A tricky birth, breastfeeding struggles and the lack of that instant in-love feeling left Chanelle feeling "like a failure". We chat about how the first few months of motherhood shook her, and how she came out the other side.

Babies cost money - but how much exactly, and whether it will stress you out or you'll sail through, depends on your choices and planning. In this ep, I chat to financial advisor Rebecca Pritchard, a mum of one who takes us through what she did and offers advice on where to save and what conversations to have that will help avoid common relationship pitfalls. She's helped me a ton! 

If you'd like to chat to Rebecca: https://www.rebeccapritchard.com.au/

Fiona MacDonald is a journalist and CEO of ScienceAlert - a job she was offered when she was 10 weeks pregnant with her first baby. It meant she would need to return to work, slowly, before her baby turned three months, but Fiona embraced the opportunity... and thrived. She shares her experience with an elective caesarian, avoiding visitors, choosing the right care for her daughter and how a supportive work culture has made her decision the right one. 

Okay, so having a baby in the midst of a global pandemic wasn't exactly what you'd planned. Now what? Join me and Julia Jones, my postpartum doula teacher and wise woman, as we talk practical ideas, emotional support and mindset shifts that can help you have a truly lovely first few weeks and months with your little one.

Find out more about Julia's new course, head here, and her postpartum doula training can be found here 

Meg Frawley had her birth and postpartum all planned: the Australian had booked in a doula to help her navigate the American medical system in her new home of San Francisco, her parents would fly in from Sydney to help her and her husband adjust to life with a new baby and she'd joined all the local mother's groups.

But as Covid-19 hit America, hard, her parents cancelled their trip. And the day her labour niggles began, she received a phone call from her doula: no one would be allowed to attend her birth, including her husband.

Listen in to hear how Meg navigated the birth of her baby, and why, even though the first five weeks of new motherhood weren't how she'd imagined, they've proved to have many silver linings. 

This week, Josie Rozenberg-Clarke, editor of pedestrian.tv and mama of a nine week old, messaged me with an idea for an episode: how new mums are dealing with self-isolation during what is often a quite lonely season. "The days feel so long, it's lonely, we're all going stir crazy and if it rains you're literally just cooped up inside," she wrote. "I've had to cancel my mum in law's regular Wednesday visit, and my mum is coming this week but that will be the last time for a while. The things I looked forward to that broke up my day/week are now gone." I don't think Josie was expecting me to not just take up her idea but invite her to come on and talk with me about what's happening for her, but she graciously agreed and that's exactly what we did. We talk about how we're staying positive while also acknowledging our feelings, the new ways we're connecting and what TV shows we're binging on (recommendations welcome!)

I recorded this episode a few weeks back with Monique Llewellyn, a mama of one who runs @holisticluxeliving and https://www.holisticluxeliving.com/, because I wanted to share ideas for people who are interested in becoming more eco-friendly in their family practices. Well, now, with covid-19 meaning there are restrictions and shortages on disposable nappies, wipes and other options that were previously easy, more people are interested in becoming self-sufficient, even just a little bit. From period undies to homemade wipes, we cover some ideas that we hope you'll find helpful and empowering during these weird old times. 

I knew I wanted to have my friend Kelly on the podcast since I started it--not only is she smart and articulate, she's bloody hilarious. A fashion stylist by trade, we bonded while working together at Stellar and I loved how she applies her sense of humour to birth injuries that she's still feeling the effects from. I hope you enjoy Kel's unique perspective on birth and the fourth trimester and find her story as interesting as I did. 

Thanks for bearing with me while Cathy and I lined up a time to finish our chat! In this second episode, we talk about breastfeeding while starting bottles, introducing solids, returning to work and weaning your little one, plus heaps more. 

What would it feel like to be ill, not just in your first trimester, but throughout your entire pregnancy? To vomit 15 times a day, not be able to keep anything down and continue chucking throughout labour? Caitlin Kay-Smith, of Hyperemesis Gravidarum Australia, shares her experience and how it affected her postpartum (and beyond). Listen in to hear how she had to fight to be believed, why she tried to get herself sectioned in order to receive care and how she's now fighting for other women who have HG.