Earlier this week we heard that Nashville star Hayden Panettiere, 26, was seeking treatment for postpartum depression following the birth of her first child. Hayden and her fiance, heavyweight world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in December. Prior to her voluntary hospitalization, Hayden spoke to various outlets about her postpartum depression and the difficulties she faced after giving birth. She told People Magazine a few weeks after she gave birth that she was still recovering and “felt like an 80-year-old woman trying to go down the stairs“* Just prior to seeking treatment, Hayden told Australian outlet TV Week that after she had Kaya “I was moody and sad and had these overwhelming feelings of doom.” She added that Wladimir has been supportive and that “He loves his little girl. He’s a sucker, as all dads usually are!”
Those of us who watch Hayden on Nashville know that her character, Juliette Barnes, is going through a similar struggle in that she suffers from PPD and has been partying to avoid mothering her infant daughter. Sources told People Magazine that parallels between Hayden’s real life and her story arc on the show are coincidental because Juliette’s postnatal depression was planned back when Hayden was pregnant. They also confirm that production for this season of Nashville is ongoing and that they’re working around Hayden’s absence:
A source close to the show tells PEOPLE Barnes’ storyline was “planned and started playing out long before” Panettiere, 26, revealed she was seeking treatment herself.
“The groundwork for the postpartum storyline began way back last season [before Hayden gave birth],” explains the source…
Nashville production is working around Panettiere’s treatment schedule as the show continues filming season 4.
This goes to show that postpartum depression is common and that so many women suffer, often in silence. I give Hayden a lot of credit for going public this personal issue and for admitting that she is seeking treatment. Hopefully she will be in recovery soon. We’ll miss her on Nashville.
*Thanks Sway for the tip.
Most importantly, what does Tom Cruise think of all this?
Even more importantly, the next time he gives birth, he can let us know how he feels afterwards. No uterus, no opinion!
Yeah! Have fun eating the placenta Tom.
Bahahahahaha. Thank you for this great laugh today!
Am so glad she’s getting treatment and wish her well. Its also good to see this being pushed into the open. More people should talk about it.
I completely agree.
I had it after my second child and it took me a long time to overcome it.
Same here. Zoloft saved my life!! Still taking medication 9 years later. My third pregnancy was uneventful, because I stayed on my medication. I wish her the best!!
I love the soapy over the top drama of Nashville. I hope Hayden/Juilette gets well
I wonder if knowing her character was going to go through that and also “acting” with it, contributed in any way. I know that for me, subtleties like that can affect me. I have had 3 babies in 5 years and have had mild struggles. I never took medication but wonder if it would have helped, especially after my second pregnancy. My third pregnancy was so horrible (from a health pov) that when I had my son I was just so happy to not have medical issues that I felt like a million dollars comparatively so I don’t believe I struggled with ppd then. I love Nashville and wish Hayden good mental health, she seems fairly together for a child star with a stage mom. Good for her for bringing attention to this issue that a lot of women face.
Love her and hope she feels better soon.