A whole month (and sixteen failed attempts) later, I finally found some time to record the follow up to our birth story episode and answer all your questions. Thank you so much to everyone who sent lovely DMs and feedback after the first episode hosted by the wonderful Sophie of Australian Birth Stories and for submitting such interesting follow up questions that give me the loveliest excuse to reflect on things in a way I probably wouldn't otherwise make time for.

It's never lost on me what a privilege it is for this yayborhood to be so engaged and excited about each season of our life (and to be so patient with a very inconsistent schedule for releasing episodes!) I can't promise my answers are any less incoherent than they were in the last episode - the postpartum haze is still going strong - but I did my very best and can't actually believe we got through it before the little bear demanded my full attention back.

My only disclaimer is that parenthood is like no other area in life for the diversity of opinions, volume of conflicting information, intensity of judgment (both from ourselves and others) and depth of emotion. If I have one piece of advice, it's that NO advice will suit every parent or every baby so please take everything I say as the personal anecdote it is - I'm not a medical expert and am still very early in our journey, so my answers are purely from our experience so far.

Having said that, I've tried to be as helpful as I can (amidst the rambling and tangents of this new Mum brain) and the questions are listed below so you can skip forward to what's relevant to you. There are some links where relevant too and, as always, if you have any other questions feel free to DM any time.

DELIVERY

• Did you feel any warning going into labour?
• Why did you choose private health vs public health? (AUBS public vs private episode)
• Hospital bag recommendations (The Memo's hospital bag list and if you want my personal list just send me an email)
• What did you wear post op? (the disposable undies, the pads, the nightie)
• Did you go straight back to a normal diet after gestational diabetes?

C SECTION

• What would you take in your hospital bag for a C section?
• Were you panicky or anxious going into C section?
• C section recovery – how long?
• Tips for recovery?
•  Incision care? Mental health?
• Immediately after, how were you – could you get up?
• What recovery shorts or items did you wear? (the briefs, the shorts, the compression socks)

FEEDING

• How was the beginning of breastfeeding? (the silverettes, the lanolin, the compresses, the Qiara probiotics)
• Are you doing mixed feeding? Bottles? Expressing? (the ladybug milk collectors)

GETTING HOME

• Did you feel overwhelmed when you got home?
• Biggest challenge in the first few days?
• First few weeks post-partum, how were they?
• Top 3 tips for new parents in first few weeks
• Most difficult part of recovery generally?
• Is it worth having both the Snoo and Cocoona baby?
• How is Teddy’s sleep?
• How much time are you taking off?
• Have you grieved your work identity vs being a Mum?
• How have you made time for you as a couple?

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