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Maternal Mental Health: My Journey Through Postpartum, Prenatal Depression & Life as a Mom of Two


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May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and this week especially, I'm sharing something deeply personal. Because maternal health is not just a topic for discussion-it is something many of us are surviving in real time.


When I became a mom for the first time, I struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. I was tired all the time, overwhelmed, and instantly questioning if I was doing anything right. I loved my baby, but I did not feel like myself anymore. I started therapy about 9 months postpartum-and looking back, I wish I would have gone sooner. It gave me words for feelings I did not know how to express and space to start healing. Therapy helped me unpack the heaviness I had been carrying. It gave me real tools to navigate life, emotions, and motherhood without feeling like I was drowning.


Then came my second pregnancy-and with it, something I had not heard much about at all: prenatal depression. Yeah...who even knew that was a thing? I sure didn't. But I was living it. I felt heavy, disconnected, and deeply sad during a time everyone expected me to be glowing. And then came the darkest thought of all:


My husband and sons (including the life growing inside of me) would be better off without me.


It was a thought that shook me to my core. How could I feel this way when I had everything I ever prayed for? A growing family. A supportive husband. A beautiful son and another on the way. But that is the thing about depression-it does not care how picture-perfect your life looks from the outside. And trying to explain it felt impossible.


Eventually, I broke down in my OB's office and told her everything. Saying it out loud was terrifying-but it saved my life. She listened, and I mean really listened, and prescribed me medication that started helping me almost immediately. It gave me my breath back, my presence back, but most importantly my life back. I am still on it-and it is still saving me.


Now, I'm almost 7 months postpartum with my last baby. A mom of two, doing the work every day to care for them-and for myself.


Here is what has helped me protect my mental health as a mom:


  • Taking time for myself without guilt. A walk, a nap, a solo date, a Target run alone-it all counts.

  • Talking to my partner when things feel heavy.

  • Saying what I need. Even when it feels uncomfortable.

  • Therapy and medication. They are not signs of weakness-they are tools of survival and healing.

  • Letting go of perfection. I am not trying to be the "best" mom-I'm trying to be a present and happy one.


And I will be honest-writing and sharing all of this is scary. These are not easy things to admit, especially online. These are the parts of motherhood we are taught to keep quiet. But I prayed on it. And if my story helps even one mom feel less alone, or brave enough to ask for help, then I have completed God's work. I've saved a life.


You are not broken.

You are not alone.

And you are so, so worthy of care.


If this resonated with you, please share it with another mom. And please comment on this article so we can stay in touch. Let's keep creating a world where moms don't have to suffer in silence.


With love,

Amanda


Mental Health Resources for Moms at Every Stage:


Local (Las Vegas, NV)

*Please note these are my personal recommendations.



Disclaimer:

I am not a medical or mental health professional-just a mom sharing her lived experience with postpartum depression, prenatal depression and the tools that helped me along the way. This blog is not a substitute for professional advice or treatment. Always consult a qualified provider for personalized care.




 
 
 

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