The Motherwhelm

In the forty-seventh episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Jen, a mum of three who shares her journey from a highly organised, intuitive perfectionist into the realities of motherhood. Jen reflects on her difficult first pregnancy and emergency caesarean, a challenging postpartum period marked by pain, anxiety, and delayed bonding, and a distressing early hospital experience. As her family gr...

In the forty-sixth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by my Aunty Anneliese, a mother of three. In this raw and deeply honest conversation, we talk about motherhood through the lens of childhood trauma, survival, and the fierce determination to do better for the next generation. Anneliese shares her journey from becoming a mother at 21 while still healing from abuse, to raising three kids wit...

In the forty-fifth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Ciara to talk about the winding, often unseen road to motherhood. Ciara shares her experience of an ectopic pregnancy and the profound impact her loss had on her body, her mental health, and her sense of self. We explore her IVF journey, the hope, heartbreak, and resilience required to keep going when the path to becoming a mother is an...

In the forty-fourth episode of The Motherwhelm, I interview Caroline, a perinatal psychologist, and now a mother of two. This episode is a little time capsule. It was recorded two years ago and recently recovered from the archives, this conversation captures one mother in a very specific season of her motherhood. Since recording, she’s welcomed another baby, and listening back now feels like being...

In the forty-third episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Emily, a mother of two, perinatal therapist, and coauthor of the upcoming guided reflective journal ' Your NICU Story .' In this conversation, Emily shares her personal and professional experiences with motherhood, chronic illness, and neurodivergence, offering a deeply honest look at what it means to care for yourself while caring for...

In the forty-second episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Mahaley, therapist, co-author of 'Your NICU Story', and mother of four. She shares the loss of her second daughter, Sacchi, and talks about how it shaped her subsequent birth and surrogacy journey, and what it means to parent while living with grief and fear. We talk about the ongoing balance of honouring loss without letting i...

In this special episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by two deeply compassionate and knowledgeable guests, Ali Heppell and Bronte Taylor. Ali is a mother of two, a postpartum doula, matrescence educator, motherhood studies practitioner, and women’s circle facilitator. Her work centres around helping mothers reconnect with their stories, their needs, and their sense of self in the postpartum spa...

In this special episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel - therapists, authors, and mothers - who have both lived and worked through the complexities of NICU experiences in deeply personal ways. Their upcoming book, ' Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience' , is more than a guide - it's a compassionate companion for families navigating the aftermat...

In the thirty-ninth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Haley, as she shares about her experience with the isolation of postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing effort of staying true to her values as a new mother, and the importance of speaking honestly about both the highs and lows of motherhood.  Sources mentioned in this episode: Instagram Whole Body Pregnancy Life After Bir...

In the thirty-eighth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Ariane Beeston - a postpartum psychosis survivor, perinatal mental health advocate, trained psychologist, and author of the powerful memoir, 'Because I’m Not Myself, You See: A Memoir of Motherhood, Madness, and Coming Back From the Brink.' We talk about the unraveling and the rebuilding. The silence surrounding maternal mental illnes...

In the thirty-seventh episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Madeline, a mother of two, cosplayer, gamer, and passionate math teacher. We talk about the highs and lows of navigating motherhood while honouring your own needs and passions, and the best ways we can show up for our children and ourselves.  This is an honest, affirming conversation about identity, self-acceptance, and finding joy i...

In the thirty-sixth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Jess, a mum of 3 who shares with real honesty about the emotional journey of her marriage breakdown and what it taught her about identity and resilience; The often-overlooked challenge of rediscovering yourself after becoming a mother, and how reconnecting with your interests, no matter your age or life stage, can be a powerful path ba...

In the thirty-fifth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Polly, who shares with us her journey navigating the complexities of IVF, the power of finding a supportive community in motherhood, and the ongoing practice of self-acceptance.

In the thirty-fourth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Alyce, who shares openly and thoughtfully about  becoming a young mum, navigating the challenges of postnatal anxiety and seeking support, and working through the complexities of body image after birth.

In the 33rd episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Yara, psychologist and host of the podcast Life After Birth with Yara Heary. We discuss the nexus between her work and her mothering, covering topics like reparenting, overcoming the perfect mother myth, the importance of self-compassion, and practical tools like breath-work to help support your mental health and nervous system. Get ready for...

In the thirty-second episode of The Motherwhelm, Rachel shares how making a tree change has transformed her experience of parenthood, the challenges of staying politically engaged while raising children, and what activism looks like through the lens of motherhood. Rachel shares her power VBAC journey on the Australian VBAC Stories podcast in Episode 8.

In the thirty-first episode of The Motherwhelm, Adelle shares her journey of healing and empowerment after a traumatic birth. She opens up about her HBAC experience, the role of reparenting, self-work, and EMDR therapy in her recovery, and how perinatal counselling helped her find self-acceptance. This powerful conversation explores the strength it takes to reclaim your birth story.

In the thirtieth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Natalie, a hypnobirth instructor and mum of two, who shares the profound impact hypnobirthing has had on her life. From transforming her labour experiences to enabling her breastfeeding journey, work, and even managing her own emotions when her children are experiencing big feelings, Natalie’s insights are invaluable. This conversation is...

In the twenty-ninth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Jane, an occupational therapist and mum of two from Melbourne, who talks about the power of reframing trauma on your own terms, doing your research for birth and beyond, and trusting your instincts. Texts mentioned in this episode: 'Mama Rising' by Amy Taylor-Kabbaz

In the twenty-eighth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Kaylee, a mum of three from WA, who shares her first two birth stories on her journey to VBAC, the shock and isolation of parenting through a pandemic as a young first-time mum, and how meeting the right person can change your whole perspective on parenthood. Texts mentioned in this episode: Podcasts: The Great Birth Rebellion The Mid...

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...