A womans article depicting how she hasneglected her petcatafterwelcoming herbabywent viral.
Thecontroversialop-ed sparked outrage and reactions from experts who said she shouldve undergone therapy.
She slept on my pillow every night.
I combed her for hours every week with a miniature kitty comb.
I purchased bottles of sustainably harvested fish oil because it promised to prevent heart disease or something.
In the months following the babys arrival, any redirection of attention sparked fury.
If Lucky nuzzled me as I nursed in bed, I shoved her away.
(I didnt, I didnt.).
Basic needs went unmet, the woman wrote.
I often forgot to feed Lucky, which caused her to eat houseplants in desperation and puke them up.
I did not have enough love for the cat, and I was irritable, she wrote.
But that didnt mean one followed from the other.
The writer concluded: I havent fallen back in love with Lucky, but it could still happen.
Ill shut the windows until then.
It is devastating to hear about a housecat treated like this.
A separate individual chimed in: People capable ofabusing their petswill end up abusing their children.
These will affect how they feel about the animal and what they then decide to do.
Some charities will foster animals short term.
This is a very sad situation.
She continued: It is a very difficult time for some, and they need help.
The new demands, hormonal chaos, etc.
can leave someone [feeling] nothing like themselves.
This is why support is needed for new parents.
Someone to step in or step up to help.
She needed professional help.PostpartumSupport Internationalis an excellent resource for someone feeling these types of feelings.
Resentment of a pet when one is feeling completely empty is something we see and help provide resources for.
This is an extremely sensitive subject and is heartbreaking for all involved.
Researchsuggests that while pets can sometimes help, they dont necessarily reduce the chances of postpartum depression.
In fact, women who already findmotherhoodstressful might be more likely to experience postpartum depression if they own pets.
Sometimes, its called peripartum depression because it can start during pregnancy and continue after childbirth.
Postpartum depression is not a character flaw or a weakness.
Sometimes, its simply a complication of giving birth.
The website advised on gradually preparing a familys animal for the significant change of welcoming a child.
If possible, expose your pet to the sounds and smells associated with babies, the outlet urges.
Have someone else hold the baby while you greet your pet.
This allows your pet to expend some energy and excitement before meeting the baby.
Then, in a calm and controlled environment, allow your pet to sniff the baby safely.
Always supervise any interaction between your pet and your child.
The website also recommended including pets in family activities so you can avoid negative associations developing.
The anonymous writers op-ed continued to ignite negative reactions
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