Motherhood Is Not All Magic: Why Perinatal Mental Health Deserves Real Talk
There’s a lot of pressure to romanticize parenthood- the glow, the bonding, the “magical” moments. But the truth? The transition into motherhood (and everything leading up to it) is often messy, overwhelming, and deeply emotional.
Maybe you’ve been struggling to conceive.
Maybe you’ve experienced loss, trauma, or fear during pregnancy.
Maybe postpartum hit harder than you ever imagined.
Maybe you look at your baby and feel both deep love and grief for the version of yourself you’re trying to hold onto.
If this resonates: you are not alone.
What Is Perinatal Mental Health?
Perinatal mental health includes emotional and psychological well-being during conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. It also covers the often invisible struggles that can happen before a baby is even on the way.
Some common experiences include:
Fertility struggles and pregnancy loss
Anxiety or depression during or after pregnancy
Traumatic birth experiences
Identity shifts and relationship strain in early parenting
These are not signs of weakness.
They are very human responses to a profound life transition. And yet, so often, people navigating these experiences are met with silence- or oversimplified advice to “just enjoy every moment.”
If you’re wondering whether what you’re feeling is something to talk to a therapist about, this post might help:
👉🏽 Is This Anxiety... or Just Life? Signs It’s Time to Talk to a Therapist
Therapy for Perinatal Mental Health
As a therapist trained in perinatal mental health, and a parent myself, I understand how layered this season can feel.
Therapy offers space to:
Process grief, fear, or trauma in a nonjudgmental setting
Reconnect with your sense of self amid identity shifts
Strengthen communication in your relationship
Build coping tools for anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion
Feel seen and supported in your own story
Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, new parenthood, or the in-between spaces, therapy can help you move through this chapter with more clarity, capacity, and compassion.
Want to know more about what therapy for the perinatal season? Start here:
👉🏽 Therapy for Perinatal & Parenthood Support
You Don’t Have to Go Through This Alone
You deserve real support, not pressure to pretend everything is okay.
If this post speaks to you, reach out. I offer therapy for individuals in Washington state, with a special focus on perinatal and reproductive mental health.
📩 Get in touch to schedule a free consultation
or
📘 Learn more about therapy for new parents
You're not alone — and you don’t have to figure this out by yourself.
Now accepting new clients across Washington State.
I provide virtual therapy for individuals throughout WA- including Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Olympia, Bellingham, Everett, and beyond. Whether you're in a big city or a quiet corner of the state, support is just a click away.