Ivanka Trump just revealed a very personal struggle for the first time

We see people like Ivanka Trump on television and social media. We debate their politics, we judge them for their families and we scrutinize them down to the very shoes on their feet.

But every now and then, something reminds us that the political figures we often dehumanize share some of the same struggles as everyone else. That's what happened when Trump revealed on Dr. Oz that she suffered from postpartum depression with all three of her children.

What led to this revelation?

Trump entered her role as a White House advisor with the stated goal of being an advocate for women. In order to do that, she said she felt the need to be open and transparent about an issue that affects at least 10-15% of women.

Scroll for a few minutes through Trump's Instagram account, and you'll find a number of beautiful family photos that could give the impression that her life as a parent is easier than everyone else's. She wanted to send the message that she understands what so many other mothers go through.

"With each of my three children, I had some level of postpartum," Trump said in an excerpt of the episode, which will air Thursday. "It was a very emotional, challenging time for me, because I felt I was not living up to living up to my potential as a parent or as an entrepreneur or as an executive."

She also said that the fact that her pregnancies were so easy made the postpartum depression that followed even more difficult.

About postpartum depression

• It's a form of clinical depression that can affect new mothers in the days and weeks following the birth of a child.
• It can be caused by hormones, a history of depression, or high stress levels.
• Symptoms include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, feelings of being unable to care for your baby, or difficulty bonding with your baby.
• If you think you might be suffering from postpartum depression, you should make an appointment with a doctor immediately; even if you're not sure.

You can find more information here.