As I look into the mirror, I see a version of myself that feels both familiar and foreign. The same eyes, but now supported by dark circles of fatigue. The same face, but now lined with the silent sacrifices of motherhood. My hair, loosely pulled up into a soggy bun, retains bits of baby breakfast, and the stretched-out sweatshirt I wear has had more spit-up than I wish to disclose.

I adore my baby—more than words can say. And yet sometimes, I miss her—the person I was prior to motherhood taking over every aspect of my life. The woman who could sleep in on Saturdays, meet friends at a moment's notice for coffee, and luxuriate in long showers without guilt. The woman who had dreams and aspirations that extended past nap times and feeding schedules.

No one prepares you for this aspect of motherhood—the quiet grieving for your former self. It has nothing to do with regretting becoming a mother. It has nothing to do with not valuing the snickers, the milestones, the intense and all-consuming love you have for your child. But what it does mean is that occasionally, in the quiet of the night, when the baby is finally sleeping and the house is still, you find yourself thinking: Where did I go? Though the happiness of motherhood is second to none, many new mothers find themselves wrestling with an internal dilemma: the profound love for their children and the desire for the woman they used to be. This pull and push of motherhood is a reality usually whispered about, but it is one that is worthy of an open, honest discussion.

For Noina, a 32-year-old marketing executive in Mumbai, the transition from independent, career-oriented woman to full-time mother of a newborn was both lovely and perplexing. Two years ago, she was spearheading marketing campaigns for a large company, taking spontaneous weekend trips, and luxuriating in the privileges of solo time. Today, her universe is centered around feeding times, sleepless nights, and round-the-clock diaper changes.

"I always wanted to be a mother, but I never realized how much of myself I would lose in the process," Meera confesses. "I love my baby, but sometimes, I feel like crying out for the freedom of just being me."

Silent Struggles: Tiredness, Shame, and Alienation

As with many new mothers, Meera has moments of debilitating fatigue. Rising at 4:30 a.m. to feed the baby, keeping up with domestic chores, and finding a balance between work-from-home duties exhausts her. The assertive woman who dominated boardrooms now second-guesses every parenting move.

Exhilaration brings guilt. "There are days when I just want to sleep for hours, but then I feel guilty for not spending every waking moment with my child," she says. "And then, when I am with him, I sometimes find myself missing my old life—then the guilt gets even worse.

This intrapsychic tug-of-war is typical among new mothers. Based on several studies, almost 80% of women go through postpartum mood changes, with many reporting feelings of isolation, anxiety, and even mild depression. The social pressure put on the mother to be perpetually selfless is just another added source of pressure in the intrapsychic tug-of-war.

Weight of Guilt and Shame

Mothers get bombarded by images of 'perfect' parenting—beaming mothers with obedient babies, tidy houses, and undeterred careers. Motherhood in real life is messy, both literally and metaphorically.

"I feel guilty hanging up on a work call to take care of my baby. I feel guilty when I take a long shower just so I can have a few minutes to myself. I feel guilty when I let him cry for a few minutes because I am too tired to answer right away," Noina confesses. "But I've learned that guilt is part of motherhood—it doesn't mean I love my baby any less."

Experts say that guilt usually arises from unrealistic expectations. The secret is understanding that being a 'perfect mother' is a myth. Guilt must be a call to rethink priorities and not a sign of failure.

Identity Crisis Is Real, Rediscovering the Woman Beyond 'Mom'

Most women, such as Meera, find it difficult to feel like they lose themselves as 'mother.' Previously, she was a woman with goals, interests, and aspirations. Presently, her identity seems to be defined exclusively by motherhood.

"Sometimes I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself," she confesses. "The girl who once loved dancing, reading, and quiet coffee shop mornings is now a mom who barely has time to comb her hair."

Psychologists stress the need to create personal time, even in small measures. Whether it is reading a book for 15 minutes, going for a walk alone, or picking up an old hobby, these self-care moments can assist mothers in reconnecting with themselves.

How To Find Time And Accept the Chaos

Adjusting to motherhood doesn’t mean completely letting go of who you were. It means integrating your old self with your new reality. This can be done by setting small, achievable goals:

Accepting imperfection: The house doesn’t have to be spotless, and you don’t have to be available for your baby 24/7.

Asking for help: Spouses, family members, and friends can be involved in caregiving. It’s okay to step back when needed.

Prioritizing mental health: If sadness, anxiety, or resentment become overwhelming, professional help can be helpful.

Reclaiming 'me-time': Taking time—even 30 minutes a day—to focus on self-care can make a big difference in overall well-being.

Motherhood is a journey of extremes—overwhelming love and deep frustration, boundless joy and intense exhaustion. The secret is recognizing that it's okay to miss who you used to be while still loving who you've become.

"I wouldn't trade this life for anything," Noina says with a smile while looking at her baby, who gurgles happily in her arms. "But I am learning that a good mother should also take care of herself. I am more than just a mom—I am still me."

In a significant update to maternal health care, Australia is introducing new national guidelines on how pregnant women are tested for gestational diabetes.

The changes, released by the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society and published in the Medical Journal of Australia, mark the first major update to gestational diabetes screening in over a decade. These revised guidelines are expected to impact more than 280,000 pregnant women annually, streamlining care, reducing overdiagnosis, and focusing medical resources where they are most needed.

What Is Gestational Diabetes and Why Is Testing Important?

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a temporary form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It’s defined by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that are first detected while a woman is pregnant. In Australia, GDM affects nearly one in five pregnancies and has short- and long-term health implications for both mother and baby.

Though GDM usually resolves after delivery, women who develop it are seven times more likely to later develop type 2 diabetes. Identifying and managing GDM is essential because untreated cases increase the risk of:

Macrosomia (a baby born significantly larger than average), which can lead to birth complications and higher rates of caesarean sections

Pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition involving high blood pressure and potential organ damage

Premature birth and other serious outcomes

Moreover, the screening process offers a gateway for introducing long-term health interventions like dietary advice, physical activity plans, and future diabetes prevention programs.

Why Are the Guidelines Changing?

While GDM screening and treatment are beneficial for many women, a one-size-fits-all approach has downsides. The new guidelines aim to balance the benefits of early detection with the potential harms of overdiagnosis. Studies and patient feedback have highlighted several concerns with the current system:

Women report stress, shame, and stigma after diagnosis

Limited access to specialist care and nutrition support

Some women adopt overly restrictive diets without professional guidance

Others are forced to change their maternity care provider or place of delivery due to a high-risk classification

The aim is to reduce unnecessary interventions for women at low risk, while enhancing care for those who truly need it.

What Exactly Is Changing?

The revised recommendations result from a broad review of current research and expert input from medical professionals and consumers. Here are the key updates:

Universal Screening Remains – But With Adjustments

All pregnant women without a prior diabetes diagnosis will still undergo routine screening between 24 and 28 weeks using the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). This test involves:

• Fasting overnight
• A baseline blood test
• Drinking a sugary solution
• Two follow-up blood tests over two hours

However, fewer women will undergo multiple OGTTs during pregnancy. Early testing will be more targeted based on risk.

Early Testing for High-Risk Women

Women with risk factors will be screened earlier in pregnancy, ideally between 10 and 14 weeks. The approach includes:

An HbA1c test (a non-fasting blood test that gives an average of blood sugar levels over the past 2–3 months) in the first trimester for women with risk factors such as:

• High body mass index (BMI)
• Previous large baby
• History of gestational diabetes

If results show high HbA1c or there’s a history of GDM, women may undergo an OGTT early in pregnancy.

Stricter Diagnostic Thresholds

The cut-off values for diagnosing GDM using the OGTT have been adjusted upward. This means only women with more clearly elevated glucose levels will be diagnosed. The goal is to avoid labeling borderline cases as diabetic when the risks and outcomes are minimal.

What Do These Changes Mean for Women?

The updated guidelines aim to make gestational diabetes care more precise and patient-centered:

• Fewer unnecessary diagnoses for women with mild or borderline glucose levels
• Improved access to services for those at higher risk
• Reduced stress and confusion from unclear diagnosis or overtreatment
• Stronger support systems for managing diet and physical activity safely

Importantly, women are encouraged to maintain open communication with their health care providers, especially if they have risk factors or symptoms like fatigue, excessive thirst, or frequent urination during pregnancy.

"What's Going On Inside The Baby's Brain?"

If you area a regular social media user, you have definitely come across a meme that reads the exact line and then is followed by clips of babies making a fuss. But, what if we tell you that you could actually know what is going on. Not just that, but these developmental milestone is what shapes their future.

The first two years of a baby’s life are nothing short of magical — and not just because of the first smiles or tiny giggles. It’s also the time when the brain is growing at lightning speed, forming the building blocks for everything from movement to memory, emotions to education. According to researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, this early brain development doesn’t just shape how a baby acts now, but how they’ll learn, behave, and stay healthy for the rest of their lives.

Let’s unpack what’s happening inside those rapidly growing baby brains — and why every cuddle, word, and interaction matters.

Brain Growth: Fast, Focused, and Full of Potential

In those first two years, a baby’s brain doesn’t just grow — it wires itself. Dr. Wei Gao, a neuroscientist leading brain imaging research at Cedars-Sinai, explains that the brain first develops the areas responsible for movement and senses (like seeing and touching). But very soon after, it’s the emotional and social areas that take center stage.

This is why the first year is so important for bonding. “You want to provide sensitive support to the baby so the baby can develop a secure attachment,” Gao explains. That attachment — those quiet moments of eye contact, soothing, and play — builds the emotional foundation for confidence, learning, and even future relationships.

Gao’s team has even mapped how parts of a child’s brain connect during early childhood. In a massive ongoing study, they’re tracking over 7,000 children from birth through age 10 to understand how environment and genetics shape brain wiring.

Too Much Screen, Too Little Growth?

Dr. Jane Tavyev Asher, director of Pediatric Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, warns about one major disruptor in the early years: screens. While the glow of a phone or tablet may keep a baby distracted, it can actually confuse the brain.

“When you expose that developing brain to rapidly changing images, it learns to focus on that — not on the real world,” Asher explains. That means less attention to slower, natural patterns like human speech, eye contact, and physical play — all key to learning to read, write, and think clearly later in life.

Genes and Brains

It’s not just nurture — nature plays a big role too. Dr. David Rowitch, deputy director of research at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, points out that nearly 80% of babies with a genetic condition show some neurological signs early on — whether it’s seizures, muscle weakness, or a brain structure difference visible on scans.

Modern genetic testing can now read a baby’s entire DNA — all 3 billion base pairs — offering clues not only about physical health, but also mental development. Combining this information with brain scans could help doctors catch problems early, intervene sooner, and even improve a child’s future school readiness.

Why Early Intervention Matters

The ultimate goal? To make sure no child falls behind. As Rowitch says, understanding how brain connections, genes, and environment come together helps us support each child — especially those at higher risk — to reach their full potential.

Some call it a miracle, and some call it a lack of choice. A baby is born in Georgia from a woman who was declared brain dead and was put on life support. She is 31-year-old Adriana Smith, who was about six months into her pregnancy.

Her mother April Newkirk told WXIA-TV that her daughter had intense headaches more then four months ago and went to Atlanta's Northside Hospital. There, she received medication and was released. However, next morning, her partner woke to her gasping, and called the emergency number 911.

Emory University Hospital determined she had blood clots in her brain and was declared brain dead, at that time she was eight weeks pregnant. She was kept on life support ever since, and the baby was born through an emergency cesarean section on Friday.

The baby is named Chance, and weighs about 1 pound and 13 ounces, and is born prematurely in six months. The baby is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Miracle Or A Lack Of Choice?

While many may see it as a miracle, however, many have questioned the choice and agency of a woman and her right to live with dignity.

Her mother said that Smith was kept on life support due to Georgia's anti-abortion law. This has sparked questions about ethics and the case had exploded into a national and international news. Her mother also confirmed that the fetus had been growing while she was put on life support.

"WE did not have a choice or say about it. We want the baby. That's a part of my daughter. But the decision should have been left to us, not the state," told Newkirk, as reported in the Guardian.

There Is A Law, But Where Is The Logic?

Steven Ralston, the director of the maternal fetal medicine division at George Washington University told the Washington Post that "the chances of there being a healthy newborn at the end of this is very, very small." Rightly so, the baby is born in six months of pregnancy, is premature and is currently in NICU.

Newkirk too confirmed about fluid in baby's brain and that the baby maybe blind, or may no be able to walk.

A Controversial Case

Abortion, under Georgia law, is banned after six weeks of pregnancy. Certainly, as this case seems, there is no scope of exception either. The ban also contains provisions that strengthens the concept of "fetal personhood", a doctrine that holds embryos and fetuses should be considered people, and, as such, are entitled to full legal rights and protection.

Smith's case has ignited a national debate concerning medical consent and the far-reaching implications of anti-abortion laws. For years, abortion rights advocates have warned that establishing fetal personhood could create conflicts between the rights of a pregnant individual and those of the fetus. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, numerous pregnant individuals have reported being denied medically necessary abortions during emergencies due to these bans.

The hospital currently treating Smith has not commented on her specific case, citing privacy. However, it released a statement indicating its process: "uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia’s abortion laws and all other applicable laws."

Conflicting Interpretations of Georgia Law

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office has stated that the state’s six-week abortion law does not mandate medical professionals to keep brain-dead individuals on life support. According to spokesperson Kara Murray, "Removing life support is not an action with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy."

However, not surprisingly, some anti-abortion advocates hold a different view. Georgia State Senator Ed Setzler, who sponsored the state's abortion ban, told the Associated Press, "it is completely appropriate that the hospital do what they can to save the life of the child." He added, "I think this is an unusual circumstance, but I think it highlights the value of innocent human life. I think the hospital is acting appropriately."

Smith, said Newkirk, would be taken off life support on Tuesday.