The Motherwhelm

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Mel, a mother of five and occupational therapist with more than 20 years of experience, to talk about the ever-changing nature of motherhood, postpartum anxiety, and learning to trust yourself as a parent.

With children ranging in age from five to eighteen, Mel has experienced motherhood across many different stages of life. She reflects on the expectations she carried into becoming a mother, the difficulties she encountered with breastfeeding, and the significant anxiety she experienced after welcoming her second child, just fourteen months after her first.

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In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Claire, mother of two, singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and creator of the documentary Matrescence: The Hidden World of Motherhood, to talk about what really happens to women when they become mothers.

Claire shares how years of working with children left her believing she was well prepared for motherhood, only to discover that nothing had prepared her for the enormity of the transition itself. We talk about her traumatic first birth, breastfeeding difficulties, the loss of autonomy she experienced within maternity care, becoming a mother again during COVID and the...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Michelle, a psychologist and mum in a blended family of five, to talk about breaking generational cycles, birth trauma, and letting go of the pressure to be the perfect mother.

Michelle shares a complicated journey into motherhood that included pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, the breakdown of her relationship during pregnancy, becoming a single mum, and a difficult first birth. We also talk about finding love again, creating a beautifully connected blended family, her subsequent VBAC, and the significant birth injuries and physical recovery that followed.

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In this mini episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with four mums - Nikita, Caitlin, Nicole and Aline - for an honest conversation about the early months of motherhood.

They share what they imagined motherhood would be like, what surprised them once their babies arrived, and what they wish they could go back and tell themselves in those first few weeks. We talk about sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, trusting your instincts, accepting help, finding other mums and learning that there is no single right way to do motherhood.

And finally, they share what they would...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Kimberley, founder of Mum Walk, to talk about the reality of becoming a mother far from family during the pandemic, the isolation of early motherhood, and how those experiences eventually led her to build the community she had needed herself.

Kim shares the shock of becoming a mother after years of being deeply career-focused, a difficult first birth in London, postpartum depression, and life with a colicky baby while separated from family in Australia. We also talk about her very different second experience of birth and postpartum...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Rose to talk about birth trauma, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, and finding her way back to trust in herself after a difficult beginning to motherhood.

Rose shares how the premature birth of her first son and an unexpected caesarean left her feeling unheard, separated from her baby, and struggling with attachment and her mental health in the months that followed.

We talk about the expectations we place on that first moment of becoming a mother, what happens when the bond isn't instantaneous, and the lasting...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Taylor to talk about becoming a stepmother before she was ready for motherhood herself, navigating a complex co-parenting relationship, and how everything changed again when she welcomed children of her own.

Taylor shares the rarely spoken-about reality of becoming a stepmum to a newborn, the loneliness of having no one around her who understood the experience, and the difficult emotions that surfaced after the birth of her first biological child. We talk about resentment, guilt, boundaries, therapy, and the pressure placed on stepmothers to take on a...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Sam to talk about fertility struggles, HELLP syndrome, the loss of her twins James and Poppy, pregnancy after loss, premature birth, and the experiences that ultimately led her towards a completely new career.

Sam shares the story of becoming pregnant with James and Poppy after discovering she had PCOS and endometriosis. At 24 weeks, severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome meant Sam became critically unwell and faced the devastating reality that her babies could not be saved.

We talk about grieving her babies, the support that mattered...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Carly to talk about home birth, identity, career reinvention, and the ways motherhood can crack us open and reveal parts of ourselves we didn't know were there.

Before becoming a mother, Carly spent years travelling the world before training as a midwife and supporting women through birth. She entered motherhood feeling deeply confident in birth - and soon discovered just how different it is to experience something from inside it.

Carly shares the stories of her three very different home births, including a third birth...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Amy to talk about becoming a mother at eighteen, navigating single motherhood, raising an autistic teenager, and redefining what success looks like through the different seasons of motherhood.

Amy reflects on the judgment she experienced as a young single mum, the determination it sparked to prove people wrong, and how those early experiences shaped both her parenting and her career as a social worker supporting families. Together, we explore the realities of raising children across vastly different ages, balancing career ambitions with family life, and the way...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Alena to explore recurrent miscarriage, motherhood after forty, the realities of single motherhood, and how becoming a mother can become a catalyst for healing, self-trust, and coming home to yourself.

Alena reflects on becoming a mother after a life marked by parentification, instability, adversity, and a deep longing to create the family she had always imagined. She shares her experience of separating from her eldest son's father when he was a baby, navigating seven years of single motherhood, and experiencing a period of homelessness while trying to...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jess to talk about two vastly different birth experiences, the power of community, and how motherhood transformed not only the way she parents, but the woman she has become.

Jess shares her journey from a fast-paced corporate career to unexpectedly becoming a mother during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reflects on preparing for an empowering physiological birth, experiencing the uninterrupted stillness of postpartum lockdowns, and later facing a completely different reality when a hidden placental haemorrhage led to an emergency caesarean birth at just 33 weeks and a NICU...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jenna to talk about infertility, IVF, birth trauma, emotional regulation, and learning to trust yourself through motherhood.

Jenna shares her long road to becoming a mother, from navigating endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, and IVF during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, to welcoming her two boys after years of longing. She reflects on the heartbreak of infertility, the emotional toll of repeated setbacks, and the profound gratitude that followed becoming a mother.

Together, we explore two traumatic birth experiences, the grief of an unexpected emergency...

In the very first episode of Motherwhelm Memos, mothers from around the world answer one simple question:

What is something about motherhood that no one prepared you for?

The answers are raw, funny, heartbreaking, validating, and deeply honest.

From navigating mum guilt, advocating for sick children, coping with sensory overload and the relentless mental load, to grieving the loss of certainty, parenting neurodivergent children, and living with the physical realities of pregnancy and postpartum, these voice notes capture motherhood exactly as it's being lived.

These aren't polished interviews or carefully crafted...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Tahlia to talk about identity, community, and the often-contradictory emotions that come with becoming a mother.

Tahlia shares her experience of becoming a young mum, navigating breastfeeding challenges, and the overwhelming transition into motherhood after expecting it to come naturally. Together, we explore the loneliness of being the first mother in your friendship group, the guilt of not instantly loving motherhood, and the relief of discovering that joy and struggle can exist side by side.

We also discuss the pressure mothers place on themselves, the...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Sarah to talk about severe preeclampsia, birth trauma, and being diagnosed with autism and ADHD after becoming a mother.

Sarah shares her experience of a high-risk pregnancy that ended in a traumatic emergency caesarean birth at 35 weeks, a stay in ICU, and a long physical and emotional recovery. Together, we explore what it was like to begin motherhood while recovering from a near-death experience, navigating postpartum PTSD, and learning to bond with her baby while fighting to recover herself.

We also discuss the guilt of...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Bianca, a clinical psychologist and mum of two, to talk about pregnancy after loss, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), and the lasting impact of grief on motherhood.

Bianca shares her extraordinary journey through an early miscarriage, the devastating loss of her daughter following a prenatal diagnosis, and the anxiety of navigating pregnancy after loss. Together, we explore the often-silenced reality of termination for medical reasons (TFMR), the complex grief that accompanies making an impossible decision, and why these experiences deserve greater understanding and compassion.

We...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Michelle to talk about miscarriage, motherhood after loss, surrender, and the unexpected lessons motherhood teaches us about letting go.

Michelle reflects on becoming a mother after three miscarriages, navigating an emergency caesarean birth, and discovering that babies cannot be managed like projects. Together, we explore the tension between ambition and stillness, the pressure to parent perfectly, and the profound shift from living only for yourself to making decisions for your family.

Michelle shares how pregnancy loss shaped her gratitude for motherhood, why community and mothers...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Tara, a mum of two, former emergency nurse, and founder of Proud Poppy, to talk about birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, and rebuilding yourself through motherhood.

Tara shares her journey through a difficult first experience of motherhood, including a traumatic birth, postpartum anxiety and depression, infant feeding challenges, and the weight of trying to create the "perfect" family life she never had growing up. Together, we explore the pressure so many mothers place on themselves, the realities of maternal mental health, body image after children, and the lifelong...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Elizabeth, a fertility coach and mum of three, to talk about pregnancy after 40, miscarriage, fertility, and the many unexpected turns on the path to motherhood.

After years of building a successful career, freezing her eggs, and believing motherhood would happen when the time was right, Elizabeth found herself navigating fibroids, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, and ultimately welcoming three children after the age of forty. She shares the emotional reality of becoming a mother later in life while continuing to grow two businesses and redefine what success...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Sophie, a mum of two, to talk about postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder, recovery, and finding hope after severe perinatal mental illness.

Just days after the birth of her first baby, Sophie experienced postpartum psychosis, a rare and severe mental health condition that completely changed the course of her motherhood journey. What followed were multiple hospital admissions, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, a long road to recovery, and the heartbreaking question of whether she could safely have another child.

Together, we explore what it felt like...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Sharon, a mum of two, to talk about birth trauma, home birth, informed consent, and finding your voice as a mother.

Sharon shares two very different birth experiences. The first was a long and difficult hospital birth that left her physically and emotionally depleted. The second was a planned home birth that unfolded beautifully before a severe postpartum haemorrhage led to emergency surgery and a challenging hospital admission. Together, we explore the complexities of birth trauma, navigating the maternity system, medical advocacy, and what happens when parents...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Tess, a mum of two and women's health occupational therapist, to talk about matrescence, perfectionism, maternal wellbeing, and the profound identity shifts of motherhood.

Tess's work centres around matrescence, maternal mental health, postpartum wellbeing, and supporting mothers through one of the biggest transitions of their lives. Drawing on both her professional expertise and her own lived experience, she shares a thoughtful perspective on the emotional, physical, and relational changes that accompany becoming a mother.

Together, we explore perfectionism, people-pleasing, sensory overwhelm, postpartum recovery, changing relationships...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Julia, a mum of two, to talk about postpartum psychosis, postnatal depression, insomnia, and the long journey back to herself after becoming a mother.

Julia shares how motherhood challenged the highly organised, perfection-driven identity she had built before having children. She speaks candidly about the shock of early motherhood, the relentless pressure to "get it right," and the devastating experience of postpartum psychosis and postnatal depression that followed.

Together, we explore the role of insomnia in Julia's illness, the impact of severe perinatal mental illness...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jen, a mum of three and founder of Sleep Thrive Grow, to talk about birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, intuitive parenting, and learning to trust yourself as a mother.

Jen reflects on her first pregnancy, an emergency caesarean birth, and a difficult postpartum period marked by physical pain, postpartum anxiety, delayed bonding, and a distressing early hospital experience. She shares with great honesty how those early challenges shaped her transition into motherhood, and how they ultimately led her to question perfectionism and reconnect with her instincts.

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In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with my Aunty Anneliese, a mother of three, to talk about childhood trauma, breaking generational cycles, and raising neurodivergent children with love and intention.

Anneliese shares her extraordinary journey of becoming a mother at just 21 years old while still healing from the effects of childhood trauma and abuse. Together, we explore what it means to parent differently from the way you were parented, the courage it takes to break generational cycles, and the resilience required to keep showing up for your children while continuing your own healing.

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Ciara, a labour and delivery nurse, mama coach, and mother, to talk about ectopic pregnancy, IVF, postnatal depression, and the long road to motherhood.

Ciara shares her deeply personal journey through ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and IVF, reflecting on the profound impact these experiences had on her body, her mental health, and her sense of self. Together, we explore the hope, heartbreak, and resilience required to keep moving forward when the path to motherhood is anything but straightforward.

We also discuss perinatal mental health, Ciara's...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Caroline, a perinatal psychologist and now mum of two, to talk about postnatal anxiety, breastfeeding, and the identity shifts of first-time motherhood.

This episode is a little time capsule.

Recorded two years ago and recently recovered from the archives, this conversation captures Caroline in a very specific season of her motherhood journey—as a first-time mum navigating postnatal anxiety, a challenging breastfeeding journey, and the profound transformation that comes with becoming a mother for the first time.

Since we recorded this conversation, Caroline ha...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Emily Souder, a mother of two, perinatal therapist, and co-author of Your NICU Story, to talk about chronic illness, neurodivergence, and embracing a different way of mothering.

Emily shares her experience of navigating motherhood while living with chronic illness, Hashimoto's disease, and neurodivergence, reflecting on the ongoing process of surrendering expectations and creating a family life that aligns with her values rather than society's. Together, we explore the freedom that can come from letting go of perfection, embracing acceptance, and trusting that there is no single "right"...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Mahaley Patel, perinatal therapist, co-author of Your NICU Story, and mother of four, to talk about infant loss, birth after loss, surrogacy, and parenting through grief.

Mahaley shares the story of losing her second daughter, Sacchi, and reflects on how that profound loss shaped every chapter of motherhood that followed. Together, we explore the complexities of infant loss, birth after loss, and her family's surrogacy journey, as well as the ongoing challenge of parenting while carrying both love and grief.

We also discuss what it...

In this episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Ali Heppell and Bronte Taylor to talk about birth trauma, matrescence, healing, and what mothers really need after difficult birth experiences.

Ali is a mother of two, postpartum doula, matrescence educator, motherhood studies practitioner, and women's circle facilitator. Bronte is a mother, accredited mental health social worker, motherhood studies practitioner, and EMDR and Schema therapist. Together, they bring a deeply compassionate, trauma-informed perspective to supporting mothers as they make sense of birth, identity, and the transition into motherhood.

Together, we explore what birth trauma really...

In this episode of Motherwhelm Bites, I sit down with Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel - therapists, authors, and mothers - to talk about NICU trauma, grief, healing, and their book, Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience.

Drawing on both their professional expertise and lived experience, Emily and Mahaley explore the complex emotional landscape of life after the NICU. Together, we discuss the lasting impact of NICU trauma, the many forms of grief families can experience, and the challenge of holding seemingly conflicting emotions—like gratitude for survival alongside heartbreak for what was lost.

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In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Haley, an actress and mum, to talk about postpartum depression, motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the identity shifts that come with becoming a mother.

Haley shares her experience of navigating the isolation of the COVID-19 postpartum period, the emotional challenges of postpartum depression, and the ongoing work of staying true to her values while adjusting to life as a mother. Together, we explore how motherhood can prompt us to examine the patterns we've inherited, choose what we want to carry forward, and intentionally break generational cycles...

In the thirty-eighth episode of The Motherwhelm, I’m joined by Rachel, a mother whose journey into parenthood took an unexpected turn when her daughter Milla was born prematurely. Rachel shares with honesty and heart what it meant to navigate those early, fragile days - and how the experience reshaped her understanding of motherhood.

Together, we talk about the importance of slowing down, learning to surrender when life doesn't follow the script, and honouring your own path, even when it doesn't match the expectations around you.

Sources mentioned in the show

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In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Ariane Beeston - author, psychologist, perinatal mental health advocate, and survivor of postpartum psychosis - to talk about maternal mental illness, recovery, and the healing power of storytelling.

Ariane shares her extraordinary journey through postpartum psychosis, reflecting on the devastating impact it had on her sense of self, the long road to recovery, and the courage it took to tell her story publicly. Together, we explore the silence that so often surrounds maternal mental illness, the importance of compassionate, trauma-informed care, and how healing can begin when...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Madeline, a mum of two, cosplayer, gamer, and passionate maths teacher, to talk about motherhood identity, creativity, and honouring your own needs.

Madeline shares how she has navigated the ever-changing landscape of motherhood while holding onto the passions that make her who she is. Together, we explore the importance of making space for creativity, embracing hobbies without guilt, and recognising that caring for ourselves is an essential part of caring for our children.

We also discuss identity, self-acceptance, neurodivergence, and the ways motherhood can challenge...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jess, a mum of three, to talk about separation, co-parenting, motherhood identity, and the courage it takes to rediscover yourself.

Jess shares with remarkable honesty the emotional journey of her marriage breakdown, the transition into co-parenting, and the resilience she discovered while rebuilding her life. Together, we explore the often-overlooked challenge of losing yourself in motherhood, and the empowering process of reconnecting with the parts of yourself that existed long before you became a parent.

We also discuss perinatal mental health, counselling, and how understanding...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Polly to talk about IVF, self-acceptance, and the life-changing impact of finding a supportive community in motherhood.

Polly shares her journey to motherhood through IVF, reflecting on the emotional highs and lows of fertility treatment and the resilience it required. Together, we explore how motherhood challenged her relationship with herself, the ongoing practice of self-acceptance, and the importance of surrounding yourself with women who truly understand what you're going through.

We also discuss strength, femininity, and the powerful influence mothers have in modelling body confidence...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Alyce to talk about miscarriage, postnatal anxiety, body image, and becoming a young mother.

Alyce shares her deeply personal journey through miscarriage, twin pregnancy, and the transition into motherhood at a young age. She reflects on navigating postnatal anxiety, finding the courage to seek support, and learning to care for her mental health while adjusting to the enormous changes that come with becoming a mother.

Together, we also explore the complexities of body image after birth, the importance of a supportive community, and the grace...

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Yara Heary, psychologist, mother, and host of the Life After Birth podcast, to talk about reparenting, self-compassion, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and letting go of the perfect mother myth.

Drawing on both her professional expertise and her own experience of motherhood, Yara explores the profound intersection between healing ourselves and raising our children. Together, we discuss reparenting, the pressure to live up to the perfect mother myth, and how cultivating self-compassion can transform not only our parenting, but our relationship with ourselves.

Yara also shares...