New motherhood is often portrayed as a blissful time, but for many women, it’s accompanied by a silent struggle: postpartum depression. Bliss Poureetezadi Goytowski, co-host of the “Blind Love” podcast, knows this reality all too well. Even with meticulous readiness, she found herself battling the darkness after welcoming her daughter, Galileo, in April.
Bliss had a history of depression and was determined to be proactive. “before Galileo was born, I thought a lot about postpartum depression,” she shared. “I have a history of depression, so I knew I was at risk.” She and her husband, Zack, educated themselves about the condition, enlisted the support of a doula, and lined up help from family and friends. Bliss even made a conscious effort to avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy, reminding herself that not everyone experiences postpartum depression.
Despite their best efforts,the darkness crept in.”I started struggling almost immediately,” Bliss revealed. “my labour was 42 hours, then I was launched straight into taking care of a newborn. I struggled to breastfeed, and the sleep deprivation just built up.”
The joy of new motherhood was overshadowed by fear, exhaustion, and overwhelming sadness. “I started to fear the night. I struggled to get up in the mornings. I was crying a lot, and wasn’t able to watch anything,” she confided.
Initially hesitant to take medication, Bliss eventually realized it was a necessary step.”I call it a miracle,” she said. “It helped me feel like myself again.”
Bliss’s story is a powerful reminder that postpartum depression can affect anyone, regardless of preparation or support systems. It underscores the importance of open conversations, seeking help, and recognizing that asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Bliss’s experience highlights the importance of destigmatizing mental health challenges during the postpartum period. By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage other mothers to seek help and know they are not alone.
The arrival of a newborn is often painted as a time of pure joy, but for many new mothers, the reality can be far more complex.For one first-time mom, the postpartum period brought an unexpected wave of sadness and emotional numbness that threatened to overshadow the happiness she longed to feel.
“I felt like I was going through the motions,” she recalls.”I could take care of Galileo’s basic needs, but I couldn’t connect with her the way I thought I would. Even simple things like watching a comedy felt overwhelming. Any emotion felt like too much. Worst of all, when I got Galileo out of her bassinet each morning, I knew the smile on my face was fake.”
At her six-week checkup, a questionnaire about mental health revealed the depth of her struggle. “I could see that I was scoring really low,” she remembers.”When my doctor walked in she said, ‘What’s going on?’ She was very open and clear that I needed help. what I was feeling was not normal, though it was common, she said. That was really validating, since as a first-time mom I thought maybe how I was feeling was the norm.”
I hesitated to fill my prescription
Her doctor prescribed an antidepressant safe for breastfeeding, emphasizing its potential to help. “she was very insistent that medication would help me, though ultimately going on medication was up to me,” the new mom explains.
Despite the doctor’s reassurance, she hesitated. “After living without medication for years, going back on felt like a step backward,” she admits. “I tried my usual holistic health approaches, from tea to cold baths to exercise, but nothing worked.”
she realized that her well-being was intertwined with her daughter’s. “That’s when I knew I needed to fill the prescription, for Galileo. My daughter needed me to be present for her. A few weeks later I filled the script.”
For many new mothers, the arrival of a baby is a time of overwhelming joy. But for some, it can also be a period of intense emotional struggle.This was the reality for one woman who, despite her dreams of motherhood, found herself battling postpartum depression.
“About two weeks after that, I bent over Galileo’s bassinet in the morning and felt a genuine smile on my face. I didn’t have to remind myself to smile at her. that’s when I knew things were getting better,” she shared, reflecting on her journey.
It had been a tough few months. The joy she had anticipated was overshadowed by a deep sadness. But with the help of medication, she began to experience the motherhood she had always longed for.
“It’s been a few months, and I’m still on medication. Eventually I would like to wean off, but for now I’m so grateful for the miracle of medicine. it has allowed me to finaly enjoy motherhood in the way I always dreamed of,” she explained.
Now, her daughter Galileo is thriving. “Galileo says ’mama’ now, and rolls across the room to things she wants to see.I can’t wait to show her holiday traditions. Her laughter is the most precious thing in the world, and she is the love of my life. She gives me purpose in a way I didn’t know I needed.”
Motherhood, she realized, had become her identity. “When I was pregnant, I thought motherhood would be a part of who I am, but not everything. Now, I feel like being Mama is my identity. Everything else I do comes from that core — including sharing my story.”
Her message is one of hope and solidarity for other mothers struggling with postpartum depression. “Moms need help, but even the most prepared can still be hit by postpartum depression. I want others to know they’re not alone, and there is hope for treatment. I’m proof of that.”
In a stunning display of athletic prowess, American gymnast Simone Biles has once again etched her name in the annals of history. At the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Biles achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the first woman to successfully land a Yurchenko double pike vault in competition.
“I was just trying to do it for myself,” Biles said after her historic performance. “I’ve been training it for a while now,and I just wanted to see if I could do it in competition.”
The Yurchenko double pike,a vault of remarkable difficulty,involves a round-off onto the springboard,followed by a back handspring onto the vaulting table,two flips in the air,and a blind landing.Biles’s execution was flawless, earning her a score of 16.200 and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
This latest triumph adds to Biles’s already impressive list of accomplishments. She is a seven-time Olympic medalist, including four gold medals, and a record-breaking 25-time World Championship medalist. Her dominance in the sport is undeniable, and her ability to push the boundaries of gymnastics continues to inspire athletes and fans worldwide.
Biles’s historic vault is a testament to her unwavering dedication, exceptional talent, and relentless pursuit of excellence. As she prepares for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, the world eagerly awaits to witness what other groundbreaking feats she will achieve.
