Postpartum depression is real, and in some cases it can be severe and even dangerous. Mothers who are struggling deserve compassion, support, and proper care. But what happens when a normal, difficult transition into motherhood increasingly becomes viewed through the lens of pathology?

In this episode, I explore the rise of postpartum depression as a cultural phenomenon, the expansion of screening and diagnosis, and whether we are sometimes pathologizing experiences that previous generations understood differently. I also examine the role of feminism, women's media, and modern therapeutic culture in shaping how women anticipate and experience motherhood.

Sponsor: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code HANNAH at https://www.oneskin.co/HANNAH #oneskinpod

Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up 00:14 Motherhood as a Risk State 01:35 The Rise of Postpartum Depression 02:37 From Motherhood to Pathology 03:02 Screening Mothers Everywhere 04:16 The Baby Blues vs Postpartum Depression 05:03 What the Data Actually Shows 06:54 Why Diagnoses Feel Validating 07:49 Anticipating Illness and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies 08:24 How Women's Media Shapes Expectations 08:48 "Women's Magazines Don't Just Report It, They Stage It" 10:03 The Isolation of Modern Mothers 11:47 Does Feminism Really Care About Mothers? 12:35 Final Thoughts