PMAD Stories
The more we share our stories, the more we normalize how common it is to struggle with prenatal and postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum psychosis. When we tell the truth about our own motherhood journey, we give others permission to do the same. We send the message that it’s OK to not be OK – that there is help and hope.
Tell your truth about motherhood
Why is sharing your PMAD story important?
- 1 in 5 new and expecting mothers / birthing parents experience a PMAD
- PMADs are the number 1 complication associated with childbirth
- 80% of all PMAD cases go undetected and undiagnosed
- PMADs are the leading cause of maternal mortality
Let’s change the motherhood conversation by sharing our PMAD truth. We are collecting stories, pictures, videos, songs, drawings, phrases, poems – anything that represents your personal PMAD journey. Together we can create a movement that aims to normalize PMADs – and encourages all perinatal women to be open and honest about the hardest parts of becoming a mother.
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-wasnt-crazy-i-was-just-a-new-mom-having-a-really-hard-time/
I wasn’t crazy. I was just a new mom having a really hard time.
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/in-2015-i-was-informed-i-was-pregnant-in-2016-i-found-out-i-was-pregnant-again-there-was-a-lot-of-anxiety-about-having-another-miscarriage/
There was a lot of anxiety about having another miscarriage.
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-wasnt-prepared-to-feel-the-way-i-did/
I wasn’t prepared to feel the way I did
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/am-i-going-to-feel-like-this-forever/
Am I going to feel like *this* forever?
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-found-it-felt-like-i-knew-nothing/
I found (it felt like) I knew nothing
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/at-the-beginning-it-was-very-hard/
At the beginning it was very hard
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-was-untethered-lost-in-a-deep-fog/
I was untethered, lost in a deep fog
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/this-story-is-30-years-old/
This story is 30 years old
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/the-pandemic-is-hard-on-everyone-in-many-different-ways-2/
It’s as if I’m looking into a dirty mirror
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/the-pandemic-is-hard-on-everyone-in-many-different-ways/
The pandemic is hard on everyone in many different ways
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-cant-do-this-im-a-terrible-mother/
I can’t do this. I’m a terrible mother.
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/only-a-fraction-of-the-hell-i-experienced-postpartum/
Only a fraction of the hell I experienced postpartum
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/drowning-in-plain-sight/
Drowning in plain sight
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/in-2010-i-lived-through-some-of-the-most-desperate-and-challenging-days-of-my-life/
Some of the most desperate and challenging days of my life
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/annonymous-story/
Using music to heal from postpartum depression
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/raising-mothers-it-takes-a-village/
Raising mothers: It takes a village
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/it-was-like-i-was-living-in-a-bad-dream-and-couldnt-wake-up/
It was like I was living in a bad dream and couldn’t wake up.
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/it-was-all-around-me-and-yet-i-was-all-alone-the-intrusive-thoughts-that-is/
It was all around me and yet I was all alone. The intrusive thoughts that is.
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-wanted-to-share-my-story-in-case-it-helps-anyone-feel-less-alone/
I wanted to share my story in case it helps anyone feel less alone.
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-was-happy-he-had-arrived-safely-but/
I was happy he had arrived safely, but…
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/for-kassy/
For Kassy
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/overcoming-perfectionism-in-motherhood/
Overcoming perfectionism in motherhood
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-made-it-through-six-weeks-postpartum-feeling-fine/
I made it through six weeks postpartum feeling fine
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/i-didnt-realize-i-was-dealing-with-postpartum-depression/
I didn’t realize I was dealing with postpartum depression
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/a-poem-about-motherhood-ghosts/
A poem about motherhood: “Ghosts”
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/annonymous-story-3/
Surviving my first year of motherhood
See Story
- https://themotherhoodcenter.com/single-pmad-story/annonymous-story-2/
Using my postpartum depression as a tool for change
See Story