Awake at 3am | Motherhood & Sleep
Awake at 3am | Motherhood & Sleep
Jess Zids and Sophia Masur
24 | I Thought I'd Never Feel Normal Again | Aine | Recovering from Postnatal Depression After a Traumatic Birth
52 minutes Posted Jul 21, 2026 at 10:17 pm.
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I thought I'd never feel normal again.

After a traumatic premature birth and weeks spent in NICU, Aine believed she was simply struggling to adjust to motherhood. But as the weeks passed, the darkness grew deeper.

She became isolated, convinced she would never feel like herself again, and too afraid to take the antidepressants that had been prescribed.In this deeply honest conversation, Aine shares what postnatal depression really felt like, why it took her two months to ask for help, how medication helped her recover, and the guilt, grief and loneliness that followed becoming a mum.Today, Aine is using her experience to raise awareness through KYNDR, a clothing brand supporting conversations around perinatal mental health and helping parents realise they are never alone.

If you've ever felt like you've lost yourself in motherhood, this episode is a reminder that recovery is possible.In this episode we discuss:

- Postnatal depression (PND)

- Postpartum anxiety

- Traumatic birth

- Premature birth and NICU

- Maternal mental health

- Antidepressants in the postpartum period

- Recovery after postnatal depression

- Preparing for pregnancy after trauma

- Supporting parents through perinatal mental health

Find out more about KYNDR @kyndrthelabel

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