05/13/2026
We say we want to support moms. But do we? Because too often, what we actually support is birth.
And those two things are not the same.
Yes, every mother deserves access to information, options, and care before and during pregnancy. That matters deeply, and I won’t minimize it.
But a website that centers its tagline on “difficult or unexpected pregnancies” while the postpartum mother is quietly drowning tells us something important about where our priorities are.
After birth, moms face:
1. Postpartum mental health struggles with little to no support
2. Impossible return-to-work timelines that don’t consider healing, physically or emotionally
3. Isolation and lack of community when they need it most
4. Wages that were already lower now stretched to a breaking point, especially for single moms
5. Unaffordable, inaccessible childcare that makes staying or returning to work feel nearly impossible
6. Career gaps that follow moms for years when they can and do choose to stay home
If we truly care about American families, we have to be willing to consider the full picture.
Supporting a mom (or dad) doesn’t end at delivery. Arguably, that’s when they need us most.
Because if we only show up for birth and call it support, we haven’t supported mothers (or families) at all.
What do you think is the most overlooked need for new moms/dads? 👇
