The Baby Bubble

I don't mean to be rude, but who tf are you?

Let's be honest, giving birth is like the most intense first date ever.

You show up at the designated place nervously excited to meet your date, only for them to show up late and basically whinge the whole time.

And then you're obligated to be with them. For the next 18 years.

So what were our first reactions to our new babies? And maybe more importantly... what were their first impressions of us?

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CREDITS

Hosts: Clare Stephens & Jessie Stephens
Producer: Taylah Strano
Audio Producer: Thom Lyon

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Baby Bubble is a brand new parenting podcast with a twist. Hosted by twins (and new mums) Jessie and Clare Stephens, this show dives into the absurdity and hilarity of the first few months of newborn life.

Can we offer helpful advice? No. Are we trying to? Absolutely not.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the final episode of season one of The Baby Bubble and Zoe is sick.  So the fabulous Holly Wainwright is stepping in to join Sean and share her parenting wisdom.

Mess is a huge part of having kids but wouldn’t it be great if you could leave a room with your children without it looking like a bomb has gone off?  Sean has managed to train his babies to clean up after themselves and it didn’t involve nagging or bribery. Get the pen and paper ready!

Plus, with everyone talking about the importance of kids finding their own identity what role do gendered clothes play?  Both Sean and Holly made a point of trying to dress their kids in a way that wasn’t traditionally gendered but they realised kids often find their own way there anyway.  So how much is nature and how much is nurture?

And the parenting books are littered with advice on all the things we’re not supposed to be doing with our babies.  But is it possible to follow the rules all the time or is it more important just to get through the day?

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're expecting, a new mum, or wrangling a toddler, we have all the best resources for new parents in our free newsletter here.

After Sean’s left alone with the twins for a month he gets a taste of what single parenting is like and it gives him a newfound appreciation for people doing it solo.  

Plus, have you ever asked yourself if there is a perfect time to have a child? Most parents say “you’re never going to be ready” so Zoe and Sean share when they realised it was time.

And have you ever heard of gender disappointment?  A friend of Sean’s shared her story of being disappointed by the gender of her baby and the guys weigh in on whether they felt it with their own kids.

If you have experienced gender disappointment and have a story to tell then we would love to hear from you. Call us on 02 8999 9386 or email us [email protected]

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Find more episodes of this and other Mamamia podcasts here...https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're expecting, a new mum, or wrangling a toddler, we have all the best resources for new parents in our free newsletter here.

After giving Fox a little extra screen-time,  Zoe is dealing with some serious parent guilt, but Sean reassures her that a little extra Elmo doesn’t make you a bad parent!

If you’ve ever experienced parent guilt or burn out, we’d love to hear from you.  Call us on 02 8999 9386 or email us [email protected]

Plus, after listening to a recent No Filter episode on how emotional labour makes women feel exhausted, Zoe and Sean discuss how parenting responsibilities play out in their relationships and how it affects their ability to raise their kids.

And if you’ve ever struggled to find the perfect baby name, Zoe and Sean talk about everything they thought about before they named their kids… And there’s a lot more to it than you might think…

For more on emotional labour, you can listen here…

Mia Freeman talking to Gemma Hartley on Emotional Labour...
https://omny.fm/shows/no-filter/emotional-labour

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're expecting, a new mum, or wrangling a toddler, we have all the best resources for new parents in our free newsletter here.

Breastfeeding is a completely normal and natural thing to do but many mums still face judgement when they do it in public.  Zoe shares a recent experience she had breastfeeding on a plane where she was ogled by a man and Sean is not impressed.

If you’ve had a similar experience we’d love to hear from you.  Call us on 02 8999 9386 or email us [email protected]

And if you’ve ever struggled to make time for self-care because you’re too busy drowning in a sea of parenting responsibilities, Sean and Zoe share their non-negotiables when it comes to looking after themselves.

Plus, Sean shares his top travel trips for taking kids on long-haul international flights...

For Sean’s guest appearance on This Glorious Mess listen here…

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're expecting, a new mum, or wrangling a toddler, we have all the best resources for new parents in our free newsletter here.

Zoe and Sean reminisce about life before becoming parents and take a moment to talk about the very real sacrifices they didn’t realise they’d have to make. Sean also shares how he’s managed to get some sense of control back into his life with a new morning routine… Baby steps, Sean. Baby steps!

Plus, have you thought about putting your baby in swim classes? How soon is too soon? Sean has just started putting his 18 month year old twins, Stella and Cooper in classes, which for Zoe, raises an even bigger question… Are we grooming kids too early to become “superhumans” and geniuses?

And Zoe is cradling a lot of guilt because she yelled at Fox for the first time...

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're expecting, a new mum, or wrangling a toddler, we have all the best resources for new parents in our free newsletter here.

Last week Sean and Zoe talked about their experiences with postnatal depression and we were flooded with your calls and emails.  

Today they shared an email from Sorena who told us about her experience…

“So many days I also wanted to run away, go overseas and start a new life.  But I loved my tiny little baby sooooo much so I would make myself sit for hours, not doing anything, just to not pack up and leave! What Sean said about seeing his husband see him go through it and withdrawing hit so close to home.  It was such a hard time for us, mainly because I was so withdrawn, trying to be a perfect mum and completely neglecting myself and my husband.”

Then we talk about what to do when your kids discover your genitalia.  How do you talk to them about it in a way that helps them learn?

And should you put a leash on your kid?  Zoe is all for it because she’s sick of chasing Fox around but Sean isn’t convinced.

All this and more on The Baby Bubble...

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're expecting, a new mum, or wrangling a toddler, we have all the best resources for new parents in our free newsletter here.

Zoe’s thinking about getting back into the baby bubble and Sean is right there to remind her it’s REALLY HARD.  He’s also got some great advice for how to save money when you’re looking after more than one baby.

Plus, should you post photos of your kids online? And if you do, should you only post the best moments?  Or is it important to share the horror stories too?

And Sean opens up about his experience with post-natal depression as a father.

CREDITS:

Host: Zoe Marshall & Sean Szeps

Producer: Amelia Navascues

MORE INFO

To find out more about Tresillian…  https://www.tresillian.org.au/  

GET IN TOUCH

Up in the middle of the night scrolling through Facebook?  Why not join other parents just like you on our Facebook page ... https://www.facebook.com/TheMotherish/

Are you in the baby bubble and want to tell someone about it? Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.