Episode 10: Postpartum Depression - the Signs, How to Cope & How to Help Other Mamas with Erin Heger

In today’s show, Episode 10, we are humbled to speak with Erin Heger about her powerful experience with postpartum depression (PPD).   Erin is the mother to nine-month-old Camden and is here to tell her story of going through a difficult time in the months following his birth, in hopes that it will give others going through a similar experience the permission and courage to seek help.  Erin says she enjoyed being pregnant and, though she had a previous miscarriage, she didn’t experience much discomfort and there were no health concerns.  Camden’s birth went as she had hoped and planned. In fact, she was only in the hospital for two hours before he was born. However, due to the accelerated rate of the birth, instead of feeling like a “warrior” or “Goddess” afterwards, she just felt exhausted and broken.  Unfortunately, these feelings didn’t stop once they went home. She felt everyone had lied to her about how great motherhood was.  She convinced herself things would get better, and that Camden would be less difficult, around the 12-week mark but things only got worse.  In a desperate attempt for change, she took Camden to the doctor thinking there was something wrong with him. The doctor immediately recognized it was Erin who needed help.  The diagnosis of PPD left Erin feeling shocked, confused, and ashamed. So much so that she says accepting it was one of the hardest parts of the whole process.   Listen to the show to hear more about her story and to see how you might be able to help another mama in need, or get help yourself. Erin documented her journey on her blog as it was happening and has purposefully left the older posts up so others going through something similar might recognize their own struggles. To read these posts visit Erin’s blog here.  Erin also had an article about her experience published on Romper.com.  Erin has graciously agreed to answer your questions in the Mindful Mama Movement Facebook Group so head on over and ask away.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulMamaMovement/