56 | The Motherwhelm with Sarah | Preeclampsia, Birth Trauma & Late-Diagnosed Autism and ADHD

56 | The Motherwhelm with Sarah | Preeclampsia, Birth Trauma & Late-Diagnosed Autism and ADHD

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 not loving stay-at-home motherhood in the way she expected, the importance of having an identity beyond motherhood, and why advocating for yourself during pregnancy can be lifesaving. Sarah speaks candidly about missed warning signs, weight bias in healthcare, recognising the symptoms of preeclampsia, and the lasting impact pregnancy complications can have long after birth. Later in the conversation, Sarah shares how motherhood led her to seek an assessment for autism and ADHD, opening the door to a completely new understanding of herself. We explore sensory overwhelm, masking, late diagnosis in women, and why so many mothers discover their neurodivergence after having children. This is an honest conversation about surviving birth trauma, rebuilding after medical complications, embracing neurodivergence, and learning that motherhood can reveal parts of ourselves we never knew existed. If you've experienced preeclampsia, birth trauma, postpartum PTSD, or you've found yourself questioning your own neurodivergence since becoming a mother, I hope Sarah's story helps you feel seen and reminds you that you're not alone. Resources mentioned * Say Hooray * Perinatal mental health support Topics discussed: preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, pregnancy complications, emergency caesarean, birth trauma, ICU, postpartum PTSD, postpartum recovery, premature birth, advocacy in pregnancy, medical bias, maternal mental health, motherhood identity, returning to work, autism in women, ADHD in women, AuDHD, late diagnosis, sensory overwhelm, masking, neurodivergent motherhood.

55 | The Motherwhelm with Bianca | Pregnancy After Loss, TFMR & Maternal Mental Health

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 also discuss the anxiety of pregnancy after loss, navigating repeated high-risk pregnancies, advocating for yourself during birth, and the impact that difficult postpartum experiences can have on identity, perfectionism, and the mother-child relationship. Drawing on both her lived experience and her work as a psychologist, Bianca shares the strategies that helped her survive overwhelming anxiety, including the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the importance of making space for difficult emotions rather than fighting against them. This is a deeply moving conversation about grief, healing, self-compassion, and learning that motherhood is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about showing up, allowing yourself to be supported, and trusting that even after unimaginable heartbreak, joy and hope can exist alongside grief. If you've experienced miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), birth trauma, postpartum challenges, or you're navigating the pressure of perfectionism in motherhood, I hope Bianca's story helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. Connect with Bianca * Instagram: @drbiancamastromanno Topics discussed: miscarriage, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), pregnancy after loss, prenatal diagnosis, recurrent pregnancy anxiety, birth trauma, postpartum recovery, perfectionism, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), self-compassion, maternal mental health, grief, motherhood identity.

54 | The Motherwhelm with Michelle | Miscarriage, Surrender & Intentional Parenting

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' groups became essential during the postpartum period, and the lessons she inherited from both her mother and grandmother. We also discuss raising an only child, parenting through the teenage years, creating meaningful family rituals after loss, and why surrender may be one of motherhood's greatest teachers. Motherhood also inspired Michelle to build Stella Says, a business that has grown from a thoughtfully developed head lice product into a mobile head lice removal service supporting families across Melbourne and Geelong. Her entrepreneurial journey is another reminder that motherhood can open unexpected doors, allowing women to combine purpose, creativity, and practical support for other families. This is a thoughtful conversation about grief, intentional parenting, community, and learning that motherhood isn't something we master through control - it unfolds through presence, surrender, and the courage to grow alongside our children. If you've experienced miscarriage, motherhood after loss, or you're learning to let go of perfection and embrace a more intentional way of parenting, I hope Michelle's story leaves you feeling encouraged and deeply understood. Resources mentioned * Meshel Laurie (@meshel_laurie) * Stella Says – stellasays.com.au Topics discussed: miscarriage, pregnancy loss, motherhood after loss, surrender, intentional parenting, family rituals, grief, emergency caesarean, career and motherhood, entrepreneurship, community, motherhood identity.

53 | The Motherwhelm with Tara | Birth Trauma, Postpartum Anxiety & Building Proud Poppy

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 work of healing childhood wounds while raising children of your own. We also discuss how motherhood became the catalyst for creating Proud Poppy, the clothing brand and community that grew from Tara's desire to help women feel seen, comfortable, and confident in their bodies. From fertility struggles and motherhood guilt to entrepreneurship, self-acceptance, and letting go of impossible standards, Tara's story is a powerful reminder that motherhood can become the beginning of finding yourself—not the end of who you are. Please note: This conversation was recorded around two years ago, so some details of Tara's business and family life have naturally changed since then. The heart of this conversation, however, remains just as relevant. If you've experienced birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, postnatal depression, or you're navigating the challenge of healing while raising your own children, I hope Tara's story reminds you that growth is possible and that you're not alone. Topics discussed: birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, postnatal depression, childhood trauma, healing childhood wounds, body image after pregnancy, entrepreneurship, Proud Poppy, self-acceptance, motherhood identity, maternal mental health, motherhood.

52 | The Motherwhelm with Elizabeth | Pregnancy After 40, Miscarriage & Fertility

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 looked like for her. Together, we explore the often-overlooked emotional impact of infertility, the experience of miscarriage, difficult caesarean births, and the challenge of balancing ambition with the demands of motherhood. Elizabeth also reflects on why pregnancy loss deserves to be spoken about more openly, the importance of finding the right support, and how motherhood reshaped her identity in unexpected ways. Elizabeth's story is one of resilience, hope, and trusting that life's timeline doesn't always unfold as planned. It's a reminder that motherhood isn't about doing everything perfectly—it's about showing up, adapting, and allowing yourself to receive support along the way. If you're navigating fertility after 40, pregnancy after 40, egg freezing, miscarriage, or trying to balance career and motherhood, I hope Elizabeth's story leaves you feeling informed, encouraged, and less alone. Connect with Elizabeth * Instagram: @theofficialelizabethking Topics discussed: pregnancy after 40, fertility after 40, infertility, miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, egg freezing, fertility treatment, fibroids, career and motherhood, motherhood identity, caesarean birth, fertility coaching.