Navigating Postpartum Emotions

They say the days after birth are full of love — and they are.

But they’re also full of everything else.

Tears that come out of nowhere.

Laughter that turns into crying (and back again).

Moments of deep calm followed by “What on earth am I doing?”

Welcome to the emotional side of the fourth trimester. 🌙

🌼 The Hormone Rollercoaster

Right after birth, your hormones drop faster than you can say “nappy change.”

It’s completely normal to feel:

• Weepy or anxious for no clear reason
  
  

• Overwhelmed by love and exhaustion
  
  

• Like you’re floating in a blur of newness
  
  

Most mums experience what’s lovingly called the baby blues — a few days of emotional ups and downs as your body recalibrates.

If you cry while folding tiny laundry or get teary at a TV ad, you’re in good company. 💛

🌙 When It Feels Like More Than the Blues

If sadness, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts stick around longer than two weeks — or feel like too much to handle — it might be time for extra support.

You are not broken. You are not failing. You are not alone.

Postpartum depression and anxiety are common, and help is out there — from your GP, a maternal health nurse, or support services like PANDA (Australia) or Beyond Blue.

Reaching out is not weakness — it’s strength in action.

🫶 Let Feelings Flow

Motherhood cracks you open — physically, emotionally, spiritually. It’s okay to feel everything.

Try to:

• Let yourself cry without apologising.

• Talk to someone you trust (partner, friend, midwife).

• Write things down if your thoughts feel tangled.

• Rest when you can — emotions feel heavier when you’re overtired.
  

Sometimes just naming how you feel — “I’m sad,” “I’m scared,” “I miss my old self” — is the first step toward lightness.

🌿 Tiny Things That Help

You don’t have to “fix” your emotions — but small comforts can soothe the edges.

• Fresh air: even five minutes on the balcony or in the yard.

• Showers: the ultimate reset button.

• Soft music, favourite tea, or comfy clothes.

• Connection: text a friend or join a local mums group.

You’re still you. You’re just growing into a new version — one that’s learning to hold more love and more feeling than ever before.

💕 You’re Not Alone

Every mum has moments of “I can’t do this.”

But every day, you are doing it — in small, beautiful, unseen ways.

You’re soothing, feeding, holding, healing.

You’re showing up, even when it’s messy.

And that is more than enough.

The fog will lift. The days will find their rhythm.

And you’ll realise: you were never lost — just becoming. 🌙