Gisele Bundchen reveals she “lost herself” when she became a mum

She’s got a resume that most of us could only dream about – international supermodel, actress, author and producer – but Gisele Bundchen has revealed the role of becoming a mum made her question everything about herself.

In her memoir, Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, the Brazilian beauty admits she had a hard time adjusting to motherhood and that it left her feeling lost and confused at times.

“Things can be looking perfect on the outside, but you have no idea what’s really going on,” the 38-year-old, who is married to NFL star Tom Brady, said in an excerpt shared with People.

“I felt like maybe it was time to share some of my vulnerabilities, and it made me realise, everything I’ve lived through, I would never change because I think I am who I am because of those experiences.”

Gisele: ‘It was like a part of me died’

Gisele, who is mum to Benjamin, eight, Vivian, five, and her stepson Jack, 11, says the transition into motherhood was incredibly challenging for her.

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I am excited to share that my book will be released October 2nd! Writing this book was a transformative and intense process for me. Uncovering stories deep inside of me made me feel vulnerable and emotional, but through facing my shadows and insecurities I learned how to accept and love myself in a deeper way. My intention in writing this book is to share how I overcame certain challenges in my life in hopes that it could help others who may be going thru similar experiences. Proceeds from the book will go to project Água Limpa, to help protect water sources for future generations. http://bit.ly/PreOrderLessons ? Feliz em compartilhar que meu livro sairá no dia 2 de outubro! Escrever esse livro foi uma experiência transformadora e intensa para mim. Lembrar de várias histórias que estavam adormecidas dentro de mim me fez sentir vulnerável e emotiva, mas, ao olhar para minhas sombras e inseguranças, aprendi a me aceitar e me amar de uma maneira mais profunda. Minha intenção, ao escrever este livro, é compartilhar como eu superei certos desafios em minha vida, com a esperança de que possa ajudar de alguma forma outras pessoas que estivessem passando por experiências semelhantes. Meus rendimentos deste livro irão ao projeto Água Limpa, que ajuda a proteger as fontes de água para futura gerações.

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on Jul 19, 2018 at 4:47am PDT

“When I became a mom (sic), I kind of lost myself. It was like a part of me died. I’d been this very independent person,” she says.

“It was all about me. But now I had this little being, and I suddenly felt l couldn’t do other things and that was very hard for me. All I ever wanted was to be a mom, but when you’re actually experiencing that, it’s a shock.”

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There is no bigger love that I have ever experienced. Thank you my angels for choosing me to be your mom. Sending so much love to all the mothers in the world specially to mine ! Enjoy your special day!! #Happymothersday ❤Não há amor maior do que o de mãe. Obrigada meus anjos por me escolherem para ser sua mãe. Enviando muito amor a todas as mães do mundo, especialmente à minha! Aproveitem seu dia especial!! #Felizdiadasmaes

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on May 14, 2017 at 8:09am PDT

The beauty says she felt guilty for leaving her kids to go to work

Gisele says she tried to scale back the work because she felt guilty for leaving her kids – something many mums can relate to.

“I had all this horrible, self-imposed guilt. I thought what a terrible mother I was for leaving my child even for like a day,” she says.

When she would bring her children along on jobs she admits, “I was feeling guilty for that too. Like, ‘Here we are on a plane and the baby is crying.’ ”

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What would I do without this beauty squad after the 15 hours flying and only 3 hours of sleep #gettingready??? O que seria de mim sem esse esquadrão da beleza depois de voar 15 horas e só dormir 3 horas. #mepreparando

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on Dec 10, 2013 at 8:00am PST

The Victoria’s Secret angel says the transition also took its toll on her marriage.

“You’re overwhelmed and tired and then you’re not the nicest partner,” she says, before adding it took time but she eventually found her groove and adjusted.

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Happy birthday my love! We love you so much !!! Keep on shining bright ! ??✨❤️✨?Feliz aniversário meu amor! Nós te amamos muito!! Continue brilhando!

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on Aug 3, 2018 at 6:08am PDT

“When the kids were very young, there were times when I felt overwhelmed or conflicted, sometimes a little depressed, though I tried my best to be strong. I felt the massive new responsibility of motherhood. I wanted to do my best, and to do it right,” she adds.

“The thing is, I was an experienced mom, in on-the-job- training, plus I sometimes felt torn since I knew I had so much more I wanted to create in the world.

“Now that the kids are older and in school, I know that soon I’ll be ready to begin climbing another mountain. I’ve never lived in The Valley for this long, but I wouldn’t give back the time I spent there for anything. My children have given me a greater sense of purpose and motivation.”

Getting The Support You Need

Becoming a parent releases all kinds of emotions and hormones and even some you didn’t even know existed.

One in seven women in Australia suffers from postnatal depression and one in ten new fathers also experience postnatal depression, says Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA).

If you or someone you know is struggling, then remember you are not alone. Have a look at our story on what every mum who has experienced PND needs to hear as well as our postnatal depression archives for ways to get the help you deserve.

For more on the signs and symptoms of postnatal depression visit www.panda.org.au. 

Support

PANDA National Helpline www.panda.org.au – 1300 726 306

Beyond Blue www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 224 636

Join our Healthy Mummy support groups for support through other mums, judgement-free!

Join our Healthy Mummy Community

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All our private groups are moderated every hour by our professional staff, to ensure a safe and non-judgemental environment.

To find out our more or to join one of these support groups, click here.