ANGELINA'S GOT THE BABY BLUES
Usually, Angelina Jolie is the very picture of poise and confidence. But even this internationally envied beauty can't control the natural letdown that many women experience after childbirth — and now, more than six weeks after the birth of little Shiloh, sources say, Angelina's grappling with a serious case of the baby blues. It's gotten so bad, sources tell Star, she's even banned her lover, Brad Pitt, from the couple's Malibu, Calif., beachfront bedroom!
"At first, she was incredibly happy after the birth of their daughter," a friend of Brad says. But after they returned from Namibia, where Shiloh was born on May 27, another source says that Angelina, 31, began exhibiting baby-blues symptoms. "Brad said it seems like Angelina is having wild mood swings, sudden crying spells, anxiety, irritability, disturbances in sleep and appetite, and it seems like she's getting very sad and withdrawn," says the source. "But what troubles him most is that Angelina has lost interest in him in the bedroom. He can't understand that, because they've always had such a good sex life."
BRAD'S FEARS
What truly frightens Brad, 42, the source says, is that Angelina is refusing help, despite his pleas. "He says she's in denial," says Brad's friend. "It's as if she doesn't seem to think anything is wrong with her. He's become quite distraught." Adds a source close to the couple: "Brad's begging her to take it easy. Since Shiloh's birth, physically, it seems like she's running on empty." (Brad's rep denies the story.)
Adding to her post-pregnancy problems are stretch marks, which are marring her otherwise perfect 5'7" body. "Angelina's really upset," says a friend. "She thinks they make her look ugly. She said, 'How can I ever wear a bikini again!'"
It's normal for a new mom like Angelina to get the baby blues, experts tell Star. "Between 40 and 80 percent develop the baby blues," says Dr. Randy Fink, a Miami-based OB-GYN. "And having the baby blues can effect your primary relationship."
"It's also completely normal if you're breast-feeding [like Angelina] to not want to have sex with your partner, since your body feels drained," adds San Francisco-based psychologist Shoshana S. Bennett, founder of Postpartum Assistance for Mothers. Both experts, who have not treated Angelina, agree that symptoms lasting more than two or three weeks could indicate trouble that requires professional help.
RETURN TO FORM
Even so, Angelina is still looking to the future. She's told Brad she wants to take their brood (including Shiloh's adopted siblings, Maddox, 4, and Zahara, 18 months) to France, where the family lived briefly before Shiloh's birth — and, soon after that, back to Africa.
"Brad, however, doesn't think she's up for a grueling trip so soon," says the source. "But she's going to do what she wants. She's not going to ask for permission." Sounds like the Angelina we know!
— ROGER HITTS, PHILIP SMITH & ILYSSA PANITZ
