I could not have described the effects of postpartum depression until I had it myself. It’s incredibly difficult, but finding help shouldn’t be.
Like many moms, I had a very difficult 4th trimester. After we came home from the hospital and collapsed onto our couch, I remember sobbing uncontrollably. I hid from guests who came to visit the baby, I panicked internally if anyone other than my husband or my mom held our newborn, and I constantly wondered if we’d ruined our lives with this big change. I knew the “baby blues” were a thing, but I was miserable.
My husband had to leave for a quick work trip exactly two weeks after my daughter was born. My mom came to stay with me, but I couldn’t stop crying and panicking. She held my hand as I made an appointment with my OBGYN and drove me to my appointment the following morning. Then she took me to the pharmacy to get my new SSRI prescription. I was lucky to have a very attentive mom and husband- but there are resources beyond that for other moms, too.
You Are Not Alone
I’ve found that the more I talked about it with other moms, the more people shared their stories of postpartum struggles with me. Additionally, it seemed like postpartum depression (ppd) manifested itself in different ways with different moms. I was weepy and almost regretful. Another mom I spoke to considered getting in her car and driving and driving and driving until she was far away from home. One said she finally understood the “agreement” she’d signed in the hospital about not shaking her baby. No matter who it was, they had a different but shared experience.
Resources and Support for Moms
Stark County has many resources, websites, services, and programs available for new moms and struggling families. Whether you’re looking for housing assistance, breast feeding support, financial help, or domestic abuse shelters, you can find information from these Stark Co. agencies:
Stark County offers a free home visiting program for moms. This program is described as “monthly visits by a trained Community Health Worker to assess and assist with ongoing needs.” They can offer guidance and support with transportation, safety, education, housing, and more. You can call (330) 493-9928 or visit https://starkhealth.org/
government/offices/public_ health/nursing_services/ maternal_home_visiting.php.