Take our Authoritative Parenting Test

Find a therapist near me

Postpartum can bring exhaustion, mood shifts, brain fog, and hypervigilance.

Feelings of love for a new baby can co-exist with feelings of overwhelm and isolation.

New parents can support themselves by asking for outside help and resting when possible.

I was ready for my 6,720 hours of pregnancy. I had been taught how to exercise for my aching back, sleep in a semi-comfortable position, and pant during labor. I was also prepared for the birth—the crowning, the first skin-to-skin touch, and the bonding during breastfeeding.

But no one told me what to do or expect after I gave birth. And from what my patients who are first-time mothers report, not much has changed.

Most of my patients tell me they are exhausted after giving birth, for much longer than they expected—weeks to months. Fluctuating hormones create some moodiness for many new mothers. Breastfeeding isn't always possible, sleep is disrupted, and every time they hear the baby cry, they say, their stomach flips, and their brain goes on high alert. Soon, this hyper-vigilance creates even more unexpected problems—distraction, disorganization, and some brain fog.

Does this mean that they are not thrilled to be mothers? They tell me they are........

© Psychology Today