In our last episode of 2024 my co-host Kathryn @_motherup and I share our reflections on the trials and tribulations of end of year parenting. We chat festive season, beauty standards, debrief the complexities of our first year of primary school parenting and reflect on how much change early years parenthood has brought about in both of our lives in different ways. Finally, we share some thoughts about our visions for 2025 and celebrate making it through another year of this wild, wonderful parenting gig. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today.

Connect with Kathryn 

- @_motherup on Instagram.

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses school bullying and the Daniel Morcombe murder case. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Johanna Badenhorst - a therapist, coach, podcast host and mother of two who lives with ADHD. Johanna shares her journey with ADHD and the compassionate, community focused ways she supports other women and mothers who have or suspect they have ADHD. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Johanna

Instagram - @adhdwithjohannab

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Natalie @kikiandthequads as she shares her unique transition to second time parenthood as the mother of quadruplets. From the complex logistics to the emotional rollercoaster of raising five children (four of whom are the same age) - Natalie gives us an authentic insight into how she's navigated each stage of quadruplet parenthood. Thank you Natalie for your time and openness, particularly for other multiples parents wanting to gain some context and solidarity for their lived experience. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Natalie

Instagram - @kikiandthequads

This episode discusses fertility issues/ IVF and medical advice regarding pregnancy termination. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Postpartum Doula and self proclaimed sweary feminist mother of two, Steph. Steph shares both the challenging and healing experiences she had navigating the medical system during pregnancy and birth as a plus size woman. We also chat about Steph's two vastly different postpartum experiences, as well as her work providing postpartum care for other women and creating offerings to improve the experiences of other high BMI women in the perinatal period. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Steph

Instagram - @postpartum_with_steph

Website - https://www.postpartumwithsteph.com/

This episode discusses ease of conception, miscarriage, disordered eating, birth trauma and neonatal/infant death. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by my lovely friend Sheridan to talk about how on earth young families are supposed to navigate the property market in Australia right now. Sheridan has a multifaceted background having joined the navy out of school, then studied business/ accounting only to find working for a 'big four' wasn't a career she found fulfilment in. Next throw in a personal training business, a wedding, COVID, purchasing their first (and second) property, employment in banking and having a baby - Sheridan has navigated a lot of change. In this episode Sheridan shares how she navigated all of this alongside transitioning to parenthood and gives us personal and professional insights as a millennial mortgage and finance broker (@yourmillennialbroker) into what options young families have when it comes to navigating the Australian property market. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Sheridan

Instagram - @yourmillennialbroker

Website - https://connorfinance.com.au/

Sheridan suggests the following financial podcast resources: 

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses ease of conception. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by New York based actress, producer, wife, mother of two and host of @thequeerfamilypodcast - Jaimie Kelton. Jaimie speaks about her transition to parenthood with her wife, including touching on many important aspects of family planning that are unique to queer families. As we discuss the challenges Jaimie has experienced in her journey to and within queer parenthood, we talk about the creation of her podcast and the valuable insights she has gained from her guests, who share their own experiences of queer family creation and life. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Jaimie 

Instagram - @thequeerfamilypodcast

Website - https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses fertility challenges and gender disappointment. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are joined by Jen and Kristelle, founders of @keeping_mum_. Jen & Kristelle come from different career backgrounds but their parenting journeys and shared a love of physical fitness saw them become great friends and business partners. Jen & Kristelle discuss the surprising and challenging experiences they both had in the transition to motherhood with each of their children and how this has informed their unique approach to creating spaces for social belonging in motherhood. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Keeping Mum 

Grab one of the few remaining spots in Keeping Mum's October programs! To find a Keeping Mum mothers group near you, simply search by entering your postcode at https://portal.keeping-mum.com.au/mothers-groups

Interested in becoming a Keeping Mum host to support mums in your local area? Head to https://portal.keeping-mum.com.au/become-a-host to receive an Info Pack with more details.

Check out Keeping Mum on socials here:

Instagram

Facebook

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this chat series episode Kathryn and I discuss the ways we maintain our sanity navigating sickness, parenting, work and life with young kids. We also use recent personal examples of tough parenting moments to reflect on our strategies and learnings from this 'figure it out as you go' parenting gig. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

Connect with Kathryn 

- @_motherup on Instagram 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode I am lucky enough to be joined by Ariane Beeston, author of 'Because I'm Not Myself, You See - A Memoir of Motherhood, Madness and Coming Back From the Brink'. Ariane and I discuss her story including reflecting on her time as a child protection caseworker, as a writer for Fairfax Media, as a dancer and choreographer and as a person who has experienced postpartum psychosis first-hand. Most importantly we discuss how all of these elements of Arian's life are interwoven in her recovery, the writing of her memoir and her current work for The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma at Three Little Birds today

Connect with Ariane

• @arianjbeeston on Instagram 

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses child protection, postpartum psychosis, depression, anxiety, maternal suicide and infanticide. 

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Dr Rachel Bushing, mother of three and lead clinical psychologist/ owner of @poppsychologyclinic + @threelittlebirdspsychology. Dr Rach shares her insights on perinatal mental health from 20 years of professional practice as a family/ child focussed psychologist as well as her own journey into motherhood which started with adjusting to the complexities of pregnancy and parenthood with twins. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

- Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma at Three Little Birds today

Connect with Dr Rach

• @dr.rachelbushing on Instagram
• Three Little Birds website: https://threelittlebirdsperinatal.com/
• Pop Psychology website: https://littleshopofpop.com/
• Seeds of sunshine training website: https://seedsofsunshine.com/

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses child protection, fertility treatment, HG, birth trauma and a range of mental health challenges.