So apparently having kids lowers your self-esteem

For new mums-to-be, welcoming a child into your life is one of the most exciting things.

However, according to psychologists, your self-esteem before giving birth is the highest it will ever be.

Despite feeling like masters at our jobs, expect to feel defeated, deflated and downright worthless once you pop that bun out of the oven.

A new study published in Social, Psychological & Personality Science, found that mothers experience a sudden decline in self-esteem one year after childbirth and it continues to decrease as the years go by.

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Originally, the researches expected mothers’ self-esteem would rapidly decline straight after giving birth and rebound a few years after, but the study proved otherwise.

Led by a research team at the University of California, the study followed 187 newlywed Dutch couples over five years and tracked their self-esteem throughout the period

For fathers, their self-esteem didn’t drop as much post birth in compared to mothers, who seemed to be hit harder by the stresses associated with the new experience.

“Even though the birth of a child is generally considered a positive event, it is still associated with numerous potentially taxing challenges, and these tangible negative aspects of parenthood may offset the more abstract positive characteristics of the event,” the researchers said.

While the thought of having kids may be thrilling, having to raise them might not be as pleasant as mothers-to-be had hoped for.

What’s stressful about looking after a crying, slobbering baby who is completely dependent on you to change their poop-filled nappies every hour?

“During the first months (and maybe even years) after childbirth, new parents — and especially mothers — might be overwhelmed by these new stressors,” the authors say.

“These initial experiences of stress and excessive demand might impede feelings of mastery and, as a result, negatively impact self-esteem.”

While the evidence is compelling, the study looked at only couples from the Netherlands, which so happens to one of the happiest countries in the world.

So what about expecting Aussies parents? Does that mean we should be prepared for the worst?

The answer is no, you certainly shouldn’t! Because the study is limited to tracking only a few years of parenthood and what about those treasurable moments when your kids are older, or better yet, when they become relatable adults?

Certainly those must be the most mood-boosting moments in a parent's life.

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