The Mother’s Blog

Where motherhood meets realness, compassion, and practical tools for your well-being.

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The Essential Guide to Postpartum

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Emotional Regulation for Moms

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The Mental Load for Moms

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MOST RECENT POSTS

What to Do When You Resent Your Partner After Having a Baby
Mental Load Melissa Parr Mental Load Melissa Parr

What to Do When You Resent Your Partner After Having a Baby

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m doing everything, and they just don’t get it,” you’re not alone. Resentment after having a baby is one of the most common (and least talked about) challenges new parents face. In this blog, we’ll explore why resentment shows up after baby, what it’s really trying to tell you, and practical steps to heal the disconnection. You’ll also learn how therapy and Mental Load Coaching for Couples can help you and your partner rebuild balance, understanding, and teamwork.

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Birth Trauma Q&A: Healing After a Difficult Birth
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Birth Trauma Q&A: Healing After a Difficult Birth

A difficult or traumatic birth can leave you with memories that feel too heavy to carry alone. If you’re replaying moments, feeling guilt or anger, or wondering why your birth still feels so raw, this Q&A-style guide offers compassionate, grounding answers to the questions so many moms are quietly asking.

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“I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: Reclaiming Your Identity After Baby
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

“I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: Reclaiming Your Identity After Baby

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t even recognize who I am anymore,” you’re not alone. So many moms feel lost in the swirl of postpartum changes, constant caregiving, and pressure to do it all. In this blog, we explore why identity loss is such a common part of motherhood, and how you can begin reconnecting with yourself in gentle, realistic ways. You’ll learn how to understand what’s really behind that feeling of disconnection, why it’s not your fault, and small steps to start feeling grounded and whole again.

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When Motherhood Isn’t What You Expected: The Complex Emotions of New Motherhood
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

When Motherhood Isn’t What You Expected: The Complex Emotions of New Motherhood

Motherhood isn’t always the blissful experience we’re told to expect. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or wondering why you don’t feel “happy” all the time, this post is for you. We explore the complex emotions of early motherhood- like guilt, anxiety, and grief, and explain why they’re more common (and more valid) than you think. You’ll also learn practical tools from postpartum-informed therapy to help you feel more grounded, supported, and less alone.

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Feeling Disconnected From Your Baby? Understanding Postpartum Bonding Challenges
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Feeling Disconnected From Your Baby? Understanding Postpartum Bonding Challenges

Bonding with your baby doesn’t always happen instantly and if you’re feeling disconnected, you’re not alone. Many new moms quietly wonder, “Why am I not bonding with my baby?” In this post, we’ll explore why postpartum bonding challenges happen, how to recognize the signs, and gentle ways to nurture connection with support and compassion.

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The Invisible Weight of Motherhood in Postpartum: Understanding and Sharing the Mental Load
Mental Load Melissa Parr Mental Load Melissa Parr

The Invisible Weight of Motherhood in Postpartum: Understanding and Sharing the Mental Load

Motherhood often comes with an invisible backpack of responsibility- remembering feeding schedules, planning pediatrician visits, managing household tasks, all while running on very little sleep. This unseen burden is called the mental load, and for many new moms, it becomes heavier than ever in the postpartum period. In this post, we’ll explore what the mental load is, why it intensifies after baby arrives, how it impacts your mental health and relationships, and practical tools to begin sharing it more equally. Plus, discover a new resource designed to help couples rebalance the load together.

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Top 5 Reasons to Start Therapy While Pregnant
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

Top 5 Reasons to Start Therapy While Pregnant

Pregnancy can bring joy but also anxiety, identity shifts, and unexpected emotional triggers. Therapy during pregnancy gives you a safe, supportive space to process what’s coming, heal what’s surfacing, and prepare for postpartum with more clarity and confidence. In this post, we explore five powerful reasons to consider starting therapy while pregnant, and how it can support your emotional well-being before baby arrives.

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Struggling in Postpartum? Understanding Clean Pain vs. Dirty Pain Can Help
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Struggling in Postpartum? Understanding Clean Pain vs. Dirty Pain Can Help

Postpartum can feel like an emotional rollercoaster and you’re not alone in wondering why it’s so hard. In this post, we explore the powerful concept of clean vs. dirty pain to help you understand your struggles with more clarity and compassion. Learn how to tell the difference, why it matters, and what you can do to feel more supported and less stuck.

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Who Am I Now? Navigating Identity Shifts in Motherhood
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

Who Am I Now? Navigating Identity Shifts in Motherhood

“Who am I now?”

If you’ve found yourself asking this question since becoming a mom, you’re not alone. Many mothers feel a deep identity shift after birth- like parts of them have gone missing or no longer fit. This blog explores the emotional and psychological transformation of matrescence (yes, it’s a real thing!), why it feels so disorienting, and how you can begin reconnecting with yourself in this new season of life. Because you haven’t lost yourself- you’re becoming someone new.

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Scary Thoughts After Baby? What No One Tells You About Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Scary Thoughts After Baby? What No One Tells You About Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts

If you’re having scary, unwanted thoughts about your baby, you’re not alone and you’re not a bad mom. These intrusive thoughts are more common than you think and may be a sign of postpartum OCD, a misunderstood but treatable condition. This blog helps you understand what’s happening in your mind and how to find support that actually helps.

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Why You Might Still Be Grieving Your Birth Experience (Even with a Healthy Baby)
Postpartum, Trauma Melissa Parr Postpartum, Trauma Melissa Parr

Why You Might Still Be Grieving Your Birth Experience (Even with a Healthy Baby)

You’ve been told, “All that matters is a healthy baby.” But what about how you feel after birth? If you’re carrying sadness, anger, or grief about your birth experience, you’re not alone and you’re not ungrateful. Many moms silently struggle with birth trauma, even when everything “looks fine” from the outside. In this blog, we explore why it’s normal to grieve your birth, how trauma can show up postpartum, and how therapy, including EMDR, can help you process what happened, ease emotional triggers, and feel proud of your story. Your experience matters. Healing is possible.

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Sleep Deprivation in Postpartum: How to Cope When You’re Beyond Exhausted
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Sleep Deprivation in Postpartum: How to Cope When You’re Beyond Exhausted

Postpartum sleep deprivation isn’t just “part of the job”- it can shake your sense of self, hijack your emotions, and make even the smallest tasks feel impossible. If you’re deep in the fog of exhaustion, this blog post is for you. I’m breaking down why sleep feels so out of reach in early motherhood and sharing therapist-backed strategies to help you rest, regulate, and feel more like you again. Because you deserve support- not just survival.

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Anxiety vs. OCD in Motherhood: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
Anxiety Melissa Parr Anxiety Melissa Parr

Anxiety vs. OCD in Motherhood: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Anxiety and OCD are both common in early motherhood but they can feel confusing and easy to mix up. This blog explores the key differences between anxiety vs. OCD, including how they show up in postpartum moms, what intrusive thoughts really mean, and why the right diagnosis matters. You’ll also learn about lesser-known forms like Relationship OCD and Pure “O” OCD, how trauma and perfectionism play a role, and what treatments like CBT, EMDR, and ERP can offer. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal, or is something wrong with me?”- this post is for you.

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Treating Postpartum Depression Naturally: Gentle, Holistic Support for New Moms
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Treating Postpartum Depression Naturally: Gentle, Holistic Support for New Moms

You love your baby, but lately, you don’t feel like yourself. If you’re tearful, anxious, disconnected, or just getting through the day on autopilot, you’re not alone. Postpartum depression is real, and it’s more common than most people realize. The good news? You don’t have to suffer in silence and you don’t have to go straight to medication if that doesn’t feel right for you. In this post, I’ll explore how to treat postpartum depression naturally using gentle, research-backed tools that support both your emotional well-being and your nervous system.

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