As a new mom, postpartum depression made the most wonderful time of my life also the worst

USA Today

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I became a mother for the first time in January 1999. I often call the months that followed the most wonderful, awful time of my life. It was emotionally and physically overwhelming. The love I felt for my baby was unsurpassed, but equally strong were the feelings of sadness and isolation. I struggled to breastfeed to the point that my nipples actually bled. Everything was so hard, breastfeeding, lack of sleep, communication and connecting with my husband, saying goodbye to life as I knew it.

I cried and my baby cried endlessly. I rocked him day after day, hour after hour thinking that someone has got to tell women how hard new parenthood can be and then help them.