Hot take. I think it's better to rehome your pets after having kids if it's affecting your postpartum mental health.

As an animal welfare volunteer I agree. I believe that pets are a lifetime commitment, but life isn't predictable, and if the kinder thing for everyone is rehoming then that's what needs to be done. I'd rather see a cat returned to the shelter where they at least have a slight chance of being adopted again, versus being confined to single rooms or crated (or worse, let loose on the street, which I have seen too many people do), because they're acting out. It should be a last resort after all other avenues but it's not a non-option. Human health matters too and if you can't properly care for an animal they should go to someone who can.

I had to rehome my dog because I was at home alone with a 2 month old while her dad was only home on weekends because of a job. Like I literally was not functioning. And then he kept having accidents. I know it was the best decision for us at the time, but I wish we prioritized him staying in the family over him being gone

pets are not equivalent to children