Pregnancy and Postpartum

Worn out from a mind and body that never stop…

The baby is crying, and you rush to get her.

The laundry is piling up, and so are the dishes.

It feels like a lot.

You’ve been told to soak it up and “treasure these moments” because they go by so fast.

But this moment – this moment right here – feels like an eternity.

The guilt starts to seep in…

“Am I enjoying it enough?”

“Am I playing enough?”

“Is it okay that I just want a break?”

“Am I a good mom?”

Well, I’m here to tell you: You ARE a good mother.

It is okay to admit you’re overwhelmed or need a break.

When you do, you affirm to yourself and your children the importance of taking care of your needs to be a better caregiver.

When you don’t feel important… when you feel like your space isn’t being considered… when you’re exhausted to the bone… THAT’S when you lash out.

Think of what you tell your children when they can’t figure out a problem – for example, solving a jigsaw puzzle. What do you do when they’re so frustrated that they get angry and want to give up? You tell them to take a deep breath, communicate what’s frustrating them, step away for a minute, and then return to it.

But moms have so much trouble doing this for themselves!

They usually feel guilty about “taking time for themselves,” which leads to anger, resentment, and a “who cares” attitude that keeps them from showing up for themselves and their family.

If you’re going to take care of others adequately, you have to start putting yourself first!

Here’s how I can help…

When you’re constantly ruminating about your “performance” as a mother (e.g., whether you’ve done enough tummy time, too much screen time, or held your new baby too much), it can consume your thoughts and add to the exhaustion of sleepless nights. I can help you sort through the weeds so you can focus on what matters before the anxiety has a chance to pile up.

And in the aim of helping you put yourself first, we’ll also look at who you were before parenthood. We’ll identify the parts from your life before children you want to keep and explore. Maybe it’s getting back into a hobby… or how to fit in one of your favorite mindless sitcoms during the week. Sure, your life has changed drastically since becoming a mom, but you’re still you. And that’s what your children need and want to see!

We will also discuss how you can play referee with some of your triggers. First, we’ll identify them. Is it the overwhelm of getting dinner together and on the table the same night as bath night? Is it guilt because you couldn’t breastfeed as long as you wanted? Maybe it’s because you don’t have the time to make all your baby food yourself and feel judged by other moms on social media. We will understand what you’re feeling and why so that these triggers don’t influence how you think of yourself or as a mother.

I know this is a difficult season…

But you don’t have to stay trapped in a whirlwind of negative or scary thoughts about yourself or motherhood.

There are really fun parts of pregnancy and postpartum, too, and we can enjoy them together. Who knows… we might even laugh a little between all those WTF moments!

Let’s look at who you are and where you want to go, making you comfortable with the mom you want to be.

Contact me today for a free 20-minute consultation: (484) 800-1432.