Jodi Albert has talked for the first time about her battle with postnatal depression after the birth of her son, Koa.
Jodi who is married to former Westlife singer Kian Egan, said she felt ashamed of being hit with the illness shortly after her son's birth in December 2011.
“I think I gave birth thinking everything was going to be great with this beautiful little baby….When the baby was out it was me that was not that great afterwards. When I looked at Koa I was so euphoric… but I didn’t really like myself very much.”
Jodi said that she felt down for a while after Koa’s birth but didn’t know why.
“For a little while I had a little bit of postnatal depression but I didn’t realise I had it. I went through a lot when I was pregnant. Westlife ended, Wonderland ended. A few of my friends kind of left our lives. And my mum was sick as well.”
Kian spoke of his wife’s postnatal depression and said he wasn’t sure what to do during that difficult time for Jodi.
“To be honest, I didn’t really know what was going on. Jodi would be lying round in bed. I just didn’t know what was going on. I just gave her the time that she needed. I remember walking round the house looking for her one day and she was hiding in the corner in the toilet crying on the floor and I was like ‘What is wrong with you?’ And she was, like,’ I don’t know.”
Jodi said that Kian was a great support during that time and when she had decided to go therapy to for her postnatal depression.
“Once I recognised it was I was able to get myself better. And talk about it. Kian was such a wonderful dad.”
Jodi said she then went to see a therapist who advised her to start writing down her experiences as a way to cope with her postnatal depression.
Her own journal has now turned into self-help guide book for mums which Jodi is currently pitching to publishers.
“’I’m not a writer but it was really healing. And it’s just kind of grown legs. I’m now finishing the synopsis, and hopefully I’ll get a publisher. I’ve taken the mick out of myself and hopefully other women will read it, if they’re feeling down and not talking about it and I can help in some way.”
