Panettiere’s rep confirmed to US Weekly that the star and new mom has voluntarily checked into a facility to be treated for postpartum depression. She has also asked that the media respect her privacy during this time. Panettiere has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression since her child Kaya was born in December 2014, which I think is actually really cool of her to do.
Considering we as a society paint childbearing as the ultimate goal of any uterus-haver, the idea that producing offspring doesn’t fulfill your every desire and make you bloom with an eternal maternal glow, is not really anything we wanna talk about. It’s important to have somebody hot (but not in a threatening way), who we will actually care about, bringing this to the forefront where it can be recognized. Panettiere knows what’s up. In a recent appearance on Live! With Kelly and Michael last month she said:
“You don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that [postpartum depression] on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”
Four for you, Hayden Panettiere.
(H/T US Weekly)