When I was pregnant, I experienced multiple mums unpacking their relief about having dodged postpartum depression. It was occasionally boastful — as though to say, "Yeah, I have no idea what that's about." I so badly wanted to be one of those women, and was confident I would be because my pregnancy had progressed so smoothly. But about a month or so after giving birth, I realised I had postpartum depression.
My doctor determined that, like many women, my hormones plummeted swiftly after giving birth, and my emotional state was exacerbated by a person in my life who said and did things that made me feel extremely icky and uncomfortable — especially while fumbling through newfound motherhood. The beautiful news is that I was able to quickly get back on track and I've since learned that those trying weeks of anxiety, disorientation, and gloom were absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. If you encounter postpartum depression, do not entertain the thought that your body has failed you. You are far from alone, and help is readily available.