At Home With Malo. Muse Tanae Prev:
Often referred to as "the baby blues", postpartum depression even until today, has been one of those difficult conversations for mothers.
Did you know 1 in 7 Australian women will experience postpartum depression every year?
Recently we came across a beautiful post on conversations with friends about postpartum depression from an Australian mummy influencer TANAE PREV (@amamasrhythm and a mental health awareness ambassador) who bravely opened up about her experience and learnings when first confronted with the discussion of postpartum depression with other mums.
We speak with Tanae as she shares her thoughts on motherhood, postpartum anxiety and conversations about postpartum depression. We are privileged to share this story with you, and if you haven't already, please head over to Tanae's socials (@amamasrhythm) for a visual feast of life with her gorgeous little son Dejan.
A little bit about you?
I'm a first time mum to my son, Dejan. Finding my way though the first year of motherhood has been challenging at times, while navigating postpartum anxiety, the blues and birth trauma.
I'm learning to overcome the fear of judgement to enable me to share my postpartum journey, both mental and physical.
What did you think about PPD before you knew more about it?
The times i had heard of PPD as a teen, it had a stigma attached to it, with stories you'd only hear of in the news. As I came to know mothers who were suffering from PPD themselves, it was still taboo an they were fearful of seeking help due to that same stigma. At the time when I knew little about PPD, I quietly judged and even worried about a little when the intrusive thoughts of those suffering from it.
"The first time someone opened up to me about their postpartum depression, I was young, completely oblivious and thought they were going a little coocoo. By the second time I spoke to another mum who experienced the same feelings, I was much better equipped to be on the receiving end of the conversation because of the first woman who bared my confused and judgemental eyes."
Did you ever fear PPD when you were pregnant?
By the time I was pregnant I had much more knowledge about postpartum hormones and was thankfully living in a time where, I believe, PPD had become more normalised. My views on PPD had completely changed however, I still naively believed I was exempt from feeling anything other than love and pure joy. I of course still felt all those beautiful emotions but was blindsided with sadness and a feeling I could only describe as empty."It’s so important to hear about everyone’s experiences, from all different women. PPD does not discriminate. It is not agist, it doesn’t care if you’ve been trying for a year or had an unplanned miracle, if you’re on your fourth child or had a textbook birth".
Any final thoughts that you wanted to share, on PPD or motherhood?
There will be a lot of outside noise, by way of judgement or advice (warranted or unwarranted), take only what you need from them and leave the rest. In the harder times, know that there have been many others to walk that same path before you, and there will be many others after you. Reach out and find those people so you can speak about it with those who understand. Trust yourself and take care of yourself as you do your little bundle of joy and enjoy the beautiful whirlwind of a journey that is motherhood.
Original quote from Tanae's Instagram Post -
"The first time someone opened up to me about their postpartum depression, I was young, completely oblivious and thought they were going a little coocoo. By the second time I spoke to another mum who experienced the same feelings, I was much better equipped to be on the receiving end of the conversation because of the first woman who bared my confused and judgemental eyes.
It’s so important to hear about everyone’s experiences, from all different women. PPD does not discriminate. It is not agist, it doesn’t care if you’ve been trying for a year or had an unplanned miracle, if you’re on your fourth child or had a textbook birth.
When you’re open about your experiences, you’re giving someone knowledge. They might not need it now, or ever, but perhaps they could pass it on, or just have a better understanding to be there for someone else.
It’s so hard to be alone in your thoughts. Thinking you’re the only one. You are not. You never are"- TANAE PREV (@amamasrhythm)
