( Cooper 1 month old... seriously cute right)
I think a lot of people would be interested to know that I suffered from postpartum depression after I had Cooper.
Not the baby blues and NO I never thought about hurting my babies. But it was
like a heavy weight that I could never lift and honestly it lasted for months,
truthfully close to a year. I had a hard time getting out of bed, I didn’t want
to do anything and the thought of doing simple things like making dinner while
watching the kids caused so much anxiety that I felt like I was going to have a
nervous breakdown. After the kids went to bed I would take a shower and cry until I could hardly stand. Dusty and Taylor felt the brunt of this and I am so thankful
that the two of them were strong enough to carry me through the first year of
Cooper life.
I hate (and I don’t
use that word mildly) that this is a topic that is so taboo. So many moms go
through this and feel like that can’t speak openly about it. You are supposed
to be blissful after your baby is born right?!? I didn’t even want to talk to my own mother
about it… the biggest blessing was that my mom was staying with us after
Cooper was born and she has the guts to just put it on the table. She called me
out, told me to ask for help, and honestly I wouldn’t have done that without
her.
What helped me the most was knowing that I was not alone. Why didn't anyone tell me that this could happen? I felt so alone and only after I reached out to others did I realize that some of the women that I am closest to suffered as well. Why didn't they reach out to me when they needed me. I'll tell you why!!! Because people think if you have postpartum it means you are going to (or want to) hurt your baby. THAT IS NOT TRUE! Postpartum depression can be as simple as anxiety that last over a month it isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes postpartum depression is simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms.
What helped me the most was knowing that I was not alone. Why didn't anyone tell me that this could happen? I felt so alone and only after I reached out to others did I realize that some of the women that I am closest to suffered as well. Why didn't they reach out to me when they needed me. I'll tell you why!!! Because people think if you have postpartum it means you are going to (or want to) hurt your baby. THAT IS NOT TRUE! Postpartum depression can be as simple as anxiety that last over a month it isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes postpartum depression is simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms.
How about we talk about this? Support each other as new moms
and not pretend to be perfect?
I added some contacts and linked in my resources page.
2 comments:
Loved the honesty of this post Ash! And I totally agree with you on this subject. While I was lucky to avoid PPD the first time around, the chance is always there, and I would love it to be a more openly discussed topic. What helped you through it? Did you end up going with medicine?
Always thinking of you...we miss you guys so much!
♥ Kyna
I think doctors should have frank discussions with their patients about PPD....and almost none of them do. My doctor certainly never mentioned it to me. As women, we should be open with each other--supportive and non critical. Being a mother is hard work and we need the support of friends and family AND the medical profession.
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