16 celebrities who have shared their postpartum depression stories

Mental health has a long history of stigma, which has sadly kept many people from feeling safe enough to seek help. According to recent studies, postpartum depression affects approximately one in seven women, though rates may be even higher due to underreporting. The symptoms can be difficult to recognize—and the fear of ridicule or shame can be overwhelming.

But there are so many forces for good out there; in this case, it’s celebrities who have come forward to share their journeys with postpartum depression. We are so grateful for their honesty and bravery, which is quite literally saving lives by reminding women everywhere that they are not alone, and that help is available.

If you’re struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety, know that help is available. Reach out to your healthcare provider or contact resources like the Postpartum Support International (PSI)  helpline at 1-800-944-4773 for free, confidential support. You don’t have to face this journey alone.

Here are 16 celebrities who have been open about their postpartum depression stories:

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner, a beauty mogul and mother of two, has been candid about her postpartum struggles. After giving birth to her children, Stormi and Aire, Kylie experienced postpartum depression that lasted about a year.

In an interview with Birtish Vogue, she described the emotional turmoil of “baby blues,” especially after her son’s birth, which left her crying hysterically over seemingly small decisions, like choosing his name. Her vulnerability reminds us that even small decisions can feel overwhelming in postpartum life, and her openness is helping normalize these feelings for other moms.

Halle Bailey

Singer and actress Halle Bailey opened up about battling “severe” postpartum depression in a video shared on Snapchat after welcoming her first child, Halo. Saying, “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.

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.” While dealing with body image changes and feelings of guilt, Bailey remained vocal about her love for her baby, advocating for awareness of postpartum depression’s complexities and the importance of seeking help​.

Jenna Dewan

Actress Jenna Dewan revealed her struggles with postpartum anxiety after the birth of her daughter, Everly, in an episode of the Dear Gabby podcast. As a new mom navigating the demands of work and travel, Dewan faced intense challenges while balancing breastfeeding, long work hours, and sleepless nights. Her story sheds light on the often-overlooked aspect of postpartum anxiety and reminds us of the mental health challenges that come with balancing motherhood and career.

Maren Morris

Country singer Maren Morris candidly shared how her husband, Ryan Hurd, helped her recognize her postpartum depression after the birth of their son, Hayes, in March 2020. As the pandemic created unprecedented challenges, Morris felt stuck in a fog that therapy and her husband’s care helped her navigate. This experience not only deepened their bond as a couple but also influenced her album Humble Quest. Morris advocates for destigmatizing conversations around mental health, emphasizing that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness​.

Kylie Kelce

Kylie Kelce, wife of NFL star Jason Kelce, opened up about her severe baby blues after welcoming her first daughter, Wyatt. She described feeling disconnected and overwhelmed, with sleepless nights and emotional exhaustion. Kelce admits it wasn’t until Wyatt’s first purposeful smile that she began to feel a connection. Her honesty about not feeling an immediate bond with her baby is a powerful reminder that every mother’s journey is unique—and it’s okay to ask for help during challenging moments.

Now expecting her fourth child, Kylie is determined to normalize the messy realities of postpartum life, through her podcast ‘Not Gonna Lie’. Through her podcast, she encourages open discussions about mom guilt, depression, and feelings of inadequacy. Her story reminds mothers that it’s okay not to feel instant joy and that seeking support is crucial​.

Meghan Trainor

Grammy-winning artist Meghan Trainor revealed her struggles with postpartum mental health, including a harrowing panic attack after the birth of her second child, Barry. Feeling physically unwell and unsafe holding her baby, Trainor realized she needed help. She turned to therapy, medication, and her support system for recovery. Her advocacy for maternal mental health, including her ‘Ask for Help’ campaign in collaboration with Bobbie, reminds mothers everywhere that seeking support is a sign of strength and a crucial step toward healing.

Serena Williams

Tennis super-star Serena Williams told Harpers Bazaar that after her traumatic birth experience (she had blood clots in her lungs), she experienced postpartum depression. She said, “Honestly, sometimes I still think I have to deal with it… I think people need to talk about it more because it’s almost like the fourth trimester, it’s part of the pregnancy. I remember one day, I couldn’t find Olympia’s bottle and I got so upset I started crying… because I wanted to be perfect for her.” We can identify with this so much. Williams says she prefers to use the phrase “postpartum emotions” to help combat the stigma that is associated with the word depression.

Adele

Singer Adele that at the moment she’s not considering having another childly, partly because she’s worried about postpartum depression. “I’m too scared,” she told Vanity Fair . “I had really bad postpartum depression after I had my son, and it frightened me.” Her most pressing symptom was feeling like an inadequate mother. For Adele, connecting with other mom-friends and taking time for herself were instrumental in helping her to feel better. “Eventually I just said, I’m going to give myself an afternoon a week, just to do whatever… I want without my baby.”

Cardi B

Postpartum depression caught rapper Cardi B by surprise. “I thought I was going to avoid it,” she told Harpers Bazzar . “When I gave birth, the doctor told me about postpartum, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m doing good right now, I don’t think that’s going to happen.’ But out of nowhere, the world was heavy on my shoulders.”

Alanis Morrisette

During her third pregnancy in 2019, Alanis Morissette spoke openly about her previous experiences with postpartum depression, stating that readied her for this pregnancy and for getting help afterward. “Not singularly relying on myself to diagnose myself is key,” she told SELF . “Because the first time around I waited.”

This isn’t the first time Alanis has talked publicly about waiting a long time to get help when she was suffering from PPD. Like a lot of mothers, she didn’t get help for PPD right away, instead suffering for a year and four months after the birth of her first baby. “The stigma remains in a really big way,” the singer previously told People . “There’s this version of eye contact that I have with women who have been through postpartum depression where it’s this silent, ‘Oh my God, I love you. I’m so sorry.’”

Reese Witherspoon

Actress Reese Witherspoon has had postpartum depression several times. In an episode of Jameela Jamil’s “I Weigh” podcast she said, “I’ve had three kids. After each child I had a different experience. One kid I had kind of mild postpartum, and one kid I had severe postpartum where I had to take pretty heavy medication because I just wasn’t thinking straight at all.” Previous postpartum depression does increase the risk of having another occurrence, though it’s not always the case. Witherspoon continued, “And then I had one kid where I had no postpartum at all.”

Behati Prinsloo

Model Behati Prinsloo wrote about her experience with postpartum depression with Today . “I had moments of postpartum after our first baby that I felt like it was coming through. But my husband was so incredibly supportive and always got me out of it.” She has been vocal about helping other women feel less alone about their experiences; even if it doesn’t seem like a severe case of depression. “

And I think that the message is just that it’s never too little to ask for help. So no matter how small your feelings and stress—or whatever it is about being a new mom—there’s always help out there and support from family and friends. And I think nobody judges anyone.” Amen.

Chrissy Teigen

Model, TV personality and author Chrissy Teigen has been incredibly vocal about her struggles with postpartum depression, very much with the intention of helping other women who are going through it. She told Today that she didn’t know that was she was feeling was postpartum depression at first. “Since it happened with Luna, it happened with my first one, I just didn’t know that there was any other way to feel… I thought it was very natural to be in this low, low point and I just assumed that was motherhood and there was no other way around it.”

She didn’t truly understand how many women are impacted by postpartum depression until the first time she went public with her story. “I didn’t really realize it until I’d written an article with Glamour magazine and spoken out about it how many women are going through this…I think more than anything I’ve ever done, more women on the street come up to me and talk about that article than anything else.”

Drew Barrymore

Actor Drew Barrymore did not experience postpartum depression with her first child. She told People , “I didn’t have postpartum [depression] the first time so I didn’t understand it because I was like, ‘I feel great!’” “The second time, I was like, ‘Oh, whoa, I see what people talk about now. I understand.’ It’s a different type of overwhelming with the second. I really got under the cloud.” Barrymore shared that although it was difficult, she feels a sense of gratitude to her postpartum depression because it helped her learn how to focus on the present.

Courtney Cox

For actress Courtney Cox, postpartum depression set in months after her baby was born (which can be normal). “I went through a really hard time—not right after the baby, but when (Coco) turned 6 months,” she told USA Today . “I couldn’t sleep. My heart was racing. And I got really depressed. I went to the doctor and found out my hormones had been pummeled.” Talking to friends and seeking treatment from her doctor were incredibly helpful for Cox.

Gwyneth Paltrow

For actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow , postpartum depression didn’t strike until she gave birth to her second child. “It was really shocking to me because I never thought that I would be a person who got postnatal depression ,” Paltrow shared during an episode of the goop podcast . “I was so euphoric when Apple was born, and I assumed it would happen with Mosey and it just… it took a while. I really went into a dark place.”

Gwyneth’s ex-husband helped her to identify what was going on. “About four months into it, Chris came to me and said, ‘Something’s wrong. Something’s wrong.’ I kept saying, ‘No, no, I’m fine.’ But Chris identified it, and that sort of burst the bubble,” Paltrow said. “There are different shades of it and depths of it, which is why I think it’s so important for women to talk about it. It was a trying time. I felt like a failure.”

The bottom line is this: Postpartum depression can impact anyone. There is absolutely no shame in it, and help is absolutely available—and effective. You are not alone, mama.