Megan Pickford has shared personal insights into her postpartum depression journey, coinciding with the announcement of the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, who had also publicly discussed her struggles with the condition. Pickford, 30, wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, expressed her shock at sharing a video detailing her own experiences just one day before Panettiere's passing.
The video shared by Pickford featured a montage of images and clips with her three children, Arlo, Ostara, and Misty, accompanied by the caption, 'Important reminder: A lot can change in a year.' She later wrote on her Instagram story, "I can't believe I for some reason decided to share my experience after being such a private person for so long and the next day woke up to this news..."
Pickford then posted a series of images of Panettiere, highlighting the actress's documented postpartum depression, which led her to give up custody of her daughter in 2018. The accompanying text from Cupcake Magazine described Panettiere's openness about postpartum depression, addiction, alcoholism, opioids, trauma, rehab, and motherhood, noting that she did not shy away from discussing the difficult aspects of her experiences.
Panettiere, best known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died on Sunday. A post-mortem examination indicated no signs of trauma, though an official cause of death is pending. Her struggles with postpartum depression were significant, leading to her relinquishing custody of her daughter Kaya to ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko in 2018. Panettiere had spoken about how this period made her "feel nothing" and resulted in her seeking treatment for depression and substance abuse.
In her final interview in May, Panettiere discussed her decision regarding custody with Dear Momé, stating it was not made lightly and that she was experiencing a challenging time. She also told Jay Shetty on his "On Purpose" podcast that she actively sought help, acknowledging that her situation would appear negative but was a necessity for her well-being. Panettiere emphasized that the idea of her willingly giving away her child was heartbreaking and far from the truth, describing a prolonged cycle of battling depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse.
Pickford's own shared images were a mix of emotional vulnerability, showing moments of sadness, alongside tender family moments with her children and husband, Jordan Pickford. The couple met as teenagers and became engaged in 2018, legally married in 2020, and had a larger wedding celebration in the Maldives in 2022.
Panettiere's public struggles with postpartum depression were well-documented. Detectives confirmed they responded to a 911 call on Sunday afternoon from an acquaintance of Panettiere, who was found unresponsive at her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Despite efforts by paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police and the coroner's office are investigating the death, but initial findings have not suggested foul play.