The Grind Is Real: When Postpartum Anxiety Drowns Out Your Mom Intuition (And Sleep Isn’t Helping)

Some days, it feels like I’m just spinning—like a hamster on a wheel. I’m pushing, hustling, checking boxes, folding laundry, responding to texts, feeding little humans, running on caffeine… and yet somehow, by the end of the day, it feels like I’ve done nothing. My husband asked me last night if I was okay—probably sensing I was teetering dangerously close to the edge.

I looked at him and said,

“Can you believe how much we did today… and it still feels like nothing actually got done?”

Maybe you’ve felt that, too. That foggy frustration. The heaviness. The exhaustion that goes deeper than your body—into your soul.

Here’s something I’ve learned, and I want you to hear this with love:

If you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety, it can drown out your ability to hear your mom intuition.

That sacred, natural instinct you have for your child—it’s always there. But anxiety can muffle it. It clouds your confidence, shakes your sense of direction, and makes you question every single choice. You second-guess your gut. You Google everything. You panic at night. You wonder if you’re doing it all wrong. And then the guilt creeps in, because deep down, you feel like you should know what your baby needs.

And here’s the kicker…

Sleep Deprivation Fuels the Fire

Lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling tired—it magnifies your anxiety. Research shows that sleep deprivation can directly contribute to postpartum anxiety and depression. It affects your ability to regulate emotions, think clearly, and cope with stress. So if you're running on empty and wondering why you feel like you're unraveling... it's not just in your head. Your nervous system is tired, too.

When your baby isn’t sleeping, neither are you—and that constant disruption creates a vicious cycle: anxiety makes it harder to sleep, and poor sleep makes anxiety even worse. It’s not your fault. It’s science.

Try This 3-Step Reset to Hear Your Intuition in the Moment:

Here’s a quick, calming process you can do anywhere, anytime, to shift out of anxiety and reconnect with your intuition:

1. Breathe and Feel

Place one hand on your heart, one on your belly. Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 6.

Do this 3x.

Feel your body soften. You’re safe in this moment.

2. Name What’s True

Say out loud (or think quietly):

“This is anxiety. I’m not in danger. I’m a good mom doing my best.”

Calling it out takes away its power.

3. Ask Yourself: “What do I know deep down?”

Let your mind quiet and wait for the whisper—not the shout.

It might be: “My baby is just tired.” or “We’re okay.” or “I need to ask for help.”

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating space for clarity.

What You Can Do (Starting Now)

Let’s talk solutions—because there is hope, and support is available.

At Parenting Practice, we offer postpartum support designed to help you reconnect with your intuition, regulate your nervous system, and get your baby (and you) better sleep. Here’s what that can look like:

Postpartum Support Services:

Emotional check-ins and anxiety management strategies: 2-6 week packages
Coaching and compassionate support to reconnect with your inner wisdom
Tools to understand and manage intrusive thoughts or worries
Validation and guidance—because you deserve to feel seen, not judged
Recommendations for supplements and labs to have obtained.

Pediatric Sleep Consulting:

A custom sleep plan tailored to your baby’s unique needs and temperament
Guidance on how to gently encourage self-soothing
Help creating a calm, predictable bedtime routine
Strategies to improve your sleep even while baby is still waking at night

Tips for Better Sleep with a Poor Sleeper

Here are a few sleep strategies you can begin today:

Protect bedtime
Create a consistent, calming bedtime routine—bath, books, lullabies. The repetition cues your baby’s brain (and yours) that it’s time to rest.
Create a sleep-conducive environment
Dim the lights. Use white noise. Cool room. No stimulation. Less is more.
Mind nap timing
Too much daytime sleep or naps too late in the day can throw off nighttime rest.
Pause before responding
When your baby stirs, take a few deep breaths before intervening. Sometimes, they resettle on their own—and you’ve just gained another 10 minutes of precious sleep.
Ask for help
You are not weak for needing sleep—you’re human. Whether it’s a partner, friend, or professional, you don’t have to do this solo.

The Bottom Line

Mama, your intuition isn’t broken—it’s just being drowned out by noise. And anxiety loves to get louder when you’re exhausted.

But you’re not stuck here.

With support, rest, and tools that actually work, you can feel like yourself again. You can hear your inner knowing. You can stop spinning on the wheel and start walking in peace.

Let us help you get there.

You were never meant to figure this out alone.