MMHRC Blog
Posts Tagged ‘postpartum depression’
Marathon of Moms: Your Stories Break Down Stigma
Our first ever Marathon of Moms was a huge success and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our MMHRC community. After putting out our call for your stories of lived experience with maternal mental illness, we received submissions from women from across North America. Common Bonds and Shared Experience It was…
Read MoreAlicia’s Story: Nothing About Motherhood Came Naturally to Me
After five years, I’ve lost most of the guilt that I’ve carried around for far too long; the shame that accompanies missing out on the first nine months of your baby’s life. Physically I was there and in the eyes of most observers, I was a wonderful, loving mother. Love him – I did –…
Read MoreKasia’s Story: Life Got Very Real, Very Fast
I had my first babies at a much later age than most women – I was 36. For me getting pregnant was not the easiest thing to do. Thankfully after almost 10 years of trying, we got pregnant with twins – a boy and a girl. Life couldn’t be any better, right? Struggles with Infertility…
Read MoreKatie’s Story: My Experience Made No Sense to Me
I’m an average woman. I’m a nurse who went away to college for four years and I’m married to a wonderful man. We make a decent living, and I have a great group of friends I’ve stayed close with since college. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in a situation where…
Read MoreLauren’s Story: Panic Attacks are Never Normal
“Oh my God, I know how women hurt their babies!” I cried as this thought replayed in my head over and over, while I held my screaming baby at arm’s length. My husband took my daughter, and I collapsed into my bed. “I need help. There is something seriously wrong with me,” I said through…
Read MoreAllison’s Story: The Need to Escape My Life Didn’t Stop
Sometimes I wonder if it was all just a dream; a really, really frightening dream. The way I feel now towards my daughter can’t compare. Only when I dwell on certain pictures or my husband brings it up do I remember that we in fact lived it, and we somehow survived. My deepest hope is…
Read MoreBeth’s Story: My New Normal Now Includes Mental Illness
My pregnancy was blissful with very little morning sickness or fatigue. I had perfect blood work and perfect ultrasounds. Everything was perfect, perfect, perfect. My body was doing exactly what it should do and my baby was growing beautifully. There Were Still Risk Factors I had absolutely no depression, and just general (normal) worry about…
Read MoreAlexis’ Story: Intrusive Thoughts Became My Norm
My story starts with a birth no mother would ever wish for. If I’m being honest, my first encounter with intrusive thoughts occurred after the birth of my first son, but thankfully they were less traumatic and short-lived. No one could have ever prepared me for what I’d experience with my sweet Leo. An Early…
Read MoreLacey’s Story: I Felt Let Down By My Body
At 17 I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My doctor prescribed me 10mg of fluoxetine; a tiny little pill made all the difference. I knew postpartum depression would be an issue for me, and I was prepared. Or so I thought. What I wasn’t prepared for was PTSD, thanks to being induced at 41…
Read MoreAlison’s Story: When You’re in a Fog…You Don’t Know You Need Help
My name is Alison, I’m 37 years old and a first-time mom. My baby was born two months early. I think to people who haven’t had kids born early (like me at the time) you just think the experience must be a bit surprising. Maybe you didn’t have the hospital bag packed yet, or you…
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