Volume One: Why I’m Starting The Motherhood Journey Beyond Birth Newsletter
Motherhood doesn’t end with birth; it’s a journey that deserves care, support, and understanding every step of the way.
Motherhood can be a joyful journey, transformative experience—but for me, and many other mothers, the reality was much different. I had a doula to help me prepare for what was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of my life. But only two weeks after my baby was born, I found myself navigating the overwhelming and isolating experience of single motherhood.
Like many moms, I poured all my energy into my newborn, and on the surface, everything seemed fine. But deep inside, I was struggling in ways I couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with postpartum depression that I realized how deeply it had affected me. That moment of diagnosis, though validating, left me feeling frustrated with a system that seemed to do so little to support moms during the fourth trimester.
This experience opened my eyes to how little society truly supports mothers during postpartum. We’re told to expect the baby blues, but for so many of us, it’s much more than that. It’s a silent crisis that isn’t being addressed. Our healthcare system focuses on birth, but after the baby arrives, the care often stops. No one tells you about the physical and emotional toll that motherhood takes, especially in those early days when you’re trying to adjust, heal, and figure out what this new life looks like.
My personal struggles led me to public health because I recognized that the care for moms needs to go beyond the healthcare setting. I saw firsthand how the lack of support and care played a role in my postpartum depression, and it became clear that the journey of motherhood doesn’t end when you leave the hospital. The fourth trimester, as it’s often called, is arguably the most critical phase, but it’s the most overlooked.
That’s why I’m starting this newsletter—The Motherhood Journey Beyond Birth.
This newsletter is for every mom who knows that the journey doesn’t end with birth. It's for those of us who understand the importance of intentional care during the fourth trimester, who believe in the power of self-care, and who know that community support is essential for our well-being.
In this space, I want to empower moms by providing practical advice, mental health resources, and advocacy tools. I want to create a community where moms, especially Black mothers and single mothers, feel supported and understood, where we can talk about the difficult parts of motherhood without shame, and where we can demand the care we deserve—not just from our doctors, but from our communities.
It’s time we recognized that our well-being, both physical and emotional, is just as important as our babies’ well-being. There needs to be a societal shift that acknowledges how deeply the postpartum period affects mothers and families, and how we need holistic, community-driven support systems to truly thrive.
So, welcome to The Motherhood Journey Beyond Birth. I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s walk this path together—through the challenges, the triumphs, and everything in between. You are not alone. #motherhood #maternalmentalhealth #mamamatterfirst