09/06/2025
Why moms are not asking for help.
The early weeks postpartum are raw, exhausting, and often invisible to the broader community. Nearly two-thirds of parents say the first three months are when they need help the most. Yet our culture often glamorizes maternal martyrdom, reinforcing the message that needing help is a weakness.
This is especially true for moms of color. Hispanic moms are the most likely group to report difficulty asking for help—three in four say it’s hard to voice their support needs. This is where both cultural expectations and systemic inequalities collide.
The result? A crushing solo act for too many mothers in a society that still pretends the nuclear family is enough.
Mental health and me-time are the most unmet needs.
The top requests from moms were basic human needs: Emotional and mental health support: coping with postpartum depression, isolation, decision fatigue.
Self-care and recovery: breaks, rest, light exercise, and therapy.
Even though 93% of moms say self-care is essential, 80% get less than an hour of personal time per day.
And unless their village is clued in on what postpartum really looks like, they may never offer help in the first place. The research found that only 31% of the general public is very familiar with postpartum health issues. But when people are informed, they’re 2.5x more likely to step up.
