Bringing new life into the world is overwhelmingly described and discussed as a joyous, miraculous experience. And while this can certainly be true, the automatic emphasis on the beautiful aspects of having a child conceals a reality that many women face but few discuss openly: the overwhelming transition from the trauma of giving birth to the early stages of becoming a mother. Somehow, we can collectively acknowledge that childbirth is a significant medical event that can be profoundly difficult and taxing on the body. And while women are told it will take around six weeks for that recovery to take place, they’re rarely prepared for the reality: that the emotional and physical recovery they’ll need after childbirth will have to somehow happen while they’re thrust into the challenges of nurturing a newborn.

Childbirth can be a traumatic event for some. It disturbs the body’s equilibrium and sense of security and creates a severe disruption that requires recuperation and rebalancing. For many women, childbirth can be emotionally traumatic as........

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