Earlier than getting married and turning into a mom, Danielle Brooks was simply fantastic specializing in her profession.
“I did not want children,” Brooks shared on the primary episode of Pregnant Pause, a brand new podcast for Black ladies on the intersection of motherhood and ambition. “I was one of those women who believed I was not gonna be married and I was not gonna have kids, and I was ok with that.”
However after assembly her now husband Dennis Gelin, The Colour Purple actress had second ideas about constructing a household. And one second specifically rocked her world and altered her thoughts.
Whereas enjoying the function of Sophia in The Colour Purple on Broadway and enjoying Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on the Netflix collection Orange is the New Black, Brooks shared she struggled with extreme pimples and determined to get on Accutane. Nonetheless, as a result of it’s a potent teratogen, which means it may trigger vital hurt to a creating fetus, specialists warn the retinoid medicine ought to by no means be taken throughout being pregnant because of the excessive threat of extreme delivery defects. When Brooks came upon she was pregnant whereas taking the medicine she realized she did, in actual fact, need a baby.
“I will never forget, when I saw that pregnancy test, I broke down,” she mentioned. “And it wasn’t out of fear. I broke down because I realized I wanted to be a mom, and that option was no longer on the table in this moment. And it shocked the hell out of me.”
Brooks ultimately had her daughter Freeya in November 2019, and bought married in 2022. At this time she juggles her profession with being a spouse and mom and bought actual on how onerous it may be however how vital it’s to tug again at occasions.
“There are moments in motherhood, in marriage, in life that you need stillness,” she mentioned. “And I’m learning that that is ok and beautiful.”
Watch her full interview on the Pregnant Pause Podcast right here, or take heed to the episode on Apple, Spotify, iHeart or the place you take heed to podcasts.
Featured picture by YouTube/xoNecole
