When Pregnancy or New Parenthood Feels Overwhelming
Nobody tells you that welcoming a child can feel like losing yourself at the same time. The hormonal swings, the sleeplessness, the grief for who you used to be — all while the world expects you to feel only joy. Whether you're pregnant, newly postpartum, or deep in the identity shift of parenthood, what you're feeling is real and it deserves real support.
I work with all parents — mothers, fathers, and partners — through every stage of this journey.
What This Can Feel Like
There is often an unspoken pressure to feel grateful or happy during pregnancy and postpartum. When your experience doesn’t match that expectation, it can feel confusing or even distressing.
You might notice:
Anxiety during pregnancy about the baby, birth, or health
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed or easily tearful
Persistent worry that something will go wrong
Difficulty bonding or feeling disconnected from your baby
Guilt about not feeling the way you expected
Identity shifts that feel disorienting or isolating
Strain in your relationship or feeling unsupported
These experiences are more common than most people realize, but they are often carried in silence.
How Therapy Helps
In therapy, we make space for your full experience—not just the parts that feel acceptable or “supposed” to be there.
We work on understanding the emotional and nervous system changes that come with pregnancy and postpartum transitions, while also supporting you in feeling more grounded, supported, and connected to yourself.
When appropriate, I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help process past or present experiences that may be contributing to anxiety, overwhelm, or emotional distress during this time.
You don’t have to push through or pretend you’re okay. You can be supported through it.
What Can Change
Over time, therapy can help you:
Feel less overwhelmed and more emotionally steady
Reduce anxiety and intrusive worry
Feel more connected to yourself and your baby
Navigate identity changes with more clarity
Strengthen communication and support in relationships
Feel more grounded during a major life transition
There is no “right” way to experience this stage of life. There is only your experience—and it deserves support.
If you are finding this time more difficult than expected, you are not alone.
Support during pregnancy and postpartum is not a luxury—it is care that can make a meaningful difference.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation for people throughout California.
Looking for tools to use between sessions? Visit my resource page.
ABOUT
Ziv Vosberg, LMFT #130319
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Telehealth across California
(408) 831-8804
zivlmft.com
GOOD TO KNOW
This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a therapeutic relationship.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.