My Nonprofit Reviews

PSVa saved my life! I was 4 months pregnant when the pandemic hit in March 2020. I felt very lonely and isolated during my pregnancy and didn't know it at the time but I was depressed while pregnant. As you can imagine, my pregnancy didn't go anything like I had planned. My husband couldn't attend the prenatal visits, I didn't have a baby shower, nor did I get to tour the hospital when I wanted to give birth. I delivered 3 weeks early via cesarean due to eclampsia, I was grateful to be able to have my husband in the room but no other family in the days after. My son had jaundice and I recall the moment my depression set it. I was breastfeeding, and the nurses told me I would have to give him formula to help with the bilirubin. I immediately felt worthless. The next 3 months were miserable. I cried every day. Literally every day for 3 months. I couldn't understand why I wasn't happy. New life, without the help of family or friends was horrendous. I was angry and resentful with my husband who was able to return back to work and have some "freedom" away from the baby. I couldn't stop my brain from racing on all the things I had to do. My postpartum depression and anxiety took a tremendous toll on me and I had suicidal thoughts and a plan. Gratefully I spoke to my therapist about it my plan and she and my husband jumped into action. I was given medicaiton to help me sleep and help my mood, but I was leary about taking it since I was breastfeeding.

I recall getting on the support group call for women of color with PSVa and just sobbing. I was telling the ladies about my experience as I mentioned above and they reassured me how the medicine would help, how the dosage was safe for my breastfeeding son (which I felt like at the time was the only thing I had done right and didn't want him on formula). I finally felt seen and heard!!! I joined the calls weekly and as my mental and physical health improved, I found myself joining the calls to encourage other moms. I'm FOREVER grateful for the ladies who led the support group because their reassuring voices were the voices I needed to hear telling me I was doing everything right and helped me advocate for myself and my needs. Being on the support group calls and being able to ask questions and get resources was amazing! One of the best things about finding this group was that I live in MD and although the group is based in VA they welcomed ALL MOMs/Perinatal/Postnatal people, from all over and they accepted me, messy bun, leaky-breast, spit-up shirt, crying baby and ALL. PSVa was My safe space. My village. When I truly needed it the most.