Is this Normal or am I Losing it? A Postpartum Reality Check

There’s a very specific moment in postpartum life where you find yourself crying over a dropped pacifier at 2:17am, Googling something wildly specific like “baby poop colors?” and thinking: “Okay… but seriously… is this normal?”

If you’ve been there (or are currently there), this is your official, no-judgment, slightly unhinged but very honest postpartum reality check.

Postpartum isn’t just about healing physically. There’s so much more. It’s a full identity shift, hormone rollercoaster, sleep deprivation experiment, and emotional boot camp all while wearing an adult diaper.

So yes, you might feel:

• Overwhelmed one minute and deeply in love the next

• Completely confident… then suddenly questioning everything

• Like you should be happy, but also strangely not okay

And all of that can exist at the same time.

“Is This Normal?” Rapid Fire Edition

Let’s play a quick game. Read these and see if you’ve experienced any:

• Crying because the baby is growing too fast… while also crying because time is moving too slow

• Checking if the baby is breathing… again… and again… and one more time just to be sure

• Forgetting basic words mid-sentence (what is a toaster called??)

• Feeling touched out but also weirdly missing your baby the second they’re asleep

• Googling every single thing your baby does

• Feeling like everyone else knows what they’re doing except you

If you’re nodding along congratulations, you’re very likely… normal.

One of the hardest parts of postpartum can be the emotional contradictions. You can love your baby more than anything and still feel overwhelmed. You can feel grateful and also grieve your old life. You can want a break and then feel guilty for wanting one. This doesn’t make you a bad mom. It makes you a normal human mom.

The “Mom Brain” is another thing that may come with your new normal. Postpartum brain fog is real. Your hormones are shifting dramatically, you are experiencing a severe lack of sleep all while trying to learn how to care for your baby. So if you put your phone in the fridge, can’t remember a word mid-sentence or find yourself walking into a room and not having any idea why, it is likely that you are still very normal. 

But sometimes you may need more help. Here are some examples of when it’s more than “Normal”.

If your thoughts feel:

• Constantly anxious or intrusive

• Overwhelming to the point you can’t function

• Heavy, hopeless, or numb

• Like you’re not yourself at all

Conditions like postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression are common and treatable. Reaching out for help is the best thing you do to be the best person for yourself and your child. Anchor Counseling has Perinatal Mental Health Certified Therapists. We are trained to understand the unique emotional and psychological challenges of the perinatal period, including hormonal changes, birth-related trauma, and the transition to parenthood. The first step is reaching out. We made it easy to get started. Check out our contact us page where you can email, call or even text to learn more!