Let’s Talk About Postpartum Disparities—Because It’s Not the Same for Everyone
You just had a baby... and instead of rest, support, and ease—you’re exhausted, anxious, and maybe even a little (or a lot) heartbroken.
If no one’s said it to you yet: I see you.
The postpartum period is supposed to be a time to heal, to bond, to be held while you figure out life with a new baby. But for many Black, Brown, and Indigenous families, that’s not the story we get. Instead, we’re navigating medical bias, dismissal, mental health struggles, and silence.
Let’s be honest: the postpartum experience is not the same for everyone—and that difference is real, deep, and unfair.
If you're joining us for Black Maternal Health Week, we invite you to start with this post on why this week matters. It gives the full picture of the disparities we’re exploring in this series.
So what does postpartum disparity actually look like?
It looks like…
Having your pain dismissed or downplayed
Not getting a call back from your provider when you say something feels off
Feeling like you can’t be honest about your sadness or anxiety for fear of being judged—or reported
Watching everyone focus on the baby while you feel like you’re slowly unraveling
Trying to ask for help but being met with “Well, that’s just motherhood…”
If you’ve experienced any of this—you’re not broken, weak, or doing anything wrong. You’re living in a system that wasn’t built with your healing in mind.
For Black and Brown parents, the risks are higher—and the care is often less.
Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. That statistic is horrifying—and it’s not because of our bodies. It’s because of systemic racism in healthcare and the ways bias shows up in everyday interactions.
And even if you “survive” childbirth, the emotional scars left by being ignored, gaslit, or left out of your own care can last long after the physical ones have healed.
The emotional load of postpartum hits different when you’re already carrying more.
Let’s talk about the fourth trimester—the first 12 weeks after birth. It’s a time that should be about rest, bonding, and gentle transition. But for so many of us, it feels like drowning in expectations, with no life raft in sight.
You might feel…
Constantly on edge, anxious, or overstimulated
Disconnected from your baby (or yourself)
Angry, sad, or like you're not “cut out” for this
Pressured to pretend everything’s okay
Afraid to speak up because you’re worried about being misunderstood
You are not weak. You are not failing. You are navigating postpartum while being unseen—and that’s a heavy thing to carry.
Here’s what I want you to know (and really believe):
Your feelings are valid. You’re not crazy or dramatic—your body, mind, and spirit have been through something big.
Support isn’t a luxury—it’s a need. You deserve care that honors your culture, your story, and your voice.
You’re allowed to ask for help. It doesn’t make you weak. It makes you wise and worthy of healing.
You don’t have to do this alone. Whether it’s therapy, community, or just someone who gets it—you deserve that space.
You matter, too. Not just the baby. Not just the checklist. You.
At Resilient Roots, we’re here for the full picture of you.
We offer perinatal mental health support that centers your identity, your culture, and your lived experience. Whether you’re struggling with postpartum anxiety, feeling stuck in survival mode, or carrying trauma from your birth experience—we hold space for all of it.
We don’t expect you to be strong all the time. We just want you to be supported.
Let’s rewrite the postpartum story—for you, and for every parent who’s been made to feel invisible.
Ready to talk? Reach out for a free consultation. We’ll meet you with care, no matter where you are in your journey.
