Unexpected: A Postpartum Memoir

by Emily Adler Mosqued, Emily Adler Mosqueda

Repeat mothers are assumed to know what to expect during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. A Postpartum Memoir is the moving, raw account of a second-time mother who finds herself struggling for the first time with postpartum depression, anxiety, and motherhood itself. Only as a mother of two does Emily find herself unable to ignore the impossible tempo of motherhood. At eight-months postpartum, Emily finds motherhood to be punctuated with unexpected sensations of irritability and feelings of rage all lathered in immobilizing guilt and shame. Readers witness the author’s personal evolution through her internal review and deconstruction of self and her examination of maternal expectations. It is through this journey of examining and feeling that truly opens up the unexpected possibilities of understanding and what it means to be content in motherhood.

Genres: Memoir

155 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2023

Reviews

[Alex C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest View on New Motherhood

Unexpected is a deeply personal, raw account of early motherhood. Emily's arc through matrescence from the first moments of birthing her first child, to the postpartum stage of her second, is one that will resonate with many. I found it personally validating in all the nuanced ways new parenthood can surprise and drastically shift expectations. Motherhood and mothering looks different with every child, every year, and at every stage. Emily unpacks this phenomenon with honesty, humility, and compassion. I would recommend this memoir to any new mother or person supporting postpartum parents in any capacity.

[Casey Hoggarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an attestation of the complex and emotional journey of motherhood. Emily brings light to the varied postpartum experiences that each birth may bring. She is transparent and shares vulnerable moments that many women are conditioned to suppress and ignore. As a Latinx reader, this read brought representation and validation to many of my own experiences in birthing, parenting, being someone's partner, and simply being a woman navigating the patriarchal demands of our society.

I recommend this book to all mamas, but especially those navigating through their postpartum period. Emily teaches us about the importance of healing, boundaries, and normalizing our complex and valid experiences. Through the courage to share her unfiltered truth, Emily provides a strong framework in allyship amongst mothers/women and how to use our own truths to push back on societal norms that have negatively impacted mothers for far too long.

[Gursharn Rait · Rating 5 out of 5]

honest, vulnerable powerful!
You see yourself in every page, in the complex layered challenges that arrive in motherhood. Emily has captured the nuances of post-partum from the hard and messy bits to the reality of post-partum depression and anxiety. This story is so powerful- not only can you see yourself in this story and feel less alone but Emily had incredibly captured moments and experiences that are so hard to put words too. Thank you for birthing your story.

[Holly Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

An honest look into her personal journey into and of postpartum and motherhood. Many reminders of the surprising difficulty of mothering, postpartum mental health issues, working, and more. And her discovery of learning how to take care of herself and ask for help.

[Christine Hulburt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, was reading it by flashlight next to my newborn. Crying at the sad parts, marveling at how Emily climbed out of the deep depressive hole she was in. I cheered her on when she started writing and internally thanked her support network for the true support and love they gave her to stop working and heal. I connected to many parts and was grateful to have found it as a brand new mom. The brave and powerful mother Emily is shines through brightly.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was incredibly healing to read and resonated deeply with my own postpartum experiences.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down — thank you Emily for sharing your true experiences, for living all those moments, feeling all the discomfort and confusion and fury and fear, not to mention for taking the time to write your story.