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Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore talks postpartum depression: 'I understand'

Maeve McDermott
USATODAY
Drew Barrymore on the red carpet in 2015.

Following the news that actress Hayden Panettiere checked into a rehab facility for postpartum depression, fellow Hollywood mom Drew Barrymore is speaking out about her own experiences.

In an interview with People, Barrymore described feeling the post-baby blues—which, yes, is an official medical condition—after her second daughter, Frankie, was born in 2014.

“I didn’t have postpartum the first time so I didn’t understand it because I was like, ‘I feel great!’" she said. "The second time, I was like, ‘Oh, whoa, I see what people talk about now. I understand.'"

She described the experience as “short-lived, probably six months."

Drew Barrymore welcomes new daughter Frankie

Last week, Panettiere's representatives confirmed that the actress checked into a medical facility for postpartum depression treatment.

The actress, who had a baby girl, Kaya Evodokia, 10 months ago with her fiance Wladimir Klitschko,  has been open about her depression, speaking frankly in an appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael last month.

Hayden Panettiere: Postpartum depression 'needs to be talked about'

“It’s something a lot of women experience," she said. "When (you’re told) about postpartum depression you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child’ — I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do.

"But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”

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