The Birth You Wanted vs. The Birth You Got | Georgie Stevenson

Summary

The Balance Theory — “The Birth You Wanted vs. The Birth You Got”

Host: Erika De Pellegrin
Guest: Georgie Stevenson
Date: October 5, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this candid conversation, Erika De Pellegrin and returning guest Georgie Stevenson, both newly postpartum mothers, reflect on the difference between their envisioned birth stories and the surprising realities they experienced. With their daughters born just three days apart and under unexpected circumstances, they share personal challenges, emotional reframes, the stigma around C-sections, and the transition into motherhood. The episode offers heartfelt, practical wisdom for women navigating birth plan changes, postpartum healing, and the evolving sense of identity as a mother.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sharing Birth Stories & Unfolding Realities

• Georgie's story: She had placenta previa (placenta covering cervix), meaning a high certainty of needing a C-section. At 34 weeks, before her scheduled bed rest, she experienced a major bleed and went into spontaneous labor. She had to undergo an emergency C-section under general anesthetic, and her daughter Lacy was in NICU for 2.5-3 weeks.
  • “Honestly, even though the kind of worst-case scenario did happen, we’re both okay and safe, which… can go really, really bad. So very grateful that we’re both safe and sound.” — Georgie, [05:34]
• Erika's story: Her baby was breech and the likelihood of a C-section increased the further the pregnancy progressed. Ultimately, she had a planned, calm C-section.
  • “In my head, I was like, you can’t have a plan with birth, but my plan is to be as natural as possible, right? … Well, you really can’t have a plan because everything is so unpredictable.” — Erika, [07:20]

2. Processing Judgments & Grief Around Birth Choices

• Both hosts admit to holding unconscious judgments about C-sections, influenced by cultural narratives and personal family histories of natural births.
  • “I actually had a lot of judgements around C-sections… I really had to process in order for me to come to acceptance with the fact that it was happening.” — Erika, [07:54]
  • “I definitely realized I had a lot of stigma… the fact that it’s like, you know, unnatural, it’s medical, all those sorts of things.” — Georgie, [08:43]
• They discuss the grief of losing out on the planned natural birth and the complex emotional fallout, especially for Georgie, who didn’t get to hold her daughter for days.
  • “I had to really grieve, you know, the birth that I did want… while also understanding that the birth we had was still beautiful, because it’s our story.” — Georgie, [10:51]
  • "I definitely had that story of like, I'm being robbed of an experience I feel like I should have." — Erika, [12:01]

3. The Power of Reframing and Gratitude

• The women turned to gratitude and conscious reframing to find acceptance, recognizing medical intervention as lifesaving and focusing on outcomes rather than lost ideals.
  • “Thank God we have the medical system because, you know, back in the day I would have just died in childbirth, and Lacy probably would have died too.” — Georgie, [15:16]
  • “Coming back to that, I’m really grateful I’ve had time to mentally prepare for something I didn’t realize I had so much judgement around.” — Erika, [17:28]
• They both note that reframing their experiences was supported by their previous personal development work, but real-life challenges put those tools to the test.
  • “You get the chance to really test those skills in new scenarios. So this was one for me that really, really surprised me.” — Erika, [18:51]

4. Redefining Postpartum: Rest, Connection, and Permission to Pause

• Georgie describes how her experience after her first child (Ivy)—where she rushed back into work—left her disconnected, anxious, and depleted. The difficulty motivated a very intentional, slow postpartum after Lacy, which dramatically improved her motherhood experience.
  • “I have never felt so much happiness, like contentness, gratitude than I have… than this postpartum season.” — Georgie, [20:09]
  • “Sometimes in life you have to experience the duality of what you don’t want to understand what you do want.” — Georgie, [20:25]
  • “I struggled with anxiety and a lot of overwhelm and disconnect from self… I didn’t give myself time in the postpartum.” — Georgie, [21:18]
• Both discuss the societal pressures for mothers to “do it all” and argue that dedicating oneself to motherhood is more than enough, even when high achievement standards tug at them.
  • “…the quote ‘just being a mom’—and I say that in quotations—feels like it’s not enough. But… I always… was like, I’m going to prioritise being a mum but then there’ll be a time I get back to other parts of myself.” — Erika, [26:41]
  • “Give yourself permission to just go into it.” — Erika, [28:11]

5. Advice for Expecting & Postpartum Moms

• Take the time you have—whatever your circumstances allow—and be intentional, present, and gentle with yourself.
  • “Give yourself that space because you don’t know what’s going to come up. You don’t know how you’re going to feel.” — Georgie, [29:48]
  • “…even being present for five, ten minutes is enough. It’s just being intentional with the moments you do have rather than thinking about everything you don’t have.” — Erika, [30:20]
• Accept that all seasons are transient; the opportunity to work and pursue other professional or personal interests will return.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Grief and Storytelling:
  • “I had to really grieve, you know, the birth that I did want… while also understanding that the birth we had was still beautiful, because it’s our story.” — Georgie, [10:51]
• Reframe on Motherhood Identity:
  • “You carry the baby for nine to ten months, then you’re its mother its whole life. Birth is this blip in the middle… there’s so much time around birth that shouldn’t dictate… whether you are worthy enough as a woman.” — Erika (recalling her sister’s advice), [17:08]
• Realization in Postpartum:
  • “I feel like I have arrived… It’s like this peace and just general contentment… and I didn’t think that would be in a time where I’m not tapping into many of the things that I’ve been doing over the last few years.” — Erika, [28:49]

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Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment Description | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:05 | Erika introduces the episode’s shared theme and context | | 01:02 | Georgie recounts her pregnancy and emergency C-section birth | | 05:46 | Erika compares her planned C-section and shifting expectations | | 08:26 | Discussion of internalized judgments around C-sections and grief | | 14:24 | Reframing and gratitude: how they processed their experiences | | 19:09 | Personal development practices tested in motherhood | | 20:06 | Georgie on intentionally slow postpartum versus her first experience | | 26:31 | Erika on societal pressures and the reality of “just being a mom” | | 29:32 | Advice for new moms: permission to pause, being present & intentional | | 31:23 | Light-hearted wrap up and gratitude between Erika and Georgie |

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Tone & Language

The conversation is raw, compassionate, and gently humorous, maintaining honesty about both struggles and triumphs. Both speakers are candid about their emotions and remain supportive, encouraging listeners to define their own journeys and find grace in the unexpected.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode powerfully affirms that while birth and motherhood rarely go to plan, there is profound strength in flexibility, reframing, and intentional presence. Erika and Georgie model how vulnerability, self-kindness, and the willingness to process grief and joy alike can transform even the most disruptive experiences into personal growth and healing. Their stories and advice offer vital permission for mothers to honor their journeys, whatever form they take, and to embrace the fullness of both their emotions and evolving identities.

Transcript

[A]

Georgie, welcome back to the Balance Theory.

[B]

Thank you so much, Erica. Excited to be here.

[A]

Likewise. We are both two postpartum moms just trying to get in a 20 minute conversation. We're going to see how this goes. I really just wanted to catch up with you because we've both just gone through something very similar. Our baby girls were born three days apart and I would say that our births both kind of unfolded in a similar way. And you and I were really like counseling each other through it. And I thought it would be very useful to kind of open up and share that with other ladies who might be going through the same thing. So I guess to kick things off, I'd love to know a little bit about if you can share high level, your sort of birth story or I guess, pregnancy leading into birth.

[B]

Yeah. So first of all, also I've got Lacy here on the recording. She is a little bit unsettled, so you may hear some little cries, but she, she looks like she's getting a bit sleepy.

[A]

She's happy.

[B]

So I had, literally, this is it. I had placenta previa. So that's basically where the placenta is over the cervix. And I knew this from 20 weeks and had a lot of kind of notice that, you know, if it doesn't move up, I would have to have a C section. And I got the 35 week scan, it still hadn't moved up. So I was pretty, I guess, ready to get the news of you have to get a C section. My first order was a natural vaginal birth. So going into my second pregnancy, I just thought that's what I would have. But yeah, so I got that final scan, still hadn't moved up. And it was really grade four, they call it. So my doctor even said, you know, there might be a possibility that I'd have to go under general aesthetic anesthetic because just the placement of it was quite dangerous. So I got that news and I was logically like, okay, I've been told this, it's fine, you know, you know, it is what it is. But then also I had the news that I had to go on bed rest from 35 weeks because of how dangerous it is with my condition of if the, if you go into spontaneous labor, the baby has a very limited amount of time before it turns not good. And so the plan was always to go on bed rest from 35 weeks. So if I did go into spontaneous labor, they could rush me into the OR and do the emergency. Cesar. Just because there's a window of 45 minutes to an hour before it's detrimental to the baby. And so I had all this news and I just thought, worst case scenario, they've got to tell you it's fine, I'm all over it. Had really supportive team, really great Dr. Tim knew I've known for a long time, I've had time to process so logically, you know, it's like, it's just, it's unfortunate I've got a high risk pregnancy, but it is what it is. And yeah, so once I had got the news that I was getting C section, we had a lot of conversations around it, which I'm sure will go into a bit more. But then what kind of unfolded was at 34 weeks, I was at home the week before. I was going to go on to bed rest and I had a big bleed. It was just before I went to sleep and I definitely knew from the amount of blood that it was, you know, she was going to come because I just was like, oh, there's no way. I'm kind of coming back from this. So I was at home with my husband and my 3 year old daughter. So we all got in the car, my doctor was there, he did an assessment, went and basically said, yep, you're actually in spontaneous labor, your 3cm dilated and we need to get you and get her out ASAP because, yeah, things are not good. So that's the really, you know, short recap. And then what unfolded after that was I had to actually go under general, so I didn't even get to receive her. I had to go on to General asset anesthetic. And then because she was only 34 weeks, she had to be in the NICU for two and a half to three weeks, which was a whole other journey, you know, post birth. So it was a lot. But you know, once she came out, it was just, I was so relieved and we've been. And once she was back from the hospital, I was able to really just, you know, take that breath and be like, okay, we're here, we did it and you're on the other side of it. Yeah, we're on the other side. And ever since, you know, she's been angel and I just feel so grateful because even though the kind of worst case scenario did happen, we're both okay and safe, which if you look at the statistics of that scenario, sometimes, you know, can go really, really bad. So very grateful that we're both safe and sound and she's healthy in here. Thank you.

[A]

And just gorgeous mother. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing that. I know you've like, literally been through it. You've gone through so many, I guess, extremes of what can happen during a pregnancy, labor, and sort of post all of that as well. Like, you kind of brought up. We both had a window of time where we had both imagined and envisioned this natural birth for ourselves. It was my first baby, it was your second, so you'd obviously already experienced something. And I guess naturally, as I would have done as well, you kind of assume that the second would be something similar. So we both had this window where we were gearing up, wanting a natural, unmedicated, as close to nature as possible birth. That was the quote, unquote plan. And then I had a very different scenario to you and definitely nowhere near as extreme, but my baby was basically breach. But I was told that at 28 weeks and they were basically like, don't stress, they can still turn, but if they don't turn, just letting you know it has to be a C section. And I hadn't even contemplated having a C section. So you and I sort of started having these conversations. But I do want to admit I think there was a window of time where we were both like, oh, it could probably still change. Like, it might not actually be the scenario. And when you're in that kind of hope, it was very easy to sort of be like, yeah, if it happens, it happens. But then it got to a point I think we were both pretty far along. I think I was actually four weeks ahead of you. Babies were born three days apart because you were so early. But we were far enough in that we were both like, okay, we're both definitely having a C section. Unless, like, some miracle happens at this point point. I do want to talk about that moment because you and I are both sort of a type to do, kind of to do list kind of people. And I feel like the. In my head, I was like, you can't have a plan with birth, but my plan is to be like, as natural as possible, right? And then as all of this sort of unfolded, I was like, well, you really can't have a plan because everything is so unpredictable. But I want to go into the conversations you and I were having about coming to terms with having a C section. I want to admit something, and I'm curious to know your thoughts on it. I realized having gone through this and having had to come to terms with having a C section, that I actually had a lot of judgments around C sections. And I really don't want to offend Anyone listening? Because I know a lot of people elect for C sections off the bat, but it really brought to my attention that I held a lot of judgment around it, and that was something I really had to process in order for me to come to acceptance with the fact that it was happening. Do you feel like you had a similar experience?

[B]

Absolutely. And it was. It's unconscious, isn't it? Like, we don't want to be judgmental. Mine was the story of, you know, my mom had four natural births, and she's, like, a very natural person. All the women around me, the only C sections I'd ever heard of were emergencies. So, like, you know, they had to be done. And of course, an emergency is never going to be, like, the most beautiful experience. So I definitely realized I had a lot of stigma around a C section. The fact that it's, like, you know, unnatural, it's medical, all those sorts of things. And I think also because with my first birth, I did, you know, hypnobirthing and was really immersed in that world, and. And they really do kind of paint, you know, C sections as the worst thing possible. And so, definitely, unconsciously, I had the exact same story and pretty much the same of, like, when it was like, no, you have to get a C section. There's no other options. Yeah, I had to look at it, and I really did realize, oh, wow, I've got a lot of stigma. I've got a story around this that I had to unravel. And really, first of all, like, I think it's. You're allowed to have your wants and desires. So if you want a natural, unmedicated birth, then that's a want. If you want to have a C section, then that's a beautiful one. So it's allowing yourself to have the wants and desires, but then also understanding the layers of. Is that really my story? Is that someone else's story? And then a huge part for me was kind of dealing with almost like a grief. Almost like a. Yeah, like a grief of the birth that I would have wanted, you know, to have. And, you know, in my. In my scenario, I didn't even get to receive Lacy. Yes. I didn't even. I wasn't the first person who hold her. I actually didn't get to hold her for 72 hours after because of her being in the NICU and needing to be on a machine, an oxygen machine. And that obviously brought up huge emotions and huge feelings. And so I had to really grieve, you know, the birth that I did want to have. While also understanding that the birth we had was still beautiful. Because it's our story. And I think when you do have to process the. It's not exactly what I wanted, but I get it's. The only options is you either, you know, sit in. This isn't what I wanted. You know, almost like a victim. Like, this isn't what I wanted. I'm gonna be forever upset about this. Or you can, you know, accept it, work through the grief and be like, it wasn't exactly what I wanted. But I can still understand that it was a beautiful thing. How did you feel about it?

[A]

Honestly? Exactly the same. I'm one of four as well. My mum gave birth to the four of us vaginally. In fact, I was actually breached. But 30 years ago, I don't know if they just used to allow you to deliver naturally breach babies. So I definitely had that story of like, I'm being robbed of an experience. I feel like I should have. Like, I. I kind of. It was weird for me because.

[B]

Robbed. That's a great word.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Like, it was like, it wasn't a high risk pregnancy, but it was a high risk labor. Labor. So for me, it was weird because, like, I had such a smooth pregnancy and there was no sort of issues. It was just like, if she's in the wrong position, which just felt like such a. Like, I don't know.

[B]

For.

[A]

For me, I just felt like I wasn't scared of birth. I wasn't scared to try and deliver without the pain relief and all of that. Like, I was really excited to try it. So when I was sort of told, you can't just go because she's in the wrong position. I don't know, it just felt like I really had been robbed of that experience. And just like you said, you know, the rhetoric and language, because I really am. I don't go to a doctor, you know, I go to a naturopath. I am kind of more in that as close to nature as possible. C section for me was like, this is such a medical intervention. And in my head, it just didn't really correlate with like, I understand, of course, breaches high risk and why they do it, but it just. I just had mentally prepared. But in saying all of this, I have to say I am so grateful and I know you are too, because we spoke about it, that we had notice, we had time to process. Right. It wasn't a case where we went into labor. We're thinking we're going to have a natural birth, which, you know, I know so many people go through this experience, then it ends up in an emergency C section. In fact, my experience was so different. We literally picked the date, booked in. I had a full night's sleep, woke up, went in. It was done in, like, 20 minutes. It was actually very calm and relaxed, almost like very robotic. Like, it was a bit weird in that regard, but we had time to work through all these emotions before it actually happened. And so just because there might be people listening that maybe have gone through the process of having had an emergency, maybe they're pregnant and know they have to have a C section, you know, or maybe they're just scared of giving birth in general. So I want to talk about some of the voice messages you shared with me because they really, really did help me about, like, reframing this whole situation. So I guess there's that point where you're kind of grieving a birth that you realize you can't have. You're feeling robbed. I would say I was sitting in that for, like, two to three days. And I think that's totally necessary, right? Like, yes, you might be sitting there feeling like a victim, but it's almost like you have to process, right? But then once that's sort of done and you're like, okay, this is what's happening. Can you share some of the reframes? You kind of. I'd say coach me through, because they really, really did help me.

[B]

Well, if you think about anything, I'm going to go broad for a second. If you think about anything, the only reason why we do have, you know, feelings around something is because we give them meanings. So, you know, for us, it was giving the C section the meaning of it's a medical intervention. It, you know, it means it's unnatural. There's also probably some, like, undercurrents that we may be conscious or unconscious of around, you know, does it mean I'm less of a woman? Does it mean I'm less of a mother? Those sorts of things. And so we have these feelings around it because of the meaning. And so what I do with anything, not just, you know, this scenario was like, yeah, reframing it and being like, okay, so in this scenario, if I put the meaning on that, it's this negative experience and I didn't get what I want and I got robbed. Of course I'm going to feel those, you know, negative emotions. So for me personally, it was just putting a positive reframe on, you know, for my thing of like, thank God we have the medical system because, you Know, back in the day, I would have just died in childbirth, and Lacy probably would have died, too. So I know that's a very traumatic thing, but it's like, thank God there is medical intervention, because it saved our lives. You know, how amazing that I did have from week 20 to really process this and understand this. And then, you know, with it of being like, thank God I had a safe. Thank God I've got a baby. Thank God I had a safe delivery. You know, really just sort of. It's very easy to always pick the negative, to go to the lack, to go to the thing that we didn't get. And so for me, it was just about reframing to all the things I was really grateful for in the. You know, the whole scenario. Do you. Did you do the same?

[A]

Yeah. Well, that's. That is exactly what you shared with me. And we did speak at length. Good. You know, we were talking about how, you know, in. In another life or another world, like, it could have been if a C section is the way it was supposed to happen, and it happened after 30 hours of hard labor. Like, would you have rather that type thing? And I know people go through that. So, again, for me, it was coming back to that gratitude of, okay, baby's breech. She might turn. There's, like, a very, very little percent chance. And the Lord knows I did everything, all the positions, all the acupuncture to try and make her move, but she was just super comfy in that spot. But coming back to that, I'm really grateful I've had time to mentally prepare for something that I didn't realize I had so much judgment around. I think for me, it was the story of, like, you know, people, like, excited to give birth. And I was like, I'm not giving birth. Like, I'm not giving birth. It's actually just like an operation. And that really was, like, hard for me because I felt like I hadn't worked for it. I wasn't going to work for it, you know? But my sister said something beautiful to me. She said, you carry the baby for nine to 10 months, then you're its mother its whole life. Birth is this blip in the middle. We put so much emphasis on it, and it is a beautiful experience. Obviously, it's the moment your baby comes to life. But you being a mom, there's so much time around birth that that shouldn't dictate. You know, like, you said, what. Whether you are worthy enough as a woman, whether your body can do what it's supposed to do. These were sort of the things that were circling in my mind. So I'm really grateful I had time to process and unravel and learn those things about myself before. And also again, like you said, it was coming back to that gratitude of we live in a time where I don't need to chance it with a high risk delivery. We have an option. So again, that reframing, I was, I was actually pretty surprised like how all my, I guess personal development work kind of came to play during this, this period. I think when you're, when you're focusing your personal development on like really yourself and your own goals, you're sort of on this steady stream. But then when you go through life experiences, you kind of get these opportunities to put that into play in other scenarios. Like it might be business, it might be relationships, it might be you going through becoming a mum. You know, you get the chance to really test those skills in new scenarios. So this was sort of one for me that, that really, really surprised me.

[B]

Exactly. Yeah. So true.

[A]

Yeah. So I definitely like gratitude and reframing was, was something that really helped during that time. Another thing I really wanted to ask you about, I remember at the start of the year when I was in Queensland, I was doing some podcasts and we went for a walk and you were telling me about how this time round for postpartum, you wanted to do things differently because with your first pregnancy you kind of went straight back to work. You'd over committed with, you know, different projects you had on. But this pregnancy you wanted to be really intentional and give yourself space and not have to rush back to work. And I've seen sort of some of that unfolding. You've been sharing a lot on your stories, but I wanted to ask you, you how you've been feeling about that. Do you feel that you've been fully able to sit in that? Are you feeling a bit guilty or that itch or pull of like, oh, I really want to go back to work, but I said I'm gonna be in this intentional space. Like, how are you going with that?

[B]

Honestly, I, I have never felt so much happiness, like contentness, gratitude than I have in my whole entire life than this postpartum season. And I think what comes into play with that is sometimes in life you have to experience the duality of what you don't want to understand, what you do want. And for me, in my postpartum journey with my first daughter, Ivy, I again, I think any mum, you don't really understand what becoming a mother is. Until you become a mum. And so I had this, you know, assumption that I would, you know, just have this baby and then I'd go back to work and I'd want to, you know, stay in my career and I'd want to do all the things. And that is actually exactly what happened. But I guess I didn't really understand the complex of emotions, of the hormones, of the pressure, of the stress, of, you know, what your body goes through so much depletion and then just emotionally and sight, like, yeah, in your, you know, in your brain, in your mindset, I guess, becoming a mom. And so I had my daughter and then I did go straight back to work, which is what I definitely wanted at the time. But it resulted in me really struggling. Can, like, if I'm being very honest, it really struggled. I really struggled connecting with Ivy at the start, it's like, connecting with her. I really struggled connecting with my new self. I struggled with, you know, anxiety. I wouldn't say I had postpartum depression, but I did experience a lot of anxiety and a lot of overwhelm and disconnect from self. And to be completely honest, I kind of, like, don't even remember that part of my life. I feel like I've disassociated from it because it was truly, really hard. And then I did a lot of inner work. I worked with, you know, some. A couple of people to kind of understand what was happening. And it really was that I just, like, didn't give myself time in the postpartum. Like, I didn't realize how sacred postpartum is, and I didn't give myself time. I didn't kind of have the support network. I didn't have, you know, the resources to really just be in that time. And so after that experience, like, with, you know, when I got pregnant with Lacy, I was very intentional about working with my team in my two businesses. So I had at least six months off. And, you know, I worked with my. He's called, like, a mind body coach, and we did a lot of, like, somatic work and RTT and hypnotherapy and breath work around, you know, letting go of the. The shame and guilt around, you know, the mother I was to Ivy. And I just. I did a lot of work around it because I had very complex feelings. So, anyway, that's the backstory. But, yes, with this postpartum, oh, my God, I feel like a different person. I've, like, never felt so connected with, you know, Lacey. I've never felt so, like, I feel Like, I'm in the right place at the right time, if that makes sense. And it just, it feels so sacred, so beautiful. But for me personally, it did come with going through the experience of what I don't want. And so what I would say is if you are currently going through an experience, whether it's the birth, whether it's the postpartum, whether it's the pregnancy, there is something to going through a season where you realize what you don't want and you realize you want different. And I think my biggest realization in that was I wouldn't change a thing. I had to go through that with Ivy. And, you know, it's made me and Ivy's connection so strong. The relationship we have together now is just so beautiful and so incredible. And so, yeah, it was a very interesting transition. And I am like, I guess I'm only, you know, 10 weeks postpartum, but it just feels the world of a difference. And I feel in no rush to go back to work. You know, even I've had a few conversations with my brother, who's my business partner, and I'm like, I don't care. You guys do what you want. And he's like, I am coming back.

[A]

And he's like, who are you?

[B]

And I'm like, I know it's crazy. So, yeah, I am very proud to say, like, I've very much done exactly what was spoken about. And yeah, I don't feel what I felt with Ivy. I think with Ivy, it wasn't because I didn't want to be, you know, a mom or stay at home. It was, I had this underlying pressure to achieve, to, you know, go after the achievements, to go after the goals, to go after the desires. And that's really proving your worth, isn't it? So I think after doing a lot of my self concept and self worth work, I just don't, yeah. Have any of that pull. And don't get me wrong, like, I, when I, I still, you know, wanted to do this with you, I still chat to my team every once in a while, but it comes from this beautiful place of like.

[A]

You don't have.

[B]

To, I don't have to, I want to. And you know, when you're in businesses, yeah, very different energy. And when you do own your own businesses, it's not like you can just like ignore everyone, but very different energy. And yeah, just I feel so, like, it's so good. I feel so amazing this season. It's.

[A]

I feel like you're radiating it and I can, I can feel It, I can see it. And I'm really happy for you. And I do think there really is something to learn and share. Like, I think a lot of women that listen to both of our podcasts are this a type, high achieving type women. And I think we live in a time where, and I don't again, I don't want to offend anyone by saying this. It's something I'm working through myself. But the quote, like just being a mom and I say that in quotations, feels like it's not enough. But now having gone through the experience myself, you know, I always, even coming, coming into postpartum, I was like, you know, I'm going to prioritize being a mum, but then there'll be a time I get back to other parts of myself. And I do think it's important to have things for yourself. However, what it's really brought to the surface for me is how much moms do. Like, holy shit, they do so much. It is a full time job in and of itself. And it is such, it's, it's, it's hard in the sense that it takes a lot from the mother. Like, it's a lot energetically, but it also gives so much too. And I just think that in this time we live in where women are expected to be the boss, babe, have all the friendships, be fit and healthy, keep the house all together, look after your husband, cook, clean all those things. Like, you feel like if you're just focusing on motherhood, it's almost like you're slacking off in other areas. So what I want to say to those women who are feeling that way is give yourself permission to just go into it. Because like, my girl Mila, she's only nine weeks old at the time of this recording. Eight. Nine. Eight and a half. And she's growing so fast that I know that this season is going to be so fleeting that if I don't sit in it, I'm going to regret it. And there will be a day where she is independent and doesn't need me to hold her and I don't need to attend to her every few hours or watch her all the time. And I'll be able to work, I'll be able to do all the things. Like that is a season that is always available to me. But I think just giving yourself permission to be where you are is so important. And I honestly feel the same way. I feel I have arrived. I don't know if that makes any sense to you. Yeah, I feel like I've arrived at a place of, it's like this peace and just general, like, contentment with what I've got in my life. Like I don't need anything else. I just feel so happy. And I didn't think that that would be in a time where I'm not really tapping into many of the things that I've been doing over the last few years. It's like something has come into my life, motherhood, my daughter, that's like just fulfilled, like it's completed me. I know that sounds really cheesy, but. And I think that comes with the privilege of just being able to sit in it as well. So I'm grateful that you're also having that experience this time around. And like you said, we go through, quote unquote, wrong relationships, wrong jobs, wrong careers, because you need to have a point of reference so you know what's right, so you know what you, what you want. Because otherwise you're just having an experience. And how are you to know if that's, that's actually what you want, if you haven't had something to compare it to?

[B]

Totally. And I think also you really need to like, give yourself the space. I, with my first daughter, I just, I over committed, you know, my first year having a baby, which now looking back, I'm like, what the was I thinking? But yeah, I over committed and I just like, I never gave myself space. And that's the advice I would give, you know, anyone who is going into postpartum. It's like, yeah, don't worry, like, you can go back to your job, you can go back to your career, but just give yourself that space because you, you don't know what's going to come up. You don't know how you're going to feel. That would definitely be my advice 100%.

[A]

And of course, like, people are in very different circumstances. Some have to go back to work after four weeks, some can take the time off. But, but I think whatever time you have, just giving yourself that grace and just being present. Like I always say to my husband, like, even now we're going, you know, going. Becoming parents is given another sort of corner to our relationship. It's like even being present for five, ten minutes is enough. It's just being intentional with the moments you do have rather than thinking about everything you don't have, you know, so that would be my 2 cents to any moms. But Georgie, I think we've been very blessed with half an hour of undisturbed time. I think I can hear Miller waking up up. So I might need to wrap this chat up. But thank you so much for opening up about your journey, your experience both before, you know, giving birth and after. Thank you for being there for me during a time where I was sort of unraveling how I was feeling as well. And I really hope this conversation has helped anybody going through anything similar, motherhood in general. And if you're watching on YouTube, I'd love to hear your thoughts if you want to drop some comments below. Otherwise, thanks again. It's always a pleasure chatting.

[B]

Thanks so much, Erica. It definitely is. And yeah, I'm so grateful also to have you through this all. It was very funny how it all, you know, worked out, us giving birth so close together.

[A]

Yeah, sorry. I think I messaged you like, because you're like, tell me how the C section experience is. And I was like, oh hey, the C section experiences like this. You're like, I've already given birth. I'm like, what?

[B]

I know.

[A]

Isn't that funny?

[B]

Because it's so funny. When you told me I'm getting the C section on this date, I was like, oh my God, that's so soon. And then like I gave birth before you.

[A]

Like, I'll show you how soon. So funny.

[B]

No, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I loved this combo.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

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