The Unseen Anxiety of Motherhood

I never knew I had anxiety until I became a mom.

Looking back now, as my first baby edges closer to teenagehood than diapers, I’m angry—angry that no one saw it. Instead of compassion, I was met with judgment. People judged how I raised my baby. They judged me for my inability to handle his crying.

This is something we often overlook when we see stressed, overwhelmed mothers—we judge their parenting without seeing the underlying reasons for their choices. For me, I had no idea how triggered I would be by my baby’s cries.

I entered motherhood believing it would come easily. I’d spent years caring for other people’s children, teaching for over a decade, and loved kids. But when the baby was mine? The crying hit differently.

I tried everything to prevent it: wearing him in a carrier, nursing constantly, bouncing, rocking, shushing. I had rituals for transferring him from car seat to bed just to avoid his cries. And as he grew, I couldn’t say “no” to anything without panic—I would avoid crying at all costs.

Outsiders may have thought I was permissive with loose boundaries, but that wasn’t it. I thought it was about him, responding to his needs. In reality? It was about me, my anxiety, and no one saw the struggle behind my giving in.

Even therapy didn’t catch it. I talked about the mess, the dog hair, my inability to manage everything, but no one saw the anxiety controlling me. I didn’t know I had it, but now I see I’ve lived with anxiety my entire life.

I had my baby at 36 and had carefully structured my life to avoid triggers. Then came the baby, and there was no avoiding it. It was overwhelming, constant, unavoidable.

It wasn’t until three years after having my child that a therapist suggested postpartum anxiety could be the cause. It breaks my heart because my baby, now nearly 14, didn’t get the best of me. I wasn’t fully present. I feel guilt to this day—my discomfort with crying shaped his ability to express emotions.

This is the unseen anxiety of motherhood. So many moms struggle silently, judged for their choices rather than supported for their struggles.

This is exactly why support is crucial, and it’s why placenta encapsulation in South Jersey, Central Jersey, and Philadelphia is such a game-changer for new moms. Placenta pills can help balance hormones, improve energy, and reduce postpartum anxiety, giving you a better chance to respond to your baby from a place of calm and presence. And when you work with me, you’re not just getting placenta encapsulation—you’re getting support every step of the way. I’m trained as a Perinatal Mental Health Specialist with Postpartum Support International, so I know how to help moms navigate the postpartum period with guidance, understanding, and care.

If you’re pregnant or about to give birth, consider planning for your mental health as much as your baby’s needs. Getting support and taking steps like placenta encapsulation can make a profound difference in your ability to show up fully for your child—without being trapped in unseen anxiety.

Click here to learn more about placenta encapsulation in South Jersey, Central Jersey, and Philadelphia, and how I can support you through a calmer, more empowered postpartum journey.