In our first episode of 2022 we're joined by Cheryl - best known for her amazing blog @mums_who_brunch, a directory of all the best child friendly cafes and activities in South East Queensland. Cheryl shares her pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences including; feeling underprepared for birth and breastfeeding, facing cervical cancer, an early return to full-time employment and fertility challenges on her journey to conceive a second child. 

Cheryl is the epitome of optimism and faced all her postpartum challenges with resilience, including when trying to find baby-friendly cafes for her mothers group - the catalyst for starting @mums_who_brunch to make sure others wouldn't have such a hard time doing so (and to ensure venues thought more about inclusion of new parents). Thank you Cheryl for taking lemons and making lemonade for all of us! 

Cheryl's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

1. Communicate your needs with your partner 

2. Outsource what you can 

3. Organisation - shared calendar and routine

Trigger warning

This episode discusses ease of conception, breastfeeding struggles, cervical cancer and fertility issues. 

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening. 

The lovely Jade Tolhurst joins us to talk about starting her personal blog @postpartum.jade during her experience facing postpartum depression after the birth of her first child. While the blog began with her reaching out for support online - it quickly gained a large following and has now transformed into Jade's passion for online peer support and perinatal mental health advocacy. Jade is also really excited to begin a new chapter in 2022, studying to become a perinatal counsellor. 

Jade's top tips to 'Postpartum like a boss' include: 

1. Trust your instincts 

2. Make time for yourself a priority

3. You are the perfect parent for your baby

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses postpartum depression. 

Please read my full disclaimer before listening. 

In this episode we hear from Kathryn Millhouse @_motherup about her transition from large-scale corporate finance and health economics into motherhood, which left her feeling blind-sighted as she faced her first significant mental health challenge with Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. This experience birthed Kathryn's passion and advocacy for preemptive investment in postpartum (through quality evidence-based resources and practical support), which she now provides through her business @_motherup. 

Kathryn's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

1. Surround yourself with the right people

2. Throw your ego out the window/ minimise expectations

3. Preemptively seek resources and put supports in place for your postpartum

Trigger warnings

This episode discussed postpartum depression and anxiety,  fertility challenges and breastfeeding challenges. 

Please read my full disclaimer before listening on. 

Dr.Lisa, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and owner of @playnourishthrive, openly shares the ins and outs of her challenging first pregnancy to postpartum journey including her postpartum depression diagnosis. Like a true researcher, Dr.Lisa learnt as much as she could during and from this experience, which for her included the importance of the fourth trimester as a concept - and spurred her further research into "the perfect mother myth". 

Dr. Lisa's top tips for doing Postpartum like a boss include: 

1. Strongly consider a postpartum planning session 

2. Take maternity leave earlier than you think you need to if you can 

3. Know the fourth trimester is important - prioritise learning about it to enable you to set realistic expectations.

Trigger warning

This episode discusses postpartum depression and anxiety. 

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening. 

The lovely Cia Hudson, founder of @parentspotbulimba (as well as former TV producer and teacher) joins us to chat about the importance of finding her people. Cia shares her two very different postpartum experiences in the USA - one where she had to return to work when her first baby was just eight weeks old, and another where she joined an ad-hoc parents' group while at home with her second child. 

Through these experiences, Cia developed her passion for providing safe and nurturing group spaces for parents, ultimately leading her to open @parentspotbulimba. 

Cia's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

1. Find your people and accept help 

2. Find and follow your own parenting truth 

3. Give yourself grace 

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses postpartum anxiety and infant illness. 

Please read my full disclaimer before listening. 

In this powerful episode we explore resilience and surrender with the beautiful Amy Barber, Yoga and Meditation teacher @inspiredbyyogainspiredbylife. Amy had been working on large-scale production costume/ set design for many years before shifting careers around the same time as she started to 'try for a family'. In this episode, Amy openly shares the highs and lows of her five year fertility journey and reflects on the subsequent unexpected road to birth and postpartum supporting her father through terminal prostate cancer until his passing just days after the birth of her son. There won't be a dry eye in the room for this one. 

Amy's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

1. Find one thing that gives you joy and do it every day. 

2. Don't try to get too much "done". 

3. There's space to let yourself feel joy and sorrow at the same time. 

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses IVF, miscarriage and death of a loved one 

Disclaimer

Please read my full disclaimer before listening to this episode. 

Liz Hutchinson is a mother, food scientist, meditation teacher and gut health advocate. Liz candidly shares her journey to parenthood and beyond as a UK-based Aussie expat navigating struggles with IBS, unplanned pregnancy and a challenging birth/ subsequent postpartum period.

We also learn about Liz's passion project - born from seeing the benefits of holistic approaches to treating her IBS symptoms and overcoming personal adversities - which has led Liz to an exciting career pivot into helping others through holistic health. To find out more about Liz's work follow her on instagram @lizjhutchinson. 

Liz's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

1. Validate your own experience. 

2. Be gentle with yourself. 

3. Trust yourself, listen to your body and your intuition. 

Trigger warnings

Unplanned pregnancy and birth trauma. 

Please read my full disclaimer prior to listening to this episode. 

My unofficial twin, long time BFF and successful career woman (Assistant Director in the Australian Federal public sector) , Corrina Linton-Smith shares a whole lot of serious stuff (with equally as many LOLs) with us in this episode. 

We quite literally laugh and cry as we chat (in retrospect and with reverence) about Corrina navigating unexpected pregnancy, miscarriage, 'young' parenthood, birth, medical concerns in her second pregnancy and so much more along the way to her becoming the mother to her two boys (now aged five and seven). 

Corrina's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

- Parent your own way, do what comes organically 

- Find your village, it really does take a village

- Be free to accept your bad days

- Know you are not alone in loss

Trigger warnings

This episode discusses miscarriage, medical procedures and medical concerns during mid/late pregnancy and possible twin loss. 

Please also read my full disclaimer before listening. 

The lovely (and extremely knowledgable!) Lana Hall joins me for a powerful chat about her transition to parenthood as a registered psychologist. Lana is now a mother of two, owner of @sage.and.sound psychology & counselling as well as author/ founder of the @slowlifeprojectco - bringing a wealth of personal and professional experience to this episode which centres around the importance of identifying and living your values in postpartum. 

Lana's top tips to "Postpartum like a boss" are: 

1. Know who you are - identify your values 

2. Surround yourself with people that inspire and encourage you

3. Be kind to yourself 

You can find out more about Lana's fantastic work here: 

www.theslowlifeproject.com 

www.sageandsound.com.au

Trigger warning

Ease of conception 

Please also review my disclaimer before listening 

Primary school teacher and one of my best friends Michelle Kmon shares her pregnancy to postpartum experiences - from an unexpected pregnancy to her life as a mother of two with her partner in remote NT. Michelle juggled teaching contracts, challenging pregnancy and birth experiences, interstate relatives, skin conditions for her first child and moving to remote Arnhem Land for her partner's work as a ranger - currently finding fulfilment in voluntarily tutoring children (including her own son) through Katherine School of the Air. If you know her, you'll know Michelle is extremely kind and generous - making wherever she is a brighter and happier place, so I am glad I can bring you her story.

Michelle's top tips for doing 'Postpartum like a boss' are: 

- Take your time. Do things at the time they feel right for you and your family. 

- Find your person. Always find someone you can go to for support, some tough love or as a sounding board for your experiences in new parenthood. 

Trigger warning

This episode discusses ease of conception and emergency cesarean birth. 

Please read my disclaimer before listening.