Postpartum Depression In Very Real Photo Of Crying Mom Holding Newborn, Symptoms Are Undeniable

Postpartum depression can be seen as very real in a photo that shows a crying mom holding her newborn baby. The symptoms of this disorder are undeniable as the mother is clearly overwhelmed, tired, and wracked with emotion. This image has been shared over 20,000 times on Facebook.

KPHO 5 reports that this everlasting depiction of Danielle Haines, from Phoenix, suffering from postpartum depression sheds light into what many new mothers go through.

Haines is seen holding her 3-day-old baby, Ocean, in an image that has now gone viral. It is sparking conversations about the perils of motherhood that some do not like to address. This mother says she’s a “mess” and explains that she’s being “real” and “honest” about her situation.

Haines reveals that she now sees the beauty of this photo that defines postpartum depression and its symptoms. When this image was shot, however, she was experiencing some distressing emotions.

“I hadn’t really slept since I gave birth. My nipples were cracked and bleeding. My emotions were super open.”

Haines’ friend, Sarah Carter, stopped by to bring her dinner when she shared with her the same challenges that she once faced. It was she who took the photo.

“She just sat down with me lovingly and said, ‘I’ve been right where you’re at, I know what you’re feeling,'” Haines said.

Carter says Haines “looked incredible” and that she had the “new-mom glow, the nervousness, the excitement. There’s so much that comes with it and she embodied that in that moment and she was beautiful to me.”

When it came to looking into the camera, Haines reveals what she was feeling.

“I thought it was pretty crazy, but yeah, why not and maybe one day I would thank her for it.”

For 10 months this photo remained dormant until Haines, studying to be a midwife, posted the picture to a Facebook group of women who are taking the birthing classes that she’s teaching. She was amazed to see that 40 shares had happened within a short amount of time. Before long, it went up to 5,000 shares. By Thursday, the photo had 20,000 Facebook shares.

Postpartum depression notwithstanding, Haines says she felt heard and no longer felt alone.

“Kind of the overwhelming response was thank you for sharing this, I felt very similar or I felt the same. I never felt like I had someone to talk to, I felt very alone, so I think it resonates for a lot of people because we’ve probably all been there.”

Danielle Haines also says she is grateful for the support that she has received for her bout with postpartum depression, encouraging others to reach out to new moms and be there for them, too.

[Photo by Danielle Haines via Facebook]