Meghan Trainor, the 29-year-old singer, recently opened up about her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the birth of her first child, Riley.
The hitmaker experienced a cesarean section, which she described as painful and frightening.
Speaking to Hoda Kotb on the TODAY show, she recalled the lingering emotions from the experience, saying, "At nighttime, when the pain would kick in, I was like ... 'I'm still on the table.'"
After sharing her feelings with therapists and doctors, Meghan was diagnosed with PTSD.
About 9% of women experience postpartum PTSD, as reported by Postpartum Support International (PSI). The organization notes that the condition is "temporary and treatable with professional help."
MORE: Meghan Trainor shares incredibly adorable photos of son Riley
MORE: Meghan Trainor is all about being a role model and champion for body confidence
The "Mother" singer recounted the scary moment when she found out she needed a C-section: "I felt like I was jumping out of a plane. The whole time, I was just with my husband shaking."
Despite the challenging birth, The Voice star emphasized the joy of having her "dream baby" and urged other parents to share their experiences openly.
Meghan, who welcomed her son Riley with husband Daryl Sabara in February 2021, is currently seven months pregnant with their second child
She also discussed her pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it a "very scary time."
The challenges she faced during pregnancy and after giving birth inspired Trainor to write her new book, "Dear Future Mama." In the book, she shares advice on pregnancy and early motherhood.
She told Hoda: "I just had so many questions, and I feel like I didn’t get answers, and I never want anyone else to feel like I did.”
The Grammy-winning singer reflected on the impact motherhood has had on her life. "With the birth and C-section process, I was like, ‘Oh, if I can do this, I can do anything.’ And then afterwards, having (Riley) there gave me the most motivation to be the best version of myself."
Meghan also stressed that having children doesn't mean losing one's identity. “I heard a lot of people say once you have kids, your life ends, and it’s theirs,” she said.
“And I was like, no, dude. My life just started because I’m going to be the best version of me I can be for this kid.”
Read more HELLO! US stories here
Keep up with the latest celebrity stories Sign up to our HELLO! Mail newsletter to receive the latest news straight to your inbox.