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Postpartum Depression Update

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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6 Comments

  1. Kalerae

    I’m in awe of my counterparts/friends/family and women/men in the US who don’t have the same maternity leave opportunities that we have in Canada. I feel so fortunate to have had the option to have a year home with both my boys. I took the full 50 weeks with my eldest and well, budgets didn’t allow for me to take a full year with my second, but I still did 9.5 months. We also have the option for the men to take paternity leave….it’s divided into two parts, maternity leave (that only a biological/surrogate mother can take) for 15 weeks and paternal leave (that any parents, biological, adoptive) can take that is 35 weeks. As long as it doesn’t exceed 35 weeks combined, both parents can take some or all the time off. So often times in Canada, if the father is in a job that provides “top-up” on a salary (any gov’t employee is topped up to 93% of their salary while off…lucky bastards) may decide to take the majority of the paternity leave as they would essentially be bringing home the same amount of $$ and get to be home with the baby, thus a less of a financial burden on the household. All that to say is that the time after a baby is born is all over the map, hormonal, scary, new….could I have gone back to work at 12 weeks? Of course. But it was such a blessing to be able to be home for such a long time. Was it financially hard? Yes. You’re basically put on “Unemployment” for the year, so you do get some $$, but it certainly isn’t a lot and won’t pay all the bills, and for some families this isn’t manageable and they need to return to work sooner rather than later. But for those that do take the time, we know our job is secure when we return in a year and that our job and salary is protected while off. Good luck as you transition back to work. It’s a whole new challenge, but once you find your sweet spot and a routine that works for you family, it will start to feel pretty manageable and you’ll just become a super-star at time management.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. I have a few Canadian and Australian friends who have amazing maternity leave options and it’s hard not being jealous. The US is WAY behind the times on this. I think there is something really damaging about going back to work too soon — for mom and baby. I think for mom there is so much healing that happens and you really can’t rush it. And that’s IF you have an easy birth experience. If there is any kind of complication? I can’t even imagine going back to work right after that.

      I don’t know that I need a year off but honestly I think 5 or 6 months is the sweet spot. Time to heal, time to bond, time to figure out breastfeeding! I’m a little upset that JUST as we get this breastfeeding stuff figured out, I have to go back to work and will basically just be pumping 90% of the time I feed Logan. That truly sucks. But what can I do about that?? ๐Ÿ™ Working part time will at least help me continue breastfeeding for a few days a week so I will only be exclusively pumping two days. That helps me mentally get over the “maternity leave is ending” block in my brain.

  2. Liz

    So many things you wrote in this post applied to me. I remember just crying so much. It seemed like any strong emotion would set me off, even just looking at my baby and thinking that she is mine & I made her & I love her so much… And the tears would flow. And breast feeding was soooo hard. I only made it 5 weeks. I got to a point where I felt I was going to resent dong it/having to do it if I continued and I’d already been supplementing and pumping some so I gave it up. It was the best for me. I was also concerned about getting PPD, and luckily did not.

    I am really glad you are able to go back part time for a while. 90 days of that will be great. I took a full 10 weeks post baby off, then went back half time for 4 weeks before returning full time. Having that transition really made a big difference for me. Just the number of hours you get to spend with your baby are decreased so much with work and it is really hard to think about it. So that middle ground made it easier to eventually go back full time. It gets easier, but you always miss your baby. Mine is 3 now and I keep her pic on my desktop and all over my cubes so I can look at her if I miss her or if work is stressing me out.

    You are doing a great job & Logan is adorable ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Aw thanks Liz! I’m glad you could relate. It’s nice to hear other people’s experiences and similar experiences.

      In our childbirth class the teacher said the average woman breastfeeds about 6 weeks and then stops. I was surprised by that stat but once Logan was here and things weren’t going well and it was really hard–I totally got it. I understood why women would switch to formula. I’m thankful that the tongue-tie was an easy fix, even if it took longer than I wanted to get it fixed. ๐Ÿ™

      I hear you on the crying and emotions! When Logan was a week old we watched Jurassic Park. I’ve seen this movie a zillion times. I’ve always thought the kids were annoying and obnoxious (maybe it was the acting, who knows) but this time? I was getting joked up and emotional and kept thinking “oh my god! Those poor babies!!!!” Like really?? Why was I suddenly so emotional about it? Crazy! LOL

  3. km

    Great that your job offers part-time for when you go back to work. That will be a little easier than going back full time. Logan is such a cutie, with a great smile!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I think it will make the transition back tolerable, so I am very grateful for it!

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