26/08/2025
Feeling isolated during pregnancy or as a new parent isn’t just “in your head”, much of it comes from the way our society is structured.
Some existential loneliness is natural. Pregnancy and early parenthood are profound, individual journeys, your body, mind, and identity are all transforming. But the deep exhaustion, the emotional weight, and the sense of being utterly alone? That’s largely systemic.
👉 In this post, I’m breaking down the 3 types of perinatal loneliness (social, emotional, existential) plus the reasons why so many of us feel cut off at a time we most need support. Swipe through to see where your own experience fits.
In many cultures, pregnant and postpartum parents are cared for in the weeks after birth. In Vietnam, it’s namo “lying in a nest.” In Nigeria, omugwo provides hands-on support from elder relatives. In Mexico, the “closing of the bones” ceremony helps the mother physically and emotionally recover. These practices recognise that giving birth and preparing for parenthood is not just an event, it’s a process one that needs support.
In Western societies, the narrative is very different. Pregnant parents often prepare largely on their own, and new mothers may leave hospital within a day or two. Partners often have only a week or two of leave, and care falls mainly on the mother, sometimes while recovering from birth injuries, caesarean surgery, or sleep deprivation. Time is money. Support is scarce. Exhaustion and loneliness become the norm.
Structural barriers like limited parental leave, underfunded postnatal services, and inequality mean many pregnant and new parents are navigating this life-changing transition alone.
Feeling invisible, overwhelmed, or unsupported is not a personal failure, it’s a consequence of society’s design.
You don’t have to do this alone. Finding community, peer support, and inclusive spaces for connection can make all the difference, whether it’s prenatal/postnatal groups, online communities, or WhatsApp support for real-time connection.
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