In this episode, I welcome back woman's health physiotherapist, Winnie Wu to discuss the importance of women's health, this time focusing on menopause and perimenopause to share both the symptoms and lifestyle changes associated with these stages.

Winnie shares the relationship between pelvic floor health in postpartum and the implications that can have on the menopausal years, the need for early prevention and treatment strategies, although its never too late to start, and exercise recommendations tailored for women in their 40s and 50s. The discussion also highlights the importance of a holistic approach to women's health, involving collaboration with various healthcare professionals and community engagement.

Takeaways:

• Menopause is defined as 12 months without a menstrual cycle.
• Perimenopause can last from 35 to 50 years old.
• Symptoms of perimenopause include pelvic floor issues and hormonal fluctuations.
• Hyper-mobility increases the risk of pelvic floor symptoms.
• Early prevention and awareness are crucial for better outcomes.
• Exercise should focus on strength training for bone health.
• Cardio has a place but should be balanced with strength training.
• Holistic health requires a multidisciplinary approach.
• Collaboration with GPs and other health professionals is essential.
• It's never too late to seek help for pelvic health issues.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Women's Health and Menopause

02:58 Understanding Menopause and Perimenopause

06:03 Pelvic Floor Health and Symptoms

09:02 Impact of Hypermobility on Pelvic Health

12:01 Prevention and Treatment Strategies

14:58 Exercise Recommendations for Women in Their 40s and 50s

17:57 The Role of Cardio and Strength Training

21:00 Holistic Approaches to Women's Health

23:59 Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals

26:57 Resources and Community Engagement

https://www.instagram.com/papayaclinic/

https://www.instagram.com/movementlab.physio/

https://www.papayaclinic.com.au/menopause-clinic

Keywords: women's health, menopause, perimenopause, pelvic floor, hypermobility, exercise, holistic health, physiotherapy, postpartum, women's health physiotherapist

In this episode, Jana Pittman shares her inspiring journey from an elite athlete to passionate advocate for women's health and entry into medicine specialising in obstetrics and gynecology whilst raising 6 children, now as a solo mother.

Discover how her personal setbacks fueled her purpose and the powerful lessons of resilience and determination reinforced by her own upbringing of strong family values, hard workers and high achievers.

This is an uplifting conversation, one that encourages self-advocacy around women's health issues, including menopause. It also invites balance and self-compassion around the role of parent, whilst juggling career and ambition.

When I asked the question: "If you had the ability to give every mother in the world a gift that she couldn't buy, what would you like that to be?", Jana responded "Personal time and a magic glass of wine that took her mother guilt away.

Enjoy!

00:00 - Introduction to Jana Pittman's journey and achievements

02:02 - The personal struggles behind her athletic wins

03:58 - How Olympic disappointment redirected her to medicine

04:53 - Turning setbacks into purpose: women's health advocacy

07:00 - Balancing motherhood, career, and personal growth

09:01 - Challenging the myth of needing to choose between career and motherhood

11:21 - Managing priorities during busy training and life chapters

14:07 - Breaking societal taboos around women’s private health issues

16:21 - Navigating perimenopause and menopause with empowerment

18:38 - The importance of seeking individualised treatment and wariness of societal stigma

21:44 - Who is Jana today? Embracing a balanced, slower-paced life

23:53 - How life experience helps protect energy and priorities

24:59 - The gift every mother deserves: personal time and compassion

26:16 - Supporting postpartum women through the chaos and self-doubt

27:36 - Final thoughts and encouragement for women navigating life’s transitions

• Yanna Pittman on LinkedIn
• Women's Health Australia
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) information
• https://www.instagram.com/janapittmanofficial/

• Twitter
• Instagram

This episode offers a heartfelt perspective on resilience, advocating for open conversations around women’s health, and embracing life's transitions with courage and self-love.

My conversation today with Claire Judd, a Maternal Mental Health Therapist, explores the societal expectations placed on mothers to be nurturing and calm, highlighting the guilt & struggle women face when they feel anger or other normal human emotions that contradict these expectations.

We discuss the impact of the 'good girl mentality' on women's emotional health and the consequences of suppressing feelings, such as internal conflict and explosive outbursts.

Rage and other emotions are often stigmatised in women, however such feelings are really telling us that something needs to change and there is no shame in seeking support with that, in fact, there's so much hope in saying that out loud and there's so much strength in saying that out loud as well.

It's okay to not love every part of motherhood.

Enjoy this encouraging episode!

https://www.instagram.com/clairejuddtherapy/

https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodwithketurah/

https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_is_forever_podcast/

In this episode I chat with down to earth mother of 3, freelance journalist and gentle human, Laura Aubusson.

I became acquainted with Laura when she writing for the popular Parenting website Kidspot. It was her third pregnancy, and she was busy researching postpartum care practices from around the world and decided to reach out to engage my postpartum support.

Some of the topics that we cover are:

• The Importance of Postpartum Care
• Preparing for a New Baby and introducing siblings
• Support Systems in Motherhood
• The Role of Partners in asking for their support, not permission to engage paid help
• Cultural Perspectives on Postpartum Care
• Navigating Life with Three Children
• New ways to look at self-care
• Embracing Self-Compassion in Motherhood

This conversation feels more like a coffee-catchup and it feels like a warm embrace from the village.

Enjoy!

https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_is_forever_podcast/

https://www.instagram.com/laura.aubusson/

Trigger Warning: This episode contains content related to homicidal and suicidal ideation due to postpartum psychosis.

Please note that this conversation is very candid and raw and the content may be distressing to some.

Please exercise care when listening and use discretion when deciding if this episode is for you at this time. Always seek professional support where needed.

Today, I speak Aisha Alvi who grew up in a loving family and always envisioned becoming a mother. From an Indian cultural background, she received premium postpartum care from her family and had not previously struggled with depression. However, early in postpartum, Aaisha began to experience anxiety, violent intrusive thoughts, delusions and hallucinations, that felt both terrifying and isolating.

She would later discover that what she was experiencing had been the symptoms of postpartum psychosis, a postpartum mental health disorder that might not be as rare as we actually think, but requires immediate medical attention.

This episode is not designed to frighten, but rather bring awareness, remove the stigma and debunk some of the myths relating to the reasons behind this potentially life-threatening, yet completely treatable illness.

Thank you Aisha for being so brave in sharing your story.

Aisha's story serves as a powerful reminder that recovery is possible and that no mother should feel ashamed of her struggles.

It's also a reminder to welcome support systems, including family and healthcare providers, during the postpartum period.

And, if you, or anyone you know are experiencing any of the behaviours detailed in this episode, please seek medical attention immediately.

Take care

https://www.instagram.com/aaishaalviwrites/

https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_is_forever_podcast/

In this episode of the Postpartum is Forever podcast, host Keturah Stoltenberg shares her personal journey with migraines, a condition she has battled for over 30 years. She discusses the complexity of migraines, their triggers, and the misconceptions surrounding them. Keturah reveals how she discovered electrolysed reduced water, which has significantly reduced her migraine frequency and severity.

If you suffer with migraines, or any chronic health or auto-immune condition, and would like more information about the solution mentioned in this episode, please reach out

https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodwithketurah/

Please note: This is not medical advice and is not designed to replace the recommendations of your health care provider.

The treatment for specific health conditions will vary from person to person.

Takeaways:

• Migraines are often misunderstood as just bad headaches.
• They can be triggered by various factors including hormonal changes and stress.
• Keturah tried numerous treatments before finding relief.
• Electrolysed reduced water has unique properties that can help migraine sufferers.
• Hydration on a cellular level is crucial for managing migraines.
• Keturah experienced a significant reduction in migraine frequency after using this water.
• Finding the right tools for relief can take time and persistence.
• Sharing experiences can help build a supportive community.
• Invisible illnesses like migraines can greatly affect quality of life.
• There is hope for those struggling with chronic health conditions.

In this episode, I speak with psychologist and cognitive analytic therapist, Dr. Joanna Harvey who discusses the complexities of motherhood, focusing on maternal mental health.

We dive deep into the impact of social media on a mother's individual experience, and the emotional challenges mothers face. She highlights the importance of support systems, self-compassion, and understanding the influence of childhood experiences on parenting. The discussion also gives context to the reasons behind maternal rage, understanding 'good girl conditioning' and the need for open conversations about the realities of motherhood. Joanna emphasises that motherhood is not only a challenging journey but also an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.

This episode is jam-packed with value, validation and real talk, you're going to get a lot out of it.

• Maternal mental health is a significant issue that affects many women.
• Social media can create unrealistic expectations for mothers.
• Intensive parenting leads to anxiety and comparison among mothers.
• Maternal rage is a common but often unspoken experience.
• Childhood experiences shape how mothers respond to their own children.
• Support systems are crucial for new mothers.
• Motherhood is an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.
• Good girl conditioning impacts women's ability to express anger and needs.
• Finding one's voice is essential in motherhood.
• Open conversations about motherhood can reduce feelings of isolation.

https://www.instagram.com/dr_joanna_psych/

https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_is_forever_podcast/

In this episode, Melissa Mai shares her story of rebuilding her work life, whilst prioritising her own health and presence with her daughter, and what it took to find true choice in how she earned, lived and mothered, by cultivating a life that reflects her deepest priorities.

From yoga teacher to heart-led entrepreneur, Melissa’s story is a reminder that feminine sovereignty starts with choosing what matters most — and letting go of what doesn’t.

For mothers craving more presence, more flexibility, and more alignment — this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. This episode might just offer you the gift that you never thought possible in living a life true to your values - without regrets.

This is part two of a conversation with Melissa. If you haven't already, go back to the previous episode for Melissa's recount and reflection on early mothering, the additional challenges of solo mothering in the pandemic. It's raw, it's honest, and I'm sure many of you will relate in some way in your own mothering journey.

If you'd like to know more about the content of this episode, please reach out, our details are in the show notes and I've also included a free training that you can watch to find out more about the business model and income that can bring you closer to your life goals.

Check it out:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0yi1FkeWDUUfMlIazbskwR?si=7oAQSJSYTkOGPps0AFyyVg

https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodwithketurah/

https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_is_forever_podcast/

https://www.instagram.com/_melissa_mai/

Welcome back to the podcast.

Today’s conversation takes us into the heart of what it means to mother through crisis.

Melissa Mai knows firsthand the weight of navigating motherhood during the pandemic—while the world stood still, she was moving through sleepless nights, the impact of isolation, and the crushing silence of doing it all alone.

She shares how anxiety took root in her body, how daily panic attacks became part of her rhythm, and what it really looks like to regulate a nervous system under constant strain.

Together, we question the expectations society places on mothers—and explore what happens when those expectations meet the reality of unprecedented times.

This is a raw emotional & honest reflection on the unspoken truths of mothering in isolation.

It also highlights the courage, resilience, tenderness of a soul-aligned woman and the love she brings to herself, her child and the world.

Please note: this is part one of this nourishing conversation.

https://www.instagram.com/_melissa_mai/

In this conversation, I bring back Courtney Hawkins from Mamalinc for a Q & A session to discuss common concerns faced by mothers regarding breastfeeding. We delve into topics such as low milk supply, the favoured breast, mastitis, tongue tie, and the introduction of bottles and formula. The discussion emphasises the importance of understanding breastfeeding dynamics, recognising challenges, and seeking support from professionals.

Courtney is as kind & generous as always and shares her personal experiences and insights as a mother of 4, and lactation consultant, providing valuable advice for new mothers navigating the complexities of breastfeeding.

If you haven't already done so, please listen to Episode 40 in which I have a more in depth chat with Courtney around the challenges and joys of motherhood and her very helpful APP for parents.

https://www.instagram.com/mamalinc/

https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodwithketurah/

https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_is_forever_podcast/

Takeaways

• Mothers often perceive low milk supply based on various factors.
• Cluster feeding is a normal behaviour in infants during growth spurts.
• Breastfeeding can be a trial and error process, requiring patience and adjustment.
• Top-ups should be approached cautiously to avoid affecting milk supply.
• Mastitis symptoms include fever, chills, and localised breast tenderness.
• Tongue tie and lip tie may not always require surgical intervention.
• Introducing bottles should be done carefully to maintain milk supply.
• Breastfeeding techniques can vary based on individual comfort and baby’s needs.
• Support from lactation consultants can be crucial for breastfeeding success.
• Joining mother support groups can provide emotional and practical help.