Nashville star Hayden Panetierre accepted the “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me” challenge and revealed a lot about her pregnancy and the fact she suffered from postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in December 2014.
From the list she posted inside an US Weekly piece, we now know:
She and her best friend had their babies 6 months apart, she gained 43 pounds during pregnancy, she delivered her daughter in Hawaii, and said daughter is in the 88 % for height already, probably because her dad world fighter champion Wladimir Klitschko is super tall.
The last item on her list of the 25 items: “I suffered a bit of postpartum depression. You’re not alone or crazy, ladies!”
The original Heroes alum opened up some more this week during a visit to Live with Kelly and Michael morning show. She revealed that she too had previous misconception about the condition:
“I can very much relate. It’s something a lot of women experience. When [you’re told] about postpartum depression you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child’ — I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do. But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”
Postpartum depression is a condition that affects up to 80 percent of mothers in the US.
This ailment, sometimes called the “baby blues”, can vary from mild to severe depression and can last from weeks to months. Before you give birth, it is important to understand the warning signs of postpartum depression and know where to seek help if you suspect you have this condition. For most women, postpartum depression strikes within the first weeks after their baby is born.
The common symptoms are crying, mood swings, and a feeling of sadness. Some women experience decreased energy, a loss of interest in things they previously enjoyed, and sometimes trouble bonding with their new baby.
Postpartum depression usually fades away within weeks after the baby is born, but for some women it can last longer and be more severe than the simple “blues”. Women experiencing severe postpartum depression may feel irritable and irrational.
Some with extreme cases may even have thoughts and feelings of hurting themselves or their babies.
These are serious signs that need to be treated right away. If you suspect that you are suffering from postpartum depression the best thing you can do is seek your doctor immediately. She will have some suggestions for how to help cope with these feelings in the following weeks. Women suffering from severe depression may be given a prescription for an antidepressant medication that will help ease the symptoms.
If you are suffering from postpartum depression, remember that you are not alone. This common condition happens to most mothers shortly after birth. It is treatable and for most women it goes away easily within a few weeks. There is no reason to suffer in silence with this kind of depression. Talk to your doctor, seek help, and know that you are facing what millions of other mothers have also faced.