Motherly acquired Motherhood Understood, continuing our mission of providing a woman-centered and supportive community for mothers. We are leaning into telling personal essays from mothers as a way that we learn, connect and feel less alone. Centered on the perspectives of maternal mental health, these stories are intended to help moms feel validated and seen.
"I had to find it within myself to get the help I needed, and I just wanted to help women never feel alone like I did."
"This is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through."
"I just sat there staring at this man thinking, what was wrong with me."
"Talking can lead to help which can lead to life changing treatments."
"We don’t give ourselves enough credit. As mothers, we are the harshest critics of ourselves."
"I am strong for myself and I want my kids to know you can always get help."
"You’re a mother. You’re strong. And admitting when you need help will only make you stronger."
"New moms are at once the strongest people you will ever meet and the weakest. They are at once warriors and defeated soldiers."
"We need to look after each other and strive for the best care for families in the vulnerable perinatal period."
"The pain was like no other and my husband was missing everything, including my new mommy emotions."
"It felt like the thoughts were holding me captive."
"Postpartum depression doesn’t discriminate. It is something completely out of your control."
"If you are in need of help, please tell the people you love."
"After the pressure of getting cut open and having my baby boy Ezra pulled out, my mouth opened and tears overflowed from holding in all my emotions."
"So here I was, new baby in hand (though not on the boob as he refused to latch), ready to face this motherhood thing."
After my son was born, all I wanted was sleep. But I was scared of closing my eyes for fear of something happening to him during that time. I couldn’t shut my mind off from all the irrational thoughts running through it.
Although I loved being pregnant, I had been dealing with serious anxiety and my transition to motherhood was no less difficult. It was, by far, the steepest learning curve of my life.
"The reality is that recovery from this disease is not linear."
Even my own mother always says that I am “the one she never worried about.” Was that all just a self-fulfilling prophecy?
"I didn’t know much about mental health at the time, so I just handled it the best I could."