Even seemingly perfect, Gwyneth Paltrow, has felt less than adequate as a mother.
Speaking on the TV show, The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet, Gwyneth described the postpartum depression she felt after giving birth to her son Moses, and the stark difference it was from her first experience with daughter, Apple.
“I couldn’t connect with my son the way that I had with my daughter and I couldn’t understand why. I couldn’t connect to anyone. I felt like a zombie. I felt very detached. I just didn’t know what was wrong with me. I couldn’t figure it out. It never occurred to me.”
She said it took her husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, to introduce her to the idea that she might be suffering from postpartum depression.
“My husband actually said, ‘Something’s wrong. I think you have postnatal depression.’ I was mortified. ‘No I don’t!’ And then I started researching what it was and the symptoms and I was like, ‘Oh, yes I do’.”
Gwyneth goes on to explain that she felt disappointment and shame in herself at first but soon realized that the depression didn’t mean she was a bad mother. She says that’s a good lesson for mothers out there who are trying to do it all.
“I never understand why mothers judge other mothers, like, ‘What do you mean you didn’t breastfeed? What do you mean you didn’t do this?’ It’s like, ‘Can’t we all just be on each other’s side?’ It’s so hard anyway. Can’t we all help each other get through it?”
Have you ever experienced postpartum depression? Tell us about some ways you learned to cope.
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