In this week's episode I speak to Brionny, mum to Laurence. Brionny runs her own business and didn't take any maternity leave when she had her baby. She talks about the challenges this posed, her regrets, and how she changed as a boss after she became a mum. (Plus also how she managed pumping in an open plan office!).
Brionny really struggled with breastfeeding and suffered in agony for months, she talks about why she persisted and how she overcame the pain.
Part of Brionny's journey included seeking counselling post-natally, and she speaks candidly about why she needed the counselling and how she was helped.
Hear about all of this and more on this episode of Life After Bump Diaries!

In this episode I speak with Natalie, a single mother by choice. Natalie talks in great detail about what led her to become a single mother by choice and what was important to her when choosing a sperm donor. Natalie provides insight into the sperm donor process including what information was available to her when making her decision, as well as what options are available to her and her daughter in the future. 
Natalie is a busy lawyer and didn't take maternity leave. She discusses what it's been like juggling a baby and a demanding job (spoiler: no rest when the baby does!) and how she's readjusted her life and managed expectations (her own and others) as she's taken on this new role of motherhood. 

Lara is a mum to two boys under 2. She had her second son in April 2020, during NSW's lockdown period. This meant that after her husband left the hospital, he was unable to return to provide support or visit his new baby. Lara talks about what it was like in the hospital during this time, how different this newborn experience was compared to her first son and how her 2 month old baby reacted when he met people (other than his parents and GP) for the first time. 
Like many second-time mums, the things that Lara was consumed by with her first baby she is less so now, because she knows that babies reach their milestones when they're ready and sleep does return! (Great news for us all). 
Part of Lara's journey has been learning to embrace each new stage as it arises and enjoying the moments with her boys. Hear this and so much more in this episode! 

In this episode I speak to Bianca, a mum of two boys. At six months pregnant with her first son, she unexpectedly became a single parent. Bianca talks candidly about what that was like for her, how she prepared for life as a single mum and her experience parenting on her own.
When her son was six months old Bianca decided to start dating, (or in her words, check that her lady bits still worked) and has some hilarious anecdotes about this experience. She found her partner, Blake, and they recently had Ace together, during Covid-19. 
Bianca talks about the differences between having one and two babies, how they've handled the transition, and what it's like going through motherhood partnered, compared to her previous single experience. It's a great conversation you don't want to miss! 

Lauren had her son Brady through IVF, and following this difficult conception process and a highly stressful and anxious pregnancy, Lauren and her husband decided that they were happy with one baby - they're "one and done". Lauren talks about how they arrived to this journey and how fulfilled and in love they are with Brady. 
Having a baby was quite an adjustment for Lauren, who like many women, found the initial days tough, isolating and struggled with her identity. 
Part of Lauren's journey has been learning to trust herself and her gut when it comes to Brady- hear about this and more on this episode!

In this episode I speak to Romany Godson-King. She's a new mum and a midwife. 
She talks candidly about how she felt not having her mum, who sadly passed away eight years ago, at the birth of daughter Sofia. Romany’s experience as a midwife, coupled with lots of research, was the key to her feeling prepared for life after bump and she describes how this helped her to surrender into the crazy newborn bubble. Hear Romany talk about this and so much more - including her breastfeeding experience and views on sharing the load.
To follow Romany, visit www.bondimidwife.com or @bondimidwife on instagram. 

Gemma had her daughter Adelaide in the midst of the bushfire disaster. Because the air was so poor and there were two fires raging nearby, she didn’t join a mothers group. Hear how this impacted Gemma’s first few months as a new mum, and how she then formed her own group to combat her feeling of isolation.
After trying almost everything to help her daughter sleep,Gemma and Adelaide is co-sleep, and she speaks about how this works for her family, and how she handles people’s reactions to it. 

Your host, Mel Yudasin talks about her experience as a first time mum. She initially physically struggled to overcome her emergency cesarean birth, which morphed into a mental battle as she came to terms with her new physical limitations. She talked about how tough the newborn sleep deprivation stage is, and how netflix became her BFF. Breastfeeding has been a journey, as it is for most mums, and whilst thankfully she hasn't experienced mastitis, she's had to endure lots of nasty lumps that have taken at times, days to remove. 
Between Australia's devastating bushfires, to flash floods and now Covid-19, Mel's maternity leave wasn't what she had expected, but she's had plenty of time to learn her son and her new role as a mum and has loved the experience. Listen to her story here.

Each week hear from mothers as they share their experience of life after having a baby.  How did they adjust? What changed? What did they learn? Coming soon. With Melanie Yudasin.