MAMA, UNLEASHED! - Thrive in Motherhood

See www.ToughMothers.com/ep17 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes.

“The [motherhood] shift was nothing like I thought of, dreamed of or prepared myself for”

Dasha Okonji is a mum of 3 gorgeous boys and a life coach. Like many mums, during matrescence Dasha felt she lost herself in motherhood. So, she went on a journey to rediscover who she is, find herself again and find the light in motherhood.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast, Dasha shares with us her powerful story and explicit steps of how she found herself and her way in motherhood, and how you can too.

From getting to know ourselves again properly as we navigate through matrescence, to seeing what is important, and how we can give more time to the things that are important to us, without sacrificing ourselves.

For more information, tips and this episode's show notes go to www.ToughMothers.com/ep17

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

See ToughMothers.com/ep16 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes.

“Motherhood ripped me apart and put me together with light”.

Alana  contacted me a couple of months ago and said: “I really want to share my birth stories with you. I had two incredibly empowering births, and I feel that people don’t talk about birth being a positive experience.”

I said: YES!!!!!!

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast Alana reveals how she prepared herself mentally for childbirth and how hypnobirthing played a big part in her birth experiences. She also tells us about how her motherhood struggle transformed her, and we delve into how every mother needs to consciously prepare herself for matrescence.

For more information, tips and this episode's show notes go to ToughMothers.com/ep16 

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

My special presentation from The Healthy Mums Healthy Families Summit in February 2021.

See https://www.ToughMothers.com/ep15 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes.

This episode of Tough Mothers TV is about as action-packed as motherhood.

All mothers will benefit from this episode!

Because it:
-       Teaches you about matrescence, the transition into motherhood – how it changes mothers’ brains and how you can use this transformation to truly thrive in motherhood.
-       Explains the 50 Shades of Motherhood spectrum – a spectrum ALL mothers sit on - and teaches you strategies for how you can manoeuvre your way around the shades to initiate your happiness in motherhood.
-       Gives your strategies to start training your own brain to thrive in motherhood. Truly thrive in motherhood!
There is also a FREE E-Book for you to download to start training your brain to be happier in motherhood at  https://ToughMothers.com/HappyMother
-      Gives you a mother moment time-out: a FREE powerful, yet brief motherhood meditation that will positively affect your brain and mind.

For more information, tips and this episode's show notes go to https://www.ToughMothers.com/ep15 

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

For more information and Melanie's tips, see  this episode's show notes  www.ToughMothers.com/ep14

Warning: this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV mentions self-harm and suicide attempts. If you require help, PLEASE see your GP or the list of services at the bottom of  the show notes.

When Melanie Medland  found her type A-personality teenage daughter suddenly couldn’t cope with life, she was naturally alarmed. Melanie’s daughter, who was always very capable,  suddenly withdrew, had trouble sleeping, forgot things and her eating patterns changed. Not having come across this before Melanie was questioning if this was just part of normal adolescence, but in her gut she knew. Her daughter was very unwell.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast, Meanie takes us into her family’s difficult time: how her daughter’s anxiety and depression made Melanie question herself and her parenting, how Mel found her strength and the language to speak to her teenage daughter, and how she uses the enormous amount of hard won experience and knowledge she gained while successfully nurturing her daughter through her illness, to support and coach parents who are facing similar battles. 

For more of Melanie's expertise and information on this topic, go to  www.ToughMothers.com/ep14

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

For more information, tips, Katie's poem and this episode's show notes, head to www.ToughMothers.com/ep13

Your postpartum (or postnatal, depending on where you live) experience will be unique. I say that because when you enter motherhood, matrescence, you enter it as your unique self, with your unique biological make-up, your unique previous experiences, your unique neuroscience. 

So, you won’t know how postpartum will be for you, until you are in it.

Yes, sometimes there are neurobiological predictors, but often women are surprised when they enter their 4th trimester.

Katie R. was one of these mums. Katie felt a bit down during pregnancy and was worried about postnatal depression. However, what her 4th trimester brought was the exact opposite. Katie was up, not down!

Because Katie experienced bipolar symptoms, and not stock-standard depression or anxiety it took some time for her to get the help she needed. And not only did she find help, she also found herself.

Key takeaways from this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast:
-       You will know if you don’t feel OK, and you must speak up!
-       Your postpartum experience does not need to shape the rest of your life.
-       Sometimes wonderful things come from our darkest experiences.
-       Mental health is something that affects everyone. There is no shame in it.

Find more information, tips, support and show notes at www.ToughMothers.com/ep13

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

For more information, tips and this episode's show notes, head to www.ToughMothers.com/ep12

Motherhood is tough. Every woman will agree that motherhood, at some point, will throw you some curve balls. There is no right way to do motherhood, you just have to do it your way.

In this episode I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Tracy Newell, affectionately known as Gwamma. Tracy is a mother of 5 and a grandma, hence the nickname. Today she kindly and very deeply shares her journey through motherhood, and her wisdom of how she mastered herself in motherhood following multiple miscarriages, fertility challenges and very dark times.

After listening to this conversation, you will understand why you need to find your unique way to master yourself in motherhood. Tracy’s tips will no doubt help you along the way.

In this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV you will learn:

• ✓ How to use your challenges to drive positive change in your life.
• ✓  The grief of losing a child never ends, it just changes.
• ✓  There is no roadmap to motherhood, but you will find your own way.
• ✓  How not to lose yourself in motherhood.

Find more information, tips and show notes at www.ToughMothers.com/ep12

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

For you free Christmas gift, more information and the show notes head to www.ToughMothers.com/ep11.

Childbirth doesn't always go to plan.

I learnt that first-hand when my first baby was born.

In this episode I share the birth story of my first baby.
In honour of his 10th birthday today, and in honour of all the mums that have shared their stories on the podcast this year, this is the warts and all account of how childbirth was for me the first time around, 10 years ago.

My biggest boy's birth was the catalyst to researching and writing my book I Wish Someone Had Told Me... - unspoken truths about what really happens to women during labour, childbirth and the first few weeks of motherhood, which as you will hear contains funny, light-hearted, yet factually- and medically-correct experiences 1000 mothers want you to know before you have your baby.

I Wish Someone Had Told Me... turns 5 this month and to celebrate I have a great gift for you. Tune in to this episode and head to the show notes www.ToughMothers.com/ep11 to claim it.

Have a wonderful holiday break. See you in 2021.

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

For more information, access to Tough Mothers TV and today's show notes go to: www.ToughMothers.com/ep10

“I thought my children wouldn’t change my life very much…”

When Kate Ryan, a successful business woman, became pregnant for the first time, she thought once her twins were born her life wouldn’t change very much. Kate is the first to admit, this is definitely not the case.

In this episode Kate tells us about her surprise of learning she was having twins, how bringing her babies home changed her life, and how becoming a mother changed her.

Kate very beautifully shares her experience of transitioning into motherhood (a transition all mothers can relate to) and how through her challenges she found her voice.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV you will learn:

-       You are not alone if you feel you don’t know what you are doing in motherhood

-       The importance of trust in yourself and others

-       Simple, actionable steps to help with overwhelm during the transition into motherhood

-       About your own rebirth when you have a baby

-       Advice for new twin mums and mums expecting twins

For more information, access to Tough Mothers TV and today's show notes go to: www.ToughMothers.com/ep10

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

For more information, access to Tough Mothers TV and today's show notes go to: www.ToughMothers.com/ep9

This conversation of The Tough Mothers Podcast  is different.

On this show we talk about many topics that are taboo, but postpartum/ postnatal psychosis is something we really don’t talk about.

Today Liz, a mum of boy-girl twins, is going to change that.

Liz very bravely shares with us her experience with postpartum psychosis after her children were born. She delves deep into how it felt and looked for her, and why she had to manage her two years of psychosis alone.

I feel incredibly privileged to bring you this conversation. Not only because it is very personal for Liz, but because it gives us a first-hand insight into the mental health struggles mothers can experience, and so often don’t talk about.

I hope we can all take from Liz’s story the reminder that we must look out for ourselves and each other during motherhood. Always.

Please keep asking mothers if they are ok - some mums’ struggles are so internal that we have no idea what is going on inside them.

For more information, access to Tough Mothers TV and today's show notes go to: www.ToughMothers.com/ep9

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

Please check out www.ToughMothers.com/ep8 for this episode's show notes, more information and tips.

We are shouting matrescence from the rooftops!
After starting the matrescence conversation in episode 4 of The Tough Mothers Podcast , I had so many emails  from mums saying they loved it and wanted to hear more about this topic (you can re-listen to the original matrescence episode at www.ToughMothers.com/ep4).

So, in today’s episode I bring you the matrescence marvel Linda Anderson. Linda is a life coach whose focus is on mothers during their matrescence transition, including their identity in motherhood. She is as obsessed with matrescence as I am, so together we are going to shout it from the rooftops! 

Matrescence – the transition from woman to mother - is one of the most life-changing transitions a woman will ever go through. Sadly, we are still not speaking about this transformation as often and openly as we should. Consequently, women are caught off-guard by motherhood. They feel there is something wrong with them, when really it is just matrescence.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV, Linda and I dive deep and you will learn:

-       What matrescence is, and how it is viewed in society.

-       Answer the question: who am I now I am a mother?

-       Why we must talk about matrescence openly with mums before they have their baby.

-       The things you must know to navigate the split that comes with matrescence

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson