Welcoming a new baby into the world is a beautiful, life-changing experience. During the first year of life, babies are typically seen by a pediatrician at least seven times. These visits track everything from growth and development to feeding and sleep habits. Babies receive extensive care, attention, and support to ensure they’re thriving in every way.

Now let’s talk about mom.

After giving birth, the standard postpartum care for moms looks dramatically different. For a vaginal birth, most mothers have only one follow-up appointment around six weeks postpartum. For a C-section, they may be seen twice. That’s it. In many cases, a mother is told she’s “cleared” to return to life as usual—physically, emotionally, and mentally—after that single visit.

Often, the only tool used to assess a mother’s mental health is a short questionnaire. There’s rarely space to talk about the deep emotional, physical, and identity shifts that come after birth. And yet, mothers are navigating recovery from childbirth, sleep deprivation, breastfeeding challenges, relationship changes, and more—largely on their own.

This stark contrast highlights a serious issue in our healthcare system: moms are not getting the care, support, and compassion they truly need postpartum. While baby is closely monitored and supported, mom is expected to silently “bounce back.”

We believe it’s time to change that narrative. Moms need regular check-ins, mental health support, community connection, and resources that address the whole person—because when a mom is supported, the entire family thrives.

Let’s continue the conversation and advocate for better postpartum care. At Hello Motherhood in Franklin, we care for postpartum moms and provide them the support they deserve. Moms deserve to be seen, heard, and cared for—every bit as much as their babies.