The transition to motherhood is a profound step in a woman's life. Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience and motherhood is a lifelong role. Although motherhood is universal in many aspects, the transition into it is very individualized. Our past childhood relationships with our mothers, our fathers and the overall connection we experienced in our parents' marriages form the backdrop for our emotional readiness for motherhood. Therefore, individualized preparation and care is far more effective when it deals with a woman's specific "birth inventory," which is a profile of her significant fears and concerns about upcoming motherhood and childbirth.

If you are a new mom who is struggling with the life changes of new motherhood, trying to take care of your new baby, feeling sleep deprived, and overwhelmed with your new responsibilities, your patience and tolerance will be stretched thin. Many women do not seek treatment because of the shame or guilt they feel about not enjoying motherhood at a time when there is tremendous societal and familial pressure to be a “perfect mother.

Although a natural and healthy part of human life, becoming a mother is hard work and it takes every nook, cranny and crevice of a woman's being. We now know how both physical and psychological health are profoundly impacted by everything from stress to being in love, from positive and negative attitudes, from fear to gratitude.