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My Story
Hi! I’m Casey, and this is my story—raw, real, and anything but glamorous. Join me as I share the unvarnished reality of motherhood.
When I first saw those two pink lines, a rush of excitement washed over me. I naively believed that a few books and friendly advice would be enough to prepare me for motherhood. I didn’t realize that beyond the pages of What to Expect When You’re Expecting lay an uncharted wilderness of raw, unspoken truths. I wish I had delved deeper into the emotional and psychological labyrinth that women navigate during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum haze.
I wasn’t prepared for the cold indifference of being treated like just another patient, where the mechanical beeps of machines replaced human comfort. Nor was I ready for the sheer terror of being dismissed mid-panic attack during a major operation. The birth trauma I endured was a silent storm that raged within me, long after the physical wounds had healed. The coldness of the medical environment, the lack of empathy, and the feeling of being completely powerless during such a vulnerable time left deep emotional scars.
In the days and weeks that followed, the trauma seeped into every corner of my life. Flashbacks of the birth haunted me, and the overwhelming anxiety made it hard to function. I felt isolated, trapped in a cycle of shame, guilt, and regret that seemed impossible to escape. The lack of proper postpartum care only intensified these feelings, leaving me to navigate the darkness alone, struggling to find my way back to a sense of normalcy. What should have been a time of joy and connection became a period of survival, as I grappled with the lasting impact of my birth experience.
Postpartum difficulties, a topic often shrouded in whispers, hides behind veiled smiles and sanitized stories. The truth is, it’s a brutal, exhausting trial. A C-section is not just another birth method—it’s a major, body-altering surgery, something I didn’t fully grasp until I was lying there, stitched and aching. I wish someone had told me to pack not just a baby bag, but a survival kit for my sanity. The emotional and psychological trauma that accompanies labor and postpartum isn’t just an afterthought; it’s a storm that crashes in, uninvited. I wish I had known it’s not only acceptable, but vital to mourn the life that slipped away when I became a mother, and that those dark, intrusive thoughts are not a sign of failure, but a part of the journey.
The experience of labor and delivery often diverges significantly from social media portrayals.
There was a notable lack of comprehensive guidance throughout the labor and delivery process.
The postpartum period presented substantial challenges that are seldom talked about.
Postpartum healthcare for mothers is not prioritized and is scarcely available.
I navigated a broken system and felt utterly abandoned and out of control. While not every woman shares this experience, my story is becoming increasingly common. At 41, I was bombarded with endless do's and don'ts, subjected to frequent visits, and put through extra tests. After a traumatic birth and an unplanned C-section, I was sent home with minimal support and told to come back in six weeks. Exactly a week later, I was readmitted for postpartum preeclampsia—a condition I had never even heard of. For those unfamiliar with postpartum preeclampsia, you can learn more about it here.
My deeply troubling experiences—from the doctor visits leading up to and following delivery, to the glaring lack of postpartum care—left me infuriated. I was completely unaware of the psychological struggles of labor and delivery, the harsh realities of postpartum, and the dangers of conditions like preeclampsia. My OBGYN failed to prioritize educating me about any of it. During my postpartum period, I was handed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to fill out, which felt woefully inadequate. Instead of providing real resources and education for mothers, why not schedule a doctor's visit one week postpartum? Why not offer a comprehensive pregnancy packet at the first visit, or useful resources about what to expect during postpartum? Instead, we’re hastily discharged from the hospital with little more than a survey to complete.
I want to normalize the pain.
I want to normalize the trauma and struggles.
I want to offer resources & a community to help other mothers.
My birth story was an intense whirlwind of emotions—anxiety that gnawed at my peace, fear that paralyzed me, joy that briefly lit up the darkness, exhaustion that seeped into my bones, loneliness that echoed through the quiet moments, and anger that simmered beneath the surface. Despite the millions of women who have walked this path before me, I felt utterly isolated, as if I were the only one in the world grappling with these emotions. The healthcare system, which should have been a source of support, instead left me adrift, failing to offer the understanding and care I so desperately needed.
Too often, articles and doctors gloss over or outright ignore the negative emotions that can swell during pregnancy and the postpartum period, leaving women unprepared and overwhelmed. Postpartum struggles are whispered about, if at all, and treated with a one-size-fits-all approach that disregards the unique experiences each mother endures. That's why I created Alchemy of Motherhood. My mission is to break the silence, to challenge and disrupt the narrative, and to normalize the full spectrum of women’s experiences. Every woman’s journey is different, and it’s time we started acknowledging that truth.
My goal is to shine a light on the struggles of postpartum that often remain hidden in our society. I want to normalize discussions about intrusive thoughts, relationship shifts, body image issues, mental health challenges, and the emotional toll this period can take on a woman, her partner, and her baby. It’s time to bring these issues out of the shadows and into the open.
My mission is to provide other mothers with a safe, judgment-free community filled with support, unfiltered truths, and resources to help them avoid the hardships I faced. Together, we can challenge the current healthcare system and change the prevailing narrative.
Mission
Postpartum care is often overlooked, yet it is one of the most critical phases in a mother’s journey. My mission is to shed light on the truths about childbirth and the postpartum period, providing mothers with the comprehensive resources and support they need to thrive.
I am dedicated to creating a supportive community where mothers can access accurate information, share their experiences, and find the encouragement they need during this transformative time.
I know that the postpartum period comes with its own unique set of challenges, from physical recovery to emotional well-being. By offering resources, advice, and real-life stories, I strive to empower mothers with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate this journey confidently. My goal is to ensure that no mother feels alone or unsupported, and that every mother has the opportunity to heal, grow, and embrace motherhood with confidence and joy.
Vision
My vision is to create a world where no mother feels alone, where every mother receives the compassionate postpartum care and support she deserves. I aspire to be a resource for postpartum education and community, empowering mothers to embrace their unique journeys with confidence and joy.
By creating a culture that prioritizes maternal health and well-being, I aim to ensure that no mother feels overlooked during this critical time. My commitment is to make postpartum care accessible, comprehensive, and supportive for all mothers, creating a foundation for healthy and happy families.
