Raise your hand if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I'll wait.
Back already? That was quick.
It seems like gestational diabetes is everywhere these days. If I had to guess I would say at least 50 percent of the pregnant population is diagnosed with the baby sugars. That was until I went to a training in Raleigh, NC last month and was hit with mind blowing facts and now my 50 percent guess seems a wee bit embarrassing. Clearly I was WAY off but other statistics most of us are familiar with are infertility and miscarriage.
Gestational Diabetes occurs in 6% of women. That's 1 in 16.
Infertility occurs in 12% of the population. That's 1 in 8.
Miscarriage occurs in 15-20% of the population. That's 1 in 5.
But there is one statistic that keeps running through my mind and it's just not ok at all.
Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders occur in up to 21% of new moms and it's the # 1 complication of childbirth.
A little louder for the people in the back...
THE NUMBER ONE COMPLICATION OF CHILDBIRTH IS PERINATAL DEPRESSION/ANXIETY/OCD/PTSD.
Y'all! We HAVE to do better than this as a society. We HAVE to change the narrative before the percentage keeps rising. We HAVE to educate every person that will listen and correct the misinformation that is out there. {Postpartum depression is NOT the same as postpartum psychosis, which is extremely rare, by the way. Having intrusive images of your baby accidentally falling off a balcony does NOT mean you want to throw him or her yourself.}
Want more information on where to get help? Click here for starters. Or any of these links below will give you useful information, too.
Just remember: You are not alone. You are a wonderful mom.