A First-Time Mom Gets Real About Postpartum Depression

Being nearly 7 months pregnant with my first child, I've found a million and one things to stress about during this journey. Is the baby gaining enough weight? Will my next ultrasound be OK? What the hell is labor going to be like? However, one prevailing concern as I head towards the gestational finish line surrounds the possibility of facing postpartum depression — and I am scared.

Jill Scott spoke about her postpartum struggles during a 2010 interview on Chelsea Lately:

I am going to keep it real gully with you. The first two months, I wanted to give him back. I expected somebody to come and save me because after you have the baby, nobody cares about you anymore.

Nobody cares if you sleep; nobody cares if you eat. It's just you and this all consuming thingy. And he wants all your time and attention and it hurt the first two months. One day as  I was standing by the door and I was considering throwing him out into the pool (sleep deprivation is ugly), at that moment  I looked at him and said, 'ah, I love you. I love you.'

— Via BlackCelebKids.com

As its name suggests, postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that becomes apparent after childbirth. Whether it's your 1st or 5th child, pregnancy and childbirth brings with it a dizzying array of lifestyle changes, hormonal changes, and emotional changes that could leave one susceptible to developing some level of mood change or disorder.

Read the rest over at Uptown Magazine: Uncovering The Fears & Realities Of Postpartum Depression As A First-Time Mom