I know you thought your postpartum experience would look very different. You thought you would be happier and more at ease.
When I was pregnant I was happily naive, having no idea what was to come. If I’m being honest, I felt like a bomb went off, bringing my baby home.
I wasn’t in love or bonded with my daughter, like I had seen in all the movies or commercials. Breastfeeding was incredibly challenging, not knowing if I was doing it right. Then she had acid reflux, so feedings involved screaming for her and so much stress for me.
I remember being in the shower, sobbing, thinking how awful this whole experience has been and then feeling so much guilt that I wasn’t happy, and at the time, feeling like I was the only one who felt this way after having a baby. I know now I wasn’t. If you’re relating to this, you are not alone.
This is really hard stuff and chances are no one prepared you.
This is "The Third Postpartum Reality" -
You're not ill and you're not defective, you're human!
Marissa Zwetow, LMFT
Postpartum Therapist and Coach