If you are thinking about hurting yourself or your baby, please get help right away.

• Call a suicide hotline (free)
  
  • PPDMOMS.org:
    1-800-PPDMOMS or
    1-800-773-6667
  • 1800ppdmoms.org

• Go to a hospital emergency room
• Call your obstetrician or primary care provider
• If you have a mental health provider, call their emergency number

By Michael Spangler

I am Senior Master Sergeant Michael Dennis Spangler of the United States Air Force. I am a proud and accomplished military professional from a Specialized Unit. I have worked in over 30 countries and accomplished hundreds of difficult and occasionally dangerous missions successfully and honorably.

The story I am about to tell you is agonizingly painful for me for share. However, I believe that increased awareness of this serious, possibly deadly condition is so very much more important than my personal pain. I hope with all my heart that many will benefit from this information about Postpartum Depression. This has been my plan since soon after 17 May 2004.

That was the day I lost my wife, Annie Imlay-Spangler, to postpartum depression.  She needed serious mental health counseling and therapy. I did not see it. I fervently hope that others will learn from my horrible experience, before it’s too late.

The memories of our efforts, failures, hopes, dreams, our ecstatic reaction to the arrival of Johnathan Michael Spangler and the ultimate tragedy of Annie’s death are events I will share with my son happily and of course, sadly when I determine that he is ready. Read More