Pregnant woman with post-partum depression, psychotic break...

[Laffy Kat]

Drives van with three children into the ocean. Rescuers save the day.

This made my blood run cold. I wasn't sure where to post this but it's very poignant. The most harrowing part starts at about five minutes in.

[Bettie]

1. I feel so sorry for her

when she's back in her right mind, she'll be devastated that she did this.

Post partum is such a hard time and there is so much stigma attached to women who can't just deal immediately, who don't feel immediate joy at motherhood, or who are overwhelmed.

[lpbk2713]

2. She knew she needed professional help.

Link: https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20160722/judge-orders-mom-who-drove-van-into-ocean-off-daytona-committed-again


I hope she's doing better now than she was five years ago.

[Laffy Kat]

4. Unfortunately, she did not comply with the medication orders.

I agree with the judge on this one. If she cannot be trusted to take her meds, she needs to go back into treatment. She finds her situation "stressful" yet her children may never be the same.

Not sure what the circumstances are with her husband. I remember the Andrea Yates case, and how, IMO, the husband with his extreme religious views and denial, was just, if not more, culpable. He divorced her while she was institutionalized and remarried another woman whom he met at their church.

[Karadeniz]

3. This stigma needs to go!

[Laffy Kat]

5. I agree. I suffered just a touch of PPD with my first baby and that was horrible.

It was at its worse at about six-weeks post-partum and that's when my sister's first pregnancy ended in a stillbirth at thirty-seven weeks. She lives across the country from me and I could not go to her, not that I could have helped much. I remember sobbing almost constantly for two weeks straight. I did have support, fortunately, although my ex was pretty worthless. I do not think I could have functioned if I had other children at that time.

[Delmette2.0]

6. I remember crying on my way from work to pick up my two

children at daycare. I'm pretty sure they wanted to ask what was wrong , but they didn't. My husband insisted I go to the doctor. The doctor said I was tired because I was depressed. I replied, Maybe I'm depressed because I'm tired. He shrugged and walked out. That was in the early 1980's. I truly hope things have changed for most women.

[babydollhead]

7. i had PPD. I didn't laugh or smile or cut my hair for 2 years, after 2nd baby in 13 months

it wasn't until i was pregnant the 3rd time, that I felt clear headed and returned to the person who felt alive and glad. So after the baby was born, and the bleak lid of depression started closing in on me, I got help. so scary and sad.

[Laffy Kat]

8. We didn't know about this then!

Or our OBs thought it was "normal" and that we'd snap out of it. Things have changed some but not enough. I'm so glad you got help.