First Time Mum's Chat

Often when I'm speaking with moms the subject of their home comes up with frustrations often vented about why certain aspects of their home space simply don't work for them!

This isn't something I've given much thought or consideration to over the years, until I recently spoke with Jane Leach, who is an eco-home chartered architect. I learnt a lot during our chat about why moms so often experience these problems.

Since most architects and builders are male, women often feel ignored during the home design process. This is even more of an issue for moms who need a home that will help ease the daily battles getting everyone washed, dressed, breakfasted and out of the house.

Jane has created a way to help families design a vision for their home so they get a home that supports them in living their version of their best lives. She knows all about helping her clients begin their days without feeling frazzled, often by making simple changes to their homes.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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When it comes to the topic of pregnancy and childbirth, our society has a lot of preconceived ideas as to what is considered acceptable and what isn't.

I always enjoy talking with women on First Time Mum's Chat who put society's general expectations to the test and this week's guest is no exception. When it comes to childbirth, mother of 9 Angie Taylor has done it all!

As you'll hear from her during our interview she refers to herself as a Fairy GodMentor which was suggested by her clients. She is a midwife, birth insider, an international board certified lactation consultant, a birth doula, life coach and more!

Angie's aim is to be there for families and help them navigate their way through all birthing options to create the best experience for their unique situation.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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A lot of the moms I talk with often ask me about ways they can improve their posture since they're often put to the test particularly whilst pregnant.

I know from experience that my posture is far from ideal and there is much I could do to improve it. In my opinion, one of the mistakes that many moms make is looking to attain a perfect posture!

This week's guest, Courtney McManus who is a personal trainer, has what I feel is a more realistic, practical approach and encourages moms to find different ways to move through postures so they are truly mobile and able to move.

You'll hear Courtney share easy to follow tips including:-

• Ways to improve your posture and feel more comfortable whilst bottle feeding or breastfeeding your baby.
• The benefits of 360 breathing and how to get started.
• How to exercise your feet to improve your balance and reduce aches and pains.

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

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With the many stressors in our lives, it is hardly surprising that many of us find comfort in food and struggle with emotional eating.

I feel that the media has a lot to answer for with the typical images of women they portray. Any time I glance over at a magazine whilst shopping, they're full of images of beautiful and gorgeous women! Many of the women I speak with suffer because they feel they don't measure up!

As a new mum, this can be highly challenging as you adapt to life with your baby and the changes to your body during and after your pregnancy.

I am delighted to be speaking with Jillian Lama in this week's episode. Jillian is a certified life and weight loss coach and she teaches women how to end emotional eating and lose excess weight eating foods they love.

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Being sleep deprived isn't fun, is it! Let's face it, if your little is not sleeping then neither are you.

This will take a huge toll on you and your family, particularly when it is an ongoing issue. This week's guest, Kim Davis, knows all about being sleep deprived after being unable to get her son to sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time for naps or sleep overnight.

And Kim went through this for more than two and a half years and finally reached the point where she needed answers and to find a better way. This led Kim into her career as a pediatric sleep consultant.

Kim shares loads of tips and insights in this episode and I learnt lots from her. You'll hear Kim and I talk about topics including the following:-

• Why you need to be consistent and respond the same way every time to avoid confusing your little one.
• How to avoid overstimulation when it is approaching their bedtime so they know it's their calming time.
• Why an early bedtime is beneficial and doesn't mean your little one will wake up earlier!

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Have you found that sometimes when organising activities for toddlers and children that it is easy to over complicate it? Whether it's looking for the Lego or craft materials or something else it can all get too hard when you're busy and just want to get something going now, to keep them occupied for a while!

If this sounds familiar then you're going to love this week's episode where I'm talking with guest Rachel Strivelli. Rachel is an Intuitive, writer and organic gardening coach.

You'll hear us talk about:-

• How introducing your kids to gardening gives them that all important connection with the earth and nature.
• How spending time in your yard or garden with your kids is an activity in itself requiring no planning or materials.
• How your child will learn to calm themselves and relax in their outdoor surroundings.

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

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There's never been a more important time to ensure you eat well than when you're pregnant! After all, during pregnancy, your baby is taking much of your nutrition, so it's extremely important to ensure that your body gets what it needs.

You need to ensure that what you consume fuels both you and your baby and sets the scene for after they're born and your breastfeeding.

It's also going to set the groundwork towards your own recovery, making it increasingly likely that you'll have an easier and quicker recovery post birth.

In this episode, I'm talking with nutritionist and food scientist, Kate Boyle who shares some great tips and insights on how to ensure your diet during these early stages, supports your recovery and nurtures your little one as they begin their precious journey.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

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Self care for moms is something that many moms I speak with find challenging. With insufficient time in the day to deal with everything, particularly with the latest addition to the family, this is of course completely understandable.

I was thrilled to recently meet Charlotte Caunter who has a remarkable story to tell. Charlotte's experience for me is a reminder of the importance of looking after yourself and ensuring that you live your life, without the modern tendency to burn the candle at both ends.

For some years, Charlotte has been a holistic burnout coach for moms but she came from a background in mental health and lived a life that was go, go, go. At just 32, Charlotte found herself faced with one of the scariest things any of us can face, cancer!

I'm sure you'll find Charlotte's journey and how she turned her life around as amazing as I did. She's an amazingly positive lady with an amazing zest for life.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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One of the biggest challenges that many of the parents that I speak with face is being constantly tired or exhausted due to restless nights and time needed to settle their little one.

After looking after babies for many years I'm familiar with a lot of the traditional sleep programs and the practices they encourage such as crying it out. I don't know about you, but I've always found this practice heartbreaking.

I just think it's so sad to leave a baby to cry!

I was thrilled to recently meet Cara Tyrrell since we share a childcare educator background with similar experiences. Cara founded her business Core4Parenting an online community and course platform for parents and caregivers that follows the developmental path of the young child, while educating, empowering and engaging parents and caregivers to be their child's brain architect between birth and 5 years old, setting them up for success in school and life.

In this episode Cara talks about her sleep soothing system which is all about teaching babies their first life skill that they can do by themselves. I found what she has to say fascinating and wow, this is such a welcome change to the traditional sleep training programs!

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

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Have you ever noticed yourself reacting in a certain way to your child's behavior, felt ashamed and then thought to yourself "where on Earth did that come from"?

Many of us have triggers from our past that influence how we behave as parents and I've always felt that having an awareness of their origins is an important starting point in any healing.

After all, you want to be present for your kids as the "best you", right?

Today's guest, mother of 3, Laura Linklater is a Cycle-Breaker Parent Mentor and has been there, having been brought up in a household with alcoholism.

You'll hear Laura talk about many topics including:-

• Seeing your child as your awakener.
• The importance of having a connection with your child.
• Her collaborative problem solve method.

Laura shares loads of great tips and insights in this episode to help parents break their cycles so that they can support their children to flourish.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

Subscribe now!