Parenthood always comes as a shock. Postpartum blues? Postpartum panic is more like it. We set out to have a baby; what we get is a total take-over of our lives.

Postpartum depression is a very real and very serious problem for many mothers. It can happen to a first time mom or a veteran mother. It can occur a few days... or a few months after childbirth.

With both kids, I started working out again at 16 days postpartum, but I treated myself with kindness, doing mild workouts, because my fitness level was lower.

Do I wish I had never endured postpartum depression? Absolutely. But to deny the experience is to deny who I am.

I deal with postpartum feelings by reaching out to mom friends. I became very close with some of the women in my prenatal yoga class.

Postpartum depression is a very real and very serious problem for many mothers. It can happen to a first time mom or a veteran mother. It can occur a few days... or a few months after childbirth.

I suffered from a mild case of postpartum depression after my second child and the physical challenge of maintaining an overnight shift at CBS a marriage and two in diapers made the symptoms worse and everyone in the house paid the price.

With both kids I started working out again at 16 days postpartum but I treated myself with kindness doing mild workouts because my fitness level was lower.