In this episode, we discuss:

• Becoming a mum of two
• A challenging first postpartum experience
• Sleep deprivation and parenting a baby with a more challenging temperament
• Feeling validated and supported through residential parenting support
• Welcoming her second baby via an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic
• Recovering from birth while grieving the loss of her dad
• The transition from one child to two
• How having two children with completely different temperaments changed her perspective
• Letting go of self-blame and giving yourself more grace
• Returning to work and how motherhood changed her priorities

Sam is also the co-host of the Seed to Sprout Podcast, a new parenting podcast sharing conversations about all things pregnancy, babies, toddlers and kids.

You can find them on Instagram @seedtosproutpod

As mentioned in the episode, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.

Australia

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
  Helpline: 1300 726 306
  Website: https://www.panda.org.au
• Lifeline Australia
  13 11 14 (24/7)
  Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  1300 22 4636
  Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

New Zealand

• PlunketLine
  0800 933 922 (24/7)
• Healthline New Zealand
  0800 611 116 (24/7)
• 1737 Need to talk?
  Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, we discuss:

• Alex's journey to motherhood while living overseas
• The days leading up to birth and becoming a first-time mum
• Recovering from a third-degree tear
• The shock of early postpartum and adjusting to life with a newborn
• The identity changes that accompany motherhood
• Initially resisting motherhood before embracing her new role
• Returning home with a newborn while living away from family
• Breastfeeding, oversupply and recurrent mastitis
• Infant sleep, routines and the pressure to do things "the right way"
• Learning to trust your instincts as a parent
• The differences between first-time and second-time motherhood
• Why talking openly with other mothers matters
• How shared experiences provide validation, support and a reminder that you're not alone

Alex has created an incredible instagram page where she shares simple, delicious meals, as well as insights into her family life. If you would like to follow along, you can find her at @alexskitchenstory.

As mentioned, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.

Australia

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
  Helpline: 1300 726 306
  Website: https://www.panda.org.au
• Lifeline Australia
  13 11 14 (24/7)
  Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  1300 22 4636
  Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

New Zealand

• PlunketLine
  0800 933 922 (24/7)
• Healthline New Zealand
  0800 611 116 (24/7)
• 1737 Need to talk?
  Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, Chelsea shares:

• Becoming a mother during the COVID pandemic 
• Her postpartum experiences with both of her boys
• Anxiety and mum guilt in early motherhood
• The transition from one child to two
• Why carving out time for yourself matters
• Running, boundaries, and showing up as your best self
• How motherhood changed her values and priorities
• Building Little Luxury alongside raising young children
• The story behind Little Luxury's signature play mat
• Finding purpose and creativity in this season of motherhood

Instagram Giveaway

Chelsea from Little Luxury has generously gifted a $200 Little Luxury voucher for one lucky winner.

Head to @thepostpartumseasonpodcast on Instagram to enter.

Entries close at 11:59pm NZT on 1 July.

You can find out more about Little Luxury at:

Instagram: @littleluxury___

Website: www.littleluxury.co.nz

As mentioned at the end of the episode, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.

Australia

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
  Helpline: 1300 726 306
  Website: https://www.panda.org.au
• Lifeline Australia
  13 11 14 (24/7)
  Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  1300 22 4636
  Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

New Zealand

• PlunketLine
  0800 933 922 (24/7)
• Healthline New Zealand
  0800 611 116 (24/7)
• 1737 Need to talk?
  Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, Paige shares her postpartum journey with her twins.

We discuss:

- Miscarriage and fertility treatment

- Finding out she was expecting twins

- Learning at 20 weeks that her daughter had a lung lesion

- Living in survival mode during a complicated pregnancy

- Delivering her twins at 34 weeks

- Meeting her son and daughter for the first time

- Her daughter’s surgery shortly after birth

- Entering the unfamiliar world of the NICU

- Her son’s ongoing challenges in the NICU

- The challenge of making complex medical decisions as a new parent

- Finding support through family, another NICU mother and online groups

- The impact of NICU life on Paige and her husband

- Spending long days at the hospital while her husband worked from the cafeteria

- Bringing the twins home after months in hospital

- Support from family and a hospital social worker

- Returning to teaching and rediscovering parts of her identity outside motherhood

- Creating a more flexible career through copywriting and business coaching

- The identity shifts that come with motherhood and career change

- Learning to separate self-worth from productivity and income

- The importance of therapy and self-reflection

- Finding joy in slow, peaceful moments with her children

- Paige's advice for parents navigating the NICU

If you would like to connect with Paige and learn more about the work she is doing to support women, head to her Instagram page @mombossfreedom.

As mentioned, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.

Australia

- PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)Helpline: 1300 726 306Website: https://www.panda.org.au

- Lifeline Australia13 11 14 (24/7)Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au

- Beyond Blue1300 22 4636Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

New Zealand

- PlunketLine0800 933 922 (24/7)

- Healthline New Zealand0800 611 116 (24/7)

- 1737 Need to talk?Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, Jenae shares:

- Reaching 41 weeks before labour began

- Labour starting after her waters broke overnight

- Living 45 minutes from the hospital and travelling in labour

- Acupuncture and other attempts to encourage labour progression

- Giving birth to her son, Lucas

- Experiencing an immediate postpartum haemorrhage

- A delayed postpartum haemorrhage and ongoing recovery

- Physical recovery and pelvic floor physiotherapy

- Accessing support for birth trauma recovery

- Returning to hospital with concerns about Lucas's health

- Donor milk in the early days

- Formula supplementation and weight gain concerns

- Nipple shields and difficulties with latching

- Pumping and triple feeding

- Working with multiple lactation consultants

- The emotional toll of feeding challenges

- Establishing breastfeeding after months of challenges

- Weaning from breastfeeding at 17 months

- Difficulty asking for and accepting help

- Support from family, friends and mothers' groups

- Anxiety, tracking feeds and sleep, and the desire for control

- Returning to work and reconnecting with parts of her pre-motherhood identity

- Grief and identity change

- Watching Lucas grow, learn and develop

As mentioned, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.

Australia

- PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
Helpline: 1300 726 306
Website: https://www.panda.org.au

- Lifeline Australia
13 11 14 (24/7)
Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au

- Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

New Zealand

- PlunketLine
0800 933 922 (24/7)

- Healthline New Zealand
0800 611 116 (24/7)

- 1737 Need to talk?
Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, Sonya shares:

Becoming a mother after an unexpected pregnancy

Returning to New Zealand after living in London

Navigating pregnancy and postpartum during COVID

The emotional impact of becoming the first parent among her friendship group

Her experience of labour and birth with her daughter Odette

Early postpartum challenges, cluster feeding and newborn life

The importance of communication within relationships after having a baby

How her partner supported her throughout postpartum

Antenatal friendships and the value of finding community

Experiencing prenatal depression and postpartum emotional challenges

Becoming a mother for the second time with her son Wynn

The realities of recovering while caring for a toddler and a newborn

Physical recovery and a knee reconstruction after her second pregnancy

Postpartum grief and identity change

Letting go of expectations around "bouncing back"

 Social media, motherhood and learning to trust your own parenting choices

Finding confidence and personal growth through motherhood

Building The BB Namer alongside raising a young family

Making new friendships as an adult and as a parent

To learn more about Sonya and her work as The BB Namer, visit:

Instagram - @thebbnamer

TikTok - @thebbnamer

Substack - The BB Namer

Website - https://thebbnamer.com

On The Postpartum Season Podcast, we regularly talk about the realities of postpartum mental health. If you're finding this season difficult, please know that support is available and you don't have to navigate it alone.

Here are some helpful resources. If you're struggling, please reach out for support.

New Zealand

• PlunketLine
  0800 933 922 (24/7)
• Healthline New Zealand
  0800 611 116 (24/7)
• 1737 Need to talk?
  Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Australia

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
  Helpline: 1300 726 306
  Website: https://www.panda.org.au
• Lifeline Australia
  13 11 14 (24/7)
  Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  1300 22 4636
  Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, Deborah shares her postpartum journey with her daughter, Cleo.

We talk about:

The days leading up to birth and concerns about reduced foetal movements

Choosing an induction at 40 weeks

Preparing mentally for birth and induction

Preparing for postpartum with a postpartum doula and lactation consultant

Feeling unprepared for the realities of postpartum despite practical preparation

Meeting Cleo for the first time and the shock and beauty of birth

A positive and empowering birth experience

Recovering physically after an episiotomy

Feeling capable and confident in the early postpartum weeks

Breastfeeding challenges and using nipple shields

Cleo struggling to gain weight initially

The incredible support of Deborah’s sister during the newborn period

Settling into the rhythm of the newborn phase

The expectation that postpartum would become easier after the early weeks

Sleep deprivation worsening over time rather than improving

Navigating dietary restrictions while breastfeeding

Relationship strain during the postpartum period

Becoming hyper-fixated on sleep after difficult nap experiences

Trying apps, schedules, and sleep consultants in search of control

The emotional impact of feeling unable to “fix” baby sleep

The pressure many mothers feel to manage every aspect of sleep and routine

Postpartum anxiety, and asking for help

The reality that postpartum can become harder before it becomes easier

This episode is a deeply honest conversation about postpartum expectations, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and the emotional intensity of trying to navigate motherhood when things feel outside of your control.

Deborah has created a journalling app for mothers to use during the postpartum season, which is launching soon. To find out more, visit:

www.dearme.digital

@dearmeapp.official

As mentioned, here are some postpartum mental health resources. Please reach out if you need help.

Australia

• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
  Helpline: 1300 726 306
  Website: https://www.panda.org.au
• Lifeline Australia
  13 11 14 (24/7)
  Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  1300 22 4636
  Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

New Zealand

• PlunketLine
  0800 933 922 (24/7)
• Healthline New Zealand
  0800 611 116 (24/7)
• 1737 Need to talk?
  Call or text 1737 (24/7)

Thank you for listening. Take care x

In this episode, Kim shares her postpartum journey with her son, Oscar.

We talk about:

Working right up until labour began

Preparing extensively for birth but not for postpartum

Going into labour unexpectedly after a busy final weekend

A fast and positive labour and birth experience

Meeting Oscar for the first time

The immediate protective instinct after birth

The surreal experience of those first hours with a newborn

Staying at birth care and feeling supported as new parents

The quiet solidarity shared between parents during the postpartum period

Bringing Oscar home for the first time

The early weeks of adrenaline and support from friends and family

Sleep deprivation and the impact it had emotionally and physically

Trying to “fix” baby sleep and searching constantly for solutions

The reality of two-hour sleep stretches and broken nights

Finding ways to cope overnight, including snacks, water, TV, and routines

How postpartum exhaustion can slowly build over time

The comfort that comes from sharing openly with other mothers

The importance of hearing honest postpartum stories

Feeling connected through shared motherhood experiences

This episode is an honest reflection on the beauty, exhaustion, and connection that can come with the postpartum season, and the importance of sharing real experiences with one another.

In this episode, Makayla shares her postpartum journey across motherhood with her three boys.

We talk about:

Becoming a mum for the first time at 21

Going overdue and the emotional wait around Christmas

Meeting her first baby

Experiencing a postpartum haemorrhage shortly after birth

Being separated from her baby in the first hours after birth

The physical weakness and emotional impact of recovery post postpartum haemorrhage

Feeling pressure to care for her baby while still needing to heal

The difficulty of breastfeeding expectations in the early days

Coming home from hospital and feeling overwhelmed

The pressure to follow schedules and do everything “right”

Anxiety, self-doubt, and feeling judged as a young first-time mum

Learning to be more open about struggling

The freedom that can come from speaking honestly with other mothers

Her second and third postpartum experiences

The idea that postpartum may not become easier, but expectations change

Trusting herself more as a mother

Letting go of rigid baby sleep expectations

Reflecting on what she would tell her younger postpartum self

This is a warm and honest conversation about the realities of postpartum — the unexpected challenges, the pressure we can place on ourselves, and the gradual confidence that can come with time, experience, and support.

In this episode, Laura shares her postpartum journey with her daughter, Winnie.

We talk about:

Preparing for postpartum with practical support like meal prep and organising baby essentials

A planned caesarean birth due to transverse positioning

Meeting Winnie for the first time

Early recovery from a caesarean section and the challenges of limited mobility

Staying at birth care and the value of 24/7 support for new parents

Learning to breastfeed and navigating latch challenges in the early days

Exclusive breastfeeding when Winnie refused a bottle

Recurrent mastitis and managing symptoms and treatment

Coming home and adjusting without constant support

Feeding schedules and concerns about newborn weight loss

The realities of postpartum recovery while caring for a newborn

Sleep in the early weeks and the transition to longer stretches

Sleep regressions, co-sleeping, and eventual sleep training

The impact of sleep deprivation on mental health and daily functioning

Tracking feeds and sleep and the mental load of managing routines

Baby blues and the hormonal shift after birth

Experiencing anxiety for the first time postpartum

“Sunset scaries” and anxiety around nighttime and sleep

The importance of partner support and communication

Changes in relationship dynamics and finding new ways to connect

The shift in identity and redefining what “free time” and “fun” look like

Being the first in a friendship group to have a baby

Finding connection through antenatal classes and other mums

The evolving nature of friendships in motherhood

The joy of milestones — first smiles, giggles, crawling, and personality

The contrast between the challenges and the beautiful moments of motherhood

This episode offers an honest look at the physical, emotional, and relational changes that come with motherhood, and the importance of support, flexibility, and self-compassion in the postpartum season.