ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode, George shares her experience of an unplanned caesarean, adjusting to her postpartum body, finding community and learning to surrender to the realities of new motherhood.
We discuss:
- Finding out unexpectedly that she was pregnant with Teddy
- Deciding there may never be a “right time” to become parents
- Living in Sydney while most of George's family are in Tasmania
- Realising how important community would become after having a baby
- Preparing extensively for birth but much less for postpartum
- Hoping for a low-intervention vaginal birth
- Having an unplanned caesarean after more than 24 hours of labour
- Feeling unprepared for what a caesarean and its recovery would involve
- Meeting Teddy and not experiencing the immediate rush of emotion she expected
- The guilt and self-blame George experienced after her birth
- Learning to validate her own experience rather than comparing it with other people’s birth experience
- The role pain played in George's emotional wellbeing during early postpartum
- Beginning to talk openly about her birth and process some of the guilt and shame
- Feeling unprepared for the physical reality of a postpartum body
- The influence of “bounce back” culture and postpartum bodies portrayed online
- Wondering whether her own body was normal because she hadn’t seen bodies like hers represented
- Another mother reaching out and helping George realise she wasn’t alone
- Finding the courage to share her postpartum body online
- The response from thousands of women who felt seen and validated by her content
- Moving from struggling with her body to feeling in awe of what it has done
- The challenge of finding genuine friendships and community in early motherhood
- Finally meeting other mums who made George feel seen in her experience
- Navigating sleep deprivation at around six months postpartum
- The enormous identity shift that comes with motherhood
- The joy of watching Teddy’s personality begin to emerge
- George's feeling that motherhood has brought a sense of contentment she had been searching for
You can find George on Instagram at @georgina.raynerrr.
A big thank you to ergoPouch for sponsoring this week’s episode.
Use the code PPS20 at checkout to receive 20% off the ergoPouch range. Valid until 31 October 2026. Terms and conditions apply.
You can find out more about ergoPouch at @ergopouch, and you can browse their range at www.ergopouch.com.au.
As mentioned in the episode, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.
Australia
- PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
Helpline: 1300 726 306
Website: https://www.panda.org.au - Lifeline Australia
13 11 14 (24/7)
Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au - Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au
New Zealand
- PlunketLine
0800 933 922 (24/7) - Healthline New Zealand
0800 611 116 (24/7) - 1737 Need to talk?
Call or text 1737 (24/7)
Thank you for listening. Take care x
English
New Zealand
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Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Laura Taneja | Sharing honest postpartum stories, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
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