Motherhood Understood
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.
Barbra on feeling robbed and depressed after needing a C-section
"New moms are at once the strongest people you will ever meet and the weakest. They are at once warriors and defeated soldiers."
Kate on getting her life back after postpartum psychosis
"We need to look after each other and strive for the best care for families in the vulnerable perinatal period."
Adrian On Postpartum Anxiety and PTSD as a Military Wife
"The pain was like no other and my husband was missing everything, including my new mommy emotions."
Karen On Postpartum Depression Miscarriage Guilt
"It felt like the thoughts were holding me captive."
My birth trauma story: PTSD, postpartum depression, and learning to advocate for myself
"Postpartum depression doesn’t discriminate. It is something completely out of your control."
Crystal on pretending she didn’t need her medication
"If you are in need of help, please tell the people you love."
Reeham on postpartum depression, anxiety and panic attacks
"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."
Candice on postpartum depression ruining her mom plans
"So here I was, new baby in hand (though not on the boob as he refused to latch), ready to face this motherhood thing."
Marissa on postpartum regret after becoming a mother
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.
Crystal on depression and letting go of being the perfect mother
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.
Alexis on having thoughts about wanting to harm her baby
"The reality is that recovery from this disease is not linear."
Kate on feeling her postpartum depression wasn’t worthy of support
Even my own mother always says that I am “the one she never worried about.” Was that all just a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Oriana on prenatal and postpartum OCD and intrusive thoughts
"I didn’t know much about mental health at the time, so I just handled it the best I could."
Courtney on finding acceptance after postpartum depression
"... I still have tough times, but I know I'm worth it and understand that to be a good mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend, I have to take care of myself."
Ingrid on postpartum depression and her identity crisis
I know there’s a new me with pieces of the old me somewhere. I just have to find them. And I will.
Nicole on postpartum depression with only her second baby
"I was exhausted and felt negative feelings I never felt with my first, which made me feel so guilty."
Dana on fighting her third battle with postpartum depression
Because I had been through this twice before, in my mind I knew it would be OK... but when you're going through a deep depression it seems like it will never end.
Danielle on falling in love with her son after postpartum depression
I never imagined there would be a way out. If there’s one thing I’d like any struggling mother to hear, it’s that there IS a way out. You won’t be in the darkness forever, and you are not alone.
Chelsea on EMDR therapy to treat her postpartum depression
"When my husband asked me what was wrong, I said, 'There’s just so much bad that we won’t be able to protect him from. It’s so scary and I love him so much. I wasn’t expecting it to feel like this.'"
Jamie on anxiety and the need for control after losing her parents
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.