Books Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression
Digital Life Brooke Shields Average Rating:

Rating: - Baby Blues No Small Matter
This is a book I now keep in mind for my soon-to-be new mom friends just in case, that along with the numbers of womens' clinics at various hospitals and health centers that treat post-partum depression.

Baby blues are often a serious consequence of becoming pregnant and having a child given the hormonal fluctuations rampant in one's body. They usually occur within two to three weeks of birth. Postpartum depression, like Brooke had, is more serious than the baby blues, and it starts at any time during the first year after the birth.

The new mothers I've known have varying degrees of personal stories on this subject. Some never had it, others had a mild case of the baby blues for a few days, and others were plagued by postpartum depression. Postpartum depression often responds well to treatment--medications or/and therapy. Nonetheless, it was very courageous of Shields to share her account of the aftermath of post-partum. When treatment requires drugs it is a very personal and serious decision for any woman. While some cases can be healed with minimal or in a drug-free manner there are those times when it is legitimate and necessary to alleviate the impact of sometimes radical hormonal fluctuations with prescription to return to a more peaceful state of emotional health. Social support and adjunct assistance is also beneficial during such trying times. Nonetheless, in the wake of criticism one must look at what line of defense is best for the person. It appears that Shields was working to get better and though drugs may not be a permanent solution, in an ethical context with proper medical supervision, can help ease the troubled emotional waters while a woman re-established her psychological equilibrium. A must for the fathers and other family and friends as well as the new mother.

Another good book, for moms, families and even their doctors is Beyond the Blues, Bennett & Indman. It's short and concise and thorough all at once.

---

Rating: - A must read for new mothers
This book actually helped me put into words what I was experiencing with postpartum depression.
I had read all the pregnancy books and all the baby books. I thought I was ready for motherhood.
The candor and tone of the book made me feel that she is a real woman. She did not pretty it up or speak down to the reader.
I will be giving this to my pregnant friends in the future.

---

Rating: - Unflinchingly Honest
I had mixed feelings about this book. I admire Brooke Shields for writing it. Yes, she has a lot of advantages most women who suffer PPD don't. But the feelings she describes are valid. She doesn't flinch from discussing thoughts of suicide or her visions of seeing her baby injured. These are shameful feelings for anyone and when you are in the public eye admitting you have had them is inviting an attack. I think it was a brave thing to do.

That said, this book is more of a personal story and doesn't really provide solutions that are realistic for the average woman. It probably would help a great deal for women with PPD to have in-home help, but it's not an option for most. A lot of women don't have the option to choose to bring their baby to work, or even to choose if they want to return to work. Brooke was lucky to have these choices and to have a supportive husband and family. However, no one should beat themselves up for being depressed even if other people think they "have it all."

I did find the language in this book somewhat simplistic. It was not the best-written book I've ever read. The tone was conversational, which is an asset, but there were times were the book felt "dumbed-down" or as if it needed an editor to fine tune some of the word choices and information. There are some touching moments Brooke describes with her daughter and I'm sure she and her daughter will be glad those memories have been recorded in years to come. It made me wish I'd kept more of a journal when my son was a baby.

I found it to be a very quick read, (I finished it in a couple days) which I also consider an asset. I know after my son was born my attention span was quite short and I found I couldn't focus on the more literary type of books I normally liked to read. So something with this simple writing style would have been quite welcome.

Certainly this is a valuable book and while not perfect it contributes something positive to the struggle against PPD. I would recommend it to women suffering from PPD, husbands/partners of these women, and women who are expecting and want to be prepared in case they discover they do suffer from PPD after their babies are born.

---

Rating: - Please be careful Brooke!
This is a wonderful book, aimed at helping the struggling new mom with the all-too-often misunderstood Post-Partum Depression symptoms. While I am thrilled that such a renowned star is willing to share her story for the benefit of others, I urge Brooke Shields to re-consider a comment she made recently. She indicated that while she KNOWS now that Post-Partum Depression is real and requires treatment of both medicinal and therapy support,...she does NOT believe that ADHD exists nor that it requires the same level of support. It is essential that such public figures realize that what they HAVE experienced is not the ONLY form of reality. Thousands suffer with ADHD in ways that interfere with their livlihood, schooling, relationships and self-esteem issues. Studies have shown this challenge to be as REAL and as DEBILITATING as Post Partum Depression. So please,Brooke...don't deny the realities of OTHER maladies, simply because you haven't experienced them. You of all people should realize how frustrating it is to have your challenges blown off by others. Your "voice" is heard loudly. Your message must be correct. Thank you!