Postpartum depression study: Uh, will this be multiple choice?

I guess some perks of living in a college town is the opportunity to participate in lots of research studies. I vaguely remember someone at the hospital after Austin was born, telling me that people might contact me to see if I would be willing to take part in these projects. I was called last week asking if I would answer some questions about postpartum depression. At first I was like, uh, how long is this going to take? She said just a few minutes, and they would pay me $5. Hey, 5 bucks is 5 bucks. I mean that's a Starbucks ladies. So, of course I agree. Then they might call me again for a follow up. Which would be a little bit longer...$20. Hello new part time job. :)



So fast forward to the second interview. Now if you would have asked me before all this began if I had suffered from postpartum depression? I might have said...sure, I mean at the beginning. Just adjusting, and finding a niche after baby, I'm sure I had some feelings of "depression", but obviously not the Family Guy episode portrayal of postpartum depression...when Peter is constantly dunking Stewie in the water, and he says...look Lois, I'm sad about stuff...love that show...Anyway, don't want to harm myself or child...no. Have I ever been so frustrated with my child, that I could maybe throw like a pillow across the room?...sure.



So, I get into the more in depth interview, and I'm thinking the talk is going to be focused on like right after having the baby. I was really surprised that she was focusing more on this past month. As she is asking me these questions, I'm like...yeah, I've been feeling this way. Yeah, I've been anxious, and sad, and tired, and moody, and unmotivated....I just thought that was called being a girl. So, $20 later, I am now having a personal interview. If they feel like I am still a candidate for the study, then they will put me in a treatment program that is part of the research as well. So, been kind of interesting for sure. Will keep you posted.



On the other side of things Austin was asked to be in a movement/memory study for babies. He didn't get paid, but he did get a free toy, so that was kind of fun. Loving the college town.

If you have made it this far, I guess you could call this my postpartum depression problem solver.

The question being...What happens when you find your son in the morning hungry and crying, but he has managed to pee all over himself and the crib?

Answer: You throw the first outfit you can find on him...take it all in the shapes, the colors, it was early and dark....and only later that morning did I realized the heinousness that is this outfit.