Mum-of-two Chrissy Teigen admits she’s waiting for PND to strike again
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s baby boy Miles is now three-months-old, and the mum-of-two is feeling a little unnerved because this is the very same point her first bout of postnatal depression kicked in.
“You just don’t know what’s gonna happen”
You may know that Chrissy and John have just returned from an extended family holiday to Bali with new baby Miles and 2-year-old daughter Luna? The Lip Sync Battle host says she’s now in fine form but holding her breath – hoping that she’ll bypass PND a second time.
“That’s what I’m still wondering now, honestly,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. “I’m three months out with Miles. And when I hit that point with Luna, it was at this time [that PND symptoms began]. Around three months.”
While for some women, PND begins in the days and weeks shortly after birth, for some women it can manifest a little later. Chrissy wants other mums to know PND onset can sometimes be delayed, so they can recognise the signs and seek support as quickly as possible.
“I think what people don’t know is that sometimes it takes time to kick in. You just don’t know what’s gonna happen.”
“I do know that I feel better right now,” Chrissy said. “I don’t know what next week is gonna be like. You take it day by day. I feel like at least now if it does happen, I’ll know it upon the first time I feel it.”
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So far, so good
Chrissy says that her first experience of PND after Luna’s birth also helped her settle on a self-care strategy the second time around.
“I used Bali after I found out I had postpartum depression with Luna, to go somewhere and clear my head and try to get well,” she explained.
“This trip, we planned it just thinking that maybe it might happen, so let’s go and let’s see, and not wait until I feel low or down. Let’s get there first and see if it will help. Because at this point you have to try anything to feel better.”
“I feel great this year. We went, we had such a good experience, we had so much fun,” she confirms, relieved.
“I got my diagnosis: postpartum depression and anxiety”
Chrissy’s first experience of PND was an isolating and gruelling one. In an essay for Glamour Magazine, she revealed she stopped leaving the house altogether, as her physical and mental health began to deteriorate. A routine trip to the doctor was the first step towards a diagnosis and eventual recovery.
“Before the holidays I went to my GP for a physical.” Chrissy wrote back then. “I looked at my doctor, and my eyes welled up because I was so tired of being in pain. Of sleeping on the couch. Of waking up throughout the night. Of throwing up. Of taking things out on the wrong people. Of not enjoying life. Of not seeing my friends. Of not having the energy to take my baby for a stroll.”
“My doctor pulled out a book and started listing symptoms. And I was like, ‘Yep, yep, yep.’ I got my diagnosis: postpartum depression and anxiety. (The anxiety explains some of my physical symptoms).”
Anyone navigating mental health issues will know how difficult it is to make sense of the symptoms they are suffering through – and how hard it can be to reach out for support.
Chrissy’s story – while obviously coming from someone who has plenty of resources on hand – is a reminder of how vital it is to seek assistance from a doctor or mental health professional when enduring similar symptoms. And that coming out the other side of PND feeling strong and optimistic is possible, with the required care and support.
If you – or someone you know – are expecting a baby or have recently become a parent, and are finding things super-tough, please get in touch with PANDA. They’re on standby, ready to support mums and dads through difficult times.
