Episode 12 | Jenae

In this episode, Jenae shares her journey into motherhood after welcoming her son.

Jenae reflects on the days leading up to labour at 41 weeks, her experience of labour after her waters broke overnight, and the birth of her baby. She speaks openly about experiencing both an immediate and delayed postpartum haemorrhage and the physical and emotional recovery that followed.

The conversation explores the challenges of the newborn period, including a hospital readmission after concerns about Lucas's health and a difficult feeding journey that involved donor milk, formula supplementation, nipple shields, pumping, triple feeding, lactation consultant support, and months of perseverance before breastfeeding became established.

Jenae also discusses accepting support from family, particularly when asking for help did not come naturally to her, as well as the value of friendships, mothers' groups, and community during the postpartum period.

She reflects on birth trauma recovery, anxiety, tracking feeds and sleep, returning to work, and the grief she experienced as she adjusted to a new identity as a mother.

This episode is an honest reflection on resilience, feeding struggles, birth recovery, support, identity, and the many challenges and joys that come with motherhood.