Parenting after Childbirth
The months following childbirth are full and rich with all kinds of emotions and feelings. The experiences surrounding parents range from excitement to sadness, from great joy and love to worry and fear, from confusion and anxiety to happiness and pride, etc. This entire spectrum of emotions is legitimate and requires acceptance, containment, and response.
ERAN volunteers are here to help mothers and fathers, during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the first years after birth and family expansion, in coping with a variety of emotions and distresses.
The dedicated online service allows you to receive mental assistance and emotional support through the written word.
ERAN volunteers are here for you, all year round, listening, and assisting you in moments of difficulty, distress, and crisis.
ERAN’s dedicated support service for new mothers and fathers was established with the assistance and support of Materna, and it’s accessible to all parents in Israel anonymously and immediately.
The service operates 24/7, all year round, providing immediate, anonymous, and discreet assistance by dialing *9061 [dialing from Israel only].
Childbirth - Such a Big Change!
The birth of a baby is one of life’s most profound changes – a moment that brings immense love, excitement, and joy, but also fatigue, doubts, and challenging moments. It’s natural to feel everything at once, to be excited and confused, to feel strong and sometimes lost. It can be surprising how you can feel so many different emotions all at once.
Read More
Parenthood doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and every day brings new learning. It’s okay to take a moment to breathe, and over time, find the rhythm that suits us. To discover strengths within us we never knew existed, and also the strength to ask for help.
When a baby is born, we are also born – as parents. Suddenly, we are not just who we were before, but also parents, and sometimes it’s hard to recognize ourselves amidst all the change.
The routine is turned upside down, body and mind are in motion, and fatigue is overwhelming. There are moments of closeness and tenderness, and there are also times when we simply don’t recognize ourselves – and that’s completely understandable.
We discover new things about ourselves, about our relationships, about our boundaries.
When Plans and Expectations Don't Match Reality
Childbirth is such a powerful experience, unlike any other in life, so it’s natural for it to bring a flood of emotions and thoughts all at once. Sometimes we can even have completely contradictory feelings, and this is entirely normal: joy, fear, immense love, but also exhaustion, difficulty connecting with the baby, and even feelings of detachment and depression.
Read More
There are so many steps along the way that can unfold differently than we expected. Was the pregnancy even planned? Situations like a high-risk pregnancy, a birth that didn’t go as planned, breastfeeding challenges, unexpected physical and emotional changes, or feelings of loneliness can shake the sense of security and calm we so desperately needed.
When things don’t go as expected, feelings like disappointment, anxiety, and guilt can arise. How can an event that is supposed to be so joyous cause so much difficulty and pain? A large part of the struggle comes from shame and guilt: how can something that’s supposed to be a natural process like pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood can be so hard and complicated?
It Can Feel Lonely
Feelings of loneliness during pregnancy and early parenthood are common and completely natural, yet often silenced and hidden. There isn’t always space or legitimacy for these feelings, which are so contrary to the perfect image of pregnancy and childbirth.
Read More
But what happens if reality feels entirely different? If there are feelings of alienation and loneliness, a sense that no one truly sees us or understands what we’re going through?
Sometimes we want help but don’t know who to ask or how to ask. Sometimes we receive a lot of advice but are left alone with our questions. Every emotion that arises is allowed to be here. We don’t have to be perfect, just good enough for ourselves and our baby.
Volunteering at ERAN
Volunteering at ERAN can impact people’s lives and contribute to the well-being of our community.
Join us to ERAN’s telephone hotline or the online support services.
Volunteering at ERAN is in Hebrew only.
Emotional Health Support
Our special support for Parents after Childbirth is available in Hebrew, and in a variety of languages on our Olim Helpline.
Our Knowladge Center
The Knowledge Hub provides information, tools, and tips on many different topics. These resources are designed to help us understand, navigate, and empower ourselves through challenging times, difficulties, or when we have questions