Tales From The Fourth Trimester

For this episode, I'm joined by the amazing Amy Carmody, a yoga teacher, personal trainer, strength coach and pre- and postnatal exercise specialist, for a conversation about her two postpartums, recovery from her caesarean births and regaining her strength. We couldn't shut up, so you'll from Amy again in two weeks time for a frank pep talk about movement and mothering - frankly I could have done a whole season with her. Amy has changed how I think and feel about movement and I love her focus on function, future-proofing and, yes, fun. Highly recommend checking out her platform at www.amycarmodyyoga.com.au and follow her on Insta @amycarmodymovement

Welcome to a new season! Joining me for this fresh ep is Brooke Maree, a leading babywearing educator and Kangatraining instructor. I found Brooke when I had my first, velcro baby and her knowledge is immense - I hope this gets your babywearing journey off to a great start! You can find her on Instagram here and her really helpful YouTube videos here

This episode is sponsored by Hydramama, a sugar-free hydration support drink that's designed for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. Chock-a-block with electrolytes, magnesium, methylated folate and vitamins B6 and C, Hydramama helps when you're growing a baby--particularly if you're struggling with nausea or morning sickness--and while breastfeeding, when you need at least an extra fluid a day. Get 20% off your order with the code COCOONBYNAOMI at www.miniandme.co In this episode - one of my all time faves - I talk to perinatal psychologist Yara Heary of Life After Birth Psychology (https://www.lifeafterbirth.com.au/) I don't even know how to describe this episode: just listen. Find Yara on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterbirthpsychology/

This episode is sponsored by Addison, the chic and practical clothing label for the modern mum. Addison offers pregnancy and breastfeeding-friendly styles that are super cute, and they're giving you free shipping with the code FOURTHTRIMESTER. Having a baby? You need to hear this episode. Dr Eliza Hannam (https://www.drelizahannam.com.au/) is a mother of three, an IBCLC, Possums sleep consultant and GP who shares heaps of excellent advice, tips and wisdom on breastfeeding and baby sleep as well as her own complex feeding journey.

This episode is brought to you by Babybee, Australian-owned and designed prams combining quality, safety and style. Not only does Babybee let you try their prams at home with free returns for nine months, they also offer an industry leading three year warranty for total peace of mind. With thousands of five star reviews, around the clock customer care and up to $200 of free accessories with every pram, what are you waiting for? Go visit www.babybeeonline.com - and use the code BABY20 to 20% off all full priced Babybee prams (cannot be used in conjunction with other offers). Ninety two per cent of parents report increased disagreements with their partner in their first year of family. Sixty seven per cent are less happy in their relationship. And relationship concerns are a leading cause of anxiety or depression in pregnancy and early parenthood – affecting as many as 1 in 3 mothers and 1 in 5 dads. Enter Elly Taylor, a perinatal relationship expert, author and founder of Becoming Us. She believes that partners can actually grow closer through parenthood, instead of growing apart: they can become a new, bigger, stronger, deeper version of “us”. Parenthood is a turning point for a couple - and she thinks that with some knowledge, skills and support for the common changes and challenges of parenthood you can face them head on and come out stronger. Preparing and supporting parents for the gnarlier parts of parenthood - so they can enjoy the highs even more - is her passion. To find out more about her work and the Becoming Us book and course, head to www.becomingusfamily.com

I'm six weeks postpartum in this episode (from back in 2020) and I'm chatting about what I've been eating, the amazing meal train organised by friends, the role of my midwife and doulas, my physical recovery, breastfeeding, sleep, how my anxiety and mental health has been and lots more. This episode is sponsored by The Whole Bowl Co, a fabulous meal delivery service in NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD. They make and deliver nourishing meals that not only help mothers replenish those nutrient stores that are under the pump during pregnancy and postpartum, but also take the stress off the whole family. Their recipes and ingredients are nutritionist approved, made using whole foods, and cooked to perfection in small batches. It's a great way to support yourself during postpartum--and makes for a wonderful gift for a new parent, or someone whol just needs a little TLC. Head to www.thewholebowlco.com.au to put in your order!

This episode is sponsored by Hydramama, a sugar-free hydration support drink that's designed for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. Chock-a-block with electrolytes, magnesium, methylated folate and vitamins B6 and C, Hydramama helps when you're growing a baby--particularly if you're struggling with nausea or morning sickness--and while breastfeeding, when you need at least an extra fluid a day. Get 20% off your order with the code COCOONBYNAOMI at www.miniandme.co Lily Nichols is an influential prenatal/postpartum dietician and nutritionist who has made a name for herself by diving deep into the research and rethinking evidence-based ideas for eating in pregnancy and beyond. What she's discovered is that much of the advice given to pregnant women and new mums is outdated, not tailored for the needs of motherhood and doesn't help women build healthy babies. But she has some (delicious) solutions. Listen in on our chat and find Lily's work here: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/ Instagram: @lilynicholsrdn

Babies cost money - but how much exactly, and whether it will stress you out or you'll sail through, depends on your choices and planning. In this ep, I chat to financial coach Rebecca Pritchard, a mum of two who takes us through what she did and offers advice on where to save and what conversations to have that will help avoid common relationship pitfalls. She's helped me a ton! If you'd like to chat to Rebecca: https://www.rebeccapritchard.com.au/

I'm joined by Lael Stone (https://laelstone.com.au/) on this episode to talk all things Aware Parenting and how it can help us find a happy middle ground between authoritarian and permissive parenting, through holding space, setting loving limits, meeting our own needs, and working through our own baggage. I love Lael! This episode is brought to you by Babybee, Australian-owned and designed prams cominging quality, safety and style. Not only does Babybee let you try their prams at home with free returns for nine months, they also offer an industry-leading 3 year warranty for total peace of mind. With thousands of five star reviews, around the clock customer care and up to $200 of free accessories with every pram, what are you waiting for? Go visit www.babybeeonline.com and check them out for yourself! Use promo code BABY20 for 20% off all full-priced Babybee prams (cannot be used in conjunction with other offers).

Jessica Chapnik Kahn is a singer-songwriter, author and poet. She's also a mum - and an example of how motherhood and creativity don't need to be mutually exclusive. In fact, her experience shows just how becoming a parent can open up a new layer of inspiration. Madre, the book of poetry that Jessica began during her postpartum (available here) is a raw account of the magic, mystery and unravelling that motherhood brings - it's bloody beautiful. Interested in becoming a postpartum doula? Sign up to Newborn Mothers training - the live round kicks off on February 22 - using my link and I'll give you a free mentoring call to say thank you!

Many of you will know Leigh Campbell through her popular podcasts (This Glorious Mess Little Kids and You Beauty), via her work for Mamamia and from Instagram. In this epsiode, originally published in 2019, we dive deep into her fertility struggles, perinatal anxiety, breastfeeding challenges, relationship changes and the strange combination of heartbreak and happiness that she found while dealing with a new baby and the terminal illness of her father at the same time. This episode is sponsored by Addison, the chic and practical clothing label for the modern mum. Addison offers pregnancy and breastfeeding-friendly styles that are super cute, and they're giving you free shipping with the code FOURTHTRIMESTER.

In years gone by, the message has been loud and clear: bedsharing kills babies. But what does the science say? And why are big organisations like Unicef and the UK's Lullaby Trust now promoting safe bedsharing? Can you ever be safe when you sleep with your baby? And if you're part of the 75% of parents who do fall asleep with their babies at some point, exactly how do you reduce the risks? I invited Carly Grubb, creator of The Beyond Sleep Training Project, to break down the research behind bedsharing and why these days many midwives and doctors avoid blanket 'co-sleeping is dangerous' advice and instead teach people the guidelines around safely sharing a sleep surface. Whether or not you think you'll bedshare, the message is clear: know how to do it safely, so you're not caught unawares.

It took four years for Sophie Gleitzman to fall pregnant. It took only moments at her 19 week scan to realise that her much-wanted baby's life might be at risk. As it turned out, her son Jack (now a happy and healthy primary schooler) needed heart surgery soon after he was born and Sophie's motherhood journey began in the NICU. But while the intensity of life in NICU was often heart-wrenching, Sophie says it gave her a priceless perspective that she believes has changed her approach to parenting - and life. In this episode, Sophie shares her story - why her milk didn't fully come in until 3 weeks postpartum, what it was like to go home and find a way without the NICU regime and the relief of realising they could find their own way -- as well as advice for parents who find themselves in the NICU.

Bernadette Lack is a midwife, personal trainer, mum and pelvic floor expert--she has helped hundreds of women sort out their post-baby pelvic floors with her Core and Floor Restore programs. Here, she shares her own experience with incontinence, pregnancy, home birth, and restoring her pelvic floor health... and gives plenty of tips on how you can too. Side note: when we recorded this ep, I was pregnant and B was newly pregnant (but not publicly sharing that!). She's now a mum of two. Follow her @coreandfloorrestore and find her programs at www.coreandfloor.com.au

This episode is brought to you by Babybee, Australian-owned and designed prams combining quality, safety and style. Not only does Babybee let you try their prams at home with free returns for nine months, they also offer an industry leading three year warranty for total peace of mind. With thousands of five star reviews, around the clock customer care and up to $200 of free accessories with every pram, what are you waiting for? Go visit www.babybeeonline.com - and use the code BABY20 to 20% off all full priced Babybee prams (cannot be used in conjunction with other offers). To celebrate five years of conversations with postpartum women and experts in the space, I'm bringing you a summer series of the greatest hits of Tales from the Fourth Trimester! And to kick it all off, I'm going right back to the first episode, where I shared my story of becoming a mum for the first time. If you've been around for a while, you've probably seen evidence of my less-than-picture-perfect first postpartum. The first weeks at home with my new baby were very beautiful, extremely brutal and, ultimately, what set me on an entirely new career path. Tune in to hear how my mothering, and business, began.

What is it like to have you beloved mother pass away before you have children, and ache for her when you do? How do you learn to mother yourself? Tune in to hear Ali Heppell's story. Ali is a circle facilitator, postpartum doula and matrescence educator in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria. Find her @aliheppell_mothercare

In this ep, we talk about Kristal's postpartums, including D-MER, postpartum depression and anxiety and military wife life, and how she navigated early motherhood. Find Kristal's book and services here: https://mamaswingwoman.com/

It's Perinatal Mental Health Week! In this conversation with Julie Borninkhof, clinical psychologist and CEO of Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia, we talk about my experience with postpartum anxiety, how to protect your mental health, what to do if you find yourself struggling - and how to help family and friends who have had a baby. Julie is the CEO of Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia – or PANDA – an organisation that supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood. For 40 years, PANDA has worked to break down the barriers faced by expecting and new parents reaching out for help for mental health and wellbeing issues. It provides information, support and advice to parents affected by perinatal mental health and has Australia’s only free, national helpline service for women, men and their families affected by perinatal mental health. If you or someone you love needs support: ● PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday) or panda.org.au ● Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and I hope that the stories shared on this podcast about postpartum after loss help with raising awareness of what that experience can be like. And with this episode, where I'm talking to Rowie Davies, a postpartum doula from NSW's Central Coast, I hope we take things a step further, with ideas, insights and advice on how to support friends, family or people in your community who may go through loss. A massive thank you to Rowie for her open-hearted and generous sharing of her and her son Billy's story and her honest advice. Find Rowie on Instagram @honouringyoubyrowena

Regan Figg sees motherhood not as a place where you lose yourself, but a place of opportunity. As a former exercise physiologist, yoga and meditation teacher, and health and wellness coach, Regan unexpectedly experienced postnatal depression and anxiety after the birth of her first son. Now a mum of three, she mentors mothers to uncover the gold that exists in their motherhood experience, to create balance in blending business and motherhood and to lead pleasure-filled lives. Join us for a juicy convo about why she banished the Good Mother, how she brings pleasure into her kid-filled life and what she thinks about people shouting "more self care" (spoiler alert: it doesn't work). Website: https://reganfigg.com Instagram: @regan_figg Book