Main description:

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.

Contents:

Part I: What's Going On. A Mother's Anxiety. A Closer Look. Why Am I Having Scary Thoughts? Part II: Clinical Concerns. How Do You Know if You Need Help? Barriers to Relief. Screening for Scary Thoughts. Part III: Breaking the Cycle of Scary Thoughts. Things You Can Do to Feel Better. Can You Really Change How You Think? Professional Treatment Options. How Others Can Help. Your Personal Treatment Plan. Living with Uncertainty. Barsky, Afterword.