Baby blues

Any mom who says she never gets depressed is lying.

The unrealistic expectation that being a good mom means living in constant bliss while strolling through a flowery meadow with your baby is simply unattainable. That leaves many moms, including myself, ashamed to admit they have down days.

But we all do.

Not all of it rises to the level of postpartum depression, but even the blues can be painful if left to fester. I’ve fought my own husband’s suggestion that I should see a counselor to battle my baby blues because I don’t want to admit I can’t do this on my own — that I need some help.

A recent study is making me rethink my opposition to “getting help.” The study found that dads can get postpartum depression, too, and that depressed parents are less likely to read, tell stories and sing songs to their infants. Children with depressed parents even have a smaller vocabulary by age 2.

Yikes.

Looks like it’s not just a matter of putting on a smile and thinking I’m the only one suffering. I guess the real question is, if I’m willing to give everything up for my daughter, doesn’t that include my pride?

Have you ever struggled with post-baby blues? How did you handle it?

Check out the study:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=89301