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Mom, Unfiltered: Maternal Mental Health and Finding Freedom Through Motherhood
A deeply personal examination of the dire state of our maternal and postpartum care for mothers
For expecting and new parents, too often the care is so focused on a healthy baby that the mother’s physical and mental needs are overlooked. Mothers face intense pressure to have the perfect birth plan, breastfeed with ease, and immediately bond with their baby. Unfortunately, these expectations can lead to anxiety, depression, and overwhelm. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In Mom, Maternal Mental Health and Finding Freedom Through Motherhood, Leah Kim explores her own pregnancy and early motherhood experience as a BIPOC mom, the ways society fails new mothers, the mental health struggles of expecting and new mothers, the systemic neglect in care for BIPOC mothers, and how motherhood can be the inspiration for getting help and healing. Her story, enhanced with expert interviews, valuable resources, and the testimonies of other mothers, not only illuminates the impact of insufficient maternal care but also shows readers what can be done to improve care for mothers.
Mom, Unfiltered is profoundly personal and brutally honest, yet it is ultimately deeply hopeful. It is about survival and growth, an invitation to move beyond our current social, cultural, and familial realities to support mothers in a meaningful way—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
For expecting and new parents, too often the care is so focused on a healthy baby that the mother’s physical and mental needs are overlooked. Mothers face intense pressure to have the perfect birth plan, breastfeed with ease, and immediately bond with their baby. Unfortunately, these expectations can lead to anxiety, depression, and overwhelm. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In Mom, Maternal Mental Health and Finding Freedom Through Motherhood, Leah Kim explores her own pregnancy and early motherhood experience as a BIPOC mom, the ways society fails new mothers, the mental health struggles of expecting and new mothers, the systemic neglect in care for BIPOC mothers, and how motherhood can be the inspiration for getting help and healing. Her story, enhanced with expert interviews, valuable resources, and the testimonies of other mothers, not only illuminates the impact of insufficient maternal care but also shows readers what can be done to improve care for mothers.
Mom, Unfiltered is profoundly personal and brutally honest, yet it is ultimately deeply hopeful. It is about survival and growth, an invitation to move beyond our current social, cultural, and familial realities to support mothers in a meaningful way—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 22, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.
This book was incredibly powerful. It really stresses the importance of a village in motherhood and the struggles when we don’t have that village or we don’t accept help. There are many things as mothers that we aren’t prepared for once baby is born. We are followed so heavily through pregnancy and then once the baby is born the focus shifts from mother to baby.
I loved the interesting facts through the book like learning about Russias maternity leave and how it is so different from ours. I also appreciated how she touched on many sensitive topics. Such as the comparing ourselves to the lives of those we see online and how it can be harmful or hearing the perspective of a mother raising children who had a troubled childhood herself and how motherhood has brought so much to the surface.
All in all this book was incredibly well written and powerful touching on many sensitive but necessary conversations. It reminds one to really sit with their feelings and emotions and to not run from them as eventually they will bubble to the surface and force you to deal with them.
I highly recommend to moms of all ages. Whether you’re a new mom or have been a mom for years. It’s perfect for those hard days and knowing you’re not alone.
This book was incredibly powerful. It really stresses the importance of a village in motherhood and the struggles when we don’t have that village or we don’t accept help. There are many things as mothers that we aren’t prepared for once baby is born. We are followed so heavily through pregnancy and then once the baby is born the focus shifts from mother to baby.
I loved the interesting facts through the book like learning about Russias maternity leave and how it is so different from ours. I also appreciated how she touched on many sensitive topics. Such as the comparing ourselves to the lives of those we see online and how it can be harmful or hearing the perspective of a mother raising children who had a troubled childhood herself and how motherhood has brought so much to the surface.
All in all this book was incredibly well written and powerful touching on many sensitive but necessary conversations. It reminds one to really sit with their feelings and emotions and to not run from them as eventually they will bubble to the surface and force you to deal with them.
I highly recommend to moms of all ages. Whether you’re a new mom or have been a mom for years. It’s perfect for those hard days and knowing you’re not alone.
Displaying 1 of 1 review