Motherhood: Marvelous & Monstrous

Pregnancy often delivers more than what’s expected. It’s a time of anticipation and wonder, but it can also be a difficult transition for fathers, siblings and mothers. For instance, one in eight women suffer from postpartum depression, the most common mental health complication after childbirth. Yet, there is a range of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Shasta County Women, Infants & Children (WIC) is here to help with family resources, including the following first-person stories told by six brave Shasta County moms. Their honest stories don't sugarcoat motherhood. Instead, they share their hardships -- during and after pregnancy -- and how they found support and joy in motherhood. Click below to read their stories and view video interviews.

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Amber Keegan Amber Keegan: Shrieks in the Night Read More

Amber Poeschel Amber Poeschel: Unplanned Changes

“I battled anxiety and depression my whole life, but postpartum was much different because it wasn’t just affecting me, it was affecting my whole household, which was more of a risk. When you know that your children are being affected, the guilt comes on. I felt like I had no freedom, no identity. I felt very alone and misunderstood. It was very lonely. I just wasn’t happy when I had every reason to be. I wasn't eating and I was getting no sleep, which is normal for moms anyways, but sleep deprivation just makes everything worse.

Amy Ross Amy Ross: Meant for Motherhood

"Growing up, I always wanted to be a mom. When we started trying to have a child, it took us almost a year to get pregnant. We were so excited about it. I am not really like into being pregnant very much, I found out, but it was worth it. When I had Mason, it was this huge transition for me. It is such a unique experience that you can't really describe it. I had all the good stuff, but I was also nervous because I wanted this thing for so long, and he was just so tiny and vulnerable – I was worried he was just going to die.

Elisa Knopf Elisa Knopf: Uncomplicated Pregnancies, Complicated Brain

"I am Elisa Knopf. I am a mother, a wife, a doula, a community organizer and a passionate soul. I have had three pregnancies. They were all uncomplicated, but that did not make it easier during the postpartum phase. Each experience was so hard it rocked me in a way that nothing else has. It was like walking through fire.

Shannon Brown: A Snapshot of Posie During an exhausting cross-country move while caring for her toddler, Shannon didn’t want to seem like she “couldn’t handle” her next pregnancies. Eventually, it became clear that Shannon was experiencing postpartum depression and she needed assistance. She found that help – and developed a community of support for herself, too.
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Stacey Finkle Stacey Finkle: Little Baby, Big Fears Read More

Motherhood: Marvelous & Monstrous

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