Depression Hurts!

January...the beginning of a New Year, new resolutions and in Alberta Postpartum Depression Awareness month too!

As Moms, we've likely all been through the crazy early days with an infant, the seemingly endless night wakings, the isolation, the fear we're not doing the best we can and the 'Mommy' guilt that only Moms would understand. For most these feelings pass the older baby gets but for 15% of moms within the first year of baby's life, they experience the more serious Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Mood Disorders.

Now that I know more about PPD, I'm sure that I suffered a case of the baby blues with DD1. The isolation of being an older first time Mom really hit me - while most of my friends were parenting school aged children, some in their teens, I was just starting out on the rocky road of early parenting. Thankfully she was a June baby and we spent the summer sitting outside and going for lots of walks and in the fall joining classes at a local Ontario Early Years Centre.

With DD2 I knew the possibility of depression could take hold and I know now that it did! DD2 was hospitalized within a day of her early birth for what could have been a life threatening condition without care (Rhesus Hemolytic Disease). Being away from my now 3 yr old DD1, with a new baby you can only hold every 4 hours was excrutiating to say the least! The constant fear for your new baby's life and the worry for my older DD and how she is doing without Momma around. The feelings of isolation and that they would be better off without me were creeping in. With no classes I could join at the Ontario Early Years Centre I was at a loss for what I could do and not brave enough to talk to my doctor.

And then there was momstown!

The day before DD2 was born, I stumbled upon momstown via Today's Parent, signed up for my 2 week trial and didn't get the chance to try it out with DD2's hospitilization and follow up appointments that would last the first 4 weeks of her life. A quick email to momstown Georgina & East Gwillimbury Momma Kim Edmiston renewed my 2 week trial and began my road to being a happy Momma again!

With almost daily activities and events, a supportive online community available 24-7, rekindled friendships and new friendships that are now part of my daily life, momstown helped me make it through a difficult time in my life. To know that I wasn't the only Mom having these feelings which you can read about here made me feel not so alone in the journey of parenthood.

If you are suffering from similar feelings it could be Postpartum Depression and you need to get help.

Visit http://www.ppda.ca/ for resources and help with postpartum depression and Depression Hurts for a symptom checklist.

***Edited - Postpartum Depression Awareness Month is currently only recognized in the province of Alberta. Contact your MPP to help bring awareness throughout the country!