postpartum depression

As mothers we have to look out for each other. elle619 posted this reminder in our Mommy Club group in the LilSugar Community.

Last year my sister in law Kelly Abraham Martinez passed away due to severe PPD. My hope is to spread the word to all expecting and new mothers. Please take the time to speak to your healthcare professional about early detection. If you are suffering from PPD, you are not alone. Let’s make sure the women in our lives are educated and erase the stigma of PPD.

To see the warning signs for PPD, click here. And start asking questions and sharing your advice and tips in The Mommy Club!

Gwyneth Paltrow may play the Country Strong role, but offscreen she's a strong woman. Still, the accomplished actress, mother, author, daughter, and wife says she hasn't recovered from the death of her dad. In an interview for Good Housekeeping's February issue, the 38-year-old was candid about her feelings for her father, Bruce Paltrow, who died in 2002. She said, "He died eight years ago, but it's like it just happened. They say losing someone gets easier with time. I don't think that's true."

The 38-year-old mom of two has long talked openly about her battle with postpartum depression following the birth of her son Moses in 2006. She said she attributes some of those emotions to "fear of loving a little boy as much as I loved my dad and more."

The lack of me time can take its toll on a mother. One woman who's "been there and done that" came up with Up Up Creative's feel good lists ($16) that include everything a new mother needs to put her back on track.

Julie Green was "deep in the throes of postpartum depression" when she made a list of everything she thought would make her feel better. From daily showers and walks outside to weekly knitting and baking sessions, her final list included boxes she should check off to ensure she was working her way to recovery. She is now offering a similar service to other women combating the condition. Fill out her form with things that make you happy and she will email you a checklist that can be printed out as often as needed. Think of it as one mom's way of making a difference.

An inspiration to many mothers who suffer from postpartum depression, superstar mama Brooke Shields continues to give hope to new moms through her raw and honest revelations. A spokesperson for the debilitating disease and depression, she recently spoke at the Hope for Depression Research Foundation in Manhattan where she recalled a harrowing moment in her life. She said:

I finally had a healthy beautiful baby girl and I couldn't look at her... I couldn't hold her and I couldn't sing to her and I couldn't smile at her... All I wanted to do was disappear and die... That was the week I almost did not resist driving my car straight into a wall on the side of the freeway... My baby was in the back seat and that even pissed me off because I thought she's even ruining this for me. I just wanted to drive into the wall and my friend stayed on the phone with me and made me safely get home.

It takes guts to talk about those dark moments but her story undoubtedly gives hope to many women who are having similar experiences. If you care to share, tell us what your toughest postpartum moment was.

Feeling overwhelmed by motherhood? Join our A Place to Vent group over in our LilSugar Community and share your plight with other moms who understand.

The list of actresses who've overcome postpartum depression and are willing to share their experience continues to grow. We had the opportunity to speak with Angie Harmon about motherhood and her love of outdoor playspaces for kids yesterday at an event celebrating Huggies' new Little Movers Diapers. The actress, who teamed up with the nappy giant to raise money for KaBOOM! – the non-profit that works with local communities to build parks and playgrounds – told us that she suffered from PPD following the births of each of her three daughters with former NFL star Jason Sehorn. She considers the disorder to be the dirty little secret your friends forget to tell you about motherhood.

We also discussed her daughters' upcoming Halloween costumes. Finley, 5, will be Batgirl because she loves the mask and the cape. Avery, 4, will be Strawberry Shortcake because she loves the pink wig and Emery, 9-months old, will be a blossoming flower.

To see our entire video interview with Angie Harmon, including our discussion of her postpartum depression, read more

Thanks to stars like Brooke Shields, Gwyneth Paltrow and Amanda Peet, postpartum depression (PPD) is no longer a dirty little secret. All three of the ladies have been open and honest when disclosing their battles with the disorder following the birth of their children. More than simply the "baby blues," PPD is believed to affect between 15 and 20 percent of all mothers. With that many women experiencing PPD, wouldn't it be nice if we knew what caused it so we could try to prevent it? Some Spanish researchers think they can.

A group of scientists believe they have pinpointed a number of factors that will help identify the potential for a new mama to develop the illness with an 80 percent success rate. According to them, the mother's age and her working status throughout her pregnancy can influence the onset of the disease. Older women and expectant gals who worked were found to have lower instances of depression. The study also found that a family history of psychiatric problems and the existence of specific genes in the brain could predict the onset of PPD.

Would knowing these predictors have been helpful to you or a friend who suffered from postpartum depression?