After my second was born, I lost myself and didn’t know it. With a history of depression and having had postpartum rage with my first and not identifying it until much later, I felt isolated and lonely with my second. I didn’t know any resources or where to turn when I had the rage, intrusive thoughts, or great despair, too embarrassed to admit it to myself let alone talk about it with others (I’ve got this, I can push through it, my kids come first, isn’t this what everyone else feels like?) It took me about 3 years before I truly discovered that I was still struggling with postpartum anxiety, depression and dwindling rage (thank goodness). It was then, but not too late, that I discovered what a postpartum doula is. Yes, we do tangible things like taking out the garbage or doing dishes but we do so much more. We offer support, encouragement, a listening ear, resources and possibly the most important, we help you discover your voice, your power again. As a postpartum doula, my goal isn’t to save you from experiencing anything, parenthood is wonderful and challenging, exhausting and exhilarating. My goal is to provide resources, to educate folks about peri/postnatal mood and anxiety disorders, to be your supportive friend in a season of life full of the unknown and a lot of sleep deprivation. Let’s normalize talk and promote help to those in the postpartum period. Postpartum doesn’t end when your baby turns 1 or any age, you are forever in postpartum, but those early days, weeks and months need to be talked about more, planned for, assisted in.  You are strong, you can do this, you don’t have to be alone in this.