Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Nursery rhymes may be popular with little kids, but if you take a deeper look, the lyrics tend to be dark and forbidding. It seems only fitting that a documentary meant to peel back the curtains and reveal one of the darkest times for mothers would take its name from one. The producers of When the Bough Breaks are calling their film an "honest look at the lives of women who have or had postpartum depression."
The filmmakers promise to answer "all the unanswered questions" about a disease that affects as much as 41 percent of new mothers. But what will that look like, and why should moms watch? The Stir spoke with producers Tanya Newbould and Lindsay Gerszt and Director/Producer Jamielyn Lippman to find out why they've turned their lens on moms and what they hope talking about postpartum depression will do:
What inspired you to make When the Bough Breaks?
Tanya Newbould: I'm originally from England, grew up in Michigan, and moved to California for acting. Met and married my husband and, after 11 years, had our beautiful daughter Ava. To my shock and dismay, I had severe PPD. It began while Ava was in utero and continued for five and a half months after she was born. It was very devastating, and there was a lot of shame around it. No one seemed to be able to vocalize what was wrong with me until I read Brooke Shields' book, Down Came the Rain. It was the first time I identified what was happening to me.
I knew how important it was to get information about this crucial subject to as many people as possible. I had the fortune of being interviewed by Jamielyn Lippman for her documentary, Die Trying. We began to converse about being new moms and discussed the possibility of doing this documentary. Jamielyn didn't have PPD, but identified the importance of this subject matter.
Why is postpartum depression something worth making a documentary about?
Newbould: Because one in five women are affected by peri/postnatal mood disorders. It can range from baby blues to Postpartum Psychosis. Our goal is to help women and families identify the signs of this and therefore help them, possibly even save a mother's or child's life.
Jamielyn Lippman: There so many misconceptions about postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders, the same misconceptions that I had. One in five women suffer from some form of postpartum depression and many suffer in silence because of the stigma and shame that surrounds it. There is so much attention in the media right now because of these infanticides that could have been avoided if the signs weren’t missed. This documentary will not only bring awareness but save lives.
Lindsay Gerszt: Too many women and families are suffering. When I think about what I went through six years ago after the birth of my son, I wish I did things differently and wish I understood more about what was happening to me. With this film, we have the opportunity to educate women and families who are going through this very scary illness. There is so much stigma attached to postpartum depression. The more we speak out, the less scary it is for others to do the same. This is an incredible opportunity we have to make a difference.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Who are the moms featured? How did you find them?
Newbould: The moms vary. I am one of the moms, and Jamielyn did a blog post and we had hundreds of responses. Lindsay was one of the women we interviewed, and she and Jamielyn formed a friendship. She is now a producer with the two of us and brings so much value to our documentary. We couldn't accomplish what we have without her. She is still suffering from PPD, and part of our story is her finding the help she needs to move through this.
More From The Stir: 9 Celebrity Moms Share Their Postpartum Depression Battles
Lippman: Some of the women came from the ad I put up on an LA website. We had over 100 women write to us who wanted to share their stories to help others who are suffering. Some of the women are friends of ours and others we met along the way during this journey.
Can you share some of the stories that have really moved you most from some of the moms?
Newbould: Every story moves me so strongly. It's heartbreaking to see these amazing mothers in so much emotional and sometimes physical pain. I cry for every one of them. We just want to help.
Lippman: We interviewed a women who committed infanticide, she comes from a wonderful family, is intelligent, had no history of mental illness, and wanted a baby. This was the hardest interview we had, lots of tears were shed, and I think it will really open people's eyes to see how serious this is.
Gerszt: In all honesty, I am moved by every story we have heard. These women, men, and families have shown such bravery in telling their stories. We were honored to be sitting there with them, and I am truly a better person for meeting them. Each person we interviewed holds a very special place in my heart.
You guys ended up on the Real Housewives during filming. How did that help get out the message about PPD? What was the response like?
Newbould: Peggy Tanous and I used to model together, and we've been friends for years. She also suffered from PPD and invited us to film her on RHOC. It brought much needed attention to our documentary and was such a blessing. Any positive media shed on this subject is always welcome.
Where's the film at in terms of production right now? When can we see it?
Lippman: We just finished shooting and will now move to the postproduction phase and hope to have it released early 2015.
What are you hoping to accomplish by putting out a film about PPD?
Newbould: Plain and simple: help raise awareness to this very crucial subject matter. Personally, I would like to see a screening process put into place for every pregnant woman, with or without insurance! Early detection can make a huge difference.
Gerszt: We want to raise awareness about postpartum depression. We hope that by raising awareness, there will be less shame in having it. The more people understand about it and speak about it, the more lives can be saved.
Lippman: I hope this documentary shows women that postpartum depression is nothing to be ashamed of and you need to speak up and ask for help. One of the women in our film said something that really sticks with me: “It's amazing when you share how many stories you will hear back."
***
Check out the trailer for When the Bough Breaks:
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Visit Facebook more information on When the Bough Breaks or GoFundMe to donate to help the filmmakers cover the costs of the independent project.
Have you suffered from postpartum depression? Share your story below.
Images via © iStock.com/MachineHeadz; Jamie Lippman
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.