When I first became pregnant, I was immediately met with a network of support from close family and friends. Everyone was so excited for us. They indulged me in my long laments of pregnancy, they threw me beautiful baby showers, and helpfully dispensed copious amounts of all of the parenting advice I should ever need.
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Mom Advice Overload?
Any new mom and mother to be will no doubt feel inundated by advice from well-meaning, “been there done that” women around them. From breastfeeding/bottle-feeding to co-sleeping/sleep-training it can all get very confusing very fast when conflicting bits of information are constantly being thrown your way.
Let’s Talk Mental Health Shall We?
On June 3, 2011 I found myself in The Rockyview Hospital being held in a locked white room with only a bed and some supper that the crisis team had kindly brought for me. I was out of my mind sleep deprived with obsessive thoughts, hopeless, soul-crushing depression and the idea that anyone in the world would be a better mother to my son than I could ever be.
Wow, this gave me chills, and I read the WHOLE thing 🙂 I had my son's birthday party this weekend and to all my friends who came they took home a little souvenir, and on the back was a thank you message for being part of my village. I love the way you put that, it takes a village to raise a mom too. It really does. I am so sorry for everything you went through, PPD is just awful and you had it bad. Thank you so much for sharing your story, not a lot do and it helps others realize how common and normal PPD is so they can recognize the symptoms and get help when needed.
I would love it if you came to link up at our party:
http://www.raisingfairiesandknights.com/category/bloggers-spotlight/
It's a link party and pin-up party, two parties in one! All posts will get pinned to our group pinterest board.
Lovely post, friends truly make the world more bearable and a better place to be! I hear so many battle depression after a birth, luckily I never did. Glad you were able to overcome it!
Valerie
Fashion and Travel
What a hard journey! You're right it takes a village and you're often only as strong as your community. Thanks for sharing your beautiful words.
Thank you so much for sharing. I too have suffered with severe depression and at my worst, had to have friends stay with me and help me with my five children. I appreciate you sharing your story. And being so open. I am so thankful that you are sharing so others can get help. Mental illness is real and frightening, but there is help. I found you on the Maniac Monday linky party and I would love for you to join mine http://faithfilledparenting.com/2015/12/faith-filled-parenting-link-up-party-3/. Blessings.
The courage it takes to share your story is something beautiful and amazing. I can totally tell your heart is in advocating for women, and I'm incredibly honored to say I "know" you. Thank you so so much for sharing your story with others who NEED to hear it <3 <3 <3
Thank you for sharing this so openly. Moms need to know they are not alone when dealing with postpartum mental health issues— or any mental health issues! I was lucky to not suffer from ppd, but battled depression and anxiety issues for many years before kids, and felt so ashamed to talk about it.
You were truly blessed to have such an awesome support team. I didn't battle with postpartum, but I know some family members of mine that have. Thanks for the reminder that it is real!
You are so lucky to have so many people who care about you and your family. Very rare today. I'm glad everything worked out for you.
Thank you for sharing this, what a powerful story. I'm so glad you were surrounded by so many people who loved you and were willing to help you through this.
Wow you went through so much, I'm so glad you are here able to share your story. Friends make everything easier don't they?
Thank you for sharing your story. I too, admitted myself into the psych ward, because I knew that if I couldn't be my best self, I wouldn't be good for my son. Your story is powerful, thank you again, for sharing it. I feel less alone.
What a powerful story! It's amazing how difficult times can really draw out support like no other. I'm thankful to hear that you had such a wonderful group supporting you, and that you're brave enough to share your story. I love how you said, "It takes a tribe to raise a mom." So true! Blessings!
This is a beautiful post Tifany. I also read your story where you share your post-baby mental health challenges and I commend you for taking the step to getting YOU better before anything else. You are one strong woman who deserves a lot of credit for that [and a forceps birth— been there and the tearing is unreal— but we made it! 🙂 ].
Wow, you are amazing! Thank you so much for having the courage to share your story with us. I know there is at least one mom out there that you're helping just by sharing your story.
Wow – thanks for sharing with candor… God bless you for getting through especially with the help of close family and friends…. I don't know what I would do without my sister and my girlfriends…. it's the simple things that matter…. even just sitting and being quiet with someone you are close with! Blessings to you for sharing this!
So many mothers don't want to share the real, the raw parts of motherhood. I applaud for you honesty and being so brave, to lay it out there for other Mommas to use.
Wow, thank you for being so open and honest, you truly have amazing friends and family, so happy that you did make it out on the other side. Many hugs and blessings.
Thank you for being open and honest. I wish more would do this. I had horrible postpartum depression with my first. It didn't hit until after the 6 weeks when you are normally checked in on. I felt like I was drowning. The village around me made all the difference. It's so important to have a good support team surround you.
Thank God for our support villages. I'm currently in the process of rebuilding mine and continuing to be there for others. Having experienced Postpartum Depression myself, I know how important it is to there for other moms without judgement to enable them to have the opportunity to seek help or whatever they may need. Thanks for sharing your story!
This post is so beautiful and honest, I love it. It is so important to find a great tribe. it sounds like you have an amazing one!
Wow. You really are blessed to have so many people willing to extend themselves to help you. I'm happy you were able to see also that you needed help and sought it.
This is an amazing post, and it sounds like you have an amazing group of people behind you. I always feel like my introversion a prevent me from forming a really strong "mommy tribe", although I have met some wonderful ladies and moms recently:)
Thank you for sharing your powerful story. It is wonderful that you have such an amazing support system in your life.
Thank you for sharing your story, by sharing it, I'm sure you've saved countless moms by letting them know they aren't alone. Pregnancy / birth, everything is such a roller coaster and you never know how you or your body and mind will react. I am glad to hear you had such an amazing support system. I just wish more people would check in to see how "we" are doing before it gets to this point. Quite often people come see the baby and then thats it, they are gone and don't care to see how mom is doing, physically and emotionally.
I love this post. It's so honest and brave of you to share your story and let others know they're not alone if they don't feel the way they "should" after having a baby. Hopefully this will help others! Thanks for sharing at the Manic Mondays blog hop!