In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Danielle, a first-time mum from Canada, to talk about PPROM, giving birth at 24 weeks, life in the NICU, and raising an extremely premature baby.

Danielle shares the extraordinary story of her son, Jack, who was born at just 24 weeks' gestation following Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM). She reflects on the fear and uncertainty of an extremely premature birth, the emotional highs and lows of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and the resilience it takes to navigate one of the most challenging journeys a parent can face.

Together, we explore what Danielle describes as co-parenting with the medical team—learning to advocate for her baby while trusting the expertise of the doctors and nurses caring for him. We also talk about the importance of listening to your intuition as a parent, finding confidence in your voice, and the comfort of connecting with other NICU mums who truly understand the experience.

If you've experienced PPROM, premature birth, life in the NICU, or you're parenting a 24-week baby or micropreemie, I hope Danielle's story reminds you that you're not alone.

Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode

• @nicu_experience

• @miraclemoonuk

• @preemiehood

Topics discussed: NICU, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, PPROM, preterm premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, extreme prematurity, 24-week baby, micropreemie, neonatal care, NICU journey, parental advocacy, maternal intuition, NICU community, motherhood.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Laura, a mother of three boys, to talk about infant loss, grief, pregnancy after loss, and finding hope after unimaginable heartbreak.

Laura shares the story of her beautiful son, James, who passed away at just eight weeks old due to a rare genetic condition. With extraordinary honesty and courage, she reflects on the devastating reality of infant loss, the lifelong grief that follows the death of a baby, and the enduring love she holds for each of her sons.

Together, we explore what it means to continue mothering after loss, navigating pregnancy and birth after loss, and finding moments of hope while carrying grief. Laura's story is one of remarkable resilience, but above all, it is a testament to the unconditional love between a mother and her children.

If you have experienced baby loss, infant loss, pregnancy after loss, or you're supporting someone through grief, I hope this conversation helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In Australia, around 110,000 pregnancies end in miscarriage each year, approximately 2,200 babies are stillborn, and hundreds of families experience the death of a baby during the neonatal period. Every one of these babies matters, and every grieving parent deserves support.

Support services
🎈 Red Nose Australia (@rednoseaustralia) provides bereavement support for anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or the death of a baby or child.

🐘 Pink Elephants Support Network (@pinkelephantssupport) offers support and connection for people experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss.

Topics discussed: infant loss, baby loss, neonatal loss, grief, pregnancy after loss, birth after loss, rainbow babies, genetic conditions, bereaved parents, maternal mental health, resilience, motherhood after loss.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with my beautiful friend Ariadna to talk about co-parenting, conscious separation, work-life balance, birth choices, and raising children after the end of a relationship.

Ariadna shares her experience of transitioning from partners to friends, and how she and her former partner have built a respectful co-parenting relationship centred on their daughters' wellbeing. She reflects on the challenges of redefining family, setting healthy boundaries, and creating a positive parenting partnership after separation.

Together, we explore the realities of balancing work and motherhood, protecting family time, and navigating the ongoing process of finding your identity as a mum. Ariadna also opens up about her birth experiences, the importance of choice and informed consent in childbirth, and why every woman deserves to feel empowered to make decisions that are right for her and her baby.

We also talk about breaking generational patterns, creating a different childhood for our children, and the intentional choices we make as mothers to build the kind of family life we want them to remember.

If you're navigating co-parenting, separation, work-life balance, or you're passionate about birth choices and maternal autonomy, I hope Ariadna's story reminds you that families can take many different forms, and that love, respect, and connection matter most.

Instagram accounts mentioned in this episode

• @boobtofood

• @tinyheartseducation

Topics discussed: co-parenting, conscious separation, parenting after separation, work-life balance, motherhood identity, birth choices, informed consent, maternal autonomy, positive birth, family relationships, breaking generational patterns, motherhood.

In the first episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Madeline, a Melbourne-based counsellor for millennial women, to talk about mum rage, anger, guilt, shame, and self-compassion in motherhood.

Motherhood can bring up big emotions, and many of us are left wondering how to respond when feelings of anger, guilt, or shame take over. In this bite-sized conversation, Madeline shares practical, compassionate strategies to help mothers understand these emotions, regulate their nervous systems, and respond with greater self-awareness instead of self-judgement.

Together, we explore the importance of self-compassion, connection, and somatic approaches to emotional wellbeing, along with simple tools you can begin using today to navigate the emotional challenges of motherhood.

If you've ever experienced mum rage, mum guilt, parenting shame, or felt overwhelmed by the mental load of motherhood, this short episode offers a reassuring reminder that you're not alone—and that there are gentle, practical ways to support yourself.

You can connect with Madeline on Instagram at @sitwithself. She is currently accepting new clients for both online and in-person counselling.

Topics discussed: mum rage, maternal anger, mum guilt, parenting shame, emotional regulation, nervous system regulation, somatic therapy, self-compassion, maternal mental health, counselling for mothers, connection, motherhood.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Leah, a mother of two from Indiana, USA, to talk about leaving a toxic relationship, finding healthy love after divorce, rebuilding your identity, and navigating motherhood through life's biggest transitions.

Leah shares her deeply personal journey through the breakdown of her marriage and the courage she found after the birth of her son to leave an unhealthy relationship. She reflects on becoming the mother she wanted to be, rebuilding her life from the ground up, and eventually finding a loving, supportive partnership that changed her understanding of family, trust, and happiness.

Together, we explore the way motherhood can become a catalyst for change, the process of rediscovering your identity after heartbreak, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to grow. Leah also shares her thoughts on balancing work and motherhood, adjusting expectations, and cultivating authentic friendships that carry us through the hardest seasons of life.

If you've experienced relationship breakdown, divorce, single motherhood, or you're navigating the journey of finding yourself again after becoming a mum, I hope Leah's story reminds you that healing is possible and that life can hold unexpected joy on the other side of change.

You can connect with Leah and learn more about her work supporting mothers on Instagram: @the_empowered_mama

Topics discussed: toxic relationships, divorce, separation, single motherhood, healthy relationships, motherhood identity, healing after heartbreak, personal growth, working motherhood, friendships, resilience, motherhood.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Chelsea, host of the Definitely Baby podcast, to talk about falling pregnant with an IUD, preparing for a VBAC, trusting her intuition, and embracing the unpredictability of birth.

Chelsea shares the story of her unexpected first pregnancy while using an IUD, the mindset shifts that followed, and how becoming a mother challenged many of the expectations she had placed on herself. As she prepares for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean), she reflects on surrendering the need for certainty, reconnecting with her intuition, and learning to trust both her body and the birth process.

Together, we explore the pressure many women feel to meet society's expectations of motherhood, the power of hearing other women's birth stories, and how community can help us approach pregnancy, birth, and parenting with greater confidence and self-trust.

If you're navigating an IUD pregnancy, planning a VBAC, or looking for encouragement to trust your instincts as a mother, I hope Chelsea's story leaves you feeling supported and less alone.

Podcasts recommended in this episode

• Definitely Baby

• Ready or Not

• Stories of Motherhood

• After Birth Pod

• Beyond the Bump

• Australian Birth Stories

• Australian VBAC Stories

• VBAC Birth Stories

• Positive Birth Australia

• Home Birth After Caesarean

You can connect with Chelsea and the Definitely Baby podcast on Instagram: @definitelybabypodcast.

Topics discussed: IUD pregnancy, VBAC, vaginal birth after caesarean, birth after caesarean, birth preparation, trusting your intuition, birth stories, motherhood identity, pregnancy, birth, community, self-trust.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Georgia to talk about breastfeeding challenges, infant sleep, postpartum support, and finding her village during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Georgia shares her hard-fought and deeply personal breastfeeding journey, reflecting on the determination it took to continue through the challenges of early motherhood. She opens up about the loneliness of becoming a mum during a global pandemic, the emotional impact of navigating the newborn stage in isolation, and how finding a community of like-minded mothers transformed her postpartum experience.

Together, we explore the importance of genuine support for new mums, the realities of breastfeeding, infant sleep, and postpartum recovery, and why building a village can make all the difference. Georgia's story is a reminder that motherhood isn't meant to be done alone, and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure.

Georgia is a birth and postpartum doula supporting families across the Hawkesbury, Hills District, Western Sydney, and surrounding areas. You can connect with her on Instagram @georgiasleedoula or visit georgiasleedoula.com.au.

Georgia is also one of the co-hosts of the Australian VBAC Stories podcast.

Topics discussed: breastfeeding, breastfeeding challenges, infant sleep, postpartum support, postpartum recovery, motherhood during COVID-19, pandemic motherhood, new mums, maternal mental health, building your village, community, birth doula, postpartum doula.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with my eldest sister, Liesel, to talk about solo motherhood by choice, IUI, donor conception, home birth, and raising children with connection and confidence.

Liesel shares the deeply personal journey that led her to become a solo mother by choice, from conceiving her first son through Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) using a sperm donor to navigating the unexpected breakdown of a relationship after his birth. She reflects on choosing motherhood on her own, trusting her instincts, and creating the family she had always hoped for.

Together, we explore the realities of solo parenting, the power of following your child's cues, and what it means to raise children with empathy, respect, and connection. Liesel also shares her experience of home birth, balancing work and motherhood, and the importance of meeting children where they are rather than trying to fit them into society's expectations.

Whether you're considering solo motherhood by choice, exploring IUI or donor conception, or simply looking for an honest conversation about parenting with intention, I hope Liesel's story offers reassurance, encouragement, and a reminder that there are many beautiful ways to build a family.

Recommended resources from this episode

Books
Your Baby, Your Birth by Hollie de Cruz

People to follow
Lael Stone (@laelstone)

Shug CM (@lackofimpulsecontrol on Instagram and TikTok)

Topics discussed: solo motherhood by choice, IUI, donor conception, sperm donor, home birth, conscious parenting, respectful parenting, working motherhood, family, motherhood, parenting with connection.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with my younger sister, Kirsten, to talk about young motherhood, preeclampsia, giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and navigating the isolation of postpartum.

Kirsten shares how a preeclampsia diagnosis changed the course of her pregnancy before reflecting on what it was like to welcome her daughter into the world during a global pandemic. She opens up about the loneliness of having her baby admitted to the Special Care Nursery (SCN), the challenges of postpartum without the village she had imagined, and the resilience she found in those early months of motherhood.

Together, we explore the unique experience of becoming a young mum, the weight of other people's expectations, and the gradual process of learning to trust yourself as a mother. Kirsten also shares how setting boundaries, practising self-care, and focusing on the present have helped her navigate the more difficult moments of parenting.

Whether you've experienced preeclampsia, a pandemic birth, postpartum loneliness, or you're simply finding your own way through motherhood, I hope Kirsten's story reminds you that there is strength in sharing our experiences.

Topics discussed: young motherhood, preeclampsia, COVID-19 pregnancy, pandemic birth, Special Care Nursery (SCN), postpartum isolation, motherhood identity, self-care, boundaries, resilience.

Welcome to The Motherwhelm, the podcast that dives headfirst into the rollercoaster ride of motherhood. Join us for brutally honest and vulnerable conversations with real mums who aren’t afraid to spill the messy, funny, and sometimes hard truths about parenting.

In this trailer, you will get a sneak peek into what the podcast is all about. Our guests share their unfiltered experiences, from total overwhelm to moments of sheer joy and triumph. Expect raw and candid discussions about the challenges that come with being a mum, all while finding humour in the chaos.

The Motherwhelm is your safe space to feel understood, laugh out loud, and maybe even shed a tear or two. Whether you’re a seasoned mum or just starting your journey, this podcast is your companion in navigating the unpredictable world of motherhood. Subscribe now on Spotify or wherever you find podcasts, and get ready for a dose of real talk, vulnerability, and a whole lot of laughs!