In this episode, Leah shares her experiences of becoming a mum to her two little ones, reflecting on the very different birth and postpartum journeys she has had, and how her first experience ultimately changed the way she prepared for and approached her second.
During her first pregnancy, Leah spent a lot of time preparing for the birth she hoped to have, but very little time thinking about postpartum recovery. After a 43-hour labour, two failed epidurals, an episiotomy and ventouse-assisted birth, she found herself navigating significant physical injuries that made everyday activities incredibly difficult.
Leah shares the challenges of recovering from an episiotomy that didn't heal as expected, an injury to her pelvic ligaments, and the emotional impact of being unable to move or care for her baby in the way she had imagined. We talk about the guilt and self-blame she experienced when her birth didn't go to plan, the tendency to compare our recovery with others, and how talking openly with other mothers helped her begin to process what had happened.
Her experience also shaped her involvement in Vital Bits, a business providing pregnancy and postpartum care essentials. Leah shares how she became a co-founder, why supporting women's physical recovery is so important to her, and the value of preparing to care for yourself during those early weeks rather than focusing entirely on your baby.
When Leah became pregnant with her second child, she approached birth and postpartum with a completely different perspective. After a fast, four-and-a-half-hour labour and a water birth, she experienced a much more straightforward physical recovery.
Now 11 weeks postpartum, Leah reflects on feeling more relaxed, confident and able to enjoy the newborn period. We also discuss the transition from one child to two, and the importance of having family support and sharing parenting responsibilities with her husband.
Looking back on her first postpartum season, Leah wishes she could reassure herself that she would heal, that she would eventually return to the activities she loved, and that a slower recovery didn't mean she had done anything wrong.
You can follow Leah's journey on TikTok at @lelahbell, and learn more about Vital Bits on instagram at @vitalbits.