Halle Bailey Opens up About Postpartum Depression After Controversial Pregnancy

Halle Bailey is taking about her grueling pregnancy months after she welcomed her firstborn, Halo. Apart from being heavily criticized for hiding her pregnancy, the "Angel" singer reveals that she has experienced postpartum depression.

Halle Bailey Reveals She Had Postpartum Depression

In a video that she posted on Snapchat, Bailey revealed that she suffered from postpartum depression.

"I have severe, severe postpartum [depression], and I don't know if any new moms can relate, but it's to the point where it's really bad, and it's hard for me to be separated from my baby for more than 30 minutes at a time before I start to kind of freak out," she confirmed.

According to The Mayo Clinic, most new mothers experience postpartum "baby blues" after childbirth. This includes mood swings, anxiety, crying spells, and even difficulty sleeping. However, a more severe condition is called postpartum depression, which is characterized by a long-lasting form of depression.

Some of the listed symptoms of it are difficulty bonding with one's baby, insomnia, withdrawal, feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy, and in worse cases, recurring thoughts of death or suicide, or even thoughts of harming one's baby.

"Halo is a miracle. He is perfect. He is beautiful. When I look at him, I cry because of how special he is. The only thing that's been hard for me is feeling normal in my own body," Bailey added. "Before I had a child and I would hear people talk about postpartum, it would kind of just go in one ear and out the other. I didn't realize how serious of a thing it actually was," Bailey shared. "Now going through it, it almost feels like you're swimming in this ocean that's like the biggest waves you've ever felt and you're trying not to drown. And you're trying to come up for air."

Halle Bailey Explains Why She Hid Her Pregnancy

When Bailey was honored at the Essence, Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, she talked about the criticisms she received when she posted photos and videos she took during her secret pregnancy. Still, she remains upfront with her unfiltered thoughts about why she decided to hide it. (via USA Today)

"With the state of the world, and men trying to force their will on women's bodies, no one on social media was going to tell me what to share," she added. "Remember when Zion David Marley, who came from a queen named Lauryn Hill, entered the world? Do you remember how private Beyoncé was about her pregnancy? Every woman in the world has the right to choose what to do with their bodies."

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