There are a variety of symptoms, circumstances and unanticipated events that may cause a new mother to be experiencing postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms. Healing is possible through processing the experience fully. Taking this time for self-care can have long-term benefits.

The dream of becoming a mother begins young for many of us as we watch our own moms. It is not until many of us have children of our own that we see the challenges of motherhood clearly. Getting help and support in the postpartum helps us become the mothers we imagined we would be.

Our societal image of motherhood as blissful and brimming with joyful moments puts unnecessary pressure on new mothers. If you take a step back and really look at the postpartum, it is possible to see that the concept of perfect mothering is simply ludicrous on its face. Every step of motherhood is a lesson in on the job training.

Before you even started this process called “having a family,” you might have heard that the addition of a child brings many joys….and that it will likely also forever alter your bond with your partner. You would be in good company if you are finding that things are more strained with your partner now, than ever before.

We grow up watching our mothers and often define ourselves in relation to them. In the first days and weeks with a newborn, we may find ourselves thinking often about how we were mothered. Often we need to renegotiate our relationships with our mothers as we become mothers ourselves.