cannot wait to put some of this into action both in my personal life and in my clinical practice.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for women experiencing postpartum depression/anxiety/etc, as well as the people around them. I would also recommend this for doctors, therapists, and the like to help educate themselves around the distressing thoughts women can have during and after pregnancy.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative but clinical. Not the type of book you read for comfort maybe, but one you read for answers.

[Krista Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for continuing education. It was better than most.