Jenna Dewan has opened up about her struggles with mental health after giving birth, and how she was briefly left on her own when ex-husband Channing Tatum wasn't around.
The actress and dancer's comments made on the Dear Gabby podcast have caused a big reaction as she reflected on her marriage and motherhood.
Dewan was discussing the difficulties she endured alone after giving birth to her first child in 2013.
What did Jenna Dewan say?
In the August 2 episode of Dear Media's podcast Dear Gabby, the Step-Up actress opened up about her first experience with child birth while she was still married to Channing Tatum.
She gave birth to Everly Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum on May 31, 2013 in London while Tatum was there filming in the area.
Dewan said "Chan wasn't available to be with us for the most part. It was me, my doula and Evie all by ourselves traveling at six weeks."
Dewan was required in Vancouver at the time for her own work. "That was really hard because that was long hours. I did have her on set with me constantly. It was just really difficult and I had a lot of postpartum anxiety I would say."
"It was like, I just never stopped. You know, you're up a couple times in the night and then you're working all day. I was breastfeeding, I was pumping, I was without a partner, I mean it was just craziness."
Dewan and Tatum announced they were separating on April 2, 2018 before finalizing their divorce in November 2019.
She's since had a second baby with stage actor Steve Kazee whom she's engaged to. She gave birth to their son Callum Michael Rebel Kazee on March 6, 2020.
What are the dangers of postpartum anxiety?
Dewan made headlines with her comments on the podcast, and the Postnatal Depression Awareness and Support charity (PaNDAS) applauded the celebrity for speaking out.
A spokesperson for the organization told Newsweek: "When people in the public eye speak out about issues like this it helps so many others feel less alone.
"It shines a light on issues many may not even know exist and helps provide them with the courage they need to get the right support and advice. Many people may not know that what they are going through is a recognized condition, but when celebrities speak out it often provides that light bulb moment of 'Ah, so THAT is what I'm experiencing.'"
The charity recognizes more conditions than just postnatal depression, highlighting conditions such as prenatal depression, perinatal mental health, anxiety and birth trauma.
"Postpartum anxiety can present itself in the first year of having a baby and beyond. There are many different potential symptoms and can affect you both mentally and physically. The strongest symptom is usually a constant feeling of being worried, anxious and on the edge." PaNDAS said.
There are many ways to help deal with postpartum anxiety including talking therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. PaNDAS recommend talking your options through with your doctor to decide on the best course of action for you.
For further help and support, head to https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/ to find out more.
