Candiace Dillard Bassett is opening up about the intense and often painful realities of childbirth. The Real Housewives of Potomac reality star revealed that she was “paralyzed in pain” following the birth of her first child, describing the experience as far more challenging than she had ever anticipated. In a exclusively candid interview with People Magazine, Bassett shared the physical and emotional toll of labor and delivery, shedding light on the often-overlooked struggles that many mothers face during and after childbirth.
Although Bassett does tell the outlet that delivery was a breeze, she “… would not recommend” the postpartum journey at all. The 37-year-old shared that her health took a turn for the worse after she was released from the hospital.
“I started having these horrifying lower abdominal pains,” Candiace said in her interview. “It was so bad that I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything. And it just kept getting worse.”
The R&B singer went on to recall that she could not break her 103.9 fever, in addition to the pain.
“I was burning up! And it went on for a week. I just couldn’t break it.”
While in pain and riddled with fever, the Bravo reality star said that she continued to try and breastfeed; however, her attempts were unsuccessful.
“It was really excruciating at first, it was hurting so bad,” she explains. “And I know it often hurts in the beginning while you’re adjusting, but I was already dealing with so much pain, it made it so much worse. I wasn’t producing as much milk, I couldn’t pump. I was a mess.”
Of course, all of this as a new mom, would unquestionably take a toll on anyone’s mental health. Basset admitted that she became really depressed and “couldn’t take care of my baby.”
“I was really depressed because you have to understand: I couldn’t get up — literally, I was stuck in the bed, doubled over in pain. I couldn’t take care of my baby. If I didn’t have a husband, me and my child would be dead because I could not do anything. I was just like a literal vegetable, laying there like a bump on a log.”
Bassett returned to the doctor and CAT-scan revealed that she had a blood clot in one of her ovaries. The “Drive Back” singer was prescribed a course of injectable blood thinners, and the condition resolved itself.
“My depression really lifted and it’s been much better now,” she says. “I’m actually able to take care of Jett; to hold him and care for him and breastfeed and actually be a mom. And I’m completely obsessed, like — it’s everything I wanted it to be and more.”
Bassett shares her newborn son, Jett Maxwell Lee Bassett, with husband, Chris Bassett. In addition to Jett, the 46-year-old chef is also father to: Owen, 22, Mateo, 14, and daughter Naia, 10 — from previous relationships.
Photo: Candiace Dillard Bassett Instagram