119: The fourth trimester: preparing for birth and postpartum PCOS

As I’m sure you can imagine having been pregnant with PCOS, I’ve had a raft of questions from other expecting mothers with PCOS and enquiring minds on how I’m preparing for birth and what the heck happens to PCOS postpartum.As you’re listening to this podcast, I’m actually right in the thick of the newborn stage. I’m sure I’ll reflect back on this podcast with some things I wish I’d known, but hey hindsight is a wonderful thing!As I’m recording this episode though, I’m a few weeks away from giving birth and I’ve been thinking a lot about how drastically life will change. While I help women and birthing people day-in-day-out with understanding their PCOS (and for some trying to conceive), I haven’t lived that postpartum experience in the first person yet — only through a more scientific lens.Because I know it can be such a whirlwind and an unpredictable time, I wanted to take a moment to pause and touch on what I’m doing to prepare for birth and postpartum PCOS in these final moments of this pregnancy. There are so many unknowns in the fourth trimester and what I always say to my patients and protocolers is to ‘focus on what’s within your control’. So that’s exactly what I plan to do in today’s episode — share with you what’s in my control right now that will help future Clare not run around like a headless, sleep deprived chicken (or new mother hen should I say)!While my journey will likely be a bit different to some of yours — hello leading and running a business meaning no traditional maternity leave, I know you’ll probably think I’m crazy. I think that having this honest, open conversation about how I’m preparing for birth, postpartum life and my PCOS postpartum will have so much value to so many of you, whether you’re planning to have children or not.This episode is for you if:You’re currently pregnant with PCOSYou are curious as to how PCOS changes postpartumThe fourth trimester is worrying youYou want to know how I’m managing PCOS, a new baby and a business all at the same timeSome things we cover in this episode:My support systems: it takes a village to raise a child (they’re not wrong!)What I’m doing to prepare for and after birthMy approach when it comes to medicated / unmedicatedUnderstanding all the optionsBirth plans — do I have one? What does it look like?Birthing coursesThe mental pressure of being a new mum — how I’m preparingAntenatal classesBuilding a community of other mothers with similar aged babiesThe things that’ll be harder to do postpartum and how I’m navigating thatNursery plansMy postpartum survival kitWhat to expect in the first few hours, weeks and monthsLactation consultants and breastfeeding with PCOSHow I’m managing the judgements from other people on how you look after / raise your babyResources and References:Postpartum courseMy Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOSLinks to our programs:The PCOS ProtocolEggducated