Mum shares important post about her postpartum depression

"That's what PPD looked like for me..."

A new mum has taken to Facebook to share her experience of postpartum depression (PPD). Tova Leigh uses her page 'My thoughts about stuff' to share her experiences about motherhood regularly, but this month she shared what was arguably her most thought-provoking post yet. In it, she detailed the signs of PPD as they appeared for her. She said:

"I was that mom who sat next to her baby's cot for hours while she slept just to make sure they were still breathing. Mike begged me to go to sleep and the only way he got me to agree was by promising to watch over her while I slept. I kept waking to make sure he was still there, sitting by her cot, watching her asleep. I would open my eyes, see him and fall back into a haze of weird dreams about losing her or forgetting something really important. Eventually, she would wake for a feed and I would feel relieved that I don't have to fake sleep anymore and that I could go back to watching over her, because of course in my mind no one apart from me was able to do it properly. She would feed and go back to sleep and I would stay awake. I remember sitting there, shattered and broken and utterly exhausted but I just couldn't let go. The fear that something might happen to her, and the overwhelming love I felt made me completely crazy and although I knew I was being ridiculous - I just couldn't help myself. It felt like I was slowly losing my mind. Like everything was foggy and unreal. I felt alone and desperate and I didn't know what was wrong with me. But mainly, I didn't realize I needed help. That's what PPD looked like for me for the first three months after giving birth to my first baby. The reason I am telling you this is because I want you to know the signs. I want you to know that for each woman, they may look different. I want you to look out for them, and look after the new momas, because they may need your help more than you think. And ladies - please reach out and tell someone if you are suffering. There is no shame in asking for help. You are not alone ♡"

The post received almost 3,000 likes and over 200 comments, with people sharing their own experiences of PPD and how it affected them. According to the HSE, the most common signs that a new mum is suffering are

• Low moods
• Crying
• Panic attacks and anxiety
• Inability to sleep
• Lack of motivation
• Headaches
• and a reduced sex drive

Although PPD affects every woman differently, it is important to recognise the signs when they occur and seek help if needed. Feature image via Facebook.