The Motherwhelm

45 Ciara | Motherhood | Ectopic pregnancy, IVF journey, perinatal mental health, l & d nurse, black maternity care, mama coach, postnatal depression

In the forty-fifth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Ciara to talk about the winding, often unseen road to motherhood. Ciara shares her experience of an ectopic pregnancy and the profound impact her loss had on her body, her mental health, and her sense of self. We explore her IVF journey, the hope, heartbreak, and resilience required to keep going when the path to becoming a mother is anything but straightforward. We discuss perinatal mental health and Ciara’s experience of postnatal depression, unpacking how it showed up for her, what helped, and what she wishes more people understood about the postpartum period. Ciara offers insight into the experience of black mothers within the maternity healthcare system, and explains its far-reaching impact on the maternal mortality rate in the US. Texts mentioned in this episode Books: 'The Nurture Revolution: Grow Your Baby's Brain and Transform Their Mental Health through the Art of Nurtured Parenting' by Greer Kirshenbaum Instagram: @herblackwellness @antiracistnursecollective @thesleepdoctor @bundlebirthnurses

44 Caroline | Motherhood | perinatal psychologist, PNA, breastfeeding journey, self-discovery, first-time mom

In the forty-fourth episode of The Motherwhelm, I interview Caroline, a perinatal psychologist, and now a mother of two. This episode is a little time capsule. It was recorded two years ago and recently recovered from the archives, this conversation captures one mother in a very specific season of her motherhood. Since recording, she’s welcomed another baby, and listening back now feels like being invited into a moment that can never quite be recreated, only remembered. This episode is a reminder that motherhood is always shifting, always evolving, and every version of ourselves deserves to be honoured.

43 Emily | Motherhood | perinatal therapist, author, Your NICU Story, neurodivergence, chronic illness, Hashimoto's disease, surrender, acceptance, homeschooling, rejecting societal expectations

In the forty-third episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Emily, a mother of two, perinatal therapist, and coauthor of the upcoming guided reflective journal 'Your NICU Story.' In this conversation, Emily shares her personal and professional experiences with motherhood, chronic illness, and neurodivergence, offering a deeply honest look at what it means to care for yourself while caring for others. It’s a grounding and insightful discussion that I'm sure will resonate with so many listeners. Texts mentioned in this episode Podcasts: Mom and Mind with Dr Kat Books: * 'Body Full of Stars: Female Rage and My Passage into Motherhood' by Molly Caro May * ‘Birth Story Brave, Reimagined: An Updated Guide for Reflecting on Your Childbirth Experience’ by Emily Souder * ‘Birth Story Held for Loss: A Guide for Reflecting on Your Fertility Experience, Miscarriage, Abortion, TFMR, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss’ by Emily Souder * ‘Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience’ by Mahaley Patel and Emily Souder - coming out on the 15th September 2025

42 Mahaley | Motherhood | Infant loss, NICU experience, Your NICU Story, birth after loss, surrogacy, grief, perinatal therapist

In the forty-second episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Mahaley, therapist, co-author of 'Your NICU Story', and mother of four. She shares the loss of her second daughter, Sacchi, and talks about how it shaped her subsequent birth and surrogacy journey, and what it means to parent while living with grief and fear. We talk about the ongoing balance of honouring loss without letting it overshadow the lives of her living children - and how she works to give them a full, joyful childhood while carrying such profound grief. Texts mentioned in this episode: * 'Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience' by Mahaly Patel and Emily Souder * 'The Whole Brain Child' by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson * 'How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen' by Joanna Faber and Julie King * 'The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years' by Emily Oster * Dr Becky Kennedy's ouvre * 'Untangled' by Lisa Damour * 'Reviving Ophelia; by Mary Pipher

41 Ali & Bronte | Special | Birth trauma, birth trauma education, matrescence, doula, women's circles, mental health social work, healing

In this special episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by two deeply compassionate and knowledgeable guests, Ali Heppell and Bronte Taylor. Ali is a mother of two, a postpartum doula, matrescence educator, motherhood studies practitioner, and women’s circle facilitator. Her work centres around helping mothers reconnect with their stories, their needs, and their sense of self in the postpartum space. Bronte is a mother of one, an accredited mental health social worker, a motherhood studies practitioner, and a skilled EMDR and Schema therapist. She also facilitates group work supporting mothers in their healing journeys. Together, Ali and Bronte bring a unique, trauma-informed approach that weaves together the mind, body, and heart. They support mothers in making sense of their birth experiences, understanding how those moments shape identity and relationships, and navigating the emotional and physical imprints of trauma. In this conversation, we explore what birth trauma really is and how it can show up in ways that are often missed or misunderstood. We also talk about the cultural silence around maternal pain, what true healing can look like, and how we can better support mothers - not just in crisis, but in their everyday lives. Whether you’re a mother, a birth worker, or someone who simply wants to understand these conversations more deeply, this episode offers insight, compassion, and, above all, a sense of permission to honour what’s real. You can find Ali and Bronte on Instagram: @aliheppell_mothercare @bronte_heartfelttherapy