The phantom of postpartum depression can come at any time and no matter how safe a woman feels.
Second part
In 2016 Paulina López felt at the best moment of her personal and professional life; a stable marriage, two daughters and the creation of their Super Mom podcast after having experienced postpartum depression with their first daughter.
The restaurant La Guelaguetza, of which she is a member, worked great and her social life felt it was spectacular.
However, at the end of that year he received the news that he was pregnant for the third time and was shocked.
“I thought, I can't, I don't have time. I have many things to do, ”the businesswoman recalled.
After digesting the news, she and her husband Ramiro Velázquez gladly accepted the arrival of their third baby.
Paulina, of Oaxaca origin, felt "invincible." He felt so good about his physical, emotional and mental well-being that he not only decided to continue working until the last days of pregnancy, but also decided to paint his hair purple; even, on one occasion he signed up for an event to walk on fire and did endless activities.
The birth of her third baby, like the second, was very fast. This one was even better because the baby, Zixta, was born at home accompanied by a doula — a woman who offers emotional and moral support to the pregnant women — and a midwife.
“It was very fast, in the room with candles. It was the same pain I experienced in my first birth, but this time with more calm, ”said Paulina.
Paulina López faced postpartum depression twice. (Summed up)
Your executioner returns
Paulina's happiness for her third baby was indescribable, she says, but very short since two days after the birth of her third daughter she faced what she never imagined would come back, postpartum depression.
“I stopped from my bed and, it's hard to explain, but I felt how I got out of myself. The brightness of my eyes disappeared, ”Paulina said. “I didn't want to go out again, I didn't want to do anything and it was much harder because as I already felt very sure of myself (emotionally), but suddenly I fell again. At that time I did not know what to do. I had already stopped going to therapies because I thought it was fine. ”
Once again, sadness began to take hold of her for much of the time and at any time. Remember that one day while driving your car with your baby in the back seat, in a red light and without knowing how it happened, you suddenly had a suicidal thought.
“I thought,‘ and if he accelerated and I die, will anyone care for me? ’, He wondered that this postpartum depression was worse since it was accompanied by anxiety, nightmares and fatalistic thoughts.
It was at that time that he recalled that he had the card of a representative of Maternal Mental Health Now, an organization that advocates for the prevention, detection and treatment of prenatal and postpartum depression in women in Los Angeles County. Fortunately, the representative had been in an interview for the podcast recently with Paulina and talking with her was not very difficult.
“I called her and she told me to go see her at that moment. I arrived with her and cried so much, ”said Paulina. "She told me,‘ I'm going to help you. " It became a replacement for my therapist. ”
It is estimated that in Los Angeles every year around 130,000 women give birth of which approximately 20% suffer from some form of depression, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
It has also been found that the socioeconomic level has a lot to do with the disease, since depression levels increase in low-income women, but according to studies, only one woman in four people who suffer from this disease is treated.
Although the exact reason why a woman faces postpartum depression is unknown, some triggers include previous depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or other mental illness in the family. Postpartum depression can also occur in women after previous or previous or current pregnancy loss.
Discouragement, sadness and depression or melancholy during pregnancy are some of the most significant indicators of postpartum depression.
Experts recommend that women who feel changes and / or may have unusual tendencies seek help.
Paulina acknowledges that it was the help she received from Maternal Mental Health Now that has helped her get ahead. But above all, he feels that his experience has helped his family to accept that taking therapy is a good thing.
“Now we all take therapy. My parents understand it more and support me, ”said the successful businesswoman. “For my part I take my therapy, I go to church, read the bible, meditate and talk to God.
Paulina recognizes that it is vital that anyone who does not feel well seek help since stress, living alone in this country, or the speed of everyday life can be triggers for health.
“There are people who get up every day with the light halfway and that is not right. They need to take care of themselves because if they don't they can't help other people, ”Paulina said.
To find affordable therapists visit: https://sccc-la.org/get-help/
First part: Depression postpartum, a topic of which all woman should talk
