One of my key reasons for establishing this site was to share the reality of mums’ lives today rather than giving in to those daft ideas that we are either yummy or slummy mummies. As if life were that simple.
After the birth of my second child, I experienced post-natal depression and felt so very alone and joyless. I have asked other mums to join in a carnival (I know that word is odd in the context of depression but it is the recognised blogger term for what I am doing here) on post-natal depression.
The idea is to be open about our stories and hopefully help others both those in the depths of it, those emerging from it, those over it along or those who may yet come across it in their lives. I also hope the generosity of the contributors in sharing their stories will help the people surrounding the depressed person to understand a little more about the condition.
So here are the links and I do encourage you to visit them. Although there are some common strands, each woman’s story is an very individual one and not all of us experienced post-natal depression in the same way.
Kate talks about how a traumatic birth triggered depression. She describes a sense of disconnection combined with real worries about her adequacy as a mother.
http://mrsshortiesmind.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/time-machine-anyone
Solnushka gives a thoughtful perspective on the people run away from the term post-natal depression, looks at definitions and talks of the horrors of sleep deprivation too.
http://solnushka.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/on-postnatal-depression/
Anna talks about a week where she had to deal with giving up breastfeeding whilst starting to take anti-depressants.
http://www.dummymummy.co.uk/2011/07/on-milk-anxiety-and-not-missing-sleep-deprivation/
Sheila looks back to her post-natal depression journey that started 13 years ago where the sleep deprivation and disconnection feeling played large. She also tells us about her withdrawal from anti-depressants. http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/2008/04/letter-to-my-manager-and-friend.html
Finally, I reflected on post-natal depression over at http://gigglingatitall.blogspot.com/2009/04/reflections-on-post-natal-depression.html
Here is my own story about PND: http://whatnobodytellsyouabouthavingababy.blogspot.com/2011/07/battle-scarred-but-survived-its.html
Posted by tallblond | August 25, 2011, 7:41 pmJust wanted to say thanks ever so much for including me in your Blog Carnival. I’ll make sure to aknowledge and link back to your blog from my blog (not that that many people read mine LOL). It’s really interesting as well to read other Mum’s experiences, of course my experiences were 17 and 12 years ago now and I am fully recovered so I hope anyone reading this will be reassured that yes it will pass, and be kind to yourselves!
Posted by Sheila Herd | August 25, 2011, 8:24 pmI’d like to share three books that helped me through PND.
1) What Mothers Do – Naomi Stadlen
2) Life After Birth – Kate Figes
3) On Becoming a Mother, A Life’s Work – Rachel Cusk
If you are reading this and feel you can’t cope, you are not alone. Chat to other women on line, and find ways to take care of yourself xx
Posted by Narrowboat Wife | August 26, 2011, 7:42 amI wish I’d heard of this before! What a good idea. I’d love to be part of it if it’s not too late. My blog: http://www.notjusttheblues.blogspot.com
Posted by sandy | August 26, 2011, 10:45 am