What is Postpartum Depression?
Bringing a child into this world is one of life’s greatest joys. It is a period of celebration and hope. But at the same time, it can be a very difficult period, filled with heartache, pain, and sadness for many women who experience Postpartum Depression.
Postpartum depression(PPD), also known as Perinatal Depression, is a serious mental health issue that is rarely spoken about. It is characterized by waves of depression during and after the period of birth, which could vary in severity. It could also include changes in sleep patterns and appetite. It could be considered a natural response to the intense physical, emotional and hormonal changes that come with childbirth. It shouldn’t be confused with “Baby Blues” because it is more severe. It affects countless individuals, regardless of age, race, and socioeconomic status. But despite its prevalence, there seems to be a stigma surrounding PPD, which causes many to feel isolated and uncomfortable with speaking about it.
Have You Had PPD? Well, You Are Not Alone
According to a CDC study, 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression and these experiences could also vary by race/ethnicity and region.
At Breastfeeding Perspectives, we want you to understand that you are not alone and many mothers like you are going through these phases. It even affects some of your favorite celebrities who have opened up to speak about it. In this article, we will look at 5 postpartum depression quotes from celebrities you might be familiar with, who have openly shared their experiences so you can relate.
Postpartum Depression Quotes from Favorite Celebrities
1. Kendra Wilkinson
“After giving birth to my son, I had struggled with depression, and there were a lot of the same feelings I had when I was a teenager. I’d never taken care of a baby; I’d never even held a baby or changed a diaper until my son, baby Hank. I never even knew one rule or one thing to do. I really went on instincts. I think it’s important to talk about because nobody really talked about it — I didn’t know I was going to get that depressed. I would always hear about postpartum, but I never really believed it was true.” – Huff Post interview
In this quote, Kendra Wilkinson talks about her experience with being skeptical and naive about postpartum depression until it happened to her. She emphasizes the need for more people to speak up about it to raise more awareness.
2. Tia Mowry
“When I knew that I had postpartum [depression]… I didn’t want to admit it. It was that shame. … I told my sister about it. I told my husband about it, and I told my friends about it. They became my support system. So when I was sad or going through my emotions, I would talk about it. I didn’t suppress them. I think that helped.” – Romper Interview
Tia Mowry also reflects on her experience with the birth of her daughter Cairo and how she denied and suppressed her feelings. She also emphasizes how your spouse, family, and close friends can be a great source of mental and emotional support.
3. Reese Witherspoon
“I’ve had 3 kids and then After each child I had a different experience. One kid I had kinda mild postpartum, and then one kid I had severe postpartum where I had to take pretty heavy medication because I just wasn’t thinking straight at all, and then I had one kid where I had no..no postpartum at all.. but I do think hormones are so..uhm. understudied and not understood and I kept reaching out to my doctors for answers.. there just isn’t enough research about what happens to women’s bodies..and the hormonal shifts that we have just aren’t taken as seriously as I think they should be…so I have deep compassion for women who are going through that…” – IWeigh podcast interview
When Reese Witherspoon was asked about her biggest mental health struggle, she said it was anxiety and then hormone issues(postpartum depression) around having a baby. She emphasizes how your experience with postpartum depression could be different for each child. She also talks about the need for more research to understand these conditions that women go through.
4. Gwyneth Paltrow
“I felt like a zombie…I couldn’t access my heart. I couldn’t access my emotions. I couldn’t connect. It was terrible, it was the exact opposite of what had happened when Apple was born. With her, I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t the same. I just thought it meant I was a terrible mother and a terrible person.” – Today Interview
Gwyneth Paltrow describes the terrible experience as feeling like a zombie and also talks about how the experience varied with the birth of 2 kids. She also talks about the guilt that comes from feeling depressed after the birth of a child.
5. Cardi B
“I thought I was going to avoid it. When I gave birth, the doctor told me about postpartum, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m doing good right now, I don’t think that’s going to happen.’ But out of nowhere, the world was heavy on my shoulders.” – Harper’s Bazaar Interview
Lastly, Cardi B also describes the experience as feeling like the world is on your shoulders. She didn’t know much about postpartum depression until it happened to her.
Final Thoughts
The experience of PPD is beyond words and it varies for each person and each child. We hope you were able to relate to some of these Postpartum Depression quotes from favorite celebrities who you might know. Remember that PPD is both temporary and treatable, so seek mental health, as well as support from your spouse, family, friends, and community. Seeking help is not a sign of failure or weakness but a courageous step towards healing, joy, and vitality.
Do you remember your last experience with postpartum depression? Feel free to share your experiences, along with words of kindness to let mothers know that they are not alone. We hope you found this article interesting. Please don’t forget to share to raise more awareness and spark a conversation around PPD. You may also be interested in a previous post on Postpartum loss of appetite.
Sources
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919a2.htm?s_cid=mm6919a2_w
www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/peripartum-depression/what-is-peripartum-depression
