by Dr Bronwyn Leigh
What do we see mother’s being hardest on themselves about?
Trying to do everything, and then feeling like they’ve failed when that proves impossible. Which it almost always is!
Many mothers carry a quiet expectation that they should be able to manage it all, caring for a baby, recovering from pregnancy and birth, keeping life running, often while appearing calm and grateful for it all. When reality doesn’t match that expectation, they can be incredibly hard on themselves.
The truth is, we were never meant to raise babies alone or in isolation. In many non-Western cultures, women are supported through clear rites of passage into motherhood and are closely cared for, particularly in the early postpartum period. That level of communal support simply isn’t the norm in Australia.
Society quietly sets women up to struggle, and yet the struggle is frequently interpreted as a personal failing rather than a reflection of the circumstances.
About the Author
Dr Bronwyn Leigh is a clinical psychologist, perinatal and infant clinician and early parenting consultant. She is the Director of the Centre for Perinatal Psychology. Bronwyn is an expert in the psychological aspects of becoming a parent, the emotional development of infants, and parent-infant relationships.
