When I first became pregnant, I had all sorts of expectations about what type of mother I would be. For starters, I would sing the baby to sleep every night, and breastfeed her for at least a year. Rather than singing her to sleep, I would cry along with her and breastfeeding was torture from the outset. Since then, I have wondered why so many mums are reluctant to share their honest stories of early motherhood. Whatever the reason, new mums have little chance of vocalising their own distresses and needs when they are so heavily pressured by societal and familial expectations.

Source: The Irish Times June 25, 2020 04:07 UTC