Thomas Rhett and Wife Lauren Akins Open Up About Their Brave Struggle With Postpartum Depression: Finding Light in the Darkest Moments

Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins discussed her frightening experience with postpartum depression following the birth of their fourth daughter, Lillie.

"In the aftermath of having Lillie, I distinctly recall feeling scared and overwhelmed. It was a difficult time for me, and there are limited individuals you can confide in without it seeming like you're speaking ill of your spouse," shared the 33-year-old country singer during a recent episode of his wife's podcast, "Live in Love with Lauren Akins." "You don't exactly want to reach out to a friend and say, 'My wife is behaving oddly.'"

Rhett noticed a change in his wife's behavior after the birth of their youngest daughter, Lillie, in November 2021. He described her as seeming dull and in a hopeless state.

Thomas Rhett and Lauren Atkins. Brian To/Shutterstuck

The couple first adopted their daughter Willa, 7, from Uganda in May 2017, before welcoming Lillie. However, during the adoption process, Akins and Rhett faced challenges in their relationship as the musician was on tour while his wife was pregnant with their daughter Ada, now 5. They sought help through couples therapy and were able to work through their issues. In 2020, they expanded their family once again with the arrival of their daughter Lennon, who is now 3. It was after giving birth to Lillie that Akins experienced postpartum depression, something she had not encountered in her previous experiences.

Akins shared that after the birth of Lillie, she noticed something was different compared to her previous experiences with childbirth. She confided in her friends, who also believed she was experiencing depression. Rhett expressed surprise, as he never expected Akins to experience postpartum depression, particularly after having four children and being married for nine years.

The Grammy nominee expressed his uncertainty regarding his wife's situation at the time. Despite this, he urged her to visit the doctor on multiple occasions for a check-up. The couple also engaged in joint counseling sessions to address the issue.

He described the transformation his wife underwent after emerging from the difficult period. She seemed like a completely different person, no longer displaying her usual sense of peace and contentment. Instead, there was a profound sense of loneliness and unrest that was completely out of character for her. This was a new experience for him, as he had never witnessed such a drastic change in her demeanor before.