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.

Motherhood Understood

Annia on being a therapist and not going to therapy for postpartum depression

"I didn't quite know the name for what I had since even within therapist circles, we don't talk about postpartum depression enough. I just knew that something wasn't right."

March 21, 2022
Health, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Maggie on advocating for herself and her baby after opting for a vacuum birth

"I am thankful for our due diligence to do research, get second opinions and fight for the very best care, but I often wonder what would have happened had we listened to that first doctor."

February 14, 2022
Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Leilani on postpartum depression after a traumatic birth experience

Progress was slow, but I remember the day my medication began to work. It felt like I could finally see colors, like, "OH, this is how everyone else is experiencing the world."

February 7, 2022
Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Atanasia on having PPD with her second and not responding well to medication

I think the most important thing to know if you’re going through PPD is that it CAN get better. You will get better.

January 31, 2022
Essays, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Jade on postpartum depression and anxiety while dealing with her baby’s sleep issues

"I felt like the biggest failure because I could not get him to sleep on his own through the night."

January 24, 2022
Essays, Postpartum anxiety, Postpartum depression, Sleep

Motherhood Understood

Hanna on PPD and PPA after undergoing an emergency hysterectomy after giving birth

“At this point, it’s her uterus or it’s her life.”

January 17, 2022
Essays, Giving birth, Postpartum anxiety, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Laura on PPD and caring for her baby alone in the hospital during Covid-19

"Every time a doctor or nurse came in, I instantly shot up and my adrenaline started pumping."

December 13, 2021
Essays, Health, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

CH on postpartum depression, anger and three babies in three years

"Angry and pregnant is the most used search phrase on my browser."

November 29, 2021
Essays, Giving birth, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Alison on her deep struggles with motherhood, anxiety and where she fits

"I long for a village of women who band together instead of staying secluded in their own messy homes, cleaned before visitors."

November 22, 2021
Anxiety, Essays, Friendship

Motherhood Understood

Desarae on anxiety, anger and depression hitting her 6 weeks postpartum

"I believed I had prepared myself for the postpartum period. I had spoken to many girlfriends who had gone through it and I felt ready for the overwhelming emotions, hormones and exhaustion that came with postpartum."

November 15, 2021
Essays, Postpartum anxiety, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Rachel on the anger and grief she felt from losing her baby

"Grief and anger surged within me. I felt like my body had betrayed me."

November 8, 2021
Essay

Motherhood Understood

Laura on postpartum depression and longing for her pre-baby life

Hormones. Chemical imbalances. Sleep deprivation. Isolation. Sadness. Resentment.⁣

November 1, 2021
Essays, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Suka on anxiety and the struggle of wanting to be with her kids and have me time

"I couldn’t bear the thought of playing cartoons and sitting them in front of the TV begging them not to move or make a sound."

October 25, 2021
Anxiety, Essays, Mom guilt

Motherhood Understood

Catherine on experiencing postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts

"I didn’t think my thoughts. I saw them–often unable to distinguish between what was real and what wasn’t."

October 18, 2021
Essays, Postpartum anxiety

Motherhood Understood

Trisha on feeling alone and isolated during postpartum depression

I thought it meant I was defective and not really cut out to be a mom. I had entire weeks where the only person I spoke to outside my home was the grocery store cashier. I was often alone as a new mom and later when I became a stay-at-home mom.

October 11, 2021
Essays, Postpartum depression, Stay at home mom

Motherhood Understood

Jessica on having postpartum PTSD being the mom of two sick babies

I believe it is vital for me to share my story and to let other parents who are going through similar experiences know that they are never alone.

October 4, 2021
Disability, Essays, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Maggie on having prenatal depression and being afraid to have another baby

I would be sobbing into Robert’s shoulder, “I know I’ll love this baby, but I just don’t feel that way right now.”

May 24, 2021
Depression, Essays, Mom guilt

Motherhood Understood

Stephanie on her ectopic pregnancy, IVF and experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety

They didn’t tell me I was at an even higher risk for depression and anxiety whenever there was a hormone change in my body. That loss changed everything for me. 

May 17, 2021
Essays, Fertility, Postpartum anxiety, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Suzanne on postpartum depression, PTSD and waiting to feel something for her son

I went back to work full-time. I was still waiting. I picked up the kids from daycare every day. I was still waiting. I had a birthday. I was still waiting. I stopped going out on weekends. Still waiting. Stopped replying to messages. Still waiting. Stopped seeing my friends. Still waiting. Stopped answering phone calls. Waiting.

May 10, 2021
Essays, Postpartum depression

Motherhood Understood

Julie on being told her postpartum anxiety and panic attacks were normal as a new mom

"On my worst days I felt like I’d rather die than continue to feel that way for one more second. The mental agony was so overwhelming and so debilitating. I could barely handle it."

May 3, 2021
Anxiety, Essays, Postpartum anxiety
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