“I'm a survivor of understanding mental illness, and of conquering mental illness and coming out the other side a stronger person. It's okay to say, I have a mental illness. I take medicine, and myself, and my family and my friends, my community are better for it. I can help my community be stronger with the person that I am today.”

“You can grow through these times and seasons, this journey of what your body just went through, and your mind, and your spirituality, and your identity. There’s got to be some gifts that come up from this, and I think I'm seeing them now.”

“We need to talk about mental health. We need to talk about how hard it is, and we need to move back to being a collective culture and being supportive of each other and helping each other in that way.”

“For me, the feeling of grief was so overwhelming. We gotta get rid of this, like, We don’t talk about it, and it’s not a big deal, shhh and just move on thing. That's what caused me to want to do more.”

“Es la realidad de ser una hija de inmigrantes de primera generación que intenta vivir el sueño americano, pero que también quiere ser una buena madre para una recién nacida después de esta experiencia. Hay mucha complejidad.”

“It’s the reality of being a first-generation daughter of immigrants who is trying to live the American dream but also be a good parent to a newborn after this experience. There's a lot of complexity.”

“The breastfeeding relationship really allows for this unspeakable bond. There are decreases in postpartum depression and just overall PMADs [Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders] associated with the breastfeeding experience. It affirms us in a lot of ways, too. Look at your baby, look at your baby looking back at you. We have so many things that tell us that we’re not enough, but we look at our babies and we know that we are.”

“We need to have a plan around who's on our team, who can we talk to, so you can see where the gaps are as a preventative measure. That's why I created Mumma Bees, which is a peer support program for moms who struggle with mental health issues. It’s that validation and knowing that, you know, I'm here, and you’re gonna get through it. And you’re not alone.”

“I wish that this was discussed during the entire pregnancy process. For all the time we spent in doctors’ offices, for all the classes, it would have been great if at some point [they had talked] about postpartum depression. I mean, it doesn't happen to everyone, but it happens enough that that we should be ready. I had to experience it just to find out it existed.”

“My wish for other expectant parents is that they believe in themselves, and that they know that the best parent for their baby is them. Make a plan for sleep, and have at least one person for emotional support. There is such a shift in identity – that is unavoidable – and you need a safe place to let it all out. Lastly, if you're reading this and you are in the trenches, hear me when I say: It Gets Better.”

“Ensure that your treatment team understands the risks that come with being a pregnant Black woman in America. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – it is impossible to be a new mother by yourself. [And] the baby blues are one thing, but if it goes beyond a few weeks and you're feeling like you can't control your emotions, or you're feeling completely downtrodden and hopeless, or you're questioning your worth, there's no shame in asking for help. Actually, it will save your life.”

“As far as I know, I'll always live with OCD. I think the pandemic really magnifies these types of fears. But my hope is that I can tell the difference between my own voice and the voice of my OCD. And I practice a lot of mindfulness, just trying to enjoy the little moments of [my toddler] taking forever to tie his shoe. There's beauty in that.”

“I love the word ‘survivor.’ I think there's so much more strength in the word survivor than there is indicated of weakness. Being a mom is tough, survivor or no survivor. But when you’ve gone through this, having those tough days can bring you ALL the way back. It’s almost like being in recovery. We never forget.”

“The wind can blow, and I can experience a chill. Then it goes away quickly, and it doesn't affect the rest of my day, and doesn't affect my family, and it doesn’t affect anything else. But when you live through something, it’s a lived experience that continues over time, and you overcome it. I do think that the “survivor” word encapsulates that.”