In this episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Lisa Quinney, a perinatal counsellor and mum of two, to explore Internal Family Systems (IFS) and how understanding the different parts of ourselves can transform the way we move through motherhood.

Rather than simply explaining the theory, Lisa turns the conversation back on me, gently demonstrating how Internal Family Systems (IFS) works in practice. It was a fascinating experience that challenged the way I think about my own emotions, inner critic, and the different parts of myself that show up in motherhood.

This conversation left me wanting to learn so much more about IFS, both for my own personal growth and as a future counsellor. Whether you're completely new to parts work or already familiar with the approach, I hope this episode encourages you to meet yourself with greater curiosity and self-compassion.

If you'd like to hear more from Lisa, I also recommend Episode 17, where she shares her own motherhood journey and speaks openly about postnatal depression, matrescence, and learning to honour her needs.

You can connect with Lisa on Instagram at @walk.with.lisa or visit walkwithlisa.com.au.

Topics discussed: Internal Family Systems, IFS, parts work, inner critic, self-compassion, emotional healing, maternal mental health, counselling, motherhood, personal growth.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Lauren, a perinatal psychologist and mum of two from Melbourne, to talk about hyperemesis gravidarum, the importance of holding the mother, and honouring the postpartum period.

Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience, Lauren shares her journey through motherhood, including her experience with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), the ongoing process of getting to know herself, and the profound transformation that comes with becoming a mother.

Together, we explore why so much of our attention is directed towards the baby while mothers themselves are often overlooked, and why holding the mother is essential for the wellbeing of the whole family. Lauren also shares her insights into perinatal mental health, the importance of respecting the postpartum period, and how we can approach motherhood with greater compassion, curiosity, and care.

I learned so much from Lauren—not only as a psychologist, but as a woman and a mother. I hope this conversation leaves you feeling equally supported, understood, and reminded that mothers deserve to be cared for, too.

If you've experienced hyperemesis gravidarum, you're navigating the identity shifts of motherhood, or you're looking for guidance on postpartum recovery and perinatal mental health, I hope this episode offers reassurance and practical wisdom for your own journey.

Influential texts mentioned in this episode

• Nobody Told Me by Hollie McNish

• The Good Enough Mother Podcast by Dr Sophie Brock

Connect with Lauren

• Instagram: @tendpsychology

• Website: tendpsychology.com.au

Topics discussed: hyperemesis gravidarum, HG, perinatal psychology, perinatal mental health, postpartum support, postpartum recovery, matrescence, motherhood identity, holding the mother, maternal wellbeing, psychology, motherhood.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Lisa, a perinatal counsellor and mum of two from Geelong, to talk about postnatal depression, matrescence, self-compassion, and learning to honour your needs in motherhood.

Lisa shares her personal experience of postnatal depression, reflecting on the challenges of early motherhood, the importance of seeking support, and the gradual process of reconnecting with herself. She also introduces the concept of matrescence—the profound physical, emotional, psychological, and social transformation that takes place as we become mothers—and explores how understanding this transition can change the way we experience motherhood.

Together, we discuss why motherhood often asks us to slow down, listen to ourselves, and embrace the version of ourselves that is emerging alongside our children. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that caring for yourself is not separate from caring for your family—it's an essential part of it.

I truly felt like I found a kindred spirit in Lisa, and I hope her story leaves you feeling seen, encouraged, and a little more compassionate towards yourself.

If you've experienced postnatal depression, you're navigating the identity shifts of matrescence, or you're learning how to prioritise your own wellbeing without guilt, I hope this conversation reminds you that you deserve the same care and compassion you so freely give to others.

Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode

• @lifeafterbirthpsychology

• @drsophiebrock

Book mentioned

• Matrescence by Lucy Jones

Topics discussed: postnatal depression, postpartum depression, maternal mental health, matrescence, motherhood identity, self-compassion, honouring your needs, perinatal mental health, motherhood, identity after becoming a mother.

In this episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Lisa Quinny and Lauren Beatty to talk about loneliness in motherhood, maternal mental health, and the importance of finding connection.

Loneliness is one of the most common yet least talked about experiences of motherhood. Together, we explore how maternal loneliness can take us by surprise, why it's possible to feel lonely even when we're surrounded by people, and the practical ways we can begin to rebuild connection with ourselves and others.

This conversation came together unexpectedly. Lisa from Walk with Lisa and Lauren from Tend Psychology had planned to host an Instagram Live on this important topic, but when technical difficulties got in the way, I was grateful to be able to use The Motherwhelm as a platform to bring the conversation to life.

Whether you're a new mum, feeling isolated after having a baby, or simply longing for deeper connection in motherhood, I hope this episode reminds you that you're far from alone.

• The Republic of Motherhood – Liz Berry

• I'll Show Myself Out – Jessi Klein

• The Grand Shattering – Sarah Manguso

• Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood – Lucy Jones

• @walk.with.lisa

• walkwithlisa.com.au

• @tendpsychology

• tendpsychology.com.au

• @gidgetfoundation

• gidgetfoundation.org.au

• @pandanational

• panda.org.au

• @lifelineaustralia

• Lifeline Australia (13 11 14)

• lifeline.org.au

• @maternaljrnl

• maternaljournal.org

Topics discussed: loneliness in motherhood, maternal loneliness, postpartum isolation, maternal mental health, making mum friends, finding your village, motherhood community, connection, matrescence, perinatal mental health, Maternal Journal.

Books mentionedPerinatal mental health resourcesLearn more about Maternal Journal

In this episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Rebecca Gilchrist, a clinical psychologist registrar, to talk about mum rage, anxiety, guilt, and why these difficult emotions may be trying to tell us something.

Rebecca works primarily with women and mothers living in rural Australia, and in this bite-sized conversation she shares a compassionate new way of understanding some of the most common emotional experiences of motherhood. Rather than seeing anger, anxiety, and guilt as problems to eliminate, Rebecca explains how they can act as important signals—if we learn to ask the right questions.

This conversation completely shifted the way I think about these emotions. It helped me move away from judgement and towards curiosity, and I hope it offers you the same sense of understanding and self-compassion.

If you've experienced mum rage, maternal anxiety, mum guilt, or you're looking for practical insights into maternal mental health, I hope this short episode leaves you feeling more equipped to understand yourself with kindness.

You can connect with Rebecca on Instagram at @her_rural_psychologist or learn more about her work at rgpsychology.com.au.

Topics discussed: mum rage, maternal anger, maternal anxiety, mum guilt, therapy, maternal mental health, emotional regulation, self-compassion, counselling, psychology, rural maternal mental health.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Amy to talk about first-time motherhood, self-care, work-life balance, and the importance of family and community.

Amy shares the challenges she faced as a first-time mum, the unexpected lessons she learned during the early days of motherhood, and the emotional strength she discovered through the birth of her son. Together, we explore the realities of balancing work and family life, prioritising your own wellbeing, and navigating the constant juggle that so many mothers experience.

One of my favourite parts of our conversation is Amy's beautiful philosophy on the importance of spending time with the people we love. She reflects on the value of slowing down, leaning on your village, and making intentional choices about how we spend the limited time we have with our families.

Whether you're navigating first-time motherhood, searching for a healthier work-life balance, or looking for encouragement to prioritise self-care without guilt, I hope Amy's story reminds you that motherhood isn't about doing it all—it's about making space for what matters most.

Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode

• @tinyheartseducation

• @sick.happens

• @birthwithbeth_

• @australianbirthstories

• @australianvbacstories

Topics discussed: first-time motherhood, self-care, work-life balance, family, community, motherhood identity, maternal wellbeing, parenting, mental health, finding your village.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Rebecca to talk about premature birth, life in the NICU, giving birth on an air ambulance, and motherhood in rural Australia.

Rebecca is a mum of two and a clinical psychologist registrar specialising in perinatal mental health. She shares the extraordinary story of giving birth to her first daughter at 33 weeks' gestation aboard an air ambulance at 13,000 feet before beginning an unexpected journey through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Living on a sheep and cattle farm in New England, NSW, Rebecca also reflects on the unique realities of raising a family in a rural community and the challenges many regional mothers face in accessing maternity and mental health care. Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience, we explore the importance of compassionate perinatal support, advocating for yourself, and finding strength through unexpected beginnings.

Whether you've experienced premature birth, life in the NICU, or you're navigating motherhood in a rural or regional community, I hope Rebecca's story leaves you feeling seen, supported, and reminded of the resilience mothers carry through even the most extraordinary circumstances.

You can connect with Rebecca on Instagram at @her_rural_psychologist.

Topics discussed: NICU, premature birth, 33-week baby, air ambulance birth, aeromedical retrieval, rural motherhood, regional Australia, perinatal mental health, maternal mental health, NICU journey, psychologist, motherhood.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Kaitlyn to talk about giving birth at 27 weeks, life in the NICU, PTSD, maternal mental health, and finding strength through the unexpected.

Kaitlyn shares the story of her daughter, Gianna, who was born at just 27 weeks' gestation, and reflects on the emotional realities of becoming a mother in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She opens up about the lasting impact of the NICU experience, navigating PTSD, prioritising her mental health, and the role medication played in her recovery.

Together, we explore the resilience it takes to adapt when motherhood begins differently than expected, learning to pivot through uncertainty, and finding hope in even the most challenging seasons. Kaitlyn also shares her experience with exclusive pumping, advocating for her daughter, and the unwavering love that carried her family through their NICU journey.

Whether you've experienced premature birth, life in the NICU, NICU PTSD, or you're supporting someone through a difficult start to parenthood, I hope Kaitlyn's story reminds you that healing is possible and that strength often grows in the places we never expected.

You can connect with Kaitlyn on Instagram at @themothergoodblog.

Topics discussed: NICU, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, premature birth, 27-week baby, PTSD, maternal mental health, postpartum mental health, medication, exclusive pumping, NICU journey, resilience, parent advocacy, motherhood.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jen to talk about life in the NICU, postpartum anger, anxiety, exclusive pumping, and learning to advocate for your baby.

Jen shares the story of her son, Luca, who was born prematurely at 33 weeks' gestation, and reflects on the unexpected challenges of becoming a mother in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She opens up about experiencing postpartum anxiety and postpartum anger, the emotional impact of an early birth, and the identity shift that came with motherhood.

Together, we explore how the NICU experience changed Jen's perspective as both a mother and a social worker, the importance of trusting your instincts and advocating for your child, and the resilience she discovered throughout Luca's journey. Jen also shares her experience with exclusive pumping, the transition to becoming a stay-at-home mum, and the ways motherhood transformed both her relationships and her sense of self.

If you've experienced premature birth, life in the NICU, postpartum anxiety, postpartum anger, or you're navigating an exclusive pumping journey, I hope Jen's story reminds you that you're not alone, and that your voice as a parent matters.

Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode

• @miraclekidsnparentnetwork

• @handtohold

• @growwithjenlowe

Topics discussed: NICU, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, premature birth, 33-week baby, postpartum anxiety, postpartum anger, maternal mental health, exclusive pumping, pumping for a preemie, NICU advocacy, motherhood identity, stay-at-home motherhood, parent advocacy, resilience.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Bree to talk about premature birth, life in the NICU, the lasting impact of birth trauma, and finding support through community.

Bree shares the story of her son, Jaxx, who arrived unexpectedly 10 weeks early, turning her introduction to motherhood into an experience she could never have imagined. She reflects on navigating the uncertainty of the NICU, learning to parent in a hospital environment, and finding her confidence after being thrown into motherhood far sooner than expected.

Together, we explore the emotional impact of a premature birth, how the NICU experience can stay with parents long after they leave the hospital, and the importance of sharing both the beautiful and the difficult moments of motherhood honestly. Bree also talks about finding connection through the NICU community and why no mother should have to navigate these experiences alone.

If you've experienced premature birth, life in the NICU, birth trauma, or you're adjusting to life after a long hospital stay with your baby, I hope Bree's story reminds you that healing takes time and that community can make all the difference.

Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode

• @jaxxsjourney_

  • Bree has compiled a list of helpful resources for NICU families in the Linktree in her Instagram bio.

• @thewildflowerco.au

Topics discussed: premature birth, premature baby, NICU, neonatal intensive care, birth trauma, NICU PTSD, maternal mental health, prematurity, NICU mums, motherhood, community, resilience, life after NICU.