Not the Plan

Sometimes parenting comes unexpectedly, before you feel you're ready. But even when facing challenging circumstances, motherhood can be just what you needed! In this episode, Helen & Holly chat with young Mum Lauren about the challenges she faced during her pregnancies and how she journeyed through them. 

To buy our Rewriting Motherhood book as mentioned in this episode head to our shop here

A global pandemic was NOT THE PLAN for the population, but it certainly puts an extra strain on an already stressful time. Especially for those who were already more isolated to begin with. Join as hosts Helen and Holly discuss the challenges of pregnancy and early parenting, during a time in history that no one could have planned for. What do pregnant women face in this time? How has it changed the care provided, and how can we help ourselves and others in this time? 

If you are in need of extra support or help consider reaching out to the following places. Don't do this alone!

LifeLine (24/7 crisis support line and suicide prevention)

13 11 14

lifeline.org.au

Parentline (counselling and support for parents and carers, QLD & NT)

1300 30 1300

parentline.com.au

Beyond Blue (24/7 Mental health support)

22 46 36 

beyondblue.org.au

PANDA (Perinatal support line for mums and dads)

1300 726 306

panda.org.au

The Babes Project (Perinatal support & education for vulnerable women)

1300 140 212 

thebabesproject.com

To get $20 off The Babes Project's Labour Education e-course use the code JULY2020 at the checkout! By purchasing our e-course you are directly supporting vulnerable and isolated women and families by providing them with free labour and childbirth education. 

https://www.thebabesproject.com.au/e_courses

In a world where we are so connected to each other through (pre-COVID) travel and online platforms/media, we often find ourselves disconnected from the vital supports that we need. In this episode, Holly and Helen chat to The Babes Project's COO Bec about why both support and education are crucial parts of a woman's preparation for birth and parenting. And they share an exciting reveal which will help women all over the world access this crucial information!

Can you imagine going through childbirth without someone to support you? So many vulnerable women are facing this experience alone. The Babes Project has had the privilege of being part of many women's births. Helen and Holly share one of their experiences of being in a 20+ hour long labour and having an ending they didn't expect!

We hear the words "crisis pregnancy" used frequently, but what does it actually mean? Is it exclusively for pregnant teens or single mothers? Or is it always an unplanned pregnancy?

In this episode, Holly and Helen discuss what they've learnt about "crisis pregnancy" over their years at The Babes Project, why the term is used, and how, as a society, we can better address the challenges and complex social factors that pregnant women face to ensure they are empowered to move from crisis to proactive parenting.

Sometimes, you need to experience a broken system from the inside, to clearly see a way forward to fix it.

But how do you share your vision – before the broken system breaks you?

Helen Parker was lucky. Aged just 20, she faced an unplanned pregnancy, mid-way through her university degree, with no job, no family support, and nowhere to call home.

Despite the challenges, she wanted to have her baby – and her determination put the young Melbourne mother on a path for transforming countless lives in her local community, and nationally through The Babes Project.   Join Helen as she chats with her Babes colleague Holly about how she survived her story and used her experience to create change for other women.