How Postpartum Anxiety Can Change Your Parenting Plan
When Feedings and Postpartum Anxiety Have You Throwing Out Your Curated Parenting Plan
So, you made it to parenthood - congratulations! Maybe you thought that after surviving your own childhood mealtime dramas (I see you, “finish your plate!” survivors) you would finally hold the keys to the castle, setting the rules and routines that would nourish your little one and fill your heart with pride. Well, did anyone warn you how parenting somehow manages to take those precise parenting plans that you worked so hard to research and think about and toss them out the window?
If you’re like me, there’s a good chance you’ve found yourself staring at a lovingly prepared meal (lemon pepper chicken thighs, anyone?) only for your three-year-old to give it a sideways look and proceed to eat three bites before dashing off to inspect a ladybug or practice their shoe-tying skills. If you’ve started to suspect that feeding your child is less like meal planning and more like trying to catch a rare Pokémon, welcome to the club. Add in the postpartum hormones and you might start feeling like parenting is more like a rollercoaster than the dream you had imagined.
Is It Just Me? (Spoiler: It’s Not)
In the latest episode of The Real Family Eats podcast, Chloe E shares the story so many parents know all too well: how the transition to parenthood is less about following rules and more about learning to adapt to your child's unique needs, especially when it comes to feeding. From postpartum anxiety rooted in whether her baby was “getting enough,” to sleepless nights haunted by growth charts and comments from authority figures (“She finished nursing in twelve minutes? Not possible!”), Chloe’s journey is refreshingly real, sometimes frustrating, and undeniably relatable.
Guess what? I’ve been there too. When my child wasn’t eating “enough” or didn’t care if dinner was a picnic or a three-course feast, the self-doubt crept in. Suddenly, every mealtime was a mini test of my worth as a parent, complete with a side of anxiety, a touch of guilt, and (if I was lucky) a dash of humor.
This Sandwich Is Making Me Question My Life Choices
If you’re wondering how a sandwich ended up being the battleground for your sense of self, you’re not alone. Chloe’s story (like mine, perhaps like yours) reveals a truth most parenting books gloss over: it’s not just about the food. It’s about grappling with expectations, the well-meaning advice, and sometimes less-than-helpful pressure, from doctors, family, and social media, and about wanting desperately to do right by your child.
Sometimes, feeding challenges trigger anxiety and frustration that feel much bigger than the plate in front of us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that “everyone else” has this figured out or that if we just tried harder, or worried more, the answer would appear. But, as Chloe discovered, trusting in your little one's unique rhythms is half the battle. The other half? Trusting your own instincts … even when they go against the grain of books and charts.
Trusting Your Child, Trusting Yourself (Is That Even Possible?)
Parenting, especially in the newborn and toddler years, is one long lesson in relinquishing control. Chloe’s podcast episode is packed with honest moments: doubts about her child’s grazing habits, learning from her therapist to honor her daughter’s cues, and, perhaps most powerfully, reshaping her own definition of success as a parent.
You know what? That’s hard work. It asks us to rewrite our mental scripts, to recognize the voices that tell us what “should” be happening, and to gently invite in a little more compassion for ourselves. Chloe’s story also shows how help from empathetic professionals (and a supportive partner or community) can make all the difference.
You Don’t Have to Ride the Roller Coaster Alone
If the anxiety and endless second-guessing have been creeping up on you, it’s okay (really, it is!) to ask for support. Individual therapy intensives for parents, like the services we offer here at Embrace Renewal Therapy, isn’t just for those “in crisis.” It’s for any parent longing for a little reassurance, clarity, or self-trust. I get it. I know the feeling of wondering if your child’s limited interest in meals is a sign of catastrophe, or just the natural ebb and flow of normal development.
Working with me means you get a non-judgmental space to talk through the feeding worries, the transitions, even the larger questions about your parenting identity. I help you untangle old belief systems (eat those three meals a day, or else!), learn to listen not just to your child’s cues, but to your own, and develop tools and confidence to face each chaos-laden mealtime (and sleepless night) with a little more peace.
What Does Support Actually Look Like?
Here’s the truth: real change starts with a conversation … and sometimes that conversation needs to happen outside of family or friend circles. If you’re spinning your wheels over parenting decisions, feeling overwhelmed by authority figures whose advice just doesn’t fit, or simply wanting someone to tell you you’re doing okay, individual therapy can be your game-changer.
In sessions, I can help you:
Reframe the pressure to be the “perfect” feeder (or parent)
Practice trusting your gut and your child’s signals, even in a sea of contradictory advice
Work through feelings of anxiety, guilt, or frustration around food and other parenting transitions
Set boundaries and expectations that honor your family’s unique path (charts be darned!)
Develop self-compassion as you learn from your child, instead of just teaching them
Ready to Trade Anxiety for Confidence?
If Chloe’s journey strikes a chord for you, why not take the next step for yourself? Consider booking a session for individual therapy for parents with Embrace Renewal Therapy. I’m here to hold space for your process, support your goals for well-being, and remind you that you don’t have to do this alone.
And, if you love hearing real parents tackle real talk over recipes and snack time woes, don’t miss Chloe E’s episode on The Real Family Eats podcast. Our hope is that you’ll find laughter, solidarity, and maybe even the inspiration to let go of a little guilt and invite in a little grace.
You deserve calm in the chaos - whether it’s at the dinner table or in your heart.
Ready? Reach out today and let’s embrace renewal, together.
P.S. Those feeding charts, Pinterest meals, and “superparent” standards? They don’t know your kid. But you do. Let’s help you trust that, once and for all.
