protein bar, a piece of fruit or some nuts. Additionally,
carry a bott le of water with you to make sure you
stay hydrated.

ASK FOR HELP AT HOME
This is diff erent than seeking medical help: it means
asking for help at home and with the baby. If you need
a break to take a shower and practice some self-care,
ask your partner or a friend to care for the baby for an
hour. If you need some meals delivered, ask. If you
could use a ride to a therapy appointment, ask. People
want to help, but they don’t know how to help if you
don’t ask. There is no shame in asking for help.

SLOW DOWN
Don’t view your maternity leave as a time to tackle house
projects or other big items on your to-do list. You just
birthed a baby, and you’re dealing with a mood disorder.

Slow down. Turn off the ringer on your phone, relax and
rest when you can and stop putt ing pressure on yourself
to get all the chores done. Focus on gett ing to know your
baby and gett ing well.

Postpartum mood disorders such as PPD are temporary
and treatable. Just know that you will get through this
hard time.

Jenna Hatfi eld is a writer, wife and mother of two boys.

DID YOU KNOW?
PPD FACTS AND
FIGURES • Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common
complication of childbirth.

• Up to one in seven women experience PPD.

• Approximately 600,000 women get PPD each year
in the U.S. alone.

• For half of women diagnosed with PPD, this is their
fi rst episode of depression.

• About half of women who are diagnosed with PPD
experienced symptoms during pregnancy.

• Only 15 percent of women with postpartum
depression ever receive professional treatment.

• It has been recorded that approximately 10 percent
of new fathers experience depression symptoms as
well during the postpartum period.

• Half of men who have partners with postpartum
depressio n will go on to develop depression
themselves. Her extended “pet” family includes a dog and backyard
chickens! She has a passion for writing, with a particular
ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS/KITZCORNER
interest in the topics of mental health and parenting.

12 November 2018
washingtonFAMILY.com



Ages 3+
Text and illustrations copyright © Oliver Jeffers 2004, 2015
Young Audiences
World premiere Kennedy Center commission
Adapted and directed by Jared Mezzocchi
Music by Zak Engle
Choreography by Orange Grove Dance
From the book by Oliver Jeffers
Best-selling author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers’s beloved children’s book about chasing
your dreams comes to vivid life, featuring colorful projections and choreographed movement.

November 21–December 16 | Family Theater
Kennedy-Center.org Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center
is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

(202) 467-4600
Bank of America is the Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences.

Groups call (202) 416-8400
Additional support for How to Catch a Star is provided by
A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation;
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes;
and the U.S. Department of Education.

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries,
call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540
Major support for education programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by
David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible
through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

Let’s Build Robots!
After-School Robotics: Join
us at our in-house classes,
get your school to start a program,
or use our Flexible Robotics
Package to build your perfect
personalized robotics program.

LEGO EV3, Arduino,
Raspberry Pi, and more...

Unique Homeshool Classes in robotics,
electronics, simple machine, and more...

www.robotworksacademy.net 8992 Fern Park Drive, Burke, VA 22015
The Center for
Ballet Arts
Register Now
for Fall
Ballet . Pointe . Modern . Jazz
Tap . Pilates . Kinderballet
Ages 3 thru Adults
3955 Pender Drive, Suite 105 Fairfax, VA 22030 • 703.273.5344 • thecenterballetarts.com
washingtonFAMILY.com November 2018
13