'My best friends ghosted me after I had a baby. It taught me a lesson I didn't expect.'

I used to be a social butterfly, the party girl that could count my close friends on one hand.

We'd drink together, party together, my weekends were never quiet. Then life shifted.

I got engaged, married, and pregnant not long after. That's when things started to fall apart.

Watch: Grace Beverley speaks about catch-up friendships. Post continues after video.

My friends were still in party mode, in their late twenties, living it up, not ready for the life I was about to dive into.

My life was moving in a totally different direction, and while I'd love to say we worked through it, we didn't.

They pulled away, and I did too.

After my baby arrived, I spiralled into postnatal depression.

I retreated inward, isolated myself, and felt like a shell of who I used to be.

But the hardest part was that not one of my friends reached out. Not a text, or call, or quick visit to see how I was doing.

I'd just had a baby, I was drowning, and it felt like I'd been ghosted by my entire friendship group.

I can't tell you how lonely that was. To feel like I'd given everything to friendships for years, forever the loyal one, only to be left behind the second I became "different."

I carried that pain for three years and a constant voice in my head telling me I needed a friend group again.

For a long time I just wanted that one best friend to show up, to be there, to grab a coffee with me when I needed it most.

But recently, I've had a big realisation. 

While I've been longing for what I lost, I've actually discovered I love my own company.

I love doing my own thing, being present with my family, and not constantly worrying about fitting into a group.

Jessica Jane writes about the peace in enjoying your own company. Image: Supplied.

And when I looked around properly, I realised I wasn't really alone. I see my sister-in-law every week (she literally lives next door).

My own sister and my mum are my best friends.

They've shown up in ways my old friends never did.

So yes, I lost my friend group when I became a mum.

Yes, it was heartbreaking, isolating, and made me question myself for a long time, but I've come out the other side realising that maybe the life I have now actually suits me better.

Do I still sometimes wish that I had "that group" again?

Yes, but I no longer feel incomplete without it.

I didn't just lose my social life when I had a baby.

I lost my entire friendship group, and strangely enough, I'm okay.

Jessica Jane is the founder of The Spark Life. A movement helping women reignite their joy, confidence, and sense of aliveness. She curates luxe-but-laid-back retreats, workshops, and connection-driven events for women who feel stuck on autopilot and want to start living life on their terms again. Through her work, she blends fun, depth, and real-world experiences that help women feel like themselves again.

Feature image: Supplied.