Danielle Haines is a mid-30's-year-old from Arizona and is pregnant for the first time. She is enjoying the pregnancy, which ends in the home birth of her little son Ocean. She is beside herself with joy, having survived the birth. But she doesn't realize that the next hurdle is right in front of her. Danielle develops postpartum depression, also known as "Baby Blues." When her sister Sarah visits her 3 days after the birth, she takes this picture. She posts it on Facebook with the following caption:
"This is a picture of me 3 days postpartum. I was so raw and so open, I was a fucking mess. I loved my baby, I missed his daddy (he went back to work that day), I was mad at my mom, my heart hurt for my brother because my mom left us and now I had a little boy that looked like him, my nipples were cracked and bleeding, my milk was almost in, my baby was getting really hungry, I was feeling sad that people kill babies, like on purpose, I had not slept since I went into labor, I didn't know how to put my boobs away, my vagina was sore from sitting on it while nursing constantly, I was kinda loosing my mind. Katie came over and feed me the morning this picture was taken. She might have even stopped over to feed me lunch. Then one of my 7 sisters came that evening to bring the family dinner, Sarah. Sarah took this picture of me. She walked in with food and said, "Hi! How are you!?" I said, "I'm a mess."
We talked, she listened, she said, "I've been right where you are." It helped to know she went crazy once too!!! Then she said, "I know this might sound crazy but do you have a camera? You look so raw and so beautiful." I'm so glad she took this picture. She was just planning to drop off food. She ended up staying for much longer. I needed her. She knew it. I called Rachel, I needed her. I needed her to nurse my baby, I needed more help with his latch. I called Shell. I needed her to tell me my baby was ok. This is real PP mamas. Those of you who have done it before....will you share what your immediate PP felt like?
I had a magical Postpartum. It wasn't easy but I was so supported and fed and reminded that the mothers before me had been through this part of motherhood, and that I'd get through it just fine too."
With these passionate and rousing words, Danielle expresses a desperation and uncertainty that affects many mothers after their birth. Her honest and unadorned words have moved many mothers and speak directly to their souls. That is why Danielle's post has already been shared over 20,000 times, many comments giving the stricken mother consolation.
In the meantime, Danielle is happy again. She has conquered her Baby Blues and now is enjoying her life with her little son Ocean to the fullest.
If you also want to bring attention to this important topic and spread awareness of this serious problem, then share this article with everyone you know and show other mothers, who suffer from this form of depression, that they are not alone.
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