Hi mama. In this episode, I’m joined by Anna Cusack, a Doula, Speaker, Author and Podcaster who supports women by providing emotional support, advice, resources and organisational assistance through pregnancy decision-making, birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing and guidance throughout the early stages of parenting.  In this  conversation, we discuss Anna’s experience of becoming a mother, both in the initial fourth trimester period, and in the months that followed this. We reflect on how the postpartum period is in many ways a lifelong stage, and Anna speaks to her own experience of feeling relatively prepared for the initial fourth trimester period, compared to the later months where she found herself unprepared for the intensity of the period that followed. This was further heightened for Anna by this period of time coinciding with the pandemic. We also discussed: ·      The power of letting go and surrender, how this relates to so many facets of mothering, & Anna’s own experience of this in relation to both her fertility journey prior to conceiving, and her experience of going into labour with her first child.  ·      The need to slow down in motherhood and how Anna’s awareness of her own tendencies to pull against this meant that she resolutely committed to taking rest seriously in her early stages of motherhood, setting boundaries around her activity.  ·      Reframing the value of motherhood in society and how mothering is activism in itself in the sense that how we consciously choose to raise our children affects not only their lives & how they navigate the world but also shapes the world in which we all live – & also the balance of holding this whilst also honouring the stage of life you are in and what you have the capacity for. ·      Gender differences in children with regard to privilege, and Anna’s feelings around the implications of this in terms of how to raise her children to be responsible adults. ·      Our shared experience of how motherhood can bring with it an increased sense of confidence with regard to living life authentically, in alignment and with integrity. … and much much more. I hope you love listening to it as much as I loved having it.  Here is where you can find out more about me (Yara), how to work with me and some resources: Why Am I So Angry Workshop *** Waitlist for The Rebirth, Group Coaching for Mamas *** This is my signature 3 months online group coaching container for mothers which covers family of origin, inner child work, nervous system basics, anger, boundaries and much more.  @lifeafterbirthpsychology   www.lifeafterbirth.com.au Free Inner Critic Workbook Free Values Aligned Living Workbook  Find out more about Anna in these places: www.annacusack.com.au Anna on Instagram Read Anna’s Substack – Its a place where she muses on all things mothering and motherhood - incredible! You can purchase Anna’s book “Mama, You’re Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood” here