Mums F**king Matter

The world of food, diets and how you choose to eat/principles you enjoy adopting can be complex and a very loaded topic.

How you choose to eat e.g. omnivore, vegan or simply intuitively — regardless of the label it may have — is up to you, and you only. Yet, in today’s society we can be advised/told how to eat left, right and centre.

In this episode I share my personal experience, what I have done in the past and what works for me now. 

I speak about:

• growing up vegan
• fuelling your body for optimal health
• toxic/cult-like diet culture
• the pressures/opinions you can get from others
• when and why I became an omnivore
• being ostracised (and Brené Brown’s wisdom)
• strict diet ideals and stigmas
• allowing ourselves to thrive
• the words we use around food and eating

Themes: Food, Diets, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Boundaries

At the end, I share a poem written by Nikita Gill.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

Have you experienced burnout? Or come close to it perhaps? Burnout is a very real thing and something I experienced in June 2023. 

We are not taught to slow down, pause and rest. Messages from society say “do more”, “keep on”, “don’t give up”. But sooner or later our body can and will slam on the brakes.

In this episode I speak about:

• my diagnosis
• why I got burnout, despite being good at self-care
• how my Doctor really listened
• giving myself permission to stop
• the mental load that we carry
• what can you let go of?
• taking rest seriously
• the art of receiving
• practicing healthy boundaries
• asking for help 
• allowing ourselves to thrive

Themes: Burnout, Mental Health, Physical Health, Boundaries

At the end, I share a poem written by Danielle Doby.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

What would you do with your free time? So often, we spend ‘free’ time giving to others, ticking things off to-do lists, and completing chores.

It is incredibly common for Mums to forget their needs and desires. To a greater or lesser degree, we can *lose ourselves in Motherhood. (*In the long run we can find ourselves too! More on that in another episode.)

Therefore, I wish to gently invite you to think about you more.

In this episode I speak about:

• giving yourself permission to receive
• time spent on you is not selfish
• the significance of being alone when used to giving all the time
• tuning into yourself, your truth, and what makes you YOU
• the sanctuary that 10-minutes can be
• bringing more awareness to your body
• letting go of the guilt and the ‘shoulds’
• finding ways to nourish you

Themes: Boundaries, Mental Health, Physical Health, Birth Recovery

At the end, I share a poem written by Emma Heaphy.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

What is your relationship with crying? How does it feel to cry? 

Many of us (young and old) have been told not to cry, or that it’s not ok to show emotions in that way. We are often embarrassed or even ashamed to be seen to cry. However, crying is a natural response to some of the things we will experience as human beings. So, I invite you to ponder your relationship with crying and perhaps let go of the negative label a little.

In this episode I speak about:

• the cultural view on crying, sadness and anger
• how other people’s opinions about crying can influence our own
• being curious about what our body may be telling us
• why it’s unhealthy to suppress certain emotions for long periods
• crying at an ecstatic dance event and why it felt GREAT
• the unhealthy pressure on men to suppress emotions
• allowing all feelings to surface, in yoga and otherwise
• the energy it can take to not cry
• who can you comfortably cry with?
• tears of joy and gratitude

I mention the amazing poet, Hollie McNish.

Themes: Emotional Health, Boundaries

At the end, I share a poem written by me.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

The period following the birth of a baby (and the birth of a Mother really) is a precious time that needs to be protected and treated with reverence and care.

In this episode, I share 3 top things to be aware of and put into practice after having a baby.

I speak about:

• advocating for your needs AND desires (there's a big difference)
• boundaries* and people pleasing tendencies
• knowing your capacity
• the importance of a circle of support
• how true support is different to those who drain your energy

I mention Mark Groves' podcast and Terri Cole.

(*For more about boundaries, please see Episode 1 of the podcast, titled 'Healthy Boundaries; Protecting Your Energy and Why It Matters'.)

Themes: Postnatal Wellbeing, Boundaries, Birth Recovery

At the end, I share a poem written by me.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

Do you dance? Have you ever hesitated to dance, even though you love it?

In this episode, I invite you to break free from inhibitions and explore the myriad benefits of dancing. Whether it's to music or in silence, discover the transformative power of movement.

Join me as I share insights into my passion for dance, its positive impact, and why prioritising dance is hugely beneficial for our well-being.

I speak about:

• dancing alone, choosing the music (and the volume of it!)
• the importance of shedding the labels of being "good" or "bad" at dancing
• openness to new dance settings, exploring beyond the familiar 
• the positive emotions that dance brings, lifting mood and aiding in emotional processing
• the healing power of dance as a holistic well-being practice
• dance as a means of self-discovery and a tool for connecting with others 
• celebrating the innate ability of children to move to music, tapping into their natural rhythm
• reflecting on the simplicity and authenticity of children's connection with dance.

Themes: Dance, Exercise, Mental Health, Music

At the end, I share a poem written by me.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

We explore the world of postnatal fitness and movement in this episode.

Mothers returning to exercise — whether it's weeks, months, or years after childbirth — often lack the right support and education that they truly deserve.

We need to recognise that issues like incontinence and chronic back pain are not things to simply endure.

Your body requires a unique approach, along with increased reverence and respect post-pregnancy and birth.

This applies not only to biological mothers but also to those who have adopted; considering factors like sleep deprivation and the physical demands of parenting.

In this episode, I discuss:

• the importance of selecting a specialist or someone experienced in postnatal fitness and motherhood
• how your preferences matter — your feelings are valid!
• why excessive pressure isn't always beneficial
• the right balance between pushing yourself and knowing when to go gently
• the subtle yet significant aspects that contribute to growth and progress
• hints on training methods that won't exhaust you or make exercise feel like a chore.
• recognising the signs of a healthy coaching relationship and understanding the prevalence of gaslighting and judgment
• how the language, manner, and energy of a coach can make a significant difference
• the importance of being challenged in a safe way, both for the body and the nervous system
• taking relaxin into account with postnatal exercises
• and it's okay to say "f**k the 'shoulds' "

Themes: Women's Health, Postnatal Fitness, Maternal Mental Health, Boundaries

At the end, I share a poem by Liezel Graham.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram here, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com.

Why does it really help us, as women, to know our body better? Find out in this episode. From knowing/learning the names of your genitalia — because let’s face it men know theirs pretty well, right? — to listening to the body’s instincts and intuition. 

So many women come away from birth deeply affected by what their body now feels and looks like. I gently invite you to get to know your body better, to tune inwards and be an advocate for yourself.

I speak about:

• knowing the parts of our genitalia and why many of us don’t know
• my healing experience at a ‘Paint Your Vulva’ workshop
• Anna Lou Walker’s book ‘The Little Book of Vaginas’
• the clitoris and how it is not one single point
• practicing love and reverence for the body, especially post-birth
• how the body speaks up with instincts and intuition
• the benefits of yoga for tuning in to the body's wisdom and our truth
• that we all deserve to be continent and confident
• self-pleasure and knowing what feels good
• support for pelvic floor issues and upset
• the different signs of our health and not self-silencing
• feeling comfortable ‘down there’ is just as important as anywhere else

Themes: Women’s Health, Sex, Intuition, Self-Advocacy, Self-Care, Birth

I mention Lucy Rowett, Sex and Relationship Coach

At the end, I share a poem by Danielle Doby

Connect with me on Instagram

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In this episode I share the ‘why’ behind what I do as a Birth Recovery Coach. You will hear me share some of the resources and people that really helped me, and how I recognised that I needed help. I touch on my personal experience as a new Mum; birth trauma*, PTSD and subsequently the growth. I speak a little into the unnecessary pressures placed on new Mums and why recovery and true support after birth can set us up much better for the road ahead.

Pregnancy, birth, motherhood and matrescence deserve far more respect, reverence, appreciation and compassionate understanding. What a woman and her body goes through is huge, and I aim to convey why that and she matters in this episode.

Themes: Birth Trauma, PTSD, Mental Health, Postnatal Fitness, Postnatal Recovery

*For anyone affected by birth trauma and worried about being triggered, I do not talk about my birth experience in detail. I do share a poem I wrote about my birth experience at the end though (19 minutes in).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthrecoverycoach

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Having healthy boundaries can make a huge difference, especially when you’re a new Mum. In this episode I talk about why boundaries are super important, how they can help you and that it’s not selfish to say “no”. I share a little bit about the practices I use and support my clients with to preserve precious energy, so that you’re more able to give from a place of feeling nourished, not knackered and resentful. It is vital that you receive to balance out the giving and in this episode I share why and some ideas of how. Let’s help meet your needs and desires, much more — and without shame or guilt — with healthy boundaries.

Themes: Boundaries, Health, Parenting, Mental Health

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthrecoverycoach

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thebirthrecoverycoach.com