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"I live by these 2 short mottos “Be Gentle With Yourself” and “It’s Okay”. Giving yourself some credit for going through pregnancy, birth, recovery, and taking care of another person(s) is very hard work.”
Understanding postpartum pressures
No two births are the same – and no two moms have the same experience or emotions postpartum. When you’re juggling the needs of your little one, worrying about what to expect postpartum, as well as recovering from birth and adjusting to some huge changes in lifestyle, it’s easy to understand why expectations from the outside world can feel overwhelming.
Our recent research* shows that 85% of first-time moms agree that the first year of postpartum motherhood is nothing like what they see on social media – because it makes parenting look easy. 59% of moms said they don’t feel society allows them to share how hard the first year of postpartum motherhood truly is.
Finding help
Our partner, Postpartum Support International, is on a mission to promote postpartum awareness, prevention, and treatment of maternal mental health issues. Since its founding, PSI’s vision has been to establish a postpartum pressure support network in every community worldwide. With their emergency helpline, online support groups, and loss and grief resources, they are dedicated to helping families suffering from postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety (PPD and PPA). We're working to double the number of women that get help, by growing the online support group to double the number of HELPLINE contacts in 2023.
Sharing your story
63% of moms and 42% of first-time expecting mothers say they have posted content about motherhood where they looked happy, but don’t feel that way. We’re committed to changing the narrative about parents' postpartum experiences and empowering moms to share just #OneRealPressure on social media this Mother’s Day. We want this call-to-action to empower moms to talk about the real experiences they’ve faced during their own postpartum journeys.
If you want to take part and help show other moms that they’re not alone, share a video or photo of your #OneRealPressure on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, and don’t forget to tag us. You can help us show a more truthful view of postpartum life. By sharing your #OneRealPressure and encouraging others to do the same, we can help new and expectant mothers feel more prepared when facing the pressures of early motherhood, and feel empowered to seek the support they need. Together, we can make a difference.
If you’re struggling, you are not alone. Don’t just ask Google – talk to other mothers, discover Postpartum Support International and find the community you need.
*Conducted in partnership with the UNC School of Medicine's 4th Trimester Project.
