I’d heard the terms “birth world” and “out of body experience” used to describe other womens' experiences of labour during my pregnancy. Hoo wee, the experimental 16 year old in me really hoped I’d have a birth experience that encompassed both of those things.

And I went to some otherworldly place, I was aware of my surroundings but not. My mind and body became one. It was complete surrender.

Until suddenly I was awake. And I felt so alert, and so clear headed. I still felt a little hopeless and in a silly moment I remember apologising for not managing, for being so ‘full on.’ I still wasn’t ready to own my power and to be me.

Augie is mother and an artist. She lives on Dja Dja Wurrung country where she home schools her two small humans, while also studying a Bachelor of Psychology. She generously and courageously shares her experience of postnatal depression and sheds light on the truth around where these disorders stem from, and what she needed during her second pregnancy and postpartum.

Caroline Clements is an editor, producer and author of Places We Swim where she and her partner Dillon uncover idyllic beaches, pools, waterfalls, lakes, hot springs and gorges for us all to enjoy. When she is not travelling the globe, she lives with Dillon and their son Leo in Sydney, Australia.

Rose Louey is an artist, model and mother to a daughter and twin boys. She wrote this essay titled A Tale of Life Lived Now, Postpartum Forever for And Then. Postpartum in June 2022.

Image and words reproduced with permission from @hannahdebus and her Dear Shrimp: Scenes from new motherhood publication

Image credit @mumsonfilm

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