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Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression    by Brooke Shields Amazon.com order for
Down Came the Rain
by Brooke Shields
Order:  USA  Can
Hyperion, 2006 (2005)
Paperback
* * *   Reviewed by Melissa Parcel

Brooke Shields is familiar to many for her long modeling and acting history. And by now, most have heard about the controversy between Shields and Tom Cruise regarding taking medication for postpartum depression. Down Came the Rain is an intriguing and touching look at Brooke's journey through postpartum depression and the lessons she can teach everyone by sharing her experiences.

After Brooke Shields was divorced from Andre Agassi, she was introduced to Chris Henchy, a television writer. The two dated and eventually married, both desiring to start a family right away. Unfortunately, they had problems with infertility and Brooke also had a miscarriage. They eventually conceived using in vitro fertilization, and Brooke had an easy pregnancy. But her delivery was difficult, and she ended up having a C-section. Almost immediately after the birth of their daughter Rowan, Brooke felt disconnected, depressed, and extremely insecure about her abilities as a mother.

The next chapters chronicle the arduous trials Brooke experienced during the first year of Rowan's life. The desperation she felt seeps through every word on the page. Eventually, she was diagnosed with postpartum depression and started on medication. Only then did she begin to see life in a positive vein again.

Anyone who has ever experienced postpartum depression will identify with Down Came the Rain and the raw emotions described. If you have similar symptoms, or know someone who does, this book is an excellent resource. It lets us know that no one, no matter how famous, is immune from this disorder, one that very few people talk about. Whether we think it's caused by some fault of our own, or believes it means we're inadequate parents, postpartum depression is a hidden problem. Brooke Shields brings it to light in this amazing book and shows readers that there is hope and there is help.

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