04 | Kathryn - anxiety, OCD, medication, psychiatry, depression, postpartum planning

A successful economist and accomplished career woman, Kathryn from MotherUp has always been the quintessential high achiever who needed certainty and control over every aspect of her life. Although, of course, when she had her little girl Liv, Kathryn learnt the hard way that perfectionism and motherhood do not mix.

She assumed the anxiety she felt during pregnancy would be alleviated when her daughter was safely in her arms, but after five relentless weeks of depression and compulsive behaviour, Kathryn had what she calls a “combustion”.

Kathryn shares a unique perspective about perinatal mental ill health coupled with fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, breastfeeding trauma, and mothering with OCD during a COVID pandemic. Despite fears about a recurrent postpartum “combustion”, Kathryn has leaned into hope (and her own postpartum planning framework!) and is currently expecting a little boy.

This isn’t an episode to miss.

You can find out more about Kathryn’s mother-centric planning and support service, MotherUp, at www.motherup.com.au or via Instagram @_motherup

 

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MADE WITH LOVE by Rebecca (host, founder, storyteller) x