Like many parents, my first birth didn’t go as planned. After an emergency delivery and a week of watching my newborn in the NICU, I brought home a beautiful baby—and an overwhelming fear of his fragility.

My anxiety was all-consuming. I couldn’t sleep, terrified that a single mistake might harm my son. Instead of feeling the joy of those early moments, I felt ashamed, like I was failing at something that should come naturally. I was overwhelmed by the sense that I was missing out on the best parts of the newborn stage, and I felt utterly alone in my struggle.

When I went for my six-week postpartum check-up, I was stunned by how little focus there was on my mental health. I walked out feeling abandoned, as if I had to manage it all on my own.

That’s when I turned to my friend, and now co-founder, Caitlin. She opened up about her own journey after having her first child—how she had felt utterly drained, emotionally numb, and even angry during what was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life. Eventually, she came to understand that what she was experiencing was postpartum depression.

With Caitlin’s support, I found the strength to seek help for my own postpartum depression and anxiety. I reconnected with my therapist, started medication, and, most importantly, no longer felt alone.