The Silent Weight of Postpartum Anxiety (and the Weird Baby Noises No One Warns You About)

You’ve probably heard about postpartum depression — it gets most of the spotlight in the world of maternal mental health (and rightly so). But let’s talk about something just as real, just as overwhelming, and a lot less discussed: postpartum anxiety.

If you’re lying awake at night replaying every little moment of the day, or obsessively Googling “is this normal for a newborn?” while also feeling like the weight of keeping this tiny human alive is crashing down on you — you’re not alone. That’s postpartum anxiety talking, and yes, it’s real.

What Is Postpartum Anxiety?

Postpartum anxiety often shows up as:

• Racing thoughts
• Constant worry (especially about your baby’s safety)
• Trouble sleeping, even when baby is asleep
• Physical symptoms like a racing heart, restlessness, or feeling “on edge”
• A sense that something bad is always just around the corner

And unlike depression, anxiety can show up without sadness. In fact, many moms say they feel emotionally fine, but they’re always buzzing with nervous energy, fear, or panic.

Let’s Talk About Those Baby Noises

You know what really feeds postpartum anxiety? The noises. The strange, squishy, snorty, grunty, wheezy, alien-like sounds your baby makes 24/7 — especially at night.

Here’s the thing no one tells you: newborns are LOUD sleepers. They grunt, squeak, gasp, and make all sorts of bizarre sounds that sound not okay — even though they’re usually 100% normal. Some babies even sound like tiny goats or velociraptors (no, seriously).

Cue the middle-of-the-night panic:

"Is she choking?"
"Was that a cry? Should I go check?"
"Why did he stop breathing for 3 seconds!?"

You end up watching them sleep like a hawk, barely blinking, heart racing — because you’re trying to interpret every single noise like it’s a secret code for something terrible.

This constant hypervigilance? Classic postpartum anxiety.

It’s Not Just You

If this sounds familiar, please know: you’re not “crazy,” you’re not failing, and you’re definitely not alone. Many moms experience postpartum anxiety — and because it’s less talked about than depression, it can feel even more isolating.

Anxiety loves to make you question everything:

• Am I doing this right?
• Should I be more relaxed?
• Why does everyone else seem fine?

Here’s the truth: You’re doing your best. And that’s enough.

What Can Help Me?!

You don’t have to live in a constant state of panic or self-doubt. There is support, and it does get better. Some things that help:

• Talking about it — with a therapist who understands maternal mental health (like here, at Messy Bun Therapy!)
• Normalizing what you’re experiencing — talking to other moms who get it
• Mindfulness and grounding techniques — not the fluffy kind, the real ones that work when you're spiraling at 2 AM
• Medication — sometimes anxiety needs more than deep breathing, and that's okay

Rest — no, really. You are allowed to rest. Your body and brain need it.

Final Thoughts

Postpartum anxiety isn’t just “being a little worried” — it’s a mental health challenge that deserves real support. If you’re constantly on edge, struggling to sleep, or feel like you’re unraveling behind the scenes, you’re not weak. You’re human.

You’re also not alone. At Messy Bun Therapy, we get the real, raw, unfiltered version of motherhood — including the weird noises, the wild thoughts, and the big feelings. You don’t have to hold it all in.

Let’s talk about it. Let’s breathe together. Let’s make space for your story.

Want to learn more about how therapy can help with postpartum anxiety? Contact me at [Messy Bun Therapy Contact] or check out our upcoming virtual support groups for new moms.

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