Welcome!

Hello and Welcome to my blog. I am glad that you are here.

I am a mom who has experienced Postpartum Depression/Postpartum Mood Disorder/Perinatal Mental Illness. I now advocate for awareness of, support, and stigma removal.

I entitled my blog "It Takes A Village" in reference to the African proverb that is so commonly known. I feel very strongly that we as a society have set very high standards and expectations of new mothers to take care of their children on their own, without support or help after the first week or so.

I think we have it backwards: New Mom's need respite and support whether they are well or not. We need support and encouragement, and someone to relieve us so that we can get some sleep and time to rejuvienate.


My aim with this blog is to bring awareness to the world, and support to other Moms (and Dads) that are going through this experience. I am passionate about reducing stigma as it creates the barrier that keeps women silent and suffering. I want Moms to feel safe enough to share their story and get the support and help they need to get better.


I encourage you, if you believe you may be experiencing more than the "baby blues" to seek out help. You will not be judged or criticized. The goal of all list here on this blog are to support you and help you heal so that you may live the life you dreamed of with your child.


This blog is a work in progress, please check in often to see more updates and new information!


Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Sunlight Affective Disorder and PMD

Get out in the Sun!  The Glorious Sun! It heals the heart and soul. I had a "winter baby" and so, had the winter blues due to lack of sunlight exposure on top of the postpartum depression. (I think I was a tree or flower in a past life, because I feel I am lost without the sun!)
I have had issues with being sad in the winter before, but not in the two winters before my baby was born. I wondered why, and I figured it out: last year I was outside everyday as a part of my job, and the year before, I went to Vegas and Mexico. (It was a great year for me!)
So, get out! Go for a walk, even when the sun isn't shining. Look for nature paths near your home. The sun plus the exercise will do wonders for your mood!!

Monday, April 5, 2010

A Wonderful Discovery

The waning moon shines brightly through my kitchen window. The sky is dark. My eyes are groggy. It is six in the morning on Good Friday, 2010. I slowly make a bottle for my son and wait for my body to wake up. Before I know it, the sky is light and the moon has faded into the atmosphere. I push the worrisome thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the good in my life.

My journey so far with Postpartum Depression has taken me down many roads; terror, panic, anxiety, appetite loss, sleep deprivation, scary thoughts and bad dreams, gratitude, enlightenment, appreciation and joy. Did I really say joy? Wow! The joy, I just realized, is what I feel when I interact with my son and see total acceptance shine from his little Buddha face. This is a wonderful discovery!
(See "My Postpartum Story for more.)

Saturday, April 3, 2010



7:49pm

I am sitting outside on my front steps. The wind is high and is howling through the trees. Powerful gusts spin around and smack at the trees like a giant would swat at an annoying fly buzzing around his head. This is how my mind feels; like the dizzy wind. Dust is blowing into my eyes and dried leaves from the still sleeping garden spin around my feet. The sky is darkening. My neighbours across the street all just retreated to their houses with shouts of “tornado”--No, just high winds due to the heat hitting the cold so quickly. I call for a thunderstorm and possibly a power-outage.

I just lost Internet connection, so I can’t order my movie if the satellite goes too...I was just searching for the phone cord before I came back out here with my laptop.

So, yes, I am loving this weather. The power of the wind, of nature, reminds me of things bigger than me, than my life, and somehow it soothes me and I feel that everything is going to be OK. The air is fresh. A raindrop falls on my keyboard but I still hesitate to go in. I think of lightening and my laptop but this weather inspires me.

9:08pm

There is dust in my keyboard; I can feel the grit beneath my fingers as I type. I came in after my last paragraph: through my front door, back into my life. My son was still asleep in his car-seat so I took him up to his room. He is 4 months old and it seems like he has been teething for 4 weeks now. He didn’t eat much today at all. Worry is my constant companion…actually I have a group of followers: anxiety, fear, depression, forgetfulness, over-thinking, anger, to name a few. I am inviting hope, faith, trust, optimism, peacefulness into the group- maybe they will annoy the other guests and they will leave me alone. LOL!


I keep my thoughts simple and practice staying in the moment: I want my son to eat when he wakes up, and I want to get more sleep than I did last night when my son woke up 4 times. Right now I am going to enjoy a movie with my husband (he downloaded it just fine and our power is still on) and eat buttery popcorn.

Good Night and Sweet Dreams to All.

(10pm: My son drank a full bottle. Now worry has gone to bed for the night as well. :)