how i did it
battling postpartum depression
The Vincents: Morgan, Jill and Jason
by jen schneider
N
ew parents describe the first moments after the birth of their child as pure euphoria and love. But for many mothers, that happiness is replaced by fear, anxiety and depression. Omahan Jill Vincent, 35, was one of those mothers when Morgan Rose Vincent was born on September 20, 2007. Jill’s friends and family and especially her husband,
Jason, were ecstatic. “Everyone kept congratulating us, but I knew something was not right. I felt distanced from her, like I was a spectator,” said Jill, an education specialist who works with kids who have behavioral and emotional disorders. At first, she attributed her feelings to a lack of sleep and common new mom anxiety. But a few days after arriving home from the hospital, Jill realized that her problem was much bigger. “I was standing in the backyard – alone – watching a bird,” she said. “The bird just flitted about, hopping from the fence to the yard, to a tree, to a bush. The bird had no constraints, and I was jealous ... of a bird!”
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At that moment, Jill decided that she wanted out. Driving away from her husband, child, home and responsibilities seemed to be the only option. She went where many women go when they are faced with fear: Her mother’s house. Jill spent the next few days with her mom, who took her to a doctor. After being diagnosed with postpartum depression, Jill began the recovery process through counseling, medication and a strong familial support system. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, postpartum depression affects 10 to 15 percent of new mothers. It is more serious than the common “baby blues” that many new moms experience in the first two weeks after giving birth. Baby blues are due to hormonal and physical
Jen Schneider is married with a daughter and stepson. She is a full-time middle school teacher who maintains a personal blog titled, “Liv, Laugh, Love.”
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changes, as well as the responsibilities that go with caring for a newborn. The symptoms for postpartum depression can include prolonged sadness, sleep problems, the inability or lack of desire to take care of an infant and hopelessness. Postpartum depression takes time to get over. For some, like Jill, medication can help. Counseling can also play a pivotal role in recovery. “It was six months before I thought, ‘Hey, I’m doing OK,’” Jill admitted. Today, she finds joy in Morgan, now 5. “It’s truly amazing to watch your child become a person with a personality, and boy does my daughter have one!”
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