Growing

This week, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure of premenstrual anxiety, the post-breastfeeding hormone dive, yet another to do list and the many ways being a woman can feel like a lot. 

Lil is coming up for air in yet another postpartum era and reckoning with the relentless societal pressure to “bounce back”. The girls discuss what if bounceback has had an unwanted rebrand? Lil’s making a conscious (and slightly rebellious) decision to put down the pressure, find joy in her body where she can and start reclaiming a little of herself. Because good things are hard, and sometimes choosing your current self is the rebuild.

Lil’s recommendation: Her Breville coffee machine is getting a big tick of approval, especially with sales on the horizon.

Beth’s recommendation: Usborne activity books for preschool-aged littles. A win for the kids and potentially a few minutes of peace for the grown-ups.

Recipe: We’re both loving the special-edition Marley Spoon menu with Elizabeth Hewson, inspired by her cookbook. A little dinner inspiration for the weekly rotation.

A huge thank you to our sponsor, ergoPouch. Their swaddle bags are staples in our households. Use code GROWING20 for 20% off sitewide. T&Cs apply.

Come for the glimmers, stay for the hormonal deep dives, postpartum reality checks and conversations that are absolutely not medical advice… just two midwives talking (a lot).

Beth’s back in a new family rhythm with her husband back at work, it’s a fresh round of juggling you know, just four kids, three of which are under two. The biggest pinch point in her days are the necessity of naps and yet, so tedious. 

We’re chatting holiday realities with little kids, and while Lil is loving her Tasmanian farm stay, she’s also missing her village (and perhaps realising she doesn’t give it quite enough credit sometimes). We’re back in the relationship quandaries too, unpacking what it actually looks like to empower our partners in parenthood. Plus, Lil’s had a gentle little nudge back towards her own values, the things she loves and what really matters to her. Never a bad thing.

Our usual R&R is a good representation of the juggle juggling, but Lil is here to report back on Berre Golden Oil and wishes she’d packed it for the kids’ skin against Tasmania’s cold, wild winds.

A huge thank you to our sponsor, ergoPouch⁠. Their swaddle bags are absolute staples in our households. Use code GROWING20 for 20% off sitewide. T&Cs apply.

This week’s growing pains and glimmers include those moth*er flipping moths, suburban chicken negotiations and the radical act of having a minute (or two nights) to yourself. Beth’s back from a work trip with a hot take: sometimes the rest we need runs so much deeper than sleep, although of course sleep also helps. We unpack mum guilt, deep rest and remembering who you are outside of being Mum. Plus, Lil shares her experience flying with two little ones (shoutout to childless friends doing the most), Tassie farm-life fantasies and whether Ben can be convinced that suburban chickens are, in fact, essential.Turns out, you can love your life and still need a little break from it

A huge thank you to ergoPouch, a long-time favourite in both our households. From swaddles to sleeping bags and big-kid PJs, we love their quality, gorgeous prints and clever TOG-rated designs.

Shop the Nursery Rhymes collection and use code GROWING20 for 20% off site-wide. T&Cs apply.

R&R: Recommendations, Recipes & Rebuilds

BETH’S REBUILD - Deep rest

Beth’s biggest takeaway from her work trip is that rest isn’t always about sleep. Consider this your permission slip to make space for you — whatever that looks like in this season.

BETH’S RECOMMENDATION - Youth on HBO Max

A new comedy from Sharon Horgan, the brilliant writer and star behind Bad Sisters. Smart, funny and centred on the messy business of being a woman in the world. 

BETH’S RECIPE - Veggie-packed nachos

A family-friendly dinner that gets the kids excited about corn chips while sneaking in plenty of goodness. Cook mince with grated zucchini, grated carrot, onion, black beans and taco seasoning. Spoon it over corn chips, top with grated cheese, then finish with avocado. 

LIL’S RECOMMENDATION - A Basket by the Door by Sophie Hansen

A beautiful cookbook full of achievable recipes for sharing, freezing, dropping off and showing people you care. Sometimes there’s nothing better than flicking through an actual cookbook, finding something delicious and keeping food simple.

LIL’S RECIPE - Big-bowl Bircher muesli

Inspired by the very wholesome Tassie house-sit life: a big bowl of Bircher muesli in the fridge, ready to go, with stewed apricots and Greek yoghurt alongside. 

If you’re enjoying Growing, we’d love you to leave us a review, share the episode with your mum-group WhatsApp, or come and chat it out with us on Instagram at @growingthepodcast. 

Work trips, Tassie trips and guilt trips — oh my.

This week is packed with growing pains and glimmers. Beth is feeling the heavy weight of trying to practise what she preaches as a woman, mother and business owner and wondering how the hell we’re supposed to do all the things we want to do, and do them well - without guilt?

We talk mum guilt, trusting your instincts, leaning on support, and celebrating big milestone breakthroughs. Plus, flying with babies and toddlers… watch this space.

And, of course, both girls are off on trips so expect some adventures to debrief next time.

Beth: Pelvic health physio. Immediate, genuinely great results. Consider this your sign to book the appointment. 

Lil: Aldi frozen dumplings. Prawn Hargow and Xiao Long Bao. Easy, breezy, freezy.

Plus, her Medela hand-held pump for mums wanting to pump without committing to the whole kit and caboodle.

A huge thank you to ergoPouch — their swaddle bags are a staple in both our households.

Use GROWING20 for 20% off site-wide. T&Cs apply.

RECOMMENDATIONS, RECIPES + REBUILDSGROWING SPONSOR

Beth’s hit the bodily fluids trifecta this morning - covered in vomit, poo and wee all before 8am. And on this we chat about the many layers that come with loss in identity in motherhood and how hard it is to actually dress comfortably and practically and still feel like ourselves. Sleep remains sticky however the good news on that front is bunk beds have entered the household and are a huge success. 

Lil is captain community and trying to work out are we just *trashed* by a Friday and is her walk and talk group better as a hump day treat on a Wednesday? Good news is they’re almost at the finish line of the marathon that is toilet training. And the crowd went wild. 

Lil’s recommending her April 29 Phone Strap  because in this gig two hands are a luxury and you deserve to look good while juggling. 

Lil’s recipe quick and easy (but actually going to fuel your day) kind of breakfast Recipearce Breakfast Burritos. Batch prepare them, freeze and enjoy. 

Beth’s recipe is good old zucchini slice but this one has some delicious charred corn on top. 

Beth’s bunk beds - Juniper Temple and Webster 

And if this episode made you laugh, nod along, or feel a little less alone, share it with a mum, leave us a review, and come hang out with us on Instagram @growingthepodcast

We’re back from spring break, Glimmer Girls and the holiday hangover is real.

This week we’re debriefing travelling with kids, the logistics of babies on planes, pram drama, road trips, and the beautiful realisation that the things that once looked so hard eventually just becomes kind of  normal. Naivety helps.

Beth is deep in a particularly gritty six-month stage with the twins’ very very (very) broken sleep, breast refusal, feeding changes and the emotional whiplash that comes with motherhood and some choices being taken out of our hands. 

Lil is in full spring-reset mode: wardrobes, toy rotations, baby clothes, the house, the whole damn lot. Plus the eternal question: how the hell do I dress myself? Tips please. 

We’re reminded, two things co-exist. You can be deeply grateful and completely depleted. You can adore your children and not enjoy a particular stage. You can know you’re doing a good job and feel like you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing.

RECIPE | RECCOMENDATION | REBUILD

Beth: Slow and steady, getting back to Pilates, paying attention to her core and pelvic floor, and remembering that consistency counts.

Lil: Well and truly off the bandwagon - but the house has had a little spring rebuild. Does that count? 

Lil’s loving Beeji Hats -  cute, dorky, scrunchable and extremely durable and has an affiliate code if your little one needs a hat refresh LB20. And for the Mums IKKARI shower oils  because sometimes you want to be a sexy slippery seal without having to moisturise. 

Beth is recommending a watch The Five Star Weekend juicy, easy, relaxing viewing that won’t haunt you after the kids finally go to bed. Jeans: Rolla’s Gigi Barrel Jeans postpartum-friendly barrel-leg perfection. 

Green Goddess Salad  prep the salad and dressing separately and keep them in the fridge for an easy meal situation. 

And, as always, if you’re enjoying Growing, please share it with a mum, leave us a review or pop us in your group chat. It genuinely helps us keep doing this little thing we love.

*SPRING BREAK THROWBACK* The Transition From 1 - 2

Please note this is a throwback episode, the ergoPouch code shared in todays episode is not currently active.

This week, Beth reflects on the first year of life with two little ones — the joy, the love, and the messy, beautiful reality of it all.

She shares candidly about the parts of motherhood that haven’t necessarily gotten easier, but instead have become part of the rich fabric of daily life — the laughter, the chaos, and the constant juggle of toddlers, work, and relationships. It’s a season that feels relentless at times, but also deeply rewarding as new rhythms settle in.

This episode is a warm hug and a big exhale for any parent anticipating change, moving through transition, or simply wondering what life with two kids might feel like on the other side of that first year.

This episode of Growing is proudly brought to you by ergoPouch and their Drift Home Baby Monitor. With a 360° pan tilt camera, an integrated sound machine, and a built-in What to Wear temperature guide, it takes the guesswork out of safe sleep and helps you feel confident at bedtime.

Shop ergoPouch here - CODE NOT VALID - apologies.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

Share this episode with a fellow parent who could use some solidarity and a reminder that joy can live right alongside the juggle.

Follow us on Instagram @growingthepodcast for more real-life reflections on parenting, pregnancy and matrescence.

Welcome to our Summer Break Throwback! This is one of our most popular episodes. Probably because we don't hold back. Enjoy!

P.S. As this is a throwback episode, our Ergopouch code is unfortunately not valid at this time.

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These are our confessions. Two heavily pregnant (and slightly cranky) midwives jump on the mic and… really bare all.

This one is unhinged in the best possible way - a chat that’s equal parts silly, honest, and deeply relatable. We lean all the way into the TMI, covering everything from pregnancy cravings to sex dreams and libido, with a casual sprinkle of vulval varicosities and anal fissures (because nothing is off limits here). 

It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s a big dose of solidarity for anyone in the thick of pregnancy - and a moment of silence for our poor husbands who were really on the receiving end of pregnancy irrits. 

We’re so grateful to be in your ears and appreciate your patience with us. Next week, we’ll be back with a real-time update on our postpartum transitions after welcoming our baby boys (!!) just four days apart in early March. 

This week Beth has given a little bit of extra and unexpected love to her first baby, PowerBirth  which comes heavy with logistics, literal migraines, a lot of moving parts, but also loads of gratitude and joy.

There’s something really lovely about returning to a part of yourself and your work that you’ve had to put down for a while, and remembering just how much you love it.

Lil’s baby is teething. So her household has officially had a case of the grizzle grumps. But, as we know all too well, growing teeth isn’t easy - hence the entire premise of this segment: growing pains can be literal growing pains.

Meanwhile, Lil is teetering on the edge of falling off her rebuild bandwagon and has decided that perhaps the rebuild is actually a magnesium hot chocolate in bed, a Strawberry Vanilla Burst Loco Love⁠  and a Kindle. And honestly? Who are we to argue with that. That is actual self care. Pssttt.. Beth has a code for the hot choc: BIRTHWITHBETH 

She’s also recommending that everyone in her life listen to The Imperfects episode on Matrescence that includes you glimmer girls. 

Beth is loving her Aesop body wash and Mixa moisturiser and her current rebuild is simple: upping her steps, especially now she can get out and about a little more easily with the twins.

And an honourable mention goes to the Babybee LUNA2 Double Pram⁠ Lil picked hers up on Marketplace and, full disclosure, Beth has worked with Babybee — but the sentiment remains: that’s a bloody great double pram for getting two babies in and out of the car.

And as always, come hang out with us over on Instagram @Growingthepodcast and tell us what you’re growing through, what your current rebuild looks like and, most importantly, what you’re currently recommending to your fellow Glimmer Girls.

Beth stumbled down a Reddit hole - yes, Glimmer Girls, you read that right. Picture this: two babies, breast refusal, broken sleep and all that comes with life with twins at five months. It’s a lot. Beth has done a beautiful job of finding the reframe, reddit aside, because sometimes, when you’re deep in it, that’s all you can do.

However… we are also experiencing significant and rapid hair loss. Of course we are. 

Lil has revisited the toddler trenches she’s been stuck in, with a bit of a lock-in this week. She’s well and truly (and happily) surrendered to being deep in parenthood - with a few little signs that perhaps this is just the season she’s in right now. (Subtext: Ooshie swap IYKYK). 

REBUILD

Consistency for Beth  again the rebuild isn’t always dramatic. It’s just continuing to show up for the things that make you feel good.

Lil’s getting a Fresh haircut and TBC does and should she just lop it all off. 

RECIPES + RECOMMENDATIONS

Pesto chicken in a pitta wrap. An easy little winner that has made its way firmly into Beth’s rotation.

Spanakopita meatballs. YUM. That’s all. Love Lil. 

Air Toobz. A great toy with endless fun, good for the rotation!

THE UNDIES UPDATE

Thank you for your recommendations because, honestly, this is the kind of important investigative journalism we are here for. The Glimmer Girls have spoken and Boody was the clear winner, with Nat’V Nala and Jaymes also getting plenty of love.

Come join the conversation over on Instagram @growingthepodcast and tell us what you’re rebuilding, what you’re eating and what you’re currently trying to keep alive including but not limited to children, herbs and hair.