The Matrescence Podcast

,Content warning: Death, miscarriage, domestic violence In this week’s episode we chat to mum of 3 and death doula, Amanda. Amanda became a mum earlier in life than expected. While she breezed through conception and pregnancy, Amanda’s first birth was not what she had planned for, hoped for, or expected. Despite wanting a natural birth, Amanda agreed to have her first birth induced. After 17 long hours of back to back contractions, she was taken for an emergency c-section. She gave birth to a beautiful, healthy and hungry 5.5kg baby boy. Amanda was unable to breastfeed and switched to formula early on. She recalls feeling judged (both by herself and others) for this decision. These unexpected challenges rocked Amanda’s confidence and shaped her early motherhood experience. After multiple losses, another 2 c-sections (including one very healing one) postnatal depression and more, Amanda’s family was finally complete with three beautiful boys. Around this time, Amanda made the decision to leave her toxic relationship and move closer to her village. For a short while, she relished in having the constant physical and emotional support of her parents, however shortly after her dad was diagnosed with liver cancer and died within a month leaving a gaping hole. Amanda soon came face to face with death again, when her mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer. While devastated by this news, their family felt more empowered in their approach to end of life this time. She spent the last 9 months of her mum's life straddling the roles of “good mother” and “good daughter.” She shares with us some of the challenges of trying to solo parent her three children, while also providing support to her parents during this incredibly challenging time. Amanda shares with us how they were able to center her mother's needs, utilize their village and weave ritual into her mother's eventual passing. In a cruel twist of events, Amanda did not have time to process her mother’s death, as 6 short weeks later she was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a single mum, sole breadwinner and still adapting both emotionally and logistically to life without her parents, Amanda recalls spending the 36 hours after her diagnosis awake trying to understand what would happen to her boys, if she was to pass away. The next few years were filled with scans, surgeries, radiation and more, but as a family unit they made it through and today Amanda is proudly and gratefully, in remission. These experiences, have led Amanda to the work she does now as a death doula. Today, Amanda works for not-for-profit “Violet,” providing free information and support to families navigating the last stage of life, as well as the grief and loss that accompanies it. Throughout the episode Amanda shares her wisdom for navigating death when you have young children including; How to talk to kids about death in a way that is both honest and age appropriate, how to talk to aging parent's about their wishes for end of life, how to weave ritual and choice into death, why you would hire a death doula and so much more. To connect with Amanda: @amicusmortisdoula --- This episode is sponsored by Together Pregnancy and Postpartum To connect with them on Instagram: @together.perinatal To listen to her podcast "Postpartum like a boss," or book a session with Gemma, or access any of her other offerings: https://togetherpnp.com.au/ --- Connect with us on Instagram: @Matrescence.podcast Or head to out website: www.birthofamother.com.au

In this week's episode we chat to Alix. Alix is an eldest daughter, a mother to a 4-year-old daughter, a clinical psychologist, and a recovering ‘good girl’. Through both her post-graduate training and clinical experience, and her own lived experiences of being parented and raised in the pursuit of perfect, Alix has become intimately acquainted with the notion of "the good child” and how this presents in the mothering experience. Alix’s own introduction to motherhood was fraught, with her mother dying of bladder cancer when her daughter was 8 weeks old. Layering the gravity of this grief and loss onto Alix’ in built system of functioning – to be and do everything to the highest of standards, to make achieving look easy, and to self-sacrifice at all costs – created the perfect storm and resulted in what Alix would come to know was severe postnatal depression. Faced with an unsettled baby (acutely perceptive to the emotional environment around her, screaming and wailing for a whole family in mourning and out of their depth), who found sleep extremely difficult, so much about the experience of early motherhood felt like a terrifying failure. Alix has lived and breathed the pressures of breaking down the ‘good girl’ image to be a real girl, and to have the opportunity to try and parent the baby in front of her – not the perfect baby, but her baby. Through her work in two independent private high schools in Brisbane, Alix also has experience in how the pressures and expectations that may accompany mothering, with being a female in our society, and with being parented in a certain way, can culminate to influence a child’s experience of the education system and their development into adolescence. She has fought hard to bring awareness and support regarding perfectionism, self-care, and self-compassion into schools, and this has been well received by staff, students and families alike. Most recently, Alix has instigated the concept of Wellness Groups for high school students, to provide increasingly normalised support for adolescents going through similar psychological challenges (e.g. anxiety, low mood, interpersonal relationships, self-care struggles), and to try to offer some alternative pathways to psychological stability and a solid sense of self, without reliance on performance, outcomes and achievements. Alix completed her Bachelor of Psychological Science with First Class Honours in 2007, receiving a University Medal and topping her Honours Year. In 2012, Alix graduated from a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), and has 10 years of clinical experience as a psychologist. Despite all of this, she’s a real woman, struggling in her own way, and embracing the rebel within to be vulnerable and re-parent herself, in the hopes that this will benefit not only her own life, but that of her daughter and clients too. Throughout this episode, Alix applies both her professional and personal experience to the topic of the "good baby." We discuss how and why society expects baby's to be quiet, compliant and make parent's lives easier, how these expectations grow and change as babies age and what we can do to free ourselves (and our children) from these constraints. --- This week's episode is sponsored by Chronicles of Play. Head to their website: https://www.chroniclesofplay.com.au/ To purchase copy of 365 Ways To Play: https://www.chroniclesofplay.com.au/product-page/365-ways-to-play-book Instagram: @chroniclesofplay --- Connect with us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Head to our website: www.birthofamother.com.au

8 years ago on a Sunday afternoon, Bree walked down Kel's long drive way for an interview. After the news that their neurdiverse son was no longer welcome at Before and After School Care, Kel and her husband had been forced to explore other care options. While the first nanny was okay, the fit wasn't quite right. 18 and with minimal experience with children, on paper Bree was probably not an ideal candidate. In fact, on her first day she had to call her mum to walk her through how to cook mashed potato. However after an hour spent chatting, they both knew that this was meant to be. For the next 7 years, Bree nannied Kel's two boys: Through both her pregnancies, often with a baby strapped to her back and another in tow, through a cross-the-globe move, both the boys graduating primary school and so much more. While this experience was no doubt enriching for the boys, as you will hear in this episode, the decision to hire a nanny is one that created ripples throughout both family units and left no part of their lives unaffected. Throughout this episode Bree and Kel explore topics such as the mental load, the Perfect Mother Myth, how they approached communication and decision making as a team of three, the logistics and finances of hiring a nanny, guilt and shame attached to this decision, some hilarious and heart warming stories from the past 7 years and so much more. To connect with us: Website: www.birthofamother.com.au Instagram: @matrescence.podcast @kel.matrescence.podcast .... This episode was sponsored by The Nurture Village. To connect with them: Instagram: @Thenurturedvillagehampers Website: www.thenurturedvillage.org/ ....

Content warning: This conversation involves mild discussion of abusive relationships and the lasting affects this experience can have on our motherhood journey. In this week’s episode we chat to Dr. Lisa about the transition from professional woman to mother (and back again). Lisa is a doctor of public health and has spent her career conducting large scale randomised control studies, publishing in top ranking journals, supervising students up to PhD level, and more. These days, Lisa runs a small online business dedicated to stocking high quality baby products and is currently contemplating her return to paid work after the recent birth of her second child. In her spare time (haha) Dr. Lisa runs an Instagram page, where she utilises her professional knowledge to unpack the research, remove the shame and offer a nuanced look at into the realities of parenthood. Needless to say, this conversation has both personal and professional context for Dr. Lisa. Throughout this conversation we discuss how the transition from woman to mother affects women physically, emotionally, financially. We offer personal insights from our own experience’s navigating this transition and combine them with statistics and research on topics such as the motherhood penalty, the care-career conundrum (as conceptualised by Dr. Sophie Brock), the unequal distribution of domestic labour, the mental load and so much more. Whether you are currently navigating this transition, want to make sense of it retrospectively, or are preparing yourself for the future, you will love this episode. ••• To connect with Dr Lisa on Instagram: @drlisa.researcher Head to her website: https://www.playnourishthrive.com.au/ ••• This weeks podcast sponsor is Erin from WattleTree postpartum. To connect with Erin on Instagram: @wattletreepostpartum Head to her website to book her services: https://www.wattletreepostpartum.com.au/ (Mention this ad for a discount) ••• Come chat to us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Or head to our website: https://birthofamother.com.au/

Content warning: Child physical, emotional and sexual abuse. In this week’s episode we chat to Ebony Uamaki Ebony is an mother of 4 children under 5 (including twins), an intuitive reader and a coach. She is also completely blind. Ebony has worked with thousands of people around the world sharing her intuition, insights and wisdom. And today she shares them with us. As you will soon hear, in many aspects of her life, Ebony’s disability has challenged her. Growing up she endured child abuse, bullying and complex trauma- at times related to her disability. But when it comes to both her work and motherhood, it has become her greatest gift. As Ebony says: her insight has become her eyesight. Throughout the episode, Ebony discusses some of the logistics of navigating motherhood when you are blind, how matrescence was a catalyst for her personal growth, her decision to employ a support worker, how she is fostering secure attachments with her children and so much more. This conversation was both profound and hilarious. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed chatting. •••••••••••• If this conversation brings anything up for you, please know that there is support available. The Beyond Blue Support Service provides 24/7 advice and support via telephone (call 1300 22 4636), webchat and email (email response provided within 24 hours). Alternatively, please reach out to us on Instagram @matrescence podcast if you need to chat or explore your options for further support. ••••••••••••• To connect with Ebony on Instagram: @ebonyuamaki Ebony regularly shares snippets of her life as a blind mum of 4; including videos of her cooking, doing her make-up and caring for her children. She also shares beautiful reflections related to her work as a coach and intuitive reader. To work with Ebony, please send her a DM. •••••••••••••• This week’s episode was sponsored by Sarah from Blossom and Snooze To connect with Sarah on Instagram: @blossomandsnooze Join the waitlist for her August Blossoming Mums group program: https://blossomandsnooze.com/group-program Book private sleep support here: https://blossomandsnooze.com/1-on-1-consultation

In this week’s episode we chat to Rachael Rose. Rachael is a women's circle facilitator, teacher, doula and business woman. While her business is multifaceted, it is connected by a common thread of wanting to build communities, connect women and offer spaces where mothers feel less alone and more loved. As her business has evolved, she has moved into the business coaching space as well. In her words: “There is no village to return to, we must create the world we want to see.” Rachael is doing exactly that. In this episode, we chat to Rachael about how matrescence can be a catalyst for professional rebirth, what to do when the work you once loved no longer feels like a good fit for you, why so many new mums start business, the unique challenges and benefits of starting a business during new motherhood and so much more. To connect with Rachael on Instagram: @the_rachael_rose Or, head to her website: https://www.rachaelrose.com.au/

Hello beauties. Welcome back! In this week’s episode Bree and Kel get you up to speed on what has been going on behind the scenes. What Bree is doing for work and how she is feeling about it, how Kel is navigating this new stage of parenting teens, some updates on the kids, the podcast, and so much more. This is a vulnerable and imperfect conversation between friends. We hope it will keep you company and offer some belly laughs when you need it most. We can’t wait to bring you another season packed full of knowledgeable guests and thought-provoking conversations.

For many couples, the return to sex after having a baby is slow, bumpy and sometimes even a little bit awkward. Between hormones, fatigue, contraception, changing bodies, unpredictable schedules and feeling touched out, there is a lot to contend with. So whether you are 12 weeks or 12 months postpartum, if you're not having much sex, you're certainly not alone. In this week's episode we chat to Jo Robertson about sex and intimacy in the postpartum period. Jo has a Master’s of Science in Medicine specialising in Sex Therapy, through Sydney University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling. She has had 15 years’ experience working in sexual health, through education and counselling. Jo has a private therapeutic practice specialising in problematic sexual behaviours, female sexual dysfunction and relationship breakdown due to infidelity & betrayal. She is also the Research and Training Lead for The Light Project, a charitable trust researching media influences on sexual culture and how to have positive conversations about it. She did a TEDx talk in 2019 titled ‘Why we need to talk about porn’ and speaks internationally on the topic of “youth and porn” Watch it here: https://www.tedxchristchurch.com/jo-robertson This answer all of your questions about low libido, mismatched libidos, feeling touched out, scheduling sex and so much more. Connect with Jo on Instagram: @sextherapistjo Links mentioned in this episode: OMGYES: https://www.omgyes.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwrqqSBhBbEiwAlQeqGolZfL92lp-pw52G59cjxZOQ0h3T_11haGgKvODWQQS_eLUmO5nJGBoCSsIQAvD_BwE Pjur Lube Stockist: https://www.lovehoney.com.au/brands/pjur/?_fp1=ppc_generic&_fp2=14820519319&_fp3=130593081009&_fp4=pjur&utm_id=go_cmp-14820519319_adg-130593081009_ad-549108742734_kwd-204220725_dev-c_ext-_prd-_mca-_sig-CjwKCAjwrqqSBhBbEiwAlQeqGsMkKHYRPxHdW0LruvZzRDfMs50v_BwGHMcIbEUTDiayLZXyd9fBxRoCTXAQAvD_BwE&utm_source=google&lh_cpt=gen&gclid=CjwKCAjwrqqSBhBbEiwAlQeqGsMkKHYRPxHdW0LruvZzRDfMs50v_BwGHMcIbEUTDiayLZXyd9fBxRoCTXAQAvD_BwE Gotman Institute cards: https://www.gottman.com/couples/apps/ Durex Bullet Vibrator: https://www.durex.com.au/sex-toys/durex-intense-delight-bullet/ Connect with us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Website: www.birthofamother.com.au

Slowly but surely, we are seeing an increased awareness of the need to prepare for birth. More and more couples are investing their time and money into hiring doulas, reading books, writing a birth plan and accessing independent birth education. We love to see it. But the truth is, that birth is just one (very very) important day in your motherhood journey. Once your little one is earthside, the hard work really begins. And yet we are not seeing the same investment in preparing for the postpartum period. In fact, most couples never really give it a thought, until they are living it. Today's guest Kathryn Millhouse, is passionate about changing the way we think about, plan for, and navigate the postpartum period. Prior to the birth of her daughter, Kathryn spent 15 years working in economic advisory, commercial management and consulting roles. Like many women, matrescence was a catalyst for her rethinking her career path. As you will hear today, Kathryn experienced a very challenging postpartum period, complete with delayed bonding, feeding challenges and mental health challenges. In order to access the support she needed, Kathryn had to advocate for herself and navigate a health care system which was not set up to support the needs of the postpartum mother. This experience made her acutely aware of the huge gap that exists in mother-centric postpartum care, as well as the stigma associated with not coping with the transition to motherhood. In order to fill this gap, Kathryn founded her perinatal advocacy organization MotherUp. As part of her work Kathryn leverages her knowledge of economics to identify and coordinate a families unique resources to support mothers and the broader family during the postpartum period. One way that she achieves this is through working with expecting families to develop a postpartum canvas. Today Kathryn walks us through what exactly that is, and how you can utilize it prepare for a positive postpartum experience. Kathryn is honest and vulnerable about sharing some of the less talked about realities of new motherhood. Regardless of where you are at in your motherhood journey, we know you will find solidarity, clarity and knowledge from this episode. To work with Kathryn: https://motherup.com.au/ Connect with Kathryn on Instagram: @_motherup Our website: matrescencematters.com.au On Instagram: @matrescence.podcast

In this week's episode, we chat to Keely. Keely is a New Zealand, born Australian raised expert, currently living in the U S as you will, hear, Keely is a bit of a Jack of all trades. She's a military wife, a mother of two, a yoga instructor health coach, and is currently working towards both her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counselling, as well as her certification as an end of life doula. Today Keely shares with us, her two births- one quick ecstatic, very sudden birth in a birth center, and one intentional instinctual hospital birth, which came after the death of her baby girl, June at 23 weeks. As Keely is a personal friend of mine, I had the privilege of sharing in both the joy and heartbreak that came with June's pregnancy. Keely navigated this path with so much intention and grace that it absolutely blew me away. I immediately knew that when she was ready, we needed to have her on the podcast to share her story. And today she does exactly. Keely offers beautiful insight into the experiences of bereaved parents, the decisions they face, the support they need and how death shapes your matrescence journey. Subsequently, she talks about how death can be the catalyst for immense personal growth, as well as her aspirations to support families through this powerful rite of passage. To connect with Keely: https://www.guidedbykeely.com @keelyanncostello @guidedbykeely Additional resources: The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245379/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_X050YH4K7G42PRXEEJFH The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250076749/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_HETT94141K3XAN4H30VP The Knowing: 11 Lessons to Understand the Quiet Urges of Your Soul https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683647173/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_F1FCFKD50MFESJ9FYBG5 Awake At The Bedside: Contemplative Teachings On Palliative And End-Of-Life Care https://www.amazon.com/dp/1614291195/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_FBC7FNFQR1E09FY2YPDH https://www.ted.com/talks/bj_miller_what_really_matters_at_the_end_of_life?language=e

While progress is slow, more and more we are seeing a growing awareness of the term matrescence - What it means, why it matters and how it shapes our experience of motherhood. We now have a handful of experts, books, blogs, podcasts and social media accounts dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of this powerful rite of passage. As the women in our community grow in their understanding of matrescence, we are seeing an increased capacity and desire to understand their partner's experience of this transition. However, many men have a hard time discussing the challenges they face throughout their transition to fatherhood. While men may not endure the physical experience of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding, men and non-birthing partners experience many of the same changes that mothers do. Not only does parenthood restructure their social life, sex life, finances and more, but more and more research suggests that men and non-birthing partners also experience hormonal changes as well as changes to their brain structure and function. This absolutely fascinating. While there is still a huge lack of research into men's experiences of the transition to fatherhood, this rite of passage has been given a name - patrescence. Today we get to explore patresnce through the eyes of local Brisbane dad - Will. Throughout the episode, we discuss his fears and apprehensions about fatherhood, how he found the experience of trying to conceive, the moment he found out he was going to be a dad, his involvement in the pregnancy, watching his son crown, and so much more. This episode is rich and hilarious and is definitely one that you're going to want to listen to with your partner.

After traveling the world for 8 years straight, Megan returned to Australia single, homeless, unemployed and pregnant. Despite her circumstances, Megan felt calm, confident and optimistic about the journey that lay ahead. After the birth of her son, Megan returned to TAFE to complete her senior years of high school. This allowed her to gain entry into Curtain University to complete a double degree in financial planning and accounting, and subsequently her CPA. While navigating the challenges of single parenthood and part time work, this journey took Megan an admirable 13 years. During this time, through scrupulous saving and hard work, Megan managed to hold onto a part of herself which she refused to surrender in the name of motherhood- her love of travel. From living on a single parents pension and using cotton balls as a cheap alternative to baby wipes, to taking her son on a train across Russia, watching the weightlifting at the Beijing Olympics, snowboarding in Japan and shopping in Cairo. Today, Megan shares with us the details of how she made it happen. This episode is packed full of tips and tricks about navigating finances and travel with young kids. But above all else, it is a story of resilience, optimism, and holding onto the parts of yourself that matter throughout matrescence. We know you will resonate with Megan's infectious optimism and incredible outlook on both motherhood and life itself. To connect with us: Instagram: @matrescence.podcast

Regardless of how you enter into motherhood, the experience of matrescence is universal. Matrescence is powerful, irreversible and will change you to your core. So the fact that your friendships might also change, should come as no surprise. And yet, it often does. The fact is, that the vast majority of women, becoming a mother changes their friendships. Sometimes this will be for the better- letting go of that toxic friendship may be long overdue. But other times it will bring with it grief, disappointment, isolation and loneliness. Without an understanding of matrescence, it can be easy to conclude that you have done something wrong. That you simply have not put enough time and energy into maintaining friendships. But, as you will soon hear, there are a variety of reasons why your friendships change when you become a mother (many of which you have no control over). Understanding that changes in both the quantity and dynamics of your friendships, are a normal and predictable outcome of matrescence, can reassure you that you are not alone, you are not to blame and this will not last forever. Throughout this episode we talk about our own experiences of loneliness, isolation, making and loosing friends through motherhood and so much more. If this episode brings anything up for you, please know that there is support available. PANDA National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline: 1300 726 306 To connect with us: Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Website: www.matrescencematters.com.au

Christmas is the most magical time of the year. Or is it? Every year it feels like Christmas costs more. This year, Australians are set to fork out $23.9 billion on everything from presents to pina coladas. But there is another cost that is rarely talked about. The cost of women’s time, energy and sanity. As Christmas draws near, women are busy working behind the scenes to pull off the work of an entire Christmas village. No Santa's little helpers. No Rudolph. Just a mum who loves her kids so damn much. Depending on what your family unit looks like, the men in your life may also be chipping in however, research suggests that women continue to take on a disproportionate amount of the load. This is nothing new. In fact, for many, it is painfully familiar. Christmas has a tendency to amplify the inequalities that women experience every day when it comes to the division of labour, the mental load and emotional labour. By the time Christmas Day arrives, women are limping over the line, completely exhausted by the silly season, but the work is not done. Not even close. In this episode, Kel and Bree discuss the big and small ways that they are trying to reclaim Christmas. How they navigate the mental load, gift giving, conversations about Santa, and why one year Kel decided to give all of her Children’s gifts to an orphanage. This episode is full of laughs. The perfect, palate cleanser for the silly season. To connect with us: Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Facebook: Matrescence Matters.

In this week’s episode Kel and Bree sit down together to check in, and chat about some big life changes; Building a house, moving, supporting a child with chronic unexplained illness, updates on both Kel’s doula studies and Bree’s midwifery studies, a career change.. or not, how Bree is adapting to life as a mum of two and so much more. As they wrap up the end of the season, Kel and Bree wanted to strip it right back. No experts, no plan, just an honest conversation, about the ups and downs of motherhood. The Matrescence Podcast grew from a desire to bring these exact conversations to you. To allow you to be a fly on the wall through intimate conversations about identity, money, roles, the mental load and more. So today join us, as we make sense of our own matrescence journeys, and help you to make sense of yours.

In this episode, we talk to Brad and Tabitha Fennel. Brad and Tabitha are acupuncturists with a thriving clinic on the Gold Coast in QLD, but as you will hear, their work extends far beyond this. In their day to day work, Brad and Tabitha work with couples and individuals, helping them to reconnect with themselves and reconnect with their life. One of the reasons we sought out Brad and Tabitha as guests is that we are a big fan of their own podcast: Turn On The Podcast. Brad and Tabitha walk the walk and have been happily married for over 25 years. They have a beautiful dynamic between them, which comes across throughout this conversation. In this day and age, it's really rare and important to see long-term couples who are happy and thriving. Brad and Tabitha maintain that long term relationships can not just stay strong, but actually evolve and improve with time. This conversation covers thoughts about maintaining intimacy, reconnecting with yourself and with your partner as well as some practical strategies, reassurance and guidance on how to navigate it as best as possible. We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation where Bree and I enjoy drawing anecdotes, thoughts and feeling about maintaining, enjoying and even improving intimacy and our relationship with our partners. Connect with Brad and Tabitha on Instagram @turnonthepodcast To work with Brad and Tabitha head to: https://www.studioqi.com.au/

In this week’s episode we chat to Sam Foster. Sam is a Midwife and Lactation Consultant experienced in all areas of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period including lactation and infant feeding. She qualified as a Midwife in the UK in 1997 and worked in the community and the hospital until she emigrated to Brisbane in 2011. Throughout the episode we chat to Sam about her journey from being a midwife in the UK, to now working exclusively as an IBCLC in Brisbane. Sam also indulges us with a conversation about her decision to not have children and how she feels this affects (or more accurately, does not affect) her work with women. In the second half of the episode, Sam answers all of your breastfeeding questions. From feeding schedules to using a loofah to prepare your nips, we answer them all. This episode is full of insight and laughs. To connect with Sam you can find her on Instagram @samfosteribclc To book an appointment with Sam: https://www.growmedical.com.au/sam-foster Follow us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Head to our website: www.birthofamother.com.au

In today’s episode we chat to Laura, an unschooling mama to 3 beautifully wild children. Throughout the episode we talk about homeschooling and unschooling, including the logistics, the legalities and what the day to day looks like when children are in charge of their own learning. From here we dive into, what the average parent can learn from the unschooling philosophy (spoiler alert, there is alot). Regardless of how or where you choose to educate your child/ren, you will play an integral-role in their learning. Laura shares insight and tips into how parents can support their little ones natural curiosities, foster their innate desire to learn and raise children that are life long learners. Finally, we chat to Laura about her matrescence journey including; how she finds joy, fulfilment and rest in this intense season of mothering, how this lifestyles has changed her views on paid work, and the learning and unlearning that got her to this place. We believe that we can learn so much from listening to people who make choices that are different to our own. Maybe you’ll learn something new, maybe you will pick up some ideas on how to support your littles ones innate desire to learn or maybe you’ll just enjoy the company and entertainment. Either way we know you will love this episode. ••• I first connected with Laura on Instagram. Her page reflects so many of her passions and hobbies including birth, unschooling, reading, cooking, craft and adventuring. Two things I absolutely love about Laura's Instagram page are her practical ideas for activities with your children and her insights on both motherhood and child-rearing. Connect with her here: @this.wild.mama. Laura also runs a Facebook group called Home schooling Littles Australia which I am a member of. It is a great resource for anyone who is home schooling (by choice or otherwise) and/ or looking for activities for their young children. Connect with us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Join our Facebook group: Matrescence Matters

All throughout pregnancy, midwives, GP’s, friends and strangers alike, remind us of the importance of breastfeeding. By the time women give birth, they have well and truly internalized the message that “breast is best.” However, while our society promotes breastfeeding, it does not protect it. Medical interventions, mother-baby separation, inadequate lactation support and paid parental leave, all mean that mothers face an uphill battle in establishing and maintain breastfeeding. As a result, few women meet their personal goals for their breastfeeding journey. Whether you breastfeed for a day or a year, stopping before you are ready can lead to feelings of grief. In a well meaning attempt to reassure mothers that their babies will thrive no matter how they are fed (and they absolutely will) we often overlook, or completely dismiss, women’s own feelings about their feeding journey. Today's guest knows exactly what it feels like when breastfeeding does not go to plan. Kate is an experienced midwife, nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant from the NSW Central Coast. She is a proud mama of 3 and knows what it’s like to need professional breastfeeding support that is holistic and timely. Throughout this episode unpack the notion of “breast is best.” How our society promotes but does not protect breastfeeding. Why breastfeeding sometimes does not always go to plan and why it is never your fault. Most importantly, we hold space for all women, regardless of their feeding experiences or feelings. Connect with Kate on Instagram: @milkybusinesslactation Head to her website: https://www.milkybusiness.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Head to our website: www.birthofamother.com.au

In this week's episode we chat to Steven Kennedy who is the founder of Birthing Dad's and the PREPARE Foundation. In his past life, Steven was a sparky, an engineer and an actor. In 2017 Steven welcomed his little boy into the world. Despite having invested heavily in birth preparation, Steven recalls this experience as being traumatic for both parents. Born by emergency c-section with an APGAR score of 1, their little boy required extensive resuscitation and spent the first 12 hours of his life in special care. This experience drove Steven to begin researching the topic of 'men at birth' and the wider implications of the cesarean and birth trauma rates that define modern childbirth. Steven concluded that most expectant fathers are not adequately prepared for the experience of witnessing childbirth – even though 95% of dads are now placed in a critical birth support role. He also realised that very little was being done to provide dads with the knowledge and confidence required to support birth effectively. This led Steven to create Birthing Dad's. Birthing Dads is an evidence-based antenatal education program aimed at providing men with a simple how to guide to enjoy pregnancy, support birth like a superhero and breeze into fatherhood with a smooth landing. Throughout this episode Steven speaks vulnerably about his transition to fatherhood, the traumatic birth of his child, how men can support their partners throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond and importantly, how we can better support men through this life changing transition. To find out more about Birthing Dad's: Birthingdads.com.au (Listeners can use the coupon code "Matrescence" to get 20% off their advanced program. To see the important work that the PREPARE foundation is doing: https://prepare.org.au/ To read Stevens blog post on the role of father's in childbirth (mentioned in the episode): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elephant-room-steven-kennedy Connect with Steven on Instagram: @birthingdads Link to men's mental health support services and resources (mentioned in the episode) https://www.panda.org.au https://www.sms4dads.com.au https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/ Connect with us on Instagram: @matrescence.podcast Head to our website: https://birthofamother.com.au/