Motherhood is beautiful, magical, and life-changing, but let’s be honest, it’s also messy, complicated, and sometimes downright heartbreaking. In this episode of the Oh My Motherhood Podcast, I’m opening up about the raw and unfiltered truths I only discovered after becoming a mother myself. These are the things no one really prepared me for, the experiences that left me feeling isolated at times, and the lessons that ultimately reshaped me as both a woman and a mom.

Here’s what I’m diving into today:

• Grieving my childless life – The surprising wave of loss I felt for the freedom, spontaneity, and independence I once had, and how I learned to honor that grief while embracing my new identity.

• How motherhood changed my marriage – The hard conversations, the stress, the distance, and the rebuilding that happened when a tiny human entered our lives.

• The loneliness of losing friendships – How my social circle disappeared after becoming a mom, and what I’ve learned about finding (and creating) community again.

• The cellular transformation of my body – How, on a biological level, my body shifted to be completely wired for my baby’s survival—and why that realization left me in awe.

• Old wounds resurfacing – The way motherhood triggered childhood pain I thought I’d left behind, and how facing those wounds has actually made me stronger.

If you’ve ever found yourself missing the “old you,” wondering what happened to your marriage, grieving friendships, feeling disconnected from your body, or shocked by how much motherhood stirred up in you, you’re not alone. These are the conversations we don’t have enough, but they’re so important.

And here’s the thing: while these truths were hard, they also became some of my greatest teachers. Motherhood broke me down in order to build me back up into a woman who is wiser, softer, stronger, and more resilient than I ever imagined.

So if you’re in the thick of it right now, if you’re grieving, rebuilding, or wrestling with the messy parts of motherhood, this episode is for you. Tune in, and let’s walk through these truths together.

Motherhood: it’s messy, magical, and sometimes downright maddening. In this very first episode of the Oh My Motherhood Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own journey: how it all began, the unexpected struggles I faced, and the winding path that’s brought me here today.

When I became a mom, I thought I was ready. I had planned and prepared for my son’s arrival, but nothing could have prepared me for the storm that followed. I battled severe postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and even a short bout of postpartum psychosis. Those years were some of the hardest of my life, but they also shaped me into the mother, woman, and advocate I am today.

Fast forward to now, and motherhood looks very different for me. I’m raising my two beautiful children, running my own luxury portrait photography business (Berkana Photography Studios) and co-founding a nonprofit dedicated to supporting moms in their mental health journeys. It’s been a wild ride, one that’s taught me that motherhood is never just one thing. It’s layered, complicated, hilarious, heartbreaking, and everything in between.

In this episode, I’ll share:

• My story of becoming a mom and the challenges I never expected

• The reality of living with postpartum depression and anxiety

• How I found healing, purpose, and a new sense of identity

• What life looks like now as a mom, entrepreneur, and nonprofit cofounder

• What you can expect from future episodes of the podcast

Here on Oh My Motherhood, you can look forward to a mix of solo episodes (where I’ll share real-life truths, mom hacks, and personal reflections) and guest interviews with moms, experts, and voices who aren’t afraid to tell it like it is. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, and we’ll say the things most people are too scared to admit out loud. Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that motherhood deserves honesty.

So whether you’re a brand-new mom in the thick of sleepless nights, a seasoned parent who still feels like they’re winging it, or somewhere in between, you belong here.

✨ Connect with me:

• Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/ohmymotherhoodpodcast for updates, behind-the-scenes, and community.

• Explore my work at www.berkanaphotography.com and follow along on Instagram instagram.com/berkanaphotography_co for motherhood, maternity, and family portraits that celebrate the beauty of your story.