Our thoughts go out to Amber Portwood.
On the most recent installment of Teen Mom OG: Unseen Moments, the veteran reality star revealed that her younger sister died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) more than two decades ago.
How has Amber coped with this passing?
Which tragic details is she willing to share?
Scroll down to find out and join us in wishing Amber and her family the best…
Amber Appeared on the Special Alongside Andrew Glennon
The two, of course, are parents to a precious seven-month old named James. And Portwood is a very hands-on mother.
No Nanny Here!
Amber has been through a ton (more on that below), but she insists on caring for James without a doula or nurse or really assistance of any kind. And she broke our heart when she explained why.
Amber Explains:
“The thing is, my sister died from SIDS when I was 5,†the 28-year old admitted on stage. “She was an infant just like him. And it’s really scary for us. And I just feel like I want to be the one watching him.â€Â
Continued the Teen Mom:
“It was hard. I remember watching them bringing her out on a stretcher. … It’s one of the worst things that I’ve ever really seen in my life.â€Â
That is Truly Unimaginable
It’s almost hard to think of a bigger tragedy that simply waking up and seeing that your child/loved one has died overnight. There are about 2,500 cases of SIDS every year in America and no real cure or way to prevent it.
What Else is Known About SIDS?
It affects kids under the age of 12 months and doctors believe the condition may be linked to brain defects which control an infant’s breathing and ability to wake up from sleep.
Portwood Shares a Daughter with Ex Gary Shirly
“It’s just like with Leah, you know, when she had the sleep apnea, me and Gary brought her straight into the hospital to get the testing done because we were so scared about it,†she recalled on this special. “So it’s not a bad thing to get help when you’re tired and you need sleep, but it means a little bit more to me than what people know.â€Â
Portwood Has Her Own Health Battles to Fight, Too
She made a startling revelation on an episode of Teen Mom OG this season, confessing to thinking of hanging herself shortly after giving birth to James.
She Has Suffered from Post-Partum Depression
“It went from taking care of James so amazingly to one night I had to give him to Andrew,†she said of the night she nearly took her own life, telling Dr. Drew: “I couldn’t, I don’t know what happened. I’ve never felt anything like it, I never felt like that with Leah.”
What Did It Feel Like at the Time?
“It started feeling like a weird pressure, like I could explode,” Portwood explained. “There was one night in California where I said to Andrew, ‘Just go to sleep, go to sleep. Take James with you.’ I was going to hang myself.”
All Too Real
“That’s real sh-t,†Portwood said of her near suicide.
Post-Partum Depression Affects Millons of Women
There’s no real way of knowing when it might come on, as it’s a constant feeling of sadness and anxiety that can be extreme and which could interfere with a woman’s ability to care for herself or her family.
It’s Legit and It’s Scary
But Amber somehow got grief from Internet trolls after talking about it last year.
More from Amber:
“I come home, I try to talk to loving fans who I adore. I help so many f-cking people and I gotta deal with people calling me a bad mom and this that and the other when I’m going through this sh-t,” Portwood told Dr. Drew on the Teen Mom reunion.
Is She Really Leaving?
When venting about this reaction, Amber said previously she was quitting the program. “I’m done. I’m done with this show, I f-cking quit,†she shas aid. “This show is done.”
Who Helped Her in Her Time of Need?
Catelynn Baltierra, actually, who went to rehab late last year for having suicidal thoughts.
Troubled Souls Connect
“I’m just at my end,†Portwood told Baltierra. “I’m literally, I feel like I’m at my lowest right now. I’m not … I have no will. I’m not living for myself at the moment.”
How Did Catelynn Respond?
“Those words scare me,” she told Amber. “I would love to see you at a place where you could [live for yourself]. But if you really need help, there are places you can go — know that. So you don’t feel hopeless.”
Hang in There, Amber
You have so many people who love you and are there for you. And we are SO sorry about your sister.