Lyndsay's Story of Hope
- Celeste Chapko
- May 5
- 2 min read
As we celebrate Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we will be sharing some very special stories from our volunteers. Today, we have the honor of sharing Lyndsay's Story of Hope.
"Motherhood, for me, has been an emotional rollercoaster—one filled with unimaginable pain, profound love, and the ongoing journey of healing.
My story began with heartbreak. My first daughter, Everly was stillborn, and the silence that followed her birth was deafening. There are no words that can truly capture the weight of seeing your child for the first and last time all at once. Grief settled into every single aching part of me. I dreamed of her first cry, her first steps, braiding her hair for the first time, her first day of school—but instead, I was left with memories that would never be made, and the task of planning a funeral. What would she wear? How would she look? Should I bury her, or cremate her?
After loss, I carried both hope and fear. When I became pregnant again, I felt joy—of course—but it was complicated, tangled with SO MUCH anxiety and uncertainty. My son, Maverick, was born healthy, and in his cry, I found both relief and so much love. But even in the happiest moments, I felt the shadow of my first daughter’s absence. The anxiety didn’t disappear with his arrival. If anything, it grew. I worried constantly. Every cough, every silence in the baby monitor, every fever sent me spiraling into fear.
Motherhood after loss is a different kind of motherhood. It is one where joy and grief walk side by side. It's loving one child SO incredibly fiercely while never forgetting the one who should be here too.
Through therapy, support groups, and honest conversations, I’ve learned to speak my honest truth. I’ve learned that maternal mental health matters deeply—and that it’s okay to not be okay. Sharing my story isn’t easy, but I do it because no one should suffer in silence.
To the mothers navigating grief, anxiety, and the complexities of this journey: you are not alone."
We are so grateful to Lyndsay for sharing her story with our community. If you or someone you know is in need of support, please reach out today. At the NWI Center for Maternal Wellness, we offer education, peer support and resources to mothers and families struggling with Perinatal Mental Health Disorders. We would love to walk alongside you on your journey to wellness.
Commentaires