My Sister Is Having a Hard Time Since Becoming a Mom
Geplaatst: 16 september 2026, 10:21
A few months ago my younger sister finally became a mother after years of talking about wanting a family. Her pregnancy was mostly uncomplicated apart from some high blood pressure near the end, and everyone expected the difficult part would be over once the baby arrived. Instead, the weeks after the birth have been much harder than any of us anticipated.
Her daughter is now just over three months old. The baby is healthy and growing well, but she has never been a great sleeper. Most nights my sister is awake every two or three hours. What worries me is that she never talks about how tired she is unless someone asks directly. When family visits, she smiles, makes coffee, and acts like everything is under control. A few weeks ago I stopped by unexpectedly on a Tuesday afternoon and found her sitting at the kitchen table in tears because the baby had been crying most of the morning and she felt completely overwhelmed.
She admitted that she sometimes feels guilty when she wishes for just one uninterrupted night of sleep. She also told me she avoids telling friends how difficult things are because many of them only see the happy photos she posts online. Her husband works long shifts in logistics and leaves the house before sunrise. He is a caring father and helps when he gets home, but during the day she is often alone with the baby for ten or eleven hours.
One thing that really opened my eyes happened last month. She forgot a family birthday dinner that she had helped organize herself. That is completely unlike her. She has always been the person who remembers every date, every appointment Basketball Bros, and every detail. It made me realize how exhausted she truly is.
I try to help where I can. Sometimes I take the baby for a walk so she can shower or sleep for an hour. My parents help too, but we all live separate lives and cannot be there every day. I am wondering if other parents or relatives have gone through something similar. At what point did things start feeling more manageable? Did anything help with the constant exhaustion and anxiety during those first months?
Her daughter is now just over three months old. The baby is healthy and growing well, but she has never been a great sleeper. Most nights my sister is awake every two or three hours. What worries me is that she never talks about how tired she is unless someone asks directly. When family visits, she smiles, makes coffee, and acts like everything is under control. A few weeks ago I stopped by unexpectedly on a Tuesday afternoon and found her sitting at the kitchen table in tears because the baby had been crying most of the morning and she felt completely overwhelmed.
She admitted that she sometimes feels guilty when she wishes for just one uninterrupted night of sleep. She also told me she avoids telling friends how difficult things are because many of them only see the happy photos she posts online. Her husband works long shifts in logistics and leaves the house before sunrise. He is a caring father and helps when he gets home, but during the day she is often alone with the baby for ten or eleven hours.
One thing that really opened my eyes happened last month. She forgot a family birthday dinner that she had helped organize herself. That is completely unlike her. She has always been the person who remembers every date, every appointment Basketball Bros, and every detail. It made me realize how exhausted she truly is.
I try to help where I can. Sometimes I take the baby for a walk so she can shower or sleep for an hour. My parents help too, but we all live separate lives and cannot be there every day. I am wondering if other parents or relatives have gone through something similar. At what point did things start feeling more manageable? Did anything help with the constant exhaustion and anxiety during those first months?