Growing

Welcome back to Growing!

This week Lil and Beth share life updates as they play the baby waiting game in the later stages of their pregnancies:

✨ Lil is officially in her 'due window' and is enjoying the last snippets of time as a family of three.

✨ Beth is grappling with whether to re locate closer to Sydney given the likelihood of pre term labour - but is wondering what's best for the whole family unit.

In amongst it the girls share their usual Growing Glimmers and Pains covering everything from toilet training, birth plans and the frustration of nesting with toddlers in tow.

As always, if you love this conversation - share it with your friends! We are so appreciative of your support in helping the show to thrive and grow.

Thanks for listening and we'll be back in your ears next Wednesday.

Hosted by midwives and mothers:

🎙 Lilly Claxton - IG @lillian.beth

🎙 Beth Ryan - IG @birthwithbeth_

This week we’re diving into the ins and outs of how Beth has thoughtfully mapped out her plans and intentions to take maternity leave from her business, PowerBirth.

It’s a conversation that explores the many variations of how women are navigating work - building businesses, fuelling passion projects, contributing financially - while also surrendering deeply into the beauty, slowness, and intensity of early motherhood.

We speak honestly about the pinch point so many women feel: the tension between professional identity and maternal identity. The desire for spaciousness, presence, and softness… alongside the very real financial and practical considerations that don’t disappear just because a baby (or two!!) arrives.

Beth shares what intentional planning has looked like for her - what she’s putting in place, what she’s letting go of, and how she’s preparing both logistically and emotionally for this next season.

If you’re navigating maternity leave, returning to work, running a business, or simply sitting in the in-between, we hope this episode makes you feel seen.

If this conversation resonated, please share it with a Mum friend who’s also wading her way through the juggle. And if you haven’t already, we’d be so grateful for a rating or review — it helps more women find our little corner of the internet.

We know we’re bias but if you’ve listened and you’re looking for your own birth education now is the perfect opportunity to book with PowerBirth ✨ 

Find us over on Instagram @growingthepodcast @birthwithbeth and @lillian.beth 

This week Beth and Lil dip their toes into the planning of their postpartum era keeping our Glimmer Girls front of mind — it’s postpartum princess priorities in the best way. 

We talk about creating a gentle landing after birth: wrapping yourself in small comforts, little luxuries, and practical anchors that help you feel human again in the haze of newborn life. Fresh jammies, soft fabrics, and a beautiful body wash can go a surprisingly long way.

Think less “bounce back,” more cocoon, nourish, and be held.

✨ Postpartum Princess Priorities  

Pajamas

• Papinelle — luxe softness with timeless styles

• Piyama — made for pregnancy and postpartum

• Kmart — affordable and surprisingly comfy staples

• Target — great everyday options

• Bonds — iconic Aussie comfort wear

Lounge Sets

• Kmart

• Target

• Nude Lucy — elevated basics you’ll live in 

• H&M — soft, relaxed fits at a good price point

Undies & Bras

• Hotmilk Lingerie — supportive and actually pretty

• Milk the Label — minimalist maternity essentials

• Bare Mum Compression Undies — gentle support for recovery

Skin Care & Freshness

• Prep Step — Go-To Skincare — a gentle exfoliating swipe that makes you feel instantly refreshed

• No Pong Natural Deodorant — effective and gentle

• Aēsop Travel Kit — small luxuries that make you feel like yourself again

Midnight feeds  

• Soft lighting - a necessity 

• Krumble Hot Chocolate — a cozy, indulgent cup that feels like a hug in mug form

• Kindle or a good comfort watch 

• Full water bottle (!!!)

• Spare sets of sheets 

If you’re in the newborn trenches (or preparing to be), we hope this episode feels like a warm hug and a reminder that caring for yourself isn’t selfish — it’s essential.

This week the girls are deep in the nesting and fluffing era - preparing their homes (and hearts) for the big and little changes ahead as their families grow. 

Both are feeling equal parts proud, clucky, and slightly overwhelmed… although Lil’s two-year-old has developed the potty mouth of a small pirate, she admits as a salty swearing sailor herself they’ve probably only got themselves to blame.

It’s a cosy catch-up filled with the realities of parenting transitions, practical home tweaks, comfort recipes, and the little things making life feel easier (or at least more manageable).

R&R - Recipes & Recommendations

Beth's Picks

Recommendation: For bedding that hits the sweet spot between quality and price, Beth is loving Sheet Society.

She’s also using a ‘baby cage’ — to keep her toddler safely snug at night: Baby Smart Bed Rail

Recipe: A hearty, freezer-friendly slow cooker bolognese — perfect for batch cooking before baby arrives. Add beef chuck and pork mince if you’re feeling fancy. Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

Lil’s Picks

Lil is loving this confident queen on TikTok — a dose of energy and self-belief when you need it most: @_biarnca

Recipe: A delicious (and semi-nutritious 👀) caramel slice that hits the sweet craving perfectly: Caramel Slice Recipe

💌 If you loved this episode, please share it with your mum club, leave us a review, or tag us on Instagram — we absolutely love having you here.

This week on Growing, Beth interviews our very own Lil, chatting all about her choices and plans in preparation for her upcoming VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean).

We know this can be a big and often complicated topic, so we approach it specifically with Lil’s perspective and lived experience in mind. If you’re planning a VBAC or exploring your birth options, we encourage intentional conversations with your care provider and birth team.

Together, we dive into many aspects of VBAC preparation, beyond birth prep, we deeply honour the postpartum space—acknowledging the need for gentle support, rest, and recovery in the weeks after birth.

We mention Lil’s birth story, to her debrief of that experience, to mindset shifts, pain relief tools, and body work with G.Lorri. You also might enjoy our insightful chat with Hazel Keedle on VBAC, which is a must-listen for anyone walking this path.

And if you’re curious about the evidence behind how midwives themselves birth and the outcomes associated, we reference this 2022 study on midwives birthing well and improved outcomes.

We hope this episode feels supportive and empowering —wherever you are in your pregnancy, postpartum, or parenting journey.

This week on Growing Beth has been affronted by a few too many unsolicited and (quite frankly rude) comments about her beautiful and growing body (carrying twins no less) so this is a PSA to pipe down in the cheap seats and leave pregnant women aaaaalone. No notes. 

Lil’s playing bed tetris trying to figure out sleeping arrangements for her toddler and making sleep (sort of) work in her household with a baby on the way. 

Recipes:

• Hot chook mad? Check out @nataliechassay ‘One Chook Three Salads’ Series 

• @villageformama  Chicken & Quinoa Stew – nourishing, grounding, and perfect for the postpartum season (or any season, really).

Recommendations

• @piyama_co Pajamas – Lil (on behalf of Beth and herself) is voting PJs as self-care essentials. They’re soft, cute, and perfect for your postpartum cocoon. Shop Piyama

• Lauren Sissons’ Fruit & Veg Memory Game – A gorgeous and fun way to play with your little one: Shop the Memory Game

We’re so glad to have you here — truly.

If you loved the episode, leave us a review, share with your mum club, or tag us over on Instagram:

@growingthepodcast | @lillian.beth | @birthwithbeth_

Expecting Twinnies… This week Beth takes us inside her twin pregnancy experience and answers some common questions about what it's like to grow TWO babies.

From managing medical appointments to navigating the emotional weight of a more complex pregnancy, this episode is filled with candid insight, raw honesty, and those soft glimmers we love to find in the middle of it all.

We cover:

• How this twin pregnancy compares to Beth’s previous low-risk experiences

• Physical and emotional changes in the third trimester

• Birth planning: Caesarean, vaginal, or staying open?

• What the acronyms actually mean: DCDA vs MCDA vs MCMA twin pregnancies

• How Beth and her family are preparing practically and emotionally

• Mental health through pregnancy: the highs, the hard bits, and being held

Beth shares generously and gently - with reflections that will resonate with any parent navigating uncertainty and excitement in equal measure.

Podcasts we mentioned 

Beth's Birth Story with Alfie and Beth's Birth Story with Poppy 

Beth's Birth Debrief with Alfie

Jodi Wilson's 4 Birth Stories and @practisingsimplicity 

Gidget Foundation AustraliaIf this conversation brings up anything for you, or you're navigating perinatal mental health yourself, we encourage you to access support through the Gidget Foundation.

Book a support session here

If you loved this episode, please consider sharing it with a fellow parent, leaving a kind review, or tagging us on 

Instagram: @growingthepodcast 

Hosts: @lillian.beth & @birthwithbeth_

The girls are back - and you heard it here first, Growing's first-ever on-air snort. You're welcome.

Lil’s growing pain this week? Her poor pregnant trotters. The hoofs are not serving, and the jury’s out on whether they’ll ever recover. Thankfully, pajama gate is closed — she’s been reunited with her beloved cotton ruffles. Oh, and bonus? Her husband has upgraded himself to in-house barista status. Just in time for that next postpartum cocoon.

Meanwhile, Beth is in her feelings — her littlest love has just started daycare, and it’s a big shift. Huge love to any other parents navigating change and transition right now. Physically, the twin pregnancy toll is real and rising — and emotionally, Beth’s reflecting on the bittersweet beauty of watching her little sister step into motherhood but is fairly sure she got the baby shower games wrong...

Lil’s Recommendation:For a glowy princess summer — Bondi Sands Tanning Milk

Bondi Sands Tanning Milk. Because SPF and shimmer can absolutely co-exist.

Beth’s Recipes:🥗 Chickpea & Halloumi Salad

• Quinoa

• Tinned chickpeas

• Roasted veggies

• Halloumi (pan-fried in sweet chilli sauce)

• Chopped herbs + rocket

• Lemon yogurt tahini dressing - inspired by Jessica Prescott’s Epic Salads 

• This link might inspire you further @jess__food

🍕 Easy-Peasy Pizzas

• Woollies dough balls

• Whatever toppings you’ve got

• Whacked in the air fryer (divine)

Beth’s Recommendation:📚 Epic Salads by Jessica Prescott — because salad should never be boring.

Help Us Grow

If this episode made you laugh-snort, feel seen, or hungry for salad and sunshine, please share it with a friend, leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review, or tag us on socials — it makes the world of difference to us.

Follow us on Instagram:

• @growingthepodcast

• @lillian.beth

• @birthwithbeth_

Recommendations & RecipesWe love our glimmer girlies and we’re so grateful to have you here 💫

This week on Growing, we’re keeping it hot n heavy — but this time it’s the breathing that’s heavy.

Beth’s waving the anaemia flag (yep, Lil passed the baton) and is feeling the very real effects of low iron. The midwife verdict? Don’t underestimate a good iron supplement if your body needs it. Consider this your midwife-approved nudge to check in with yourself and refill your cup.

Meanwhile, Lil’s in full-blown pajama gate. She treated herself to some delicious postpartum jammies only to discover they’re being held hostage at her old address. Drama. Cotton. Ruffles. Justice.

On a more luxurious note, Beth prescribes every parent the ultimate tonic: a night away sans children. It’s the kind of medical advice we can all get behind.

R&R (Recipe & Recommendation)

Lil’s Recipe:

Birthday Cake from RecipeTin Eats

In honour of her baby boy turning TWO — cue the confetti and buttercream.

Lil’s Recommendation:

A chic, throw-on “moo moo” (her words, not ours) from Saffron Lane. Perfect for postpartum lounging with flair.

Beth’s Recipe:

Zooper Doopers. No prep. No shame. Just frozen glory in a plastic tube — because it’s hot and we’re pregnant.

Beth’s Recommendation:

UNE PIECE Swimwear. Yes, they were gifted, but Beth’s also put her money where her bump is — and she swears they’re worth every cent.

Let’s Stay Connected

Love the episode? Share it with your mums group, drop us a review, or tag us when you’re listening — we adore hearing from our glimmer girlies. 

Follow along over on Instagram:

@growingthepodcast

@birthwithbeth_

@lillian.beth

New year, same us - and honestly, we’re just happy to be here with the glimmer girls. 

We’re not launching into 2026 with bold resolutions or a long list of “ins and outs.” Instead, we’re letting this season be what it is: a gentle (at times chaotic) chapter of our families growing, slower mornings, and soaking up the good glimmers wherever we can find it.

Beth is feeling the call to simplify and Lil hasn’t picked a word for the year (yet!) — but there’s still time and we know she doesn’t like being rushed and in her world there’s no such thing as being late… so whatever!

Whether you’re riding the wave of school holidays or gently easing into your work year, this episode is here as a balm for wherever it finds you. 

Beth’s Recommendation:

She’s officially joined the air fryer fandom (late but loving it). If you’ve been on the fence, consider this your sign.

Beth’s Recipe Pick:

Cypriot grain salad — hearty, fresh, and perfect for summer gatherings.

Hellenic Republic’s Cypriot Salad

Lil’s Recommendation:

The Housemaid — a gripping page-turner for your beach bag or bath soak. Bonus? It’s now a movie, so grab a friend, some popcorn and Maltesers, and make a date of it - we all know Lil will be, girl loves the flicks. 

Lil’s Recipe Pick:

Her go-to take on the same dish (because what’s better than two versions of a fave).

Recipearce Cypriot Salad

If you loved this episode, we’d be so grateful if you shared it with a fellow parent, left a review, or tagged us over on Instagram @growingthepodcast. Let’s walk gently into 2026 together.

Hosts: @lillian.beth & @birthwithbeth_

This Week’s R&R (Recipe & Recommendation)