Navigating pregnancy and postpartum in a new country, Lisa felt increasingly isolated without familiar support around her. When her newborn was taken to the special care nursery without explanation, and her concerns were repeatedly dismissed, she was left feeling unseen, unheard, and not held for years.

When Amber-Lee found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she knew life would change — but not in the ways she experienced. Through two pregnancies complicated by hyperemesis, a traumatic birth, and a challenging postpartum period, she navigated trauma, mental ill health, and the pressure of being ‘the strong one’ while silently struggling.

As a perinatal and infant mental health psychologist, Ashlee expected the transition to motherhood to come naturally. Instead, she experienced severe anxiety in pregnancy and depression in postpartum, missing her own red flags while navigating feeding, sleep, and health challenges with her daughter. Ashlee reflects on the complexity of recognising mental ill health in motherhood, alongside her diagnosis of autism, and her journey towards seeking support and recovery.

With a background in social work, Gemma didn’t expect the transition to motherhood to feel so disorienting. From early pregnancy, she experienced a profound sense of identity loss and anxiety, followed by a challenging postpartum marked by guilt and unmet expectations. Gemma reflects on the barriers she faced accessing support, and how reconnecting with herself — through therapy, work, and movement — helped her find her footing in motherhood.

Monique’s birth may have been quick, but its complications and long-term impacts were anything but. Following a traumatic birth, severe complications, and a near-death experience, she was left navigating the physical and psychological aftermath, which she describes as a ‘storm’ she is still weathering. Monique reflects on the realities of birth trauma and the supports that have helped her feel less alone.

Bubbly and outgoing, Nikolina had never experienced mental ill health before motherhood. But within weeks of giving birth, she was confronted by the sudden onset of perinatal anxiety and depression, with symptoms including insomnia, tearfulness, and an overwhelming sense of not being herself. As she pushed through in silence, she marked time against her baby’s milestones, hoping things would improve by six weeks — until her husband helped her recognise that she needed support.

After the birth of her son, Jade’s mental health declined amidst ongoing sleep deprivation and she was initially misdiagnosed with postpartum depression. Despite years of seeking support and trying multiple treatments, she continued to experience depressive episodes. It wasn’t until she saw a perinatal psychiatrist that she received a different diagnosis — a turning point that brought both clarity and grief.

Like everything else in her life, Jess had carefully planned for motherhood — but during pregnancy, she was confronted by an all-consuming sense of dread and anxiety that went unrecognised. After the premature birth of her daughter at 28 weeks and a prolonged NICU stay, that anxiety briefly lifted, only to return more intensely once they arrived home. With the support of her care team and loved ones, Jess slowly found relief and began to experience the moments of motherhood she had long hoped for.

With a long list of achievements behind her, Lisa assumed motherhood would come easily. Instead, the lack of control and constant crying from her colic baby left her feeling like she was failing. She was diagnosed with depression at five months postpartum, but through therapy, support, and learning to ask for help, Lisa approached her second pregnancy differently, creating space for a different experience of motherhood.