The Inn At Seagrove - Rachel Hanna Page 0,19

for the doctor to come into the room. Because this wasn't really a medical check up, the nurse had taken them to the doctor’s office so they could talk in private about what was going on with Meg.

"I don't know why I’m so nervous," Meg said, her leg bouncing up and down like a jittery jack rabbit.

"Everything is going to be fine," Julie said. She looked down at her granddaughter sleeping peacefully, something she loved to do during the daytime but not so much at night, and smiled. “Vivi is so beautiful. I mean, I might be biased, but I think she could be the most beautiful baby I've ever seen."

Meg chuckled. "Yes, I think you definitely might be biased." She peered over her mother's lap and looked at her daughter. "However, I would agree with you. Definitely the most beautiful."

Julie squeezed her hand. "I can't wait for her first Christmas. And then her first birthday. We're going to have so much fun spoiling her rotten!"

"It's hard for me to look forward to that right now."

"I know. But you will. The doctor will be able to help you."

As if on cue, a woman walked in wearing a white lab coat. She was pretty with long blonde hair and looked like she had just stepped out of a magazine. She smiled and reached out her hand.

"Hi, I’m Dr. Miller. You must be Meg?"

"Yes. And this is my mother, Julie Pike."

"Nice to meet you. I know you must've been expecting Dr. Hodges, but he's away on a trip right now."

Meg looked at her mother as if she was hesitant about talking to a new doctor. Julie squeezed her hand once again.

“Okay,” Meg said.

"I understand that you called and spoke to one of our nurses about having some issues with possible postpartum depression?"

"Yes. I mean, at least that's what I think I have. I just haven't been feeling myself since the baby was born."

The doctor smiled reassuringly. "Well, first let me say that this is a very common issue. We estimate that more than three million women experience this every single year after giving birth.”

“Three million? Really?" Julie said.

"Yes. Like I said, we see this all the time. Thankfully, most cases are easily treatable by a doctor, and this normally resolves itself within a few months."

"A few months? That long?" Meg said.

Dr. Miller smiled again. "Well, to be honest, that's usually because the woman doesn't seek out any assistance. But you're here, and that's a good thing.” She pulled out a chart. “There are three phases of the postpartum period after birth. The first phase is six to twelve hours after you give birth. It sounds like you did okay then?”

"Yes. I mean, I don't remember anything being wrong. I was just so focused on the baby."

"And then we have the two to six week period which we call the sub acute postpartum period.”

“This all sounds very complicated," Meg said.

Julie looked at the doctor and raised her eyebrows, trying to give her a sign that Meg couldn't take in a whole lot of information right now.

"It sounds like you may have started having issues during that period of time?"

"I guess so. It really started a couple of weeks after Vivi was born. But now she's almost three months old."

"And now you're in the delayed postpartum period, which can last up to six months."

“Oh no," Meg said, her face falling a bit.

“Meg, this is very treatable. Coming to get help was a great first step to feeling better. So, let me ask you, are you experiencing insomnia? Loss of appetite? Irritability?"

"All of the above."

"What about problems bonding with the baby?"

Suddenly, without warning, Meg started to sob. It was like a huge amount of emotions were suddenly released right there in the doctor’s office. Dr. Miller pulled a tissue from a box on her desk and handed it to Meg.

"Yes. I've had problems bonding. I feel so guilty," Meg said, blowing her nose into the tissue.

"No need to feel guilty. Meg, this has nothing to do with your abilities as a mother. This is completely hormonal and very normal. We see it all the time."

“I don't want to miss this time with my daughter."

"Look, as far as your baby knows, you're her mother. You feed her, you comfort her, you talk to her. There will be no lasting effects."

Meg dried her eyes. Julie felt like she wanted to squeeze her daughter tight in that moment. She had no idea how Meg had even been holding