US actress Hayden Panettiere has opened up about what life has been like for her since becoming a first-time mum nine months ago.
The 26-year-old, who gave birth to daughter Kaya in December, spoke candidly about postnatal depression when she appeared on American talk show
Live! with Kelly and Michael, on Monday
.
"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 realise 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.
"There’s a lot of misunderstanding. There’s a lot of people out there that think that it’s not real, that it’s not true, that it’s something that’s made up in their minds, that 'Oh, it’s hormones." She continues, "They brush it off. It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable. It’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support."
We couldn't agree more.
Sending an inspirational message to other mums, the actress said, "Women are amazing. We do something that no man can do on this planet. I mean, we grow a human being in our body!"
You can read one of the HerFamily.ie team's personal story about postnatal depression,
here.
