The moment the gap became impossible to ignore: In Conversation with Helen Sykes, Founder of Happy Kat

There’s a moment most mums remember clearly: the weeks leading up to birth. The check-ups. The monitoring. The endless advice. The lists. And then, suddenly, the baby arrives and the support quietly evaporates.

For Helen Sykes, founder of Happy Kat, that silence wasn’t just frustrating. It was the spark that lit a movement.

“When I was back in hospital more recently for an emergency hysterectomy, I experienced firsthand just how little aftercare exists for women. Despite complications and having to manage much of my recovery myself, there was nothing designed to support me once the procedure was over,” Helen says.

“I remember stopping and thinking about my daughters’ friends’ age group all starting to have babies, and wondering how this could still be the standard. I couldn’t believe that this was the level of aftercare women receive and it made me realise we have to do better.”

That moment stayed with her, not just as frustration but as a question that refused to go away.

“That moment crystallised the gap for me: if this is what recovery looks like now, how is the next generation meant to cope without proper support?”

When the care suddenly stops

Like so many women, Helen noticed the sharp contrast between pregnancy and what follows.

“During pregnancy, you’re monitored constantly, but once you have your baby and once you leave hospital, you’re suddenly expected to just cope all whilst being physically sore, exhausted and healing.”

Emotionally, the gap felt even wider.

“Emotionally, I felt vulnerable and overwhelmed, yet there was very little practical support designed specifically for that stage. That disconnect stayed with me. I remember thinking, how is this such a universal experience, yet so rarely addressed?”

The fourth trimester no one prepares you for

That rarely spoken-about phase has a name, but Helen believes too few women are prepared for what it actually involves.

“I wish women were told that recovery takes time and that it’s normal for it to feel messy, emotional and unpredictable. The fourth trimester isn’t just about bouncing back physically; it’s about identity shifts, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation and learning how to care for yourself while caring for someone else.”

Why postpartum recovery became secondary

So why has postpartum recovery so often been treated as an afterthought?

“Culturally, we’ve prioritised outcomes over wellbeing. Once the baby is here and healthy, the assumption is that the job is done. But mothers don’t stop needing care simply because they’ve given birth.”

She believes the expectations placed on women are deeply ingrained.

“I think it’s a combination of outdated thinking, lack of education, and the expectation that women should simply ‘push through’ or that it is ‘what’s expected’.”

Realising it wasn’t personal, it was systemic

Once Helen began talking openly about her experience, something unexpected happened.

“What surprised me most was how common it all was. Once I started talking openly about my experience, so many women shared similar stories, pain, exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, feeling unseen.”

That’s when she knew this wasn’t a niche issue.

“It reinforced that this wasn’t a niche problem, it was systemic. I knew I had to bring a voice to this, to spark conversations, to normalise mum being cared for just as much in the fourth trimester, not overlooked when the attention becomes all about the baby.”

Turning vulnerability into something tangible

Turning that realisation into a physical product meant showing up honestly.

“The hardest part was being vulnerable. Sharing postpartum experiences means talking about things that are often kept private. But I realised that honesty was essential, because if we don’t talk about it, nothing changes.”

From idea to pharmacy shelf

Happy Kat is now Australia’s first all-in-one postpartum recovery kit available nationally in pharmacies.

“A lot of persistence, collaboration and belief in the mission,” Helen says.

“We worked closely with healthcare professionals, pharmacists and retailers to ensure Happy Kat wasn’t just emotionally resonant, but clinically and practically relevant, TGA approved and beautifully presented, just as a new mum deserves.”

Design mattered too.

“Practical, not too girlie in case a partner needs to grab and go from a chemist. This is the FIRST all-in-one postpartum recovery kit available in pharmacy. Can you believe it?”

She laughs, but the point lands.

“No more grabbing bits from baby shops and running to find essentials that a new mum needs. We have done the hard work and popped it all in a beautiful hand-held box available at your local pharmacy, open late.”

Supporting the whole person, not just the body

For Helen, physical recovery was never enough on its own.

“It was essential that Happy Kat addressed emotional wellbeing too. Physical recovery and emotional wellbeing are deeply connected. You can’t separate them.”

The feedback that makes it all worth it

The response from new mums has been powerful.

“When women tell us, ‘I felt seen for the first time,’ ‘thank goodness this exists!’, ‘what a GREAT idea, all-in-one essentials I spent so much more money on buying individually?!’ that stays with me.”

There’s one reaction she hears constantly.

“‘WHERE HAD THIS BEEN WHEN I gave birth?’ we get this a LOT.”

Why voices like Andi Lew matter

Bringing wellbeing advocate Andi Lew into the conversation was a natural extension of the brand’s values.

“Because credibility and shared values matter. Andi genuinely understands women’s health and wellbeing, and she speaks about it in a grounded, accessible way.”

How motherhood reshaped leadership

Motherhood has changed how Helen leads.

“Motherhood has made me more intentional. I lead with empathy, clarity and purpose. Time becomes precious, so decisions are made with greater focus on impact and values.”

It’s also given her a platform she doesn’t take lightly.

“I also need to be a voice for people who feel they do not have the platform. Happy Kat gives me this platform to speak on behalf of mothers who feel silent.”

The cultural shift Helen hopes to create

“I hope it helps normalise postpartum care as essential, not optional. Supporting women after birth should be standard, not something you have to seek out or feel guilty for needing.”

A message for the mum who feels unseen

If a new mum is reading this and feeling overwhelmed, Helen wants her to know:

“You’re not failing. You’re not weak. What you’re feeling is real, and you deserve support. You matter just as much as your baby. You’ve got this, mumma. I see you. You are not alone.”

Postpartum care, sorted.
Happy Kat’s all-in-one recovery kit is available now at pharmacies and selected stockists nationwide.
Find where to get yours here