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

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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."

Motherhood Understood

Mentoria on hiding her postpartum depression and thoughts of ending her life

"My mind just couldn’t understand why I had these beautiful babies, and I couldn’t just BE HAPPY."

Motherhood Understood

Erikka on experiencing postpartum PTSD after the traumatic delivery of her daughter

"I'm currently in therapy and working on reframing my experiences. I don't think I will ever forget the low points, but the silver linings are worth honoring too."

Motherhood Understood

Julie on pregnancy loss, postpartum depression and the waiting to find her happiness again

"I waited. I waited for the baby blues to pass."

Motherhood Understood

Cath on experiencing postpartum depression as a mental health professional

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.