'I didn’t recognise myself anymore': The truth about the loneliness of motherhood 

The stereotype tells us we should ease naturally into motherhood, but for some it can be the loneliest time of their lives. Disha Bose tells her story

Disha Bose: 'All of a sudden, in the span of 48 hours, everything had changed'

Becoming a mother was a shock to my system. Not only was I now responsible for another human life but I didn’t recognise myself anymore. During the course of a relatively smooth pregnancy, nobody had warned me of the immense change of self.

Up until that point, I knew who I was. I’d spent years travelling and growing a freelance writing career, my husband and I had our routines — we ate quiet dinners together, went to the cinema, went on holidays and day trips over the weekends. I could spend an entire day reading on the beach if I wanted to. All of a sudden, in the span of 48 hours, everything had changed. We couldn’t do any of those things any more.