“Motherhood is an overwhelming combination of bliss and self-doubt,” new mom Claire Holt wrote Monday, sharing a teary snapshot of herself with her newborn
Claire Holt is offering an honest, raw look at new motherhood.
The Originals star shared a snapshot of herself holding her 1-week-old first child, son James, to her Instagram account on Monday, where her eyes were visibly filled with tears as her baby boy seemed to be sleeping soundly on her shoulder.
“This was me yesterday after struggling through a tough feed,” the 30-year-old actress began her caption. “Exhausted, in pain, feeling defeated. I’ve had many moments like this since my son arrived. My only concern is making sure his needs are met, yet I often feel that I’m falling short.”
Holt referred to motherhood as “an overwhelming combination of bliss and self-doubt,” but admitted she was attempting to “remind myself that I can’t be perfect” and that she “can’t be everything for everyone.”
“I just have to do my best and take it one hour at a time,” she continued. “Thankfully, this little guy is worth every second of struggle. Mamas out there — tell me I’m not alone?”
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Pregnant Claire Holt Opens Up About “Guilt” Surrounding Her “Devastating” Miscarriage Last Year
Fellow moms left numerous messages of support for Holt, including many celebrity parents like Amanda Seyfried, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Miranda Kerr.
“I gave myself two days off in the first week so I wouldn’t be scared and sad every time she woke up to feed,” the Mamma Mia! star, 33, wrote of her daughter, who’s now 2. “And it helped so much. No guilt. Just pump and bottle. And then did both throughout. Less pressure. You’re not alone.”
Model Kerr, 35 — who’s expecting her third child total and second with husband Evan Spiegel — commented with sweet words of encouragement: “Totally not alone! Totally normal to feel this way. Sending love ?”
“Hang in there mama! The hardest and most rewarding job,” mother of two Sigler, 37, chimed in. “And don’t forget those hormones are playing with your heart and head. You are not alone. It’s part of this wonderful difficult process. Sending you all the love.”
Holt has been open about the difficulties she has endured on her path toward becoming a parent, having suffered a miscarriage and consequent dilation and curettage procedure last year before she and husband Andrew Joblon welcomed baby James on March 28.
“Our journey certainly hasn’t been an easy one,” The Vampire Diaries alum told Mini magazine during an interview that was conducted during her pregnancy, for the publication’s spring cover story.
The new mom explained that, after the loss, “I felt broken and ashamed. Because I experienced such intense grief, I found it very difficult to process things and move on.”
“The miscarriage was the most difficult thing I had ever faced, but it brought my husband and I so much closer and we have really grown as a result of it,” Holt continued. “We are also so much more grateful for the little boy we are about to welcome into our lives.”
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