With a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, Taegan spent years preparing for motherhood, determined to manage her mental health. After a relatively manageable first postpartum, she expected a similar experience the second time — but instead experienced postpartum depression and rage, followed by an involuntary hospital admission. Taegan reflects on the unpredictability of navigating motherhood with a pre-existing mental health condition, and the role of self-compassion in her recovery.

Like many mothers, Sarah struggled during pregnancy to distinguish between normal symptoms and something more serious. With a history of health anxiety and chronic illness, this uncertainty was heightened — and at 35 weeks, her concerns were validated when she developed severe pre-eclampsia and nearly died. Sarah reflects on the trauma of a life-threatening pregnancy complication, the challenges of bonding with her baby afterwards, and the role of support and planning in recovery.

After an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and baby loss, Jade finally brought her daughter River earthside — but instead of the newborn bubble she had imagined, she was met with relentless distress as her baby struggled with severe colic. Following years of cumulative grief and anxiety, Jade describes a ‘crash’ that overwhelmed her emotionally and physically. It was only when her mother-in-law stepped in that she was able to access the support she needed.

Despite her expertise as a midwife and academic, Helen describes her perinatal mental health experience with one word: ‘blindsided’. She developed post-traumatic stress disorder following a traumatic pregnancy marked by pre-eclampsia, IUGR, and a NICU admission, compounded by baby loss and ongoing IVF uncertainty. She reflects on the profound impact of psychological trauma in the perinatal period, both personally and professionally.

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.

At 18 weeks pregnant, Aimee’s waters ruptured — but against all odds, her pregnancy continued and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Despite the outcome she had hoped for, she felt as though she was living the worst-case scenario she had feared. Aimee hid her suffering for weeks, until her husband found her in a heap on the floor.

When Ella reflects on motherhood, she speaks about two contrasting realities: the dream she had held onto for years, and the nightmare she was confronted with when she became a mother. Beneath that disconnect, she experienced depression and rage, revealing the emotional toll of navigating early motherhood when nothing feels as expected.

A successful economist and self-described high achiever, Kathryn entered motherhood expecting control and certainty — but quickly learned that perfectionism and motherhood do not mix. Her experience of perinatal OCD and depression challenged everything she thought she knew about herself, while her relationship with her psychiatrist became central to her recovery.

After a joyful first postpartum experience, Tegan was unprepared for how quickly her mental health unravelled the second time. As her OCD intensified and her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed, she struggled to access the care she needed, until finally she was admitted to a mother-and-baby unit — all thanks to the help of an unlikely stranger.