We don’t talk about what motherhood actually feels like.
Not the curated version.
The real one.
The one where pregnancy isn’t glowing—it’s nauseating, isolating, or terrifying.
Where postpartum isn’t a soft-focus montage—it’s anxiety, rage, and a body you barely recognize.
Where medical harm isn’t rare—it’s routine.
And where the pressure to “bounce back” starts before the baby’s even born.
Alexa Levine, LMFT and perinatal mental health expert, doesn’t sugarcoat it.
She names it.
She lived it.
And she’s helping others survive it.
🧩 Before the Baby: Therapy Isn’t Extra—It’s Essential
Alexa urges couples to start therapy before conception. Not because something’s wrong—but because everything’s about to change.
Roles. Expectations. Family dynamics.
You don’t need to be in crisis to prepare for impact.
🌗 Pregnancy: The Spectrum No One Warns You About
Some pregnancies are joyful.
Others are brutal.
Hyperemesis. Complications. Loss.
And yet, we’re told to smile through it.
1 in 5 mothers experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or postpartum—making it the most common complication of childbirth.
Alexa says: stop gaslighting your own fear. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy are real—and deserve care.
🧠 The “Perfect Woman” Lie
Pregnancy can resurface body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and shame.
The “bounce back” culture isn’t just toxic—it’s violent.
Alexa challenges the myth of the perfect pregnant woman and calls for radical self-compassion instead.
🚨 Birth Trauma Is Not a Fluke
Alexa shares her own experience with medical abuse during childbirth.
She’s not alone.
Up to 1 in 3 birthing people report their birth as traumatic, often due to coercion, neglect, or dismissal by providers
Her advice: bring a doula, know your rights, and never go into labor without someone who will advocate for you.
🌿 Postpartum Isn’t Just Hormones
Postpartum depression affects 1 in 8 mothers nationally, and up to 1 in 5 in some states.
Yet 75% of those impacted remain untreated, increasing long-term risks for both parent and child.
Medication, therapy, and real help aren’t luxuries—they’re survival tools.
And yes, the lack of financial and structural support makes recovery harder. That’s not your fault.
🩸 Miscarriage: One in Four
1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage during their reproductive years.
And yet, most will grieve in silence.
Alexa challenges the 12-week secrecy rule and affirms: share your news when you want to. You deserve support, no matter the outcome.
👣 Second-Time Moms: Confidence Meets Isolation
Subsequent pregnancies bring new challenges.
Support often shifts to older kids, leaving moms invisible.
Bonding with a new baby may feel different—and that’s okay.
Alexa reminds us: every stage is temporary, and every mother deserves care.
🔗 Resources
• Alexa Levine, LMFT – therapyforcaliforniamoms.com
• Instagram: @therapyforcaliforniamoms
