Transformed by Birth

Why Motherhood Activates Your Inner Critic

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by author, therapist, and creator of the Mother-Centered Approach, Jessica Tomich Sorci, for a conversation about the inner landscape of motherhood. Together, we explore why parenting has a unique way of activating the many voices inside our minds, from the inner critic to the parts that try to hold everything together, and the ones that step in when it all feels like too much. Jessica introduces Internal Family Systems (IFS) in an accessible way, helping us understand how these "parts" develop, why they get so loud in motherhood, and how we can begin to relate to them with more curiosity and compassion. This conversation is an invitation to see maternal struggles not as failures, but as deeply human responses to a role that asks so much, often without enough support. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/motherhood-activates-your-inner-critic/]

The Metamorphosis of Motherhood with Lucy Jones

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by award-winning journalist and author Lucy Jones for a conversation about matrescence and the profound metamorphosis of becoming a mother. Together, we explore how motherhood reshapes the brain, body, identity, relationships, and sense of self. Lucy shares insights from her book Matrescence, helping to name an experience that is often minimized as an adjustment, when in reality it can be a complete restructuring. We also talk about the isolation many mothers experience, the pressure of idealized motherhood, and the cultural failure to properly hold people through this transformation. This conversation is an invitation to understand motherhood not as something to bounce back from, but as a process of becoming. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/motherhood-is-a-metamorphosis/]

The Hidden Link Between Postpartum and Perimenopause

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I sit down with Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Nurse-Midwife, Lactation Consultant, and Professor of Nursing, Sarah Shealy, to explore the often-overlooked connection between postpartum recovery and long-term health. We talk about how pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and perimenopause are not separate experiences, but deeply connected physiological transitions. Sarah shares why postpartum is a critical window for healing, how postnatal depletion impacts the body for years to come, and what becomes possible when we approach postpartum care as preventative medicine. This conversation offers a broader lens on recovery, one that extends far beyond the first six weeks and into the decades that follow. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/postpartum-and-perimenopause/]

When Your Inner Child Is Activated in Parenting with Dr. Nicole LePera

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Dr. Nicole LePera, clinical psychologist and New York Times best-selling author, for a deeply insightful conversation about inner child activation in parenthood. Her new book, Reparenting the Inner Child, expands on this work in powerful ways. Together, we explore why becoming a parent can bring unexpected emotional responses, how early childhood experiences shape our nervous system, and what it means to "reparent" ourselves while raising our children. Nicole shares a compassionate and practical framework for understanding triggers, building awareness, and creating space for new patterns to emerge. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/inner-child-is-activated/] This conversation is an invitation to meet yourself with more curiosity and compassion, and to recognize that parenting is not only about raising a child, but also about coming into relationship with your own past in a new way.

The Real Impact of Weight Bias in Pregnancy Care with Jen McLellan

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by childbirth educator, TEDx speaker, host of the Plus Mommy Podcast, and founder of Plus Size Birth, Jen McLellan, for a powerful and necessary conversation about weight bias in pregnancy and postpartum care. Together, we explore how BMI continues to shape medical decision-making, the difference between perceived risk and actual risk, and the emotional and physical toll of navigating pregnancy in a larger body. Jen shares both her lived experience and years of professional insight, offering a path toward more compassionate, evidence-based, and size-inclusive care. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what we've been taught about bodies, risk, and what it truly means to feel supported during pregnancy and birth. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/weight-bias-in-pregnancy/]