Welcome to the Village for Mama Postpartum Stories Series, where we chat with some of our favourite Mamas on their birth, postpartum experience and how they gathered their village.

Firstly, would you like to introduce yourself and share a bit about you and your family?

It was such a pleasure to look after you after your twins! So, as you said, my name’s Georgia, and my partner Alex and I own Peak Flo Physio, a boutique practice focusing on pelvic health on the southern end of the Gold Coast. We welcomed our little baby Arlo into the world this past March, and the last six months have flown by! My career as a pelvic floor physio definitely informed many of my birth choices and how I wanted my pregnancy and postpartum journey to unfold. Believe it or not, having a home birth was as much about my pelvic floor as anything else—haha!

We often prepare for the birth but forget to prepare for postpartum. How we give birth can also impact our postpartum experience. What type of birth did you have?

Even before I was pregnant, I knew I wanted a home birth if it was possible and safe for both of us. Thankfully, we ended up having a beautiful home birth under the care of my two amazing midwives, Libby and Mel. It was a long 32-hour labor, and after two and a half hours of pushing (which wasn’t exactly what my pelvic floor mind had hoped for!), little Arlo finally entered the world. It was such a beautiful experience, and I’d absolutely have another home birth if given the opportunity.

How was your recovery from birth, and did it impact your postpartum experience?

My recovery was actually better than expected! Given the length of my pushing stage, I thought I’d experience more pelvic floor heaviness and discomfort than I did. Shortly after Arlo was born, we went to the hospital due to some fluid in his lungs, and we were unfortunately transferred to Brisbane Women’s and Children’s Hospital for extra care. We spent four nights there, which wasn’t the start we wanted for our newborn bubble or my postnatal recovery. It was incredibly tough.

We arrived at the hospital around six hours after birth, and I still had blood on my feet. I vividly remember, before leaving, holding Arlo and thinking, “What do I wear? I haven’t showered, eaten, or slept!” Preparing our newborn for the hospital for what we thought was routine monitoring, only to later have him intubated and rushed to Brisbane Women’s Hospital, was heartbreaking. Alex and I drove ourselves, as there wasn’t room in the ambulance for either of us to go with Arlo, and that drive was one of the hardest experiences of our lives. Thankfully, after a week in the hospital, we brought Arlo home and could finally start life as a family of three.

Though this initial start wasn’t what we had envisioned, I actually thrived in the early days (as much as you can on two hours of sleep a night, haha!). I adored the newborn stage, even though it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It was incredibly challenging but also completely magical.

What are your non-negotiables for postpartum recovery?

• Horizontal rest!
• Compression shorts (I used Bare Mum and SRC) — they were a godsend while we were in the hospital, up and down constantly.
• A village (thanks to you!) and a meal train—your book has been passed around my circle of mum friends several times!

We’re often told to “sleep when the baby sleeps,” which can feel impossible, yet rest is essential for postpartum recovery. Were you able to rest, and how did you make it happen?

I was lucky that my partner, Alex, was home for a good portion of my postpartum recovery, and with supportive family and friends, I felt well looked after. It allowed me to truly rest and soak up those newborn snuggles and contact naps. I feel so fortunate to have had this level of support.

There are things we never forget, and the first meal after birth is one of them! What was yours?

There’s a photo of me with a cookie on Arlo’s back and my phone on the bed beside me. That cookie was supposed to be my first postpartum meal! But moments later, I got a call from our midwife about Arlo’s breathing, and she suggested we head to the hospital. So that cookie didn’t get eaten! It wasn’t until about five hours later that our friend Jacki brought us sushi at the hospital. Eating was a struggle that first week in the hospital—I missed the warm, prepped meals we had at home.

What were your favorite meals during postpartum?

Dahl, by far! Not sure why, but yum!

A village doesn’t have to be a tribe. Did you have a village of support for postpartum, and how did it impact you?

We’re so fortunate to have amazing friends and family who’ve supported us throughout. Some friends have babies around Arlo’s age, and that connection has been invaluable. I don’t think I’d have enjoyed this period as much or maintained my mental health as well without this support, especially in the early days.

What was the most helpful thing someone did for you postpartum?

Cooking for us—hands down. Not having to think about meals and knowing we had nutritious food made all the difference.

Breastfeeding is often a surprise for new moms; it’s biologically normal but can be difficult. How was your breastfeeding journey?

Thankfully, breastfeeding has been a lovely experience for me, though Arlo had colic early on. After his tongue tie was reversed, things settled, and we thrived. While in the hospital, he was tube-fed, so I couldn’t latch him until he was about six days old. I was nervous that it might not work out, but I pumped and expressed for him during that time, and he received my colostrum from the start, which I’m so grateful for.

What do you wish you had known about postpartum, or what would you do differently?

You need so little. We barely bought anything and still had too much stuff. Less is more—nappies, wipes, a blanket, and snacks for you are all you really need, haha!

Lastly, what is your favourite recipe from the Village for Mama book?

The rainbow risotto and breakfast cookies—so delicious!

Peak Flo physio is a holistic Women’s Health service that understands the unique needs of women. Specialising in: Pregnancy, Postnatal, Pelvic Floor and Musculoskeletal.

At Village for Mama, we are always looking for the perfect ways to support new mamas on their postpartum journey. We have recently launched Village for Postpartum, our postpartum directory where you can connect with practitioners like Georgia. Check it out here. For more of our favourite postpartum essentials, download our guide here.