Chrissy Teigen sat down for a candid interview during the Create & Cultivate Conference in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 32-year old author/model/social media gadfly talked about fame, her marriage to John Legend and her struggle with postpartum depression after the birth of her first child, daughter Luna, almost two years ago.
Chrissy is pregnant with another baby, a son, who is expected in June. When asked if she feared another bout of PPD, she said, “Do I worry about it with this little boy? I do. But I also know that when it does happen — if it does — I’m so ready for it.” Fortunately for Chrissy, she credits a strong support system for her readiness, asserting, “I have the perfect people around me for it. That’s why I stand for a real core group of people around me.” She described the experience of PPD – after taking in so many endorphins from her IVF treatments – as similar “coming down from any drug.” She also recalled, “I knew that I was personally unhappy, but I didn’t think that anything was wrong with it because I just assumed that that’s the way it goes. You have a kid, you’re sad, you lose those endorphins and that’s the way it is.”
Looking back, Chrissy said that, “I do wish, if anything, that more people had spoken up around me. I encourage anyone who sees something around them to point it out. It took me to finally sit myself down because I think it’s hard for people to point something out.”
Chrissy hasn’t been one to shy away from discussing PPD. Back in March of last year, she wrote a very personal essay for Glamour magazine, where she said, “I want people to know it can happen to anybody and I don’t want people who have it to feel embarrassed or to feel alone.” She also offered her fellow moms some advice in dealing with PPD in another interview in April, promising “there’s a light on the other side.”
And, don’t worry, this current pregnancy isn’t keeping Chrissy away from social media. Last week she slapped back at a commenter on Instagram who took exception that hubby John was carrying Luna while out on a walk. When an Instagram user named @queenhollandmeissner attempted to “dad shame” John by complaining, “So tired of seeing them carrying her. She needs no legs then,” Chrissy replied, “we are so sorry to make you, queen holland meissner of the universe sad and upset. what can we do for you to make it better, sweet angel.” Ouch. That “queen” really should have known better.
Chrissy also kept her Twitter followers on the edge of their seats over the weekend over “Casserole Gate,” which was a series of tweets between Chrissy, American Airlines and the TSA as to whether or not she could bring her “emotional support casserole” of scalloped potatoes on her flight. From seeing what Chrissy has cooked up in the past, I think I would fight for one of her “emotional support casseroles” too. I am a sucker for scalloped potatoes.
I would like to bring my emotional support casserole on my flight today
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 24, 2018
I mean, look at this. Would you want to leave this at home?
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 24, 2018
In case you were curious, the casserole made it to the destination, along with Chrissy.
We made it! pic.twitter.com/LQrmt0s18i
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 25, 2018
All joking aside, I think it’s great that Chrissy is so open about her PPD experience. I hope it has helped at least one mom, and I’m sure it has.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com, Pacific Coast News
Openness is key with it because people do feel ashamed. However, often people just don’t realise that something is wrong. My sister had it 6 months after her last baby was born when you experience a big hormonal change. She didn’t realise what was wrong with her she just felt very cut off from everyone like there was a big wall. Her husband just noticed that she was quiet – the symptoms weren’t overt. It wasn’t until she started having severe panic attacks that he realised something was really wrong and he booked her a doctor’s appointment and called our mother – the wisest moves by far. She went to the doctor, then went to the psychiatrist and was both medicated and treated. Our mother moved in to help for a few weeks and her husband took time off work to help and after a month she was just so much better. She is still lightly medicated a while down the track but is in a really good place. She is open about it because she wants to help other mothers deal with what they might be going through.
Sure do wish we’d talked about it more when I had my one and only. PPD broke up my marriage. He left before the kid was 20 months after I’d had a ceasearan AND after hemoragging, a D&C. I was an emotional mess with no help, no mum, no neighbour. I’m lucky we’re both alive. Because of that emotional upheaveal, it took me a really long time to find my joy again….
I’m so sorry Plantpal. I’m glad you’ve found your joy again, but hugs for that tough journey
Now at least she can recognize the feelings. Get help if she needs it. Glad she is talking about it. It helps others know they are not alone. And that it happens to many women. Regardless of who you are.
I’m glad she’s continuing to talk about it. There’s not nearly enough support for women that suffer from PPD.
Also the person that commented on that picture was an idiot. It was an old photo, taken on a baseball field during a game where she probably would’ve ran around if not held.
If that’s the worse thing they can say about these two they are in good shape.
Exactly. I have a two year old. She’s got legs all right. What she doesn’t have is judgement or the ability to stop cars from plowing into her because she’s just decided that she’s a bunny and starts hopping across the street.
I love this family. I would go off if someone insulted me or my family. John is amazing and Luna is just sobcute!
I really don’t understand why people go to someone social media to insult them for something so basic as carrying your child, going to the slides with them or taking pictures with Snapchat. If you find annoying, great, keep it to yourself!
Not to take away from her discussion of PPD, but those scalloped potatoes look good!
That’s one cute baby!!!
Good for her for speaking out, providing information, support, and words of personal experience about PPD. I think we should applaud any who speak out on behalf of any suffering from mental/emotional health issues, but especially PPD. I think there can be a disproportionate amount of shame for PPD sufferers, because “everyone is supposed to be over the moon” at the birth of their children, right?
I am 40. I had my first child at 18. Then had 3 more, each of them 2.5 yrs apart. I suffered the most severe depression. And, thats how i was treated. For depression. Only after coming through it and science advances and we learn, did I, not a doctor, realize I’d actually had ‘PPD’. Unless this was your experience, you cant even imagine the swoon of emotions that came over me. The guilt joy rage ect is major. I LOVE Chrissy for being so open around this issue. Bringing so much exposure to very natural things that happen to a woman as and after her body goes through the ULTIMATE LIFE PROCESS! I wasn’t crazy. I wish i had know, could go back and tell my younger self i wasn’t broken, i was perfecrly healthy and normal. By my 4th child i was aware, my husband was aware, and i had a much easier emotional experience. I just love Chrissy❤
Thanks for this. I know nothing of PPD. Thanks for shedding a light on it for me.
I appreciate her sharing. I’m a pharmacist so,i have a reasonable background in medicine and treatment, and even I didn’t recognize my PPD. It took me 2 months of feeling totally guilty about having no interest in my own baby (my second child) and preferring time with my 3 year old instead. I felt awful in my heart, but mentally I tried to avoid spending time or tending to my newborn. In hindsight I still feel incredibly guilty and I regret not seeking treatment. The more we talk about it the better!!