First the celebrity blogs were obsessed with creating new names for the famous couples in Hollywood – TomKat, Bennifer, Brangelina. Next, they became obsessed with figuring out which stars were pregnant, pointing out both real and imagined "baby bumps". Now it seems everyone is trying to diagnose which new star moms have postpartum depression, whether it’s Nicole Richie or Christina Aguilera or Jennifer Lopez. Their latest target is Jessica Alba.

This type of speculation is uneducated and in poor taste, as pointed out by Melissa McEwan over at Shakesville. She discusses what sites like TMZ.com are saying about Alba and about PPD, and points out:

As if "Gee, Jessica, you’re so pretty—what could you possibly feel bad about?" isn’t stupid enough, were she were suffering basic depression, this is the equivalent of saying, "Gee, Jessica, you’re so pretty—why would your body possibly suffer a dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone post-pregnant, possibly accompanied by a drop in blood volume, blood pressure, immune system, and/or metabolism? And you’re so sexy—why would being a first-time mother to a newborn baby cause sleep deprivation or feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious? And you’re so successful—it’s hard to imagine that immediately after giving childbirth you might feel fatigued or emotional. I always thought postpartum depression was for ugly chicks!"

Of course everyone is potentially subject to a perinatal mood disorder regardless of their appearance, their job title or their bank account. And celeb watchers have no business sitting around trying to make odds on who will or won’t get PPD as if this is some kind of game. If a new mom wishes to publicly share her experience to try and help others, like Brooke Shields or Courteney Cox or Gwyneth Paltrow, that’s wonderful. Otherwise they should be left alone. Postpartum depression is no joke.

P.S. Thanks to Rachel Faulk for pointing out the Shakesville story to me!