Julie's husband did not know what to do or how to navigate the health care system to get help.

Written testimony

I think he didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to help. He’s not someone who’s familiar with the health system at all or medical, like, anything. So he felt, I think, completely overwhelmed and had no idea of how to support me. His way of supporting has always been doing things. So, like, he was, you know, making meals, he was making sure I was fed. But, like, he didn’t know how to navigate the system and support me that way. He had no idea what to do. And I think he also was experiencing sleep deprivation as well. Like, both of us were, like, operating on just crazy amounts of sleep for weeks and weeks and weeks because of the colic.

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More content

• Symptoms – Julie
  Julie feels more resilient, and a lot of healing has taken place.
• Seeking Help and Getting Diagnosis – Julie
  Despite having clearly stated that she was not feeling well, Julie still had to wait weeks before getting support.
• Relationships – Julie
  Julie's husband did not know what to do or how to navigate the health care system to get help.
• Support from Family and Friends – Julie
  A friend of Julie recognized the red flags and helped to get the support she needed.
• Managing Personal Challenges with Sleeping and Eating – Julie
  Looking back, Julie realizes how a chronic lack of sleep spiraled into heightened anxiety.
• Managing New Routines – Julie
  Going from a successful working life to being with her child every day has challenged Julie to expand her skillset.
• Birth Experience and Mental Health – Julie
  After losing a close friend just five days before giving birth, coupled with a traumatic birth experience, Julie was not doing well.
• Advice for Policymakers – Julie
  Julie offered this perspective:
• Advice for Health Care Providers – Julie (clip 2)
  Julie advocates for less medicalized approaches to birth.
• Advice for Health Care Providers – Julie
  Julie advises giving women information at the appropriate times, when they can absorb it.