‘I would go whole days without talking to another grown-up’ – the loneliness of new motherhood

Motherhood is the ultimate learn-on-the-job role and while most of us get a handle on the expected new realities such as lack of sleep, body changes and a big dose of responsibility, the one that can hit hardest is the one no one tells you about – the crushing sense of loneliness and isolation. I had my first baby in December 2016 and those few initial cold, dark winter months were the loneliest of my life..