The Motherwhelm

In the twenty-seventh episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Madeline, a counsellor for millennial women and mum of one from Melbourne. She shares how her journey into motherhood challenged her people-pleasing tendencies and opened up a wellspring of creativity, allowing her to embrace her passions in ways she never thought possible. Texts mention in this episode: No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma...

In the twenty-sixth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Grace, a mum-of-two living in New Zealand, who shares her experience of birthing during a pandemic far from home and family, the tumultuous transition from one to two, and mothering as a counter-cultural act of rebellion.

In the 25th episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Kim, who shares openly and vulnerably about conceiving through IVF, the challenges of postpartum depression and accessing adequate support, and what it has meant to seek an autism diagnosis for her daughter.  Perinatal Mental Health Resources: Parent and Baby Unit: https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/ParentBaby.html @gidgetfoundation http...

In the twenty-fourth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Adele, a mum of three, who shares her experience of becoming a mum at 19, escaping domestic violence, surviving a near-fatal car accident, and living with an active cancer diagnosis. Adele shares her story with grace, humility, and an incredible spirit of self-reflection. She views moments that would bring others to their knees as opp...

In the twenty-third episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Nicole, a mum-of-three from Victoria, who shares beautifully and openly about her experience of postpartum depression and anxiety as a young mother, the hard-earned confidence that comes with experience, and the resilience and strength it takes to parent in your own way, despite the immense societal pressure that mothers face. Perinata...

In the twenty-second episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Kendra, a soon to be mum-of-two living in London, who describes motherhood as a ‘coming home’ to the essence of who she is. We discuss breastfeeding challenges, the shock and isolation of postpartum, and the reckoning that occurs when past versions of yourself no longer quite fit. Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode: @drsophi...

In the twenty-first episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Yong-Li, a business owner and mum of two who talks about her experience with endometriosis, pregnancy after loss, and the importance of practicing gratitude for everything your body has given you.  The texts mentioned in this episode are: The Wonder Weeks app The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J Siegel The Postnatal Depletion Cure by Dr O...

In the twentieth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by my beautiful friend Erin, who shares her experience of pregnancy and motherhood living with type 1 diabetes, and the loneliness of navigating her postpartum period after a traumatic birth that resulted in PTSD and postpartum depression. This episode is a powerful one. Not least because it is the story of a lovely friend, but also because...

In today’s Motherwhelm Bite, I am joined by Lisa Quinney, a perinatal counsellor and mum of 2 from Geelong. Lisa demonstrates how Internal Family Systems works as a modality by flipping it back on me, and giving me a lot of food for thought. This discussion made me so eager to learn more about IFS, and how it could fit into my own future counselling practice. If you want to hear more from Lisa, go...

In the eighteenth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Lauren, a perinatal psychologist and mum of two from Melbourne, who discusses the value of sitting in the uncertainty of getting to know yourself, the importance of holding the mother, and respecting the postpartum period. Lauren is such a generous soul, and I gained so much from her insights as a psychologist, woman, and mother. I know...

In the seventeenth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Lisa, a perinatal counsellor and mum of 2 from Geelong, who shares openly about her experience with postnatal depression, the importance of showing up for yourself and honouring your needs, and the way motherhood can return us to our primal state to allow us to be reborn alongside our children.  I really felt like I found a kindred spir...

This Motherwhelm Bite is more like a Motherwhelm Meal. Lisa Quinny from @walk.with.lisa and Lauren Beatty from @tendpsychology planned to host an Instagram Live to discuss the big, important topic of loneliness in motherhood. I was so excited to tune in and simply listen, but when technical difficulties proved to be an obstacle, I jumped at the opportunity to use this podcast as a platform for the...

In the second episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I speak with Rebecca Gilchrist, a clinical psychologist registrar who works primarily with women and mothers living in rural communities. We discuss the important messages that anger, anxiety, and guilt can have for us - if we can only learn to ask the right questions.  This discussion really challenged the way I conceive of these emotions, and gave me a...

In the fourteenth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Amy, who generously shares the challenges she faced as a first-time mum, the emotional fortitude she discovered through the birth of her son, and her beautiful personal philosophy about the importance of being with family in the limited time we have.  Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode: @tinyheartseducation @sick.happens @birth...

On the thirteenth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Rebecca, a mum of two who gave birth to her first daughter at 33 weeks on an air ambulance at 13,000 feet. Rebecca is a clinical psychologist registrar who works in the perinatal space supporting women living in rural communities, and she shares her own experience of living on a sheep and cattle farm in New England, NSW. Rebecca brings h...

In the twelfth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Kaitlyn, a first-time mother who gave birth to her daughter, Gianna, at 27 weeks. There are many remarkable elements to Kaitlyn’s story, but the thing that stands out most for me is her resilience, determination, and ability to creatively pivot in the face of unexpected circumstances. Kaitlyn shares her journey with such an open heart, and...

In the eleventh episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Jen, a first-time mother who gave birth to her son, Luca, at 33 weeks. She shares her experience of unexpectedly being challenged by anxiety and anger in postpartum, how motherhood has given her a new perspective on her role as a social worker, and the way she has empowered herself by advocating for her son throughout their NICU journey. I...

In the tenth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Bree, a first-time mum who gave birth to her son, Jaxx, at 30 weeks. She shares her experience of finding her feet in motherhood after being thrown in far sooner than she expected, the importance of authentically sharing both the highs and lows with her community, and how the NICU experience can stay with you long after you've left. Insta...

In the ninth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Danielle, a first-time mother from Canada, who gave birth to her son, Jack, at 24 weeks. Danielle shares her experience of co-parenting with a medical team, the importance of listening to her intuition, and the sense of belonging that comes from connecting with a community of fellow NICU mums who truly understand. Instagram accounts mentioned...

In the eighth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Laura, a mum of three boys, James, Reuben, and Luca. Laura shares openly and beautifully about the loss of her son, James, who passed at 8 weeks of age due to a rare genetic mutation. Laura's is a story of resilience, courage, and a deep, deep love for all of her children. “Every year, around 110,000 Australians have a miscarriage. 2,200...

In the seventh episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by my beautiful friend Ariadna, who shares her journey of co-parenting and discovering that sometimes, the best path is to transition from partners to friends. She delves into the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between her work life and family life, offering valuable insights for other mothers striving for balance. Ariadna also ope...

In the first episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I speak with Madeline, a counsellor for millennial women from Melbourne. She shares some easy-to-follow advice on how we can approach moments of anger, guilt, and shame throughout our motherhood journeys. You can connect with Madeline on Instagram under the handle @sitwithself She is currently accepting new clients online and in-person!

In the fifth episode of The Motherwhelm, I speak with Leah, a mother of two from Indiana, USA. She shares openly and vulnerably about the breakdown of her marriage, the courage she got from the birth of her son which enabled her to leave a toxic relationship, and the joy and love she found in a supportive partnership. Through this conversation, it becomes clear that sometimes when life takes an un...

In the fourth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Chelsea, the host of the Definitely Baby podcast, and second-time mum on her VBAC journey. She shares with us the difficulties of facing off against societal expectations, coming to terms with the unpredictability of birth, and the importance of reconnecting with her intuition. Chelsea's story of an unplanned first pregnancy on an IUD sp...

In the third episode of The Motherwhelm I am joined by Georgia, a creative, resilient, and determined mother, who walks us through her hard-fought and hard-won breastfeeding journeys, the loneliness of new motherhood during a global pandemic, and the importance of building a community of like-minded mums. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of positive, genuine, and consisten...