Motherly Acquired Motherhood Understood - Motherly
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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.

Gabbie on self-diagnosing herself with postpartum depression

Gabbie on self-diagnosing herself with postpartum depression

"I reached out to my OB only to get shut down. He said there was a fine line between PPD and the baby blues."

Updated Oct. 04, 2022
Casey on her postpartum depression and anxiety being ignored

Casey on her postpartum depression and anxiety being ignored

"I was a boy mom for nine years. I had never had a mother daughter relationship with my own mother and something inside me kept telling me I was unworthy of my daughter. I just thought I was having normal pregnancy hormones."

Updated Oct. 04, 2022
leah having postpartum depression for the second time

Leah on having postpartum depression for the second time

"This is a hard journey. I don't know if I am ready. Can I handle two kids? Am I strong enough for this? Am I going to fail?"

Updated Oct. 03, 2022
Emily on having postpartum depression even with tons of help

Emily on having postpartum depression, even with tons of help

"I had finally accepted something was very wrong. I needed help."

Updated Oct. 03, 2022
mom when she didn't recognize depression during pregnancy

Leah on not recognizing her depression during pregnancy

"My journey out of postpartum depression and back to my son was long and hard and there were days that I swore I wasn’t going to make it. There was not a light at the end of the tunnel. There is NOT a light at the end of the tunnel when you are in that darkness."

Updated Oct. 03, 2022
portrait of a woman wearing a red dress - essay on antidepressants while breastfeeding

Alexis on choosing to take antidepressants while breastfeeding

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.

Updated Oct. 18, 2022
woman holding baby thinking of traumatic birth

Leah K on her traumatic birth and the darkness of postpartum depression

"I took on the identity of a strong person, who, despite having had an unstable childhood, was well-adjusted and thriving. I knew everyone had their own painful experiences and dysfunctional families. I wasn’t going to drown myself in mine."

Updated Feb. 01, 2023
mom with postpartum bipolar disorder holding her baby

Hannah on her postpartum bipolar diagnosis

Hello. I’m Hannah. I’m many things–a mum, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an HR professional. I have recently become the owner of a tech start-up. I have a degree in psychology. I’m a friend to so many beautiful people. I also have Bipolar Disorder.

Updated Sep. 23, 2022

Kristina on surviving postpartum psychosis

"How does a 30-year old mom of two with no previous history of mental illness get admitted to the psych ward? This is where my memory fails me, but the diagnosis: Postpartum Psychosis."

Updated Sep. 23, 2022
selfie of a blonde woman

Brooke on PPD to all-the-time depression

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.

Updated Sep. 23, 2022
mom holding baby against her shoulder - postpartum depression essay

Jen on accepting herself as a medicated mommy

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.

Updated Sep. 23, 2022
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