Essential Insights for First-Time Moms Navigating Postpartum Challenges

(That no one tells you),

Becoming a mom for the first time is one of life’s biggest transitions. And while the world may prepare you with registries, prenatal classes, and “what to expect” books, it often falls short on what happens AFTER baby.

So from one therapist (and mom) to another,, here are 5 things I wish someone had told me before I became a mom for the first time.

1. Your intuition will surprise you.

Sometimes 'mom anxiety’ is actually your intuition. When my daughter was still in the hospital, I asked the nurse to check her because something seemed off with her color. They checked her, bruised it off, then discharged us. Les than 24 hours later, she ended up back in the hospital. It was not mom anxiety, it was mom intuition. 

2. Motherhood might bring up your own childhood wounds.

Sometimes it happens quietly.....during a middle-of-the-night feeding. A tantrum. Or when you hear your mother’s words come out of your mouth.

Other times, it hits you like a wave. Becoming a parent can stir up memories, emotions, and pain from your own upbringing. That doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you’re being offered an opportunity to heal, rewrite, and grow. Inner child work, EYe Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or even honest conversations with yourself can be powerful tools here.

3. You WILL sleep again, promise.

4. You might mourn your old life—and that’s normal.

You can love your baby deeply and miss who you were before. Motherhood is a gain and a loss. You may long for your freedom, your routines, your uninterrupted sleep, your sense of self. This doesn’t make you ungrateful—it makes you human.

5. You need a village too.

It’s not just the baby who needs care—it’s you. Ask for help. Say yes to support. Your mental health matters.