The Motherwhelm

48 Julia | Motherhood | Postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, insomnia, perfectionism, identity shift

In the forty-eighth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Julia, a mum of two who shares her journey from a highly organised, perfection-driven pre-motherhood identity into the unpredictable reality of parenting. Julia speaks candidly about the shock of early motherhood, the pressure she placed on herself to “get it right,” and her experience of postnatal depression and psychosis. She opens up about the long road to recovery, the impact on her relationship, and how she rebuilt her confidence and sense of self. This is an honest and powerful conversation about surrender, healing, and finding joy in the small, everyday moments of motherhood.

47 Jen | Motherhood | Matrescence, intuitive parenting, birth trauma, delayed bonding, postpartum anxiety, sleep support

In the forty-seventh episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Jen, a mum of three who shares her journey from a highly organised, intuitive perfectionist into the realities of motherhood. Jen reflects on her difficult first pregnancy and emergency caesarean, a challenging postpartum period marked by pain, anxiety, and delayed bonding, and a distressing early hospital experience. As her family grew, she gained confidence through two planned caesareans, learning to trust her instincts, and adopting a more intuitive, cue-based approach to parenting. She also speaks openly about feeding challenges, relationship strain and growth, and the deep exhaustion of motherhood. These are experiences that led her to found Sleep Thrive Grow, where she now supports families with compassionate, individualised sleep coaching. This episode is an honest reflection on identity, healing, and learning to trust yourself as a mother.

46 Anneliese | Motherhood | Childhood trauma, abuse survivor, young mother, solo parenting, breaking cycles, ADHD, Autism, feminist storytelling

In the forty-sixth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by my Aunty Anneliese, a mother of three. In this raw and deeply honest conversation, we talk about motherhood through the lens of childhood trauma, survival, and the fierce determination to do better for the next generation. Anneliese shares her journey from becoming a mother at 21 while still healing from abuse, to raising three kids with ADHD and autism - largely on her own.  This conversation doesn't shy away from the hard truths about generational trauma, but it also celebrates the small victories - a son who's kind to women, a daughter with boundless imagination, a five-year-old math whiz getting the support his siblings never had. If you've ever felt alone in your struggles, if you're breaking cycles, if you're doing your best with what you have - this episode is for you.

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.