House Rules’ star Ciara Clarson opens up on her battle with post-natal depression
ONE of Australia’s most popular reality TV stars has laid bare a personal battle describing her anguish at not feeling an immediate rush of love when her son was born — and the embarrassment that stopped her talking about her feelings.
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ONE of Australia’s most popular reality TV stars has laid bare her battle with postnatal depression, telling of her anguish at not feeling an immediate rush of love when her son was born — and the embarrassment that stopped her talking about her feelings.
House Rules star Chiara Clarson said so many of her friends had told her about falling “instantly in love” with their babies that she was shocked at her own lack of connection with her new son Seth during his first six months.
“The day after he was born I was laying in my own filth in the bed not being able to move my legs from the caesarean with this baby on my chest,” she told The Daily Telegraph of the 2010 birth.
“I just looked at him and thought ‘I don’t even know who you are, I just don’t know how I’m supposed to love you’.”
Clarson, who stars on the Seven renovation reality show with husband David, didn’t know it at the time but she, like almost 16 per cent of Aussie mothers, had postnatal depression.
She says it took her almost six months to bond with her son, who is now eight, while her husband took to the job naturally.
“I didn’t know what to do,” said Clarson. “It was a really tough time and it wasn’t until he was six months old and he could sit up and giggle that I was like ‘you’re actually really, really cute’ and my love then instantly grew.”
Mental health charity beyondblue says one in seven women experience postnatal depression, which develops up to one year after the birth.
Clarson, now also a mother to Taya, 6, and Ellie Mae, 3, said she didn’t talk about her post-birth battle because she felt “embarrassed”.
“So many friends of mine who had kids were saying ‘I was instantly in love, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me’ and I kept a lid on it and kept it inside,” she said.
“Getting it off your chest and talking about it is important, whether that’s with someone professional or someone close to you.
“Seeking help is not something anyone needs to be embarrassed about. Life isn’t perfect and anyone that says it is lying, it’s about getting the help you need.”
For help ring Lifeline (131114) or beyondblue (1300 224636).