Hi my loves! As we hit 20 episodes, I've decided to take a little pause to regroup and reground because life has been a LOT! But don't worry, I've got some great episodes already recorded for you and I can't wait to share them!

➡️ In the meantime, don't forget to hit FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episode automatically when I return.
🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

This topic gets people fired up: co-sleeping vs sleep training. Which is better? Which is “right”? In today’s episode, I dive into the real conversation around these parenting choices, sharing my personal experience and the bigger picture that often gets missed.

We explore:

• The problem with black and white thinking in motherhood
• Why guilt-based messaging can do more harm than good
• What happened when we transitioned from co-sleeping to a crib
• How to make the right decision for your family without shame

As always, there’s no one-size-fits-all in motherhood. This is a space for nuance, for sharing, and for reminding yourself that you’re doing your best.

📲 What has YOUR sleep journey looked like? Share with me here in the comments or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: [email protected] 

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

Becoming a mother is one of the biggest transformations a woman can go through, and yet, it’s rarely acknowledged as the profound identity shift that it is. If you’ve been feeling lost, struggling to recognise yourself, or grieving the freedom of your pre-mum life, this episode is for you.
I’m diving into the archetypes of the maiden and the mother: what they represent, why it can feel so hard to let go of the maiden, and how we can move through this transition with more ease and acceptance. We’ll explore how to honour the identity shift of motherhood, ways to keep your inner maiden alive, and how to integrate her into this next chapter of your life.

Resources & mentions:
🎶 My Inner Maiden Playlist

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

Self-care looks different for everyone, and I wanted to hear from YOU! In this episode, I’m sharing real self-care ideas from mums just like you, because let’s be honest, finding time for ourselves as mums isn’t always easy.

From quick morning routines to spa days, movement, and reconnecting with friends, these are real-life self-care practices that work. If you’ve been struggling to make time for yourself, this episode is packed with ideas to help you recharge in ways that feel doable and enjoyable.

What does YOUR self-care look like? Share with me here in the comments or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: [email protected] 

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

If you feel like motherhood has completely rewired your brain since giving birth, you're right! Science proves that pregnancy and postpartum change your brain in ways that affect memory, emotions, and even your sense of self. This transition, called matrescence, is as real as puberty, but no one talks about it.

In this episode, I dive into the real, biological shifts that happen in your brain after having a baby, why you might feel different (or even unrecognisable to yourself), and how to navigate this identity shift with more self-compassion.

What we cover in this episode:
✔️ Why your brain is scientifically different after motherhood
✔️ How these changes impact your emotions, memory, and identity
✔️ Why society expects mums to ‘bounce back’ when that’s impossible
✔️ How to embrace matrescence instead of resisting it

👉 Let’s chat! Did matrescence hit you hard, or did you ease into it? Comment on the episode or DM me on Instagram @natalie.kmartin

Resources & mentions:
📌 Research on how pregnancy changes the brain https://www.science.org/content/article/pregnancy-resculpts-women-s-brains-least-2-years

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

If you’re pregnant right now and feeling like you’re stuck in a weird inbetween space where your old life doesn’t quite fit anymore but you’re not yet a mother, this episode is for you. This transitional phase can feel unsettling, but what if it’s actually preparing you for what’s to come?

In this episode, we dive into:
✔ The emotional and physical shifts of pregnancy that feel like a loss but are actually a soft landing into motherhood.
✔ Why pregnancy can make you feel disconnected from your old passions and interests.
✔ How to embrace this liminal space instead of resisting it.
✔ The role of support and guidance from those who’ve walked this path before you.

This is part one of a three-episode arc. Next up, we’ll dive into matrescence - the identity shift that happens when you become a mother. And after that, we’ll explore how to honour the maiden version of yourself as you step into this new chapter.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

Whether it's on Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Mumsnet, or elsewhere, the judgment and cruelty some mothers experience online is shocking. From breastfeeding choices to sleep training, house cleanliness, and even how someone becomes a mother, the internet seems to think it has a say in it all. In this episode, I break down why this needs to stop, the damage it causes, and why we need to support each other instead of tearing each other down.

In This Episode, I Cover:

• The surge of online mum shaming and why it’s so harmful

• The recent backlash against Lily Collins and the wider implications of judging mothers

• The brutal comments mothers receive about breastfeeding, sleep training, and parenting choices

• Why no one has the right to judge another mother’s experience

• The power of stopping and reflecting before shaming others

• Why “let them be wrong about you” is a phrase to live by

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

Eeek! The Mama Circle Podcast is a little over a month old and I am sending a HUGE thanks to you. 

I truly value your support with this show! Please do get involved with any topic ideas or anything else you'd like to share with me here in the comments or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

In this raw and unfiltered episode, I open up about one of those nights where everything felt like it was spiraling out of control. From Jackson’s acrobatic nursing routines to the overwhelming mix of exhaustion, anger, and guilt, I share the honest reality of a mom struggling to hold it all together. 
This episode isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about acknowledging that feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re failing; it just means you’re human.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

What if I told you that grappling on the floor with bulky men and trying to flip them over is the BEST thing I've found to help relieve stress in my motherhood journey so far? Yep, I'm talking about BJJ - Brazilian Ju-Jitstu. And it might just help you too. 

Have you ever tried BJJ? What are the best things you've found so far to help manage your stress as a mum? Share  your thoughts and tips with me here in the comments or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment

Here's where I'm practicing BJJ: Anonymous Ju-Jitsu Addicts

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode