My daughter was having a tantrum. A big one. She was two, overwhelmed by big feelings she didn’t have words for, screaming and throwing herself on the floor. And I felt my mother’s words rising in my throat: “Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.” I didn’t say them. I caught myself […]
Your Emotional Inheritance: How to Parent Differently Than You Were Raised Read More »
I had it all planned out. The birth would go a certain way. I’d breastfeed easily because I’d done all the research. My baby would sleep in the bassinet from day one because I’d established good habits early. I’d keep up with my hobbies and friendships because balance is important. My house would stay relatively
Why Motherhood Requires Letting Go (And What to Stop Controlling) Read More »
I stopped breastfeeding at six weeks. My milk supply was fine. My baby was gaining weight. I just… couldn’t do it anymore. The pain, the anxiety, the constant feeling of being trapped—I couldn’t take it. So I switched to formula. And my baby thrived. She was happy, healthy, growing beautifully. But two years later, I
Moving Past Guilt: When You Regret Your Postpartum Decisions Read More »
The baby was finally asleep. I’d been trying for an hour—bouncing, rocking, singing, walking. When her eyes finally closed and her breathing settled into that soft rhythm, I should have felt relief. Instead, a voice in my head immediately said: “It shouldn’t have taken that long. Other mothers can get their babies down in ten
Breaking the Cycle: Identifying and Quieting Your Inner Critic as a Mother Read More »
I was drowning. Literally sobbing in my bathroom at 3 AM because I hadn’t showered in four days, the baby had been cluster feeding for hours, my body hurt everywhere, and I was so exhausted I couldn’t think straight. My mother-in-law had texted earlier that day offering to come help, and I’d said no. “We’re
How to Ask for Help Postpartum Without Feeling Like a Failure Read More »
It was 2 PM on a Tuesday. The baby was screaming, the dog was barking at a delivery person, I had pee on my shirt from a diaper change gone wrong, my partner was texting asking what was for dinner, and I realized I hadn’t eaten since 7 AM. I felt my chest tighten, my
The Power of the Pause: Using Mindfulness to Fight Postpartum Overwhelm Read More »
I remember the first time I saw them—those deep purple lines spreading across my growing belly at seven months pregnant. I stood in front of the mirror, tracing them with my fingers, and felt a wave of something I wasn’t prepared for: shame. I’d been warned about stretch marks. I’d been told they were inevitable,
The Shame of the Stretch Mark: Shifting from Flaw to Evidence of Strength Read More »
At two months postpartum, I became convinced something terrible was going to happen to my baby. Every time she slept, I checked that she was breathing—sometimes dozens of times per night. My heart raced constantly. My mind spiraled through catastrophic scenarios. I couldn’t sleep even when the baby slept because the anxiety wouldn’t let me
The Link Between Sleep Deprivation and Postpartum Anxiety (And What to Do) Read More »
I stood in my closet at three months postpartum, crying over a drawer full of jeans that didn’t fit. I’d been rotating between the same two pairs of leggings for weeks, feeling frumpy and invisible, waiting for my body to “go back” so I could wear real clothes again. My partner found me there and
The Clothes That Fit You Now: Embracing Your Postpartum Wardrobe for Confidence Read More »
At my six-week postpartum checkup, my doctor asked if I had any questions. What I wanted to ask was: “When will I feel like myself again? When will I stop feeling so overwhelmed and angry? When will I have energy for anything beyond basic survival?” Instead, I asked: “When can I start trying to lose
Beyond the Scale: Defining Your Health Goals Postpartum Read More »
