Episode 32 | Jes
In this episode, Jes shares her experience of becoming a mum to her daughter, navigating severe postpartum anxiety, and eventually creating a business inspired by the support and connection she wished she had experienced during her own postpartum season.
After a difficult pregnancy marked by persistent nausea and vomiting, Jes discovered at 37 weeks that her baby was breech. Having spent months preparing for a different birth experience, she chose to have a planned caesarean but struggled with feelings of failure before her daughter had even arrived. Following her birth, Jes found didn't experience the immediate connection with her daughter she had expected, and increasingly relied on instructions from healthcare professionals as she struggled to trust herself as a new mother.
Over the following weeks, Jes's anxiety became progressively worse. She experienced panic attacks, struggled to eat, and eventually reached a point where she felt unable to continue without professional help. Despite having financial resources, a supportive husband and a close friend who was a GP, Jes encountered enormous barriers to accessing appropriate mental health care. She shares the frightening experience of repeatedly asking for help and being unable to find it.
At eight weeks postpartum, Jes was admitted to a perinatal mental health unit alongside her daughter, where she spent approximately three and a half weeks. We talk about what that experience was really like, including psychiatric support, medication, the challenges of being away from home, and how her admission provided the foundations for an ongoing recovery.
Jes also reflects on the importance of having her husband James home for 16 weeks after birth, the challenges of learning to parent together, and how becoming parents affected their relationship. We discuss the value of going through the transition to parenthood together, and the importance of communication and shared responsibility.
Her own experience inspired Jes to establish The Jellybean Gym, a Melbourne-based business offering purposeful play classes for young children, alongside a welcoming space where parents and caregivers can connect, have conversations and feel supported.
Throughout this conversation, Jes shares an important reminder that we don't need to compare our struggles with others to justify seeking help. If something feels difficult and you need support, you deserve to receive it.
You can find out more about Jes and The JellyBean Gym at www.thejellybeangym.com.au or on instagram @thejellybeangym.
A big thank you to Odi Nutrition for sponsoring this week’s episode.
You can find out more about Odi at @odi_nutrition_, and you can browse their range at odinutrition.com.