“Careful,” I say quickly, my voice gentle as I grab your hands to help you slowly stand up from the bed. I glance over at little baby Charlotte fast asleep in her bassinet to make sure she remains undisturbed before returning my gaze to you.

It’s only our third day home from the hospital after you gave birth to our first baby, and needless to say, I’m very protective of you right now. I was practically taking notes while listening to everything the nurses told us, not to mention all the postpartum research I did over the past nine months. My primary goal is to help you however you need. I don’t want you doing anything you don’t have to.

I’ve also been really mindful of your mental state. During my hours of research, I discovered ‘postpartum depression’ is a common experience for most women, and the severity can range. The last thing I want or need is for you to be silently struggling thinking you’re alone.