Christine describes how she gradually understood that she was experiencing depression, not the baby blues.
Transcript
I didn’t learn how to cope with it. And probably that would have been a much better thing to be looking at. But that’s most of the time, what I was looking at was, was that kind of thing. But then when I had my son and I was looking at, I haven’t eaten in two weeks, I really don’t want to spend any time with my baby. Then I started seeing more things that said, this could be more signs of depression versus baby blues. And I was falling right into the depression category and not the baby blues. So, when I was looking at anxiety wasn’t, I wasn’t looking at anxiety, I was just sort of looking at what does postpartum depression look like versus baby blues. And that’s what I kind of was reading about.
More from: Christine 3
More content
- Advice for Policymakers – ChristineChristine says that the system is under-resourced when one staff member's illness can shut down a whole service.
- Seeking and Finding Reliable Information – ChristineChristine searched online to understand what was normal or not for postpartum depression as she wanted to understand her symptoms.
- Gaps in Health Care System – ChristineChristine advocates for more maternal health care after delivery.
- Work, Finances and Mental Health – ChristineDespite good working conditions, Christine still struggled when the baby was born.
- Support from Family and Friends – ChristineWhen Christine finally saw how worried her mom was about her, she realized that she was not okay.
- Managing Personal Challenges with Sleeping and Eating – Christine (clip 2)Even though her family tried to give Christine time to sleep, she still could not fall asleep and would often just lay down and cry.
- Managing Personal Challenges with Sleeping and Eating – ChristineChristine didn't feel any drive to see her newborn and just wanted to lay in bed and let her husband take over the baby's care.
- Managing New Routines – ChristineChristine wants people to know that you will adjust to a new normal and things do get easier.
- Bonding – ChristineChristine couldn't believe that she didn't feel a bond with her newborn and wondered what was wrong with her.
- Coping with Feeding – Christine (clip 2)At her birthday party, Christine started to cry while telling her friends she wanted to stop breastfeeding but was grateful for their supportive reactions.