Let’s Talk About Postpartum Depression.

It Can Happen to Anyone

Chrissy Teigen has joined a club she never wanted to belong to and is helping make it ok for new moms to acknowledge some of those negative feelings that don’t feel ok to have. After all, she really does have it all. Successful, rich, happily married and the list goes on. If she can experience postpartum depression, anyone can.

Teigen joins celebrities who’ve come forward with confessions of postpartum issues, including Brooke Shields, Courteney Cox and Gwyneth Paltrow. If it can strike them, it can afflict anyone. I don’t usually quote articles from the New York Post, but a family member forwarded a link one that merits a share with our clients.

“They’re up, they’re down, they’re crying, they’re laughing,’’ said Ann Smith, a nurse practitioner and president of Postpartum Support International. According to experts, postpartum depression affects about 75 to 80 percent of new moms. Sometimes the symptoms disappear in two to three weeks without intervention. But many new moms aren’t as lucky.  It reminds me of the lore about morning sickness only lasting 3 months. I had it pretty much until the end of my pregnancy.

Getting Rid of the Stigma

The problem is not a new one. Just one not openly discussed. As an article in the New York Times recently stated  “Indeed, defining postpartum depression has been a centuries-long pursuit, hobbled by a social stigma that prevents many women from acknowledging they have a problem. Women plagued by the sadness, anxiety and suicidal thoughts associated with the condition — first noted by Hippocrates in 400 B.C. — have long been told it was all in their heads, or blamed themselves for not being good enough moms.”

The latest article to hit my inbox highlights more ramifications of the disorder. We deal with a lot of new parents at WHN and hope that by sharing this information we may let new moms know they aren’t alone. There is an official support group for them to reach out to. Postpartum depression deserves to be highlighted and talked about so new moms won’t feel ashamed for having those feelings and will seek out help.

Asking for Help

You need to take care of yourself first and foremost in order to be the best parent you can be. If you are feeling overwhelmed, we are here to help you build your village. From newborn care specialists to Doulas,  and sleep consultants – we have a range of trained professionals available to support you.