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 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.

Use the code GROWING20 for 20% off (selected styles only, T&Cs apply). Offer valid until 5/10/25.

Shop ergoPouch here

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.

We’ve officially hit 100 episodes of Growing (!!) and this one is extra special.

Beth fills us in on her magical (and of course manic) adventure travelling to Fiji with two little ones in tow. Think: airport chaos, transit struggles, and the sweet reward of finally sinking into holiday mode once they arrived.

Meanwhile, Lil shares some beautiful news - her family is growing! She, Ben, and Ru are thrilled to be welcoming another little family member next autumn. Lil opens up about what the first trimester has really been like this time around - from relentless nausea and vomiting to wrangling a busy toddler… all while navigating a house sale, a new purchase, and moving.

This episode is full of big life updates, honest reflections, and a whole lot of gratitude for you - our listeners - who’ve been with us through 100 episodes of motherhood, matrescence, and everything in between.

Sponsored by ergoPouch

This episode is proudly supported by ergoPouch and their brand-new Ellska Cot - a beautifully designed sleep space with ergoPouch’s trusted focus on safe sleep and comfort.

Use the code GROWING20 for 20% off (selected styles only, T&Cs apply).

Shop ergoPouch here

Tune in to celebrate 100 episodes with us wherever you get your podcasts

If you’ve loved being part of the Growing journey, share this episode with a friend and leave us a review - it means the world to us.

Follow along on Instagram @growingthepodcast for more updates, behind-the-scenes and community conversation.

This week on Growing, Beth and Lilly are joined by the wonderful Niki, a dietitian and nutritionist who specialises in pregnancy and postpartum nutrition.

Together we dive into:

• What preconception nutrition really looks like (without the overwhelm)

• Foods your body - and your baby - will thank you for

• Why it’s okay if your pregnancy diet looks a little or a lot beige (hello, salty carbs!)

• How to nourish yourself post-birth in simple, sustainable ways. 

You can find more from Niki and book her services via Bump to Bundle Nutrition.

Follow along for practical tips, pregnancy-safe recipes, and realistic nutrition support from preconception to postpartum.

This episode is proudly supported by ergoPouch and their brand-new Ellska Cot — a beautifully designed sleep space with ergoPouch’s trusted focus on safe sleep and comfort.

Use the code GROWING20 for 20% off (selected styles only, T&Cs apply).

Shop ergoPouch here

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

Loved this episode? Share it with a fellow parent or parent-to-be who could use some practical, pressure-free support.

Follow us on Instagram @growingthepodcast for more conversations that nurture you through pregnancy and beyond.

Hosts: @lillian.beth & @birthwithbeth_

This week on Growing, Lilly shares what it really looked like to gently wean her 19-month-old toddler.

Far from a “cold turkey” approach or bandaids over nipples, this was a slow and steady transition that balanced Lil’s own physical and emotional needs while also supporting Ru through the change with love and patience.

In this episode, Lil opens up about:

• Why she chose a gradual weaning approach

• How she navigated both the physical side (goodbye to blocked ducts and engorgement) and the emotional side (letting go of a season that had been so special)

• Supporting her little boy through the change with gentleness and consistency

• The joy of rediscovering favourite foods after navigating food sensitivities through breastfeeding

If you’re in the thick of breastfeeding, considering weaning, or just curious about what the process might really look like, this episode offers honesty, solidarity, and permission to do it your way.

This episode of Growing is proudly brought to you by ergoPouch and their incredible range of high quality baby sleepwear and sleep support products - everything you need to keep your baby snug and safe overnight.

Use the code GROWING20 for 20% off (selected styles only, T&Cs apply). Offer valid until 5/10/25.

Listen now wherever you get your podcastsIf this episode resonated with you, share it with another parent who might need to hear a realistic, gentle perspective on weaning.

Follow along on Instagram @growingthepodcast for more real motherhood and midwifery and everything in between. 

This week on Growing, Beth and Lilly are joined by the beautiful Sarah Mahri (@sarahmahri.babywearing) for a conversation that feels like a big warm hug. Together, they unpack the art and science of baby wearing — sharing both the benefits and practical tips to help parents keep their babies close, safe, and supported.

In this episode we explore:

• The many benefits of attachment-focused baby wearing for babies and parents

• How to choose the right carrier for your family

• Baby wearing on the go

• Safety essentials every parent should know

• Why keeping our babies close is about more than convenience

Sarah also shares how you can access her online resources, plus the option to book a one-on-one consult to get set up for safe and successful baby wearing.

Find Sarah on Instagram: @sarahmahri.babywearing

This episode of Growing is proudly brought to you by ergoPouch and their new Safari Collection. Shop their range of high quality sleepwear using the code GROWING20 for 20% off (selected styles only, T&Cs apply). Offer valid until 5/10/25.

Shop ergoPouch here

Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts

If you loved this episode, please share it with a fellow parent who’d benefit from Sarah’s wisdom. And don’t forget to join us over on Instagram @growingthepodcast and leave us a review wherever you listen.

Hosts: @lillian.beth & @birthwithbeth_

In this episode we unpack how much we're dropping on groceries, how we organise family meal times and all the little hacks along the way that make it all work.

We chat:

• What we're spending on average each week

• Where we're shopping - what works about this and what doesn't

• Our go-to meals that we serve on repeat

• How we plan our meals, snacks, staples and freezer fillers

This is a nosy look into a weekly routine we're ALL doing, plus we share lots of ideas and tangible tips you can steal.

This week's episode of Growing is proudly brought to you by Ergopouch and their incredible Drift Home Baby Monitor, which not only features a 360 degree pan tilt and integrated sound machine but aslo includes an embedded 'what to wear' temperature guide taking the guess work out of dressing your baby for bedtime. Use the code GROWING20 for 20% off (selected styles only, T&C's apply). Code is valid until 5/10/25

Jump over to Instagram @growingthepodcast to grab our favourite recipes and share your go-to meal ideas with us.

Hosts:

@lillian.beth

@birthwithbeth_

Welcome back to Growing! This week, we break down the first 24 hours, the first week, and the so famous "Six Week Check" with an honest lens - from bleeding and stitches to night sweats and low libido.

Whether you’re a first-time mum or preparing for your second or third, this episode is a warm hug and a gentle truth bomb. You are not broken, you are recovering.

We talk about:

• What’s actually normal postpartum

• Bleeding, bladder and body changes  in the early days

• Why rest isn’t optional - it’s essential

• The truth about the 6-week postpartum check-up

• The myth of bouncing back

This is your permission slip to honour how you feel that day, week or month - not what’s expected on an arbitrary timeline.

You might also find these episodes helpful in preparing for your birth - plus so many more in our back catalogue 

Vaginal Birth Non-Negotiables

Caesarean Birth Non-Negotiables

Postnatal Stay

Join us on instagram @growingthepodcast and please share this with a pregnant friend so she gets the space she needs to go slow should she want to. 

This week on Growing, the Lilly and Beth talk VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) with Dr Hazel Keedle - midwife, researcher, and leading voice for women planning birth after caesarean.

If you're seeking a different experience after a planned or emergency C‑section, this evidence-based conversation aims to help you feel both informed and supported.

This episode is proudly sponsored by PowerBirth. Our go-to for evidence-based birth prep - created and taught by midwives, for you. Whether you’re a first time parent, creating strategies for your VBAC or just want to feel more empowered for your birth. This course gives you practical tools that actually make a difference. PowerBirth is all about helping you feel calm, confident and connected in your birth experience. Explore the course at powerbirthcourse.com.au and use our code GROWING20 for 20% off (valid until 31/8/25) 

What We Cover:

• What the current research says about VBAC safety 

• Four key factors Hazel identifies that support a better birth experience

• How to set yourself up for a supported VBAC experience - from care provider choices to mindset

• Common misconceptions about VBAC (and what the evidence actually shows)

Explore Hazel Keedle’s Publications & Resources:

• FREE Downloadable Guide to a Better Birth after Caesarean 

• Book: Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth. Based on her PhD, this accessible guide intertwines research and birth stories to lay out the four factors crucial to planning a VBAC. Buy Yours Now

• The Clinician’s Guide to Better Birth after CaesareanWritten for midwives, doulas and obstetricians, this resource translates the research into practical tools and strategies for VBAC support using the four‑factor framework Pre - Order Here

• Journal Publications & Workshops: You’ll find peer‑reviewed studies on VBAC, birth trauma, and maternity care approaches in Hazel’s research portfolio. Hazel also runs workshops using her evidence-based framework to train clinicians in VBAC support Here 

Explore more at Dr Keedle’s website, including full listings of journal articles and interactive VBAC workshops Professional work & workshops and Journal publications

Listen now to this evidence-rich episode wherever you stream podcasts and share with someone you know who’s planning a birth after a caesarean and wants more confidence in their choices.

This week on Growing, the girls get into the real weeds of modern motherhood -  the kind of stuff that rarely makes it onto The Gram.

Beth (@birthwithbeth_) opens up about the relentlessness of keeping everything afloat - parenting little people, running a business, showing up for friendships, and trying not to drop the ball. It's the mental load. It's the juggle. And it's that all-too-familiar feeling: we can do it all - just not all at once.

Meanwhile, Lilly (@lillian.beth) is wrestling with the slow-burn decision of whether to wean her 18-month-old. Bye bye boob? Night weaning? What even is the plan when co-sleeping and breastfeeding have been so beautiful… but something’s shifting? SOS.

This episode is light on the tangible tips and heavy on the solidarity. If you’re also in the trenches, or just craving honest mum-to-mum conversation, this one’s for you.

Let's connect! Stay up to date by following us @growingthepodcast on Instagram

Hosted by:

Beth Ryan @birthwithbeth_

Lilly Claxton @lillian.beth

In today's episode of Growing, Lilly and Beth have an honest chat about their respective experiences of ‘trying’ for a baby and the strangeness of the waiting for something you want badly but is not within your control.

We chat about the wild brain shift that happens for some women (them included) when you decide you want to be pregnant and it’s all. you. think. about.

• This episode addresses how 'trying' starts fun and rapidly becomes tedious.

• The weird limbo you land yourself in by unintentionally forecasting
• The challenges that can arise for your relationship in TTC limbo

Importantly, our thoughts go out to you if the TTC experience has been hard, disappointing or painful for any reason - especially if you’re still on that path. We hope with our whole hearts that you get to meet your baby soon and are sending lots of love your way.

If you enjoy this episode, it would mean so much if you could share it with your circle!

Come and follow us on IG @growingthepodcast

Hosted by:

Beth - @birthwithbeth_

Lilly - @lillian.beth