When the Bough Breaks: Movie Review

It was nearly midnight.

Everything was quiet throughout my house as my family slept upstairs. I was about to make my way to bed, but of course something on Facebook caught my eye. A friend of mine highly recommended the documentary When The Bough Breaks. She claimed that all people, and especially women who had been pregnant or were ever considering becoming pregnant, should watch this important documentary about postpartum depression! She was quite adamant.

I stopped in my tracks. I knew that I HAD to watch this movie right away. 

I felt hesitant as I navigated through the movie selections and made my way to what felt like an impending horror movie.

As I pressed play, I started hyperventilating. How much more triggering could this get? But I felt the need to press on because of the important role I have in caring for women that are postpartum and at risk for depression. The desire to become a better advocate overthrew my fears, and I watched. And I let the tears flow. 
The makers of When The Bough Breaks did a marvelous job of being informational, giving current statistics. There was very little sense of the film being "hyped up" in order to get a response from the audience. A well-balanced mix of interviews by professionals, experts, and those with real, raw experiences makes for an excellent, compelling watch for all. 

Resources for those who are struggling or helping a struggling loved one through postpartum baby blues, depression, or even psychosis (though it's rare) are abundant in this film.

​Check out some of the resources mentioned in this documentary:
http://www.postpartum.net/
http://jennyslight.org/
http://postpartumstress.com/
http://www.1800ppdmoms.org/

And go! Watch it today to become better informed about a condition that is treatable if we would become more aware of the risks and warning signs. Depression can be fatal, but the risk is dramatically reduced when support is provided. ​

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Pictured: Lindsay, one of the producers and a subject of the film, with her son and husband.