the newborn stage
Note: If you’re feeling consistently low, numb, disconnected, or overwhelmed to the point where daily life feels unmanageable, this might be more than exhaustion and being ND. Postnatal depression and anxiety are really common, and they are not your fault. Please speak to your GP or a trusted health professional. You deserve support, and there is no shame in asking for it. This space shares peer stories and prompts, but it is not a replacement for professional care.
The newborn stage is supposed to be magical.
That’s what they say, anyway.
But for many neurodivergent parents, it was… something else.
Not everyone talks about what actually happens.
The shame. The panic. The overstimulation. The rage. The grief. The numbness.
The feeling of being broken in a way that no one else seemed to be.
And the hardest part? Thinking you were the only one feeling that way.
These voice notes are for anyone who kind of vanished during that time - who smiled for the photos, answered the well-meaning messages, and maybe cried into a cold cup of tea while Googling “is it normal to hate the newborn stage?”
No advice here. No tips.
These are just stories that might make you feel a bit less like you imagined the whole thing.
It was a lot. It still is. You’re not weird.
Voice Notes
Would you like to add a voice note?
Feel free to ramble… we can edit the voice notes and send them back to you for sign off.
They can be anonymous if you feel more comfortable with that.
A good way to voice note is to use a voice memo app.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable, we advise that you just get started recording a memo. You can stop and re-record, but once you start, it becomes more comfortable!
Share the file here.
If you’d like some help getting started, let us know!
Journaling prompts
Journaling on your own can be really powerful — it helps you make sense of things that feel tangled. But sometimes, especially when you’re in the thick of it (like the newborn stage), the thoughts that come up can feel overwhelming. If you’re tackling something hard, consider journaling with someone nearby. A partner in the next room. A friend on the end of the phone. You don’t have to process everything alone, especially not the big stuff. Speak to your GP or a mental health professional if you need more support. That’s not weakness — that’s care.
if you’re Still in it:
What questions have I been too scared to say out loud?
Write them, without judgement. They deserve space.
What feels “off” or unbearable right now — and what if it isn’t a flaw, but a signal?
You don’t have to fix it. Just name it.
If You’re Looking Back:
Could I write a short letter to the version of me who was in it?
What would I say to her now — knowing everything I know? Be honest. Be kind. Be real.
If I could rewrite the “newborn stage” narrative, how would I describe it now?
Real words only. No pastel-filtered memory required.
Please share your Journaling insights!
Click below if you had a ‘moment’. We’d love to hear what resonated. This helps shape future voice notes and journals.