It’s an all too common experience: we bring baby home with the expectation- or at least the faint hope- that we’re going to be high functioning and capable only to find that we’re exhausted, scatter-brained, sore, overwhelmed, covered in vomit and frustrated by any number of factors.  Oftentimes the part that’s not going to plan is how you are being supported (or not supported) by the village you counted on being there for you in this huge time of transition. You don’t want to decline the “help” offered to you, but it’s also not helping, and no one is offering what you need.  If you can relate to this, or foresee this in your future as an expecting parent - you are normal and WE. SEE. YOU.  

In this conversation we talk with Dr. Veronica Eyo, a therapist and mom who understands the many important facets of new parenting, perinatal mental health, relationship wellness and self care.  Speaking from her professional experience and transparently sharing from her personal experience as well, Veronica helps us intentionally look at what it means for each of us to feel supported and gives us permission to be very honest with ourselves and others in order to make it through the initial stages of motherhood well.

“You are not meant to do this alone” Veronica says - and I could not agree more.  It’s not an easy road, but addressing our expectations and allowing ourselves to change our minds about our needs and express them to those in our circles is crucial.  It is worth having hard conversations and cultivating safe relationships for us to be real and vulnerable in.  Veronica kindly helps walk us through very practical steps for identifying our own needs and sharing those needs with others so that they can support us in meaningful ways.

I hope this episode leaves you feeling seen and heard.  You are certainly not alone if this has been your experience.  

You can check out Veronica on instagram for uplifting and practical content.

And you can check out her website too. 

If your couple relationship needs fortifying (or maybe don’t wait until it feels like a “need”), When You & Me Become Three will give you the skills you need to improve communication, clarify and express boundaries, plan the future together and refine your attunement to one another’s needs (including your baby’s). For the month of April, you can download this online, self-paced course for 25% off using the coupon code BABYPROOF. 

We’ve got your back, folks.

Karen