“I haven’t been feeling like myself lately. Sleepless nights are getting the best of me,” Andi Eigenmann confesses. Image: Instagram/@cocoonstudioph
Andi Eigenmann sought advice on social media on her struggle with postpartum depression, admitting that it was not an aspect of motherhood that she prepared for.
The actress said on Instagram that she had been preparing herself for how she would look after giving birth that she missed out on learning more about postpartum depression. She and boyfriend Philmar Alipayo welcomed her second child Lilo on July 23.
“What I didn’t realize is that there are also other aspects of being a new mom (again) that I may have needed to prepare my mind for as well,” she said. “I neglected the part where emotional healing might be necessary too.”
She described her experience thus far with postpartum depression. “I haven’t been feeling like myself lately. Sleepless nights are getting the best of me. When the others are asleep I’d shed tears I’d normally save for my acting performances on TV show finales (lol).”
“I’ve been having so many thoughts of guilt. I’ve been questioning every decision I’ve made that led me here,” she revealed.
She said despite her lack of knowledge on her condition, she hoped that talking about it would help. “Just hoping that the fact that I’m aware of other moms going through this, and that I am acknowledging what this feeling may be, will hopefully be helpful.”
A mom of two, one Denisse Ivonne (@_denisseivonne) assured her it was just a phase. She expressed her frustration on not being able to take pills because she would not be able to breastfeed. “You have to allow yourself to feel it in order to let go of it,” she said. “But always remember to never ever hurt your baby.”
One Maria Isabel Abadilla (@sabywabyy) said it took her a month before she was able to feel like herself again. She said she struggled because it was an unplanned pregnancy and that she felt guilty about the what ifs, However, alongside the guilt, she urged Eigenmann to make time for self-care. “You must make time and make room for yourself, however you deem it necessary.”
A mom blogger, @momseaph, suggested learning more about matrescence, the transition or process into becoming a mother. The term was popularized by psychiatrist Alexandra Sacks, who said in a 2018 blog post that the conflicting feelings of motherhood can be confused for postpartum depression. Eigenmann replied that she would check it out.
After her outpouring on social media, she posted on her Instagram Stories that she received 92 comments in an hour. “Postpartum depression IS real,” she said, and thanked supporters for their advice. /ra
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