146: When You Don't Know That You Have Postpartum Depression

Mom and Mind

The pressure that new moms feel is tremendous. Sometimes they are working so hard to just get through the day that they don't notice (or don't want to notice) how bad they really feel. They are working so hard to manage everything that they might not notice what's going on for themselves. Such was the postpartum experience of today’s guest, Darcy Sauers. She suffered for a long time without realizing that what she felt was a common experience for most new moms. This is all too common and I know that a lot of us experienced this too. Let’s jump into this conversation about how we can offer better support for new moms!

Darcy Sauers is The Doula Darcy, a postpartum doula offering in-home postpartum doula services to the moms in her local area. She also provides on-demand postpartum doula support for new moms everywhere so moms can get they help they need---when they need it. Darcy co-hosts the Your Birth, Your Worth podcast. She had three babies in four years, and her experiences fueled her decision to quit her advertising job and certify as a postpartum doula so she could help other women have a better experience than she did.

Show Highlights:

• Darcy’s experience with her first pregnancy and postpartum---over 15 years ago
• How she was terrified to take her baby home from the hospital
• The first weeks of motherhood, with difficulties, discomfort, and “going through the motions”
• What she thought about postpartum depression, and why she COULD NOT have it
• A year later, she found herself pregnant again
• How she chalked her feelings up to sleep deprivation or too much sugar
• For her 3rd pregnancy, she thought things would be better since she planned it out and took better care of herself
• How she left her advertising career and pursued being a doula because of her obsession
• How a postpartum doula would’ve changed everything for Darcy
• The mixture of relief and anger at herself for not recognizing the signs of postpartum depression
• How she realized she was constantly trying to convince herself that she was a good mom
• How she constantly fantasized about running away
• The involuntary, intrusive thoughts that horrified her
• How getting a babysitter a few hours a week would have made a huge difference
• The lies we tell ourselves about what it means to be a “good mom”
• How an antidepressant helped her feel better
• How she realized what she went through was common
• Pressures that new moms feel, along with the isolation of not having a “tribe” to help
• How she couldn’t honestly admit her thoughts to herself
• Why Darcy wants people to become educated about the real signs of postpartum depression
• Darcy’s transformation to being a doula and how she helps:
• Supports with hands-on help for new moms
• Talks listens, and answers questions
• Offers on-demand support videos to cover common issues and topics
• The mental health stigma that new moms feel, and how it prevents moms from getting the help they need
• Darcy’s podcast, Your Birth, Your Worth---and how it offers more support for new moms

Resources:

Find Darcy: Facebook The Doula Darcy

Instagram: The Doula Darcy

The Doula darcy

Your Birth Your Worth Podcast