Support for new moms helps the kids, too

White Rock, British Columbia: Regarding Lindsay Clancy’s postpartum mental illness defense, pregnancy-related mental illness — notably, postpartum depression — often has serious consequences even beyond those suffered by the new mother.

In his book “Shame: Free Yourself, Find Joy, and Build True Self-Esteem,” Dr. Joseph Burgo writes: “When brain development goes awry, the baby senses on the deepest level of his being that something is terribly wrong — with his world and with himself… Throughout my work I have referred to this experience as ‘core shame.’ It is both intense and global. Under conditions that depart widely from the norm, shame also becomes structural, an integral part of a developing child’s felt self. Rather than feeling beautiful and worthy of love, these children come to feel defective, ugly, broken, and unlovable.” Among other debilitating traits of core shame, one feels oddly uncomfortable sharing their accomplishments with others, including those closest to them, assuming others won’t care, and experiences an inexplicable, mentally painful inability to accept compliments. My mother suffered postpartum mental illness when I was born, which probably resulted in a consequential lack of “shared joyful interactions” that are crucial to healthy early child development. It would explain a lot about my life.

Awareness is key to prevention, if not also healing. Also, universal access — government funded and operated — to infant care assistance and/or pregnancy-related mental health care should be implemented and maintained.

Spotswood, N.J.: We are having the lightest........

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