Postpartum depression can affect anyone regardless of social status or wealth. The list of celebs who have had to gain control of this very real part of pregnancy and childbirth continues to grow. The latest celebrity to admit to having suffered from postpartum depression is singer Marie Osmond.

Reports published recently online revealed that in 1999 following the birth of her son Matthew she had the worst case of the baby blues ever. While admitting that she had baby blues in previous births, with Matthew it was bad and became more than just that. In an interview published online at the Daily Mail website, Osmond said, “Then one day, she snapped. I remember walking down the stairs and putting Matthew in the arms of the nanny. I can’t stay here, I told her. There is something wrong, really wrong with me. I have to leave until I figure it out.”

Thankfully, her husband and mother helped her seek treatment and she got better. Osmond said she was shocked to know her own mother had also had her own battle with the demon of postpartum depression.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

It is important to identify the symptoms of Postpartum depression so that help can be found before disaster strikes. Some of the most commons symptoms include:

• Thoughts of suicide

• Thoughts of harming the baby or even others

• Extreme anxiety

• Elevated levels of stress

• Change in sleep pattern

• Desire to stay in bed

• Loss of appetite

The feelings of Postpartum depression are far more elevated than those of baby blues which affects many new moms. If you or a loved one is pregnant, start learning about this potentially serious condition before the birth so as to be prepared.

Other Celebrities Who Battled Postpartum Depression

Another celebrity who has had to deal with the condition is Brooke Shields. She was lambasted by Tom Cruise for talking about using prescription medication to deal with postpartum depression. Shields went on to write a book which she hoped would help other women, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression. Others include Gwyneth Paltrow, actress Gena Lee Nolin formerly of Baywatch who had the condition with all three of her children; Angelina Jolie, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Amanda Peet and Lisa Marie Presley.

Actress Gywneth Paltrow reveals in an interview for the May issue of Vogue magazine that she suffered from post partum depression following the birth of her second child. Two year old Moses was born in March 2006. The 35-year old multi award-winning actress said she didn?t know what was happening at the time and only realized she was suffering from the condition after she recovered.

According to the interview, Paltrow said “I felt really out of my body. I felt really disconnected. I felt really down? I felt pessimistic.” She believes she suffered from the condition because she stopped getting acupuncture when she was pregnant with Moses.

She and her husband, musician Chris Martin are also parents to four year old Apple, who was born on May 14, 2004. She did not reveal if she suffered any bouts of post partum depression following Apple?s birth.

The actress said in an article online that she has no immediate plans to add to her family right now because it?s hard being a mother. She also said that for her, pregnancy was also hard, especially because she was sick from start to finish.

Other celebrity moms who suffered from Post Partum

Actress Brook Shields? battle with post partum depression is well documented. Interestingly, talking about her condition and the treatment she received led to major arguments between Shields and actor Tom Cruise. Shield said she had to turn to medication, the anti-depressant, Paxil to overcome the condition. Cruise on the other hand strongly criticized her for using drugs.

Courtney Cox Arquette also suffered from post partum depression after giving birth to daughter Coco in 2005. Cox was treated with progesterone and credits that plus the support of friends for getting through. In a USA Today interview, the actress said that six months after giving birth she went through a stage where she couldn?t sleep and was really depressed.

During the early stages of her troubles, pop princess Britney Spears said that she was suffering from post partum depression.

Post partum depression can occur at any time during the first year after giving birth and not right after as some persons believe. A French study released earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Nursing states that there is a link between the gender of the baby and developing post partum depression. In fact, the authors said that mothers who had boys were more likely to suffer from severe depression. The exception was in countries like China where having boys was preferred, hence a higher rate of post partum among women who had girls.