We all know parenting isn’t easy—suddenly, there’s this tiny human who depends on you 24/7, and there’s no pause button. One of the biggest challenges? Sleep or the lack of it. Studies show that new parents experience significant sleep deprivation, often losing hours of rest for up to six years, with the toughest phase being the early months. In fact, a report highlighted by The Guardian found that new mothers get an average of just 4.4 hours of broken sleep per night at the beginning. No wonder parents are constantly running on coffee and sheer willpower.
And then comes the exhaustion that goes beyond just feeling tired. Parenting is physically and emotionally demanding, especially in the first year. Parents are constantly juggling feeding schedules, diaper changes, and trying to soothe a crying baby—all while adjusting to a completely new routine. Studies also highlight the mental health challenges both moms and dads face after childbirth, from stress and anxiety to feeling overwhelmed. It’s a phase that tests patience, resilience, and everything in between.
Among all the challenges, one area that often impacts mothers more is their career. Many new moms have to pause or step back from work to care for their child, which can be a difficult adjustment. To understand this better, we spoke with Dr. Nidhi Mathur, who trained in dentistry and took an eight-year career break after becoming a mother of two. “Motherhood comes with a lot of responsibility,” she shares, reflecting on how life shifts in ways you don’t fully anticipate.
Nidhi, who has recently opened her own clinic, recalls the early days of pregnancy with a mix of emotion and honesty. “I was overwhelmed with joy when I found out I was pregnant. Every day, I could see my body changing,” she says. “But it’s not just physical—your entire lifestyle shifts. Suddenly, everyone has an opinion: what you should eat, whether you should work out, what’s safe and what’s not. It can get very overwhelming trying to take it all in.”
She admits that returning to work wasn’t as simple as she once imagined. “I always thought I’d get back to work after six months, but it’s not that easy,” she says. “As a doctor, I thought I was prepared for postpartum changes, but there’s so much more to it emotionally. The guilt you feel at the thought of leaving your baby with someone else, it’s something no one really prepares you for.”
On top of that, there’s the constant weight of expectations. “There’s a lot of societal pressure,” Nidhi explains. “It feels like everyone is watching and judging; whether you’re doing enough, doing it right, or making the ‘right’ choices. It can be exhausting trying to meet everyone’s expectations while figuring things out for yourself.”
She also highlights the professional challenges that come with taking a break. “In my field, continuous learning is so important. Technology evolves, techniques change, and staying updated matters,” she says. “And I think this applies to most careers. Even a one-year gap can feel like a lot, so you really have to work hard to catch up and rebuild confidence.”
