Practical Ways of Preparing for Postpartum with Sophie Walker

Practical Ways of Preparing for Postpartum with Sophie Walker, Author and Host of the Australian Birth Stories Podcast

Sophie Walker, host of the Australian Birth Stories podcast and author of The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth and The Complete Guide to Postpartum: A Mother-Focused Companion for Life After Birth, joins Dr. Rebecca Dekker to explore what it really takes to plan for a nourishing postpartum experience and the challenges and strengths of the Australian birth system. Sophie shares how a traumatic first birth sparked her passion for informed decision-making, why continuity of midwifery care matters, and how her country’s publicly funded postpartum home visits and mothers’ groups create critical support networks. Together, Sophie and Dr. Dekker unpack the postpartum cliff that so many new parents face, discuss how to prepare mentally, emotionally, and physically for life after birth, and offer tips on everything from pelvic floor recovery to sleep expectations to navigating newborn feeding.

(02:28) Sophie’s Birth Story and What She Learned from Trauma
(06:07) Why Listening to Birth Stories Can Be a Powerful Tool
(09:25) Models of Maternity Care in Australia
(13:10) Strengths and Gaps in the Australian System
(17:33) Midwifery Burnout and Access Issues
(20:32) Rise of Doulas and Student Midwives
(25:03) Postpartum Home Visits and Maternal Health Nurses
(29:51) Mistakes to Avoid When Planning for Postpartum
(35:01) Pelvic Floor Recovery, Lactation Support, and Mental Health
(42:04) Infant Sleep: Expectations vs. Reality
(46:49) Balancing Birth and Postpartum Prep
(48:26) Making a Mental Health Safety Net
(51:33) Listening to a Range of Birth Stories—Even the Hard Ones

Resources
Explore Sophie’s podcast and books: australianbirthstories.com
Follow Sophie on Instagram: @australianbirthstories
EBB 155 – Pelvic Floor Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Dr. Juan Michelle Martin
EBB 256 – Top 3 Recommendations for Preventing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction after Birth with Dr. Sarah Duvall, Founder of Core Exercise Solutions
EBB 118 – How to Have a Healthy Postpartum Transition with Dr. Alyssa Berlin

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