How a NICU Stay Can Affect Parents Long After You’re Home
The day you leave the NICU is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. It is the day you have been counting down to, the “finish line” you focused on through every alarm, every blood draw, and every terrifying setback. You buckle your baby into the car seat, walk out those sliding glass […]
Birth Trauma Isn’t About the Outcome—It’s About How It Felt in Your Body
“But you have a healthy baby, right?” If you have experienced a difficult birth, this phrase might be the one that hurts the most. It is the ultimate silencer. It suggests that the end result—a living, breathing infant—justifies whatever happened to get there. It implies that your fear, your pain, and your sense of violation […]
Why Your Nervous System Is on High Alert After Baby Arrives
The baby is finally asleep. The house is quiet. You have a precious window of time to rest, shower, or eat a hot meal. But as you lay down, your heart is still pounding in your chest. Every creak of the floorboards makes you jump. You feel a strange vibration under your skin, like a […]
Pregnancy Anxiety: Why Trying to ‘Stay Positive’ Can Make It Worse
The moment you see those two lines on the test, the advice starts pouring in. “Just relax,” people say. “Stress is bad for the baby.” “Think happy thoughts!” “Enjoy every moment—it goes so fast.” From the outside, these comments seem supportive. They are meant to be encouraging, a way to usher you into the joyful […]
High-Functioning Anxiety in New Parents: When You Look ‘Fine’ but Feel Anything But
You made it to the pediatrician appointment on time, fully stocked with diapers and wipes. You smiled at the cashier at the grocery store while juggling a crying infant. You answered every work email during nap time and even managed to throw in a load of laundry. To the outside world, you are crushing this […]
Intrusive Thoughts After Birth: What They Mean and When to Get Support
In the quiet moments of early parenthood, as you watch your newborn sleep, your mind can feel like a busy, anxious place. But what happens when a thought flashes through your mind that is so disturbing, so out of character, that it leaves you breathless with fear and shame? It might be a fleeting image […]
I Love My Baby—So Why Do I Feel Disconnected?
The expectation is a lightning bolt. The moment your baby is placed in your arms, you’re supposed to be hit with a tidal wave of unconditional love—an instant, unbreakable bond that makes the world fade away. This is the story we’re told, the scene replayed endlessly in movies and on social media. But what happens […]
When Joy and Grief Coexist in Pregnancy or Postpartum
The journey into parenthood is supposed to be one of pure, unfiltered joy. At least, that’s the story we’re often told. We see it in movies, on social media, and in the well-meaning comments from friends and family. But for many, the reality of pregnancy and the postpartum period is far more complex. It’s a […]
You’re Not Just Becoming a Parent—You’re Becoming Someone New
The moment you become a parent, the world shifts on its axis. A new person has entered your life, and with their arrival, everything changes. You are now a mother, a father, a caregiver. This new role is profound and powerful, but it’s not just a hat you put on. It’s a fundamental alteration of […]
Why the Perinatal Period Feels So Emotionally Intense (and Why Nothing Is ‘Wrong’ With You)
The journey to parenthood is often painted in soft, pastel colors—a time of unparalleled joy, glowing anticipation, and instant connection. But for many, the reality is a far more complex and vivid picture, filled with emotional highs and lows that can feel overwhelming and confusing. If you’re pregnant or in the postpartum period and find […]