March is Endometriosis awareness month, and in this episode we are joined by the lovely Lauren Tench aka @motherhoodandendometriosis. Lauren shares her experiences navigating:

• Endometriosis diagnosis as a young woman 
• Pregnancy loss, conception and pregnancy with endometriosis 
• A traumatic birth experience 
• Endometriosis in early motherhood 
• Mental health challenges 
• Sharing her story and creating a community on instagram 

A big thank you to Lauren for sharing so openly about a number of very tough experiences. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Lauren

On instagram : @motherhoodandendometriosis

Lauren also recommends: 

@cope.org.au

@pinkelephantssupport

Trigger warnings

This episode includes discussion about ectopic pregnancy, birth trauma, mental health challenges and neonatal special care.

Disclaimer

- Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

 

In this episode I am joined by the lovely @dorotheemarossero - Engineer, scientist, yoga teacher and coach. Dorothee shares her experiences: 

• Pre-motherhood growing up in France
• Studying engineering and science while living and working abroad in the USA, Asia and Europe
• Her surprise pregnancy and move to Australia with her husband
• Motherhood as an expat navigating life in a bi-lingual family abroad 
• Reflections on working motherhood, values and experience of mothering after the loss of her own mother 
• How yoga influenced Dorothee's life and her choice to pursue yoga teaching and coaching as a career during her second postpartum.

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Dorothee

- On instagram : @dorotheemarossero

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

Trigger warning

This episode includes discussion of positive birth stories, a challenging conception journey and loss of a parent. 

Disclaimer

- Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are joined by two wonderful women, Kelsey and Cassidy – hosts of the Australian Abortion Stories podcast. With three abortion experiences between them, as well as Kelsey’s transition to motherhood years after her abortion, we will hear about many common elements of the abortion journey including:  

-       Common experiences in decision making

-       Emotions in early pregnancy

-       Logistics and process of having an abortion

-       Postpartum care (physical/ mental recovery + what an abortion doula is)

-       Subsequent pregnancies

-       Transitioning to motherhood after abortion

A huge thank you to Kelsey and Cassidy for their time and sharing their experiences so openly.

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Kelsey and Cassidy 

- On instagram : @australianabortionstories

Trigger warning

- This episode includes in-depth discussion about logistical, physical and emotional elements of abortion.  

Disclaimer

- Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

 

 

In this episode we are joined by the talented @dr.aliyoung. Ali is a mother of two who has been a practicing Chiropractor for 20 years and is the author of the book 'Work. Mama. Life'. Dr Ali's passion is helping working mothers creating strategies to find health, decrease stress and fins themselves again in working parenthood. In this episode you'll hear about: 

- How Dr Ali navigated her own transition to working motherhood including; living rurally and internationally while building her own Chiropractic practice, having a second child and working longer-term with her pelvic floor injuries

- Dr Ali's book 'Work. Mama. Life' and her five pillars of success for working motherhood 

- Details about how Dr Ali works with women during their transition to working motherhood

 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Dr Ali

On instagram : @dr.aliyoung

Via website: https://www.draliyoung.com/

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses pelvic floor injury and surgery 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In our first episode of 2023 we are lucky enough to speak about our fertility and women's health journey as mothers with Maddy - registered nurse, trained natural fertility educator and owner of @natural.fertility.collective. Maddy is the queen of evidence-based natural fertility information and in this episode you'll hear about: 

- How Maddy made family planning choices around her experiences of Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) in pregnancy x3

- How you can best navigate choices around contraception in postpartum 

- How to give yourself the best chance of conceiving a subsequent child 

- How Maddy works with women's health conditions across the lifespan, including peri-menopause 

- What common issues Maddy sees in her natural fertility practice, including caesarean scar defect

Resources: 

1:1 Counselling support 

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Maddy 

On instagram : @natural.fertility.collective

Via website: https://naturalfertilitycollective.com/

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses HG, postpartum anxiety and includes details of positive conception, birth and breastfeeding journeys. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In our final snapshot episode of 2022, I take some time to explore the concept of boundary setting. Boundaries are particularly relevant during the perinatal period and, very often, during the festive season. So in this episode I will take you through:

• What boundaries actually are
• Why boundaries are important
• Signs you might need to set boundaries with someone
• A simple boundary setting process for you to try
• How to revisit boundaries as required 

This is also the final episode of Postpartum like a boss for the year - a special thank you to my wonderful guests and to each and every one of you who have tuned in throughout the year. I am so looking forward to sharing more with you in 2023 - first ep will return Jan 18th! Catch you on the flip side. 

Resources:

1:1 Counselling support

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Check out Nedra Glover Tawwab 

Instagram: @nedratawwab 

Book: Set Boundaries, Find Peace 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are joined by Victoria Vanstone: Host of @soberawkward – A comedy podcast about two ex-party animals navigating parenting and socialising without their old buddy booze. She’s also an author and the CEO of www.cuppa.community, the free social network for the sober and sober curious. Vic describes herself as an all-round professional party pooper. She was forced to address her drinking habit after having children in her mid 30’s and eventually, after suffering from hangover induced anxiety for years, decided to reach out and get therapy. Vic started writing about addiction and parenting on the day she gave up drinking and is passionate about helping others stuck in a pattern of normalised social binge drinking. Vic is from the UK and now lives on the Sunshine Coast with her three uncontrollable children and very patient husband. Vic’s comedy memoir will be released in March 2024. In this episode Vic shares: 

- How her interactions with alcohol were shaped by familial and cultural constructs of "normal" 

- How her interactions with alcohol changed many times along her journey from underage peer pressure drinking right through to weekend escapes from the monotony of mothering. 

- Her, 'enough is enough' moment after the birth of her second child and the catalyst for her now five year journey of sobriety 

- Her reflections, tips and resources for anyone who feels they too might be 'sober curious' in motherhood 

A special thanks to Vic for being hilarious and bringing a humorous, down-to-earth approach to an often heavy subject matter - and all at a poignant time as we slide into the festive season! 

Resources: 

1:1 Counselling support 

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Vic 

Instagrams:

@drunkmummysobermummy

@soberawkward

Websites:

www.drunkmummysobermummy.com

www.cuppa.community   www.cuppashop.com

 

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses ease of conception, addiction, bullying, anxiety and binge drinking. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

 

In this episode we are lucky enough to be joined by Jess Rosenberg - mother, social worker, maternal health advocate and founder of moode. Noticing fertility was feeling very one-dimensional, Jess decided to challenge that by offering an inclusive and honest insight to the reproductive health conversation - as well as formulating and crafting her first vitamins- The Prenatal by moode. In this episode Jess shares her experiences of the transition to motherhood (x3) and within her career - including how she navigated: 

- Pre-conception anxiety and information sourcing

- Sickness and fear early in her first pregnancy 

- Postpartum birth-related physical health issues and associated trauma 

- Working parenthood and defining household roles in a postpartum relationship

- Becoming a mother of two after a dramatic second birth experience

- A kidney condition diagnosis for her first child during her second postpartum

- Studying nutrition and naturopathy as a mother of two during COVID

- The process of building moode.

- Her unexpected third pregnancy

- Life as a mother of three running moode. 

This episode is power packed with Jess' passion for women's health - I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did. 

Resources: 

1:1 Counselling support 

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Jess + moode. 

Instagram: @wethemoode

Website: wethemoode.com

Blog on prenatal care models in Aus

Blog on what we wish partners knew

Stockists of the Prenatal: thememo.com.au + woomwomen.com.au

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses ease of conception, invasive medical procedures and birth trauma. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In this episode we are joined by Seven Network Journalist, newsreader, event speaker/MC, ambassador for @beyonddv and mother of two Samanatha Heathwood. 

Samantha openly shares about her journey into motherhood as someone in the media, where she navigated: 

- Her unexpected first pregnancy

- Contract negotiations as one of the first news presenters to require maternity consideration

- Returning to work at just eight weeks postpartum 

- Interstate moves and the juggle of night/weekend work 

- Separation from her husband and subsequent single working parenthood of two young children.

Samantha's story is one of challenges, determination, growth and above all, hope - something she has always come back to and maintains for a continued bright future for herself and her family. 

Resources: 

1:1 Counselling support 

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

Connect with Samantha 

@samanthaheathwood 

@beyonddv

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses historical workplace gender inequity and ease of conception.

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.

In our sixth snapshot episode, I take some time to unpack the concept of 'gender disappointment'. Not widely/ publicly spoken about until more recent years, gender disappointment is fast becoming something many people in the perinatal period identify with. Identifying with gender disappointment is often accompanied by shame or guilt, so in order to help you process how you feel about your relationship to gender disappointment this episode explores:

• What gender disappointment is 
• Who gender disappointment impacts and how 
• The three big themes of gender disappointment - Replication + Repair + Reflection  
• How sociology (and gender essentialism) can help us understand the root cause of gender disappointment 
• How we work with gender disappointment within my perinatal counselling sessions

Resources: 

1:1 Counselling support 

– Book a 1:1 counselling session with Gemma today

– Find out more about Gemma's 1:1 counselling sessions

References: 

1) This is the research paper which I accidentally referred to as an "article" throughout the podcast (click the DOI for access): Hendl, T. & Browne, T.K. (2019). Is ‘gender disappointment’ a unique mental illness? Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy (online). DOI: 10.1007/s11019-019-09933-3

2) This is the gender disappointment article I often share with clients: Gender disappointment: Grieving the idealised child https://www.antenatalandpostnatalpsychology.com.au/information-posts/gender-disappointment-grieving-the-idealised-child

3) These are a couple of magazine articles related to gender disappointment:https://www.mamamia.com.au/women-want-a-daughter/ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/a34529992/why-women-want-baby-girl-daughter/

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses gender disapointment, sex selection and sex/ gender concepts which are largely discussed within a broad, hetronormative lense. 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening.