EP 22 | Hannah - Birth Trauma, Postnatal Anxiety and Depression, Preparing for Postpartum, Finding Your Village and Nappy Free

In this episode, Hannah shares her two very different postpartum experiences with her sons, Hugo and Oscar.

We discuss:

• Preparing extensively for birth but very little for postpartum
• A long and traumatic first birth involving forceps and an episiotomy
• The reality of a slow and painful postpartum recovery
• Learning to breastfeed and seeking support from a lactation consultant
• Anxiety around Hugo’s weight and the impact of comments about having a small baby
• Caring for a baby who cried frequently and struggled with daytime sleep
• Loneliness, perfectionism and feeling like she wasn’t getting motherhood “right”
• Being diagnosed with postnatal depression and anxiety
• The relationship between Hannah’s birth trauma and her postpartum mental health
• Processing her first birth through a birth debrief with her private midwife
• Preparing differently for Oscar’s birth and postpartum period
• Hannah’s home birth with Oscar and how different her recovery felt
• Intentionally creating a village before her second baby arrived
• Asking family for regular practical support and joining another parent group
• How Trent supported Hannah’s sleep and mental health during her second postpartum experience
• The difference between the transition from zero to one and one to two for Hannah
• Making time for movement and things that support her wellbeing
• The story behind Hannah’s business, Nappy Free
• What elimination communication is and how Hannah used it with both of her children
• Supporting families through elimination communication and toilet training
• Looking back on a difficult first postpartum experience with greater compassion
• Finding joy in the small, everyday moments of motherhood

You can connect with Hannah and learn more about Nappy Free on Instagram at @nappy_free or at nappyfree.net.

If you would like to buy a Postpartum Season cap, click this link below:

https://www.thepostpartumseason.com/store/p/the-postpartum-season-cap

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

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