Hello Mama's!

In today's episode I had the pleasure of speaking with the lovely Hannah who is the Mama to 17 month old Mila from Auckland. From a marathon 30-hour labour to overcoming breastfeeding challenges and navigating the postpartum haze, Hannah shares the raw realities of motherhood.

In this conversation, Hannah shares with us her decision to take up a new job opportunity and return to work when Mila was 6 months old. A lot of people Hannah would speak to about this would tell her she would dread going back to work, it would be too much and make her feel guilty about putting Mila into daycare at 6 months old. But Hannah is here to share that her journey couldn't have been more different. Mila has thrived in daycare (aside from the daycare bugs) and Hannah has loved being back at work and is proud of how both her & Mila have managed this transition.

This conversation is a reminder of how everyone's motherhood journey will look so different and you do not have to conform to what society says you should do and feel, it is important to stay true to who you are and do what feels right to you. Hannah takes us through how she balances work and mum life, makes time for herself and her partner Tom and continues to chase her dreams.

Hannah is so honest and authentic and I am so grateful she wanted to share her journey. If you enjoy this episode, I would love if you could rate and review on your streaming platform of choice and follow along on @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

Enjoy Mama's! xx

Hello Mama's!

I hope you have had an epic summer and 2024 has been good to you this far. I am back with the pod and super excited to be sharing the first episode of the year with you which is with Rachael from The Food Tree. Rachael is a UK-trained registered dietitian specialising in family feeding, feeding disorders, disordered eating and body image. In this episode we talk about:

• How to heal your own relationship with your body
• How to cope with the pressure of diet culture
• How to raise body confident children who have a healthy relationship with food
• How does pregnancy and childbirth affect your body image and self-esteem
• What are some of the myths and misconceptions about dieting and weight loss after pregnancy
• How can you practice mindfulness and self-compassion to improve your body image and well-being
• How can you model positive body image and healthy eating behaviors for your children
• How can you help your children develop a balanced and joyful relationship with food and their bodies
• How should we approach sugar with our children so that they have a healthy relationship with it.

I learnt so much in this chat & I really hope you will find it helpful to. If you need further support with anything that has been discussed in this conversation then you can contact Rachael here.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it really helps a small podcast like mine be found by other parents! You can also follow a long on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

Enjoy!

Hello Mama's!

We are coming to the end of Season 2 and in this weeks episode, I speak to the lovely Shrenika from Little Beat. Shrenika is a Registered Paediatric Nurse who works in Starship Hospital in Auckland and also runs Little Beat which is a baby and child first aid course which she delivers in person and online. Shrenika is also a Mama of 2 so can really relate with parents when it comes to wanting to do everything we can to protect our little ones.

In this conversation Shrenika and I talk through:

• Why is first aid so important and why should people invest time to learn it?
• What are the first air basics we should all know? CPR, choking etc
• Coughs, cold, fevers - how do we manage these at home & at what point should we be seeking medical help/going to the doctor
• Pamol v brufen - which should we use/should we use both?
• How do we advocate for our kids in a medical setting when we dont feel like we are being listened to
• Does adding pamol into milk impacts its effectiveness?
• What are some common accidents you see from around the home that are easily preventable - baby proofing, burns etc
• Shrenika's advice around starting solids and introducing allergens
• What are some first aid essentials we should keep in our home?
• When should we call for an ambulance?

This is such an informative conversation and Shrenika gives us a good overview of some key things we can do to protect our little ones and also the importance of educating ourselves about first aid so that if something should happen, we know what to do while we wait for medical help.

If after listening to this conversation you feel like you would like to take part in a first aid course you can find all the information for the Little Beat courses here or St John New Zealand courses here.

For the purpose of this podcast we have kept the information general in nature so if you have any specific questions or concerns please reach out to your own healthcare practitioner for advice.

I hope you will find this episode interesting and informative and finish it feeling more educated than when you started or, inspired to get some first aid training!

If you enjoy this conversation, please rate & review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on upcoming episodes.

Enjoy Mama's!

Hello Mama's

TRIGGER WARNING - this episode covers miscarriage and the loss of a baby at 3 weeks old. If this is triggering for you I suggest skipping this episode.

On this week's episode, Meisha shares her motherhood journey with us. In 2021 Meisha had a miscarriage in her first trimester, she went on to become pregnant again and gave birth to her beautiful baby girl, Olive in August 2022. Unexpectedly, at 3 weeks old, Olive passed away. Meisha is pregnant again with a little boy due in November 2023.

Meisha's motherhood experience is like no other. She shares with us what this journey has been like for herself and her husband, how she has navigated postpartum without her baby, grief, returning to work, getting pregnant again and all of the crazy emotions that have come with everything she has been through. I was so grateful that Meisha wanted to come on and share her experience, she has been through so much pain & yet has continued to put one foot in front of the other and to now be pregnant again, expecting a baby boy later this year is something to celebrate.

Meisha has been very open about her loss and is happy for any other parents to connect with her if this episode resonates with them and they would like to chat - you can connect with Meisha on IG here.

If this episode is triggering or upsetting for you, there is support available. You can call Lifeline on 0800 543 354 anytime or text 4357.

As always, I appreciate your feedback so please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for information on upcoming episodes.

Lots of love Mama's xx

Hello Mama's,This weeks episode is with the lovely Alice Sip. Alice is the owner of Flock Events, Kindred Road & Canvas Coworking Space in Hawkes Bay. She is also the Mama to Harriet (3) and twins Millie & Fletcher (14 months).In this chat, Alice shares with us:

• what her her 4th trimester with Harriet was like

• finding out she was pregnant with twins

• pregnancy & birth of her twins, Millie & Fletcher

• what work has looked like for her during the last 3 years; how her involvement has changed and sacrifices she has had to make

• what does an average day look like for her & her family

• how on earth does she get in the car, go into a cafe and general day to day tasks with 3 under 3?!

• what balance looks like for her and her family and how she has got to a point where she does feel like there is balance between work & family

• what has she had to let go of to prioritise her kids and family

• tips for business owners who are starting or growing their family

This was a really fun & insightful chat into another Mama's world and it was really nice to learn from Alice how she has found a balance that works for her and her family. If you want to check out any of Alice's business you can find them from her personal IG account here.If you enjoy this chat, please rate & review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on IG @bumptomum.podcast for updates on upcoming episodes and general chat!Enjoy Mama's and chat soon!

Hello Mama's! This is an episode I have wanted to record and share since I started this podcast as it is something personally I feel I have so much to learn about & find so interesting so I am sure there are other Mama's out there feeling the same. Josie is a Mama of 3 girls aged 5.5, 3 and 4 months old. She is an Early Childhood Educator and runs the Instagram account @playbasedpepi where she shares play ideas, parenting survival tips & conversations on topics that people can be nervous to bring up or discuss openly. In this chat, Josie and I talk about:

• how do we play with our children at different ages & stages from newborn through to school age?
• do we need to sit with them on the mat & play with them for hours?
• how do we encourage independent play?
• Josie's views on toys and what is needed vs wanted
• how the TV is incorporated into Josie's parenting tool box and her views on it
• big emotions & big feelings - how do we survive, tips & tricks and understanding what is actually happening
• sensory seeking, what is it?
• mental load of parenting, how Josie & her husband work through it and balance it all
• school holiday activities and what works for her family
• for her, what was the biggest adjustment 0-1, 1-2 or 2-3?
• milestones & development - rolling, crawling and walking, Josies views on these and what she has experienced
• learning by play vs structured education
• coming to the decision that this is her last baby

Josie also shares with us where she is at in her motherhood journey; what she is finding challenging and what she is loving. I learnt so much in this conversation with Josie and had so much fun recording it, Josie has also created an Alphabet Chart which is phonetically correct and instantly recognisable to kiwi children which you can purchase here.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on socials @bumptomum.podcast to stay up to date with upcoming episodes. I hope you will love this chat as much as I do, enjoy Mama's!

Hello Mama's!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie Pow, Founder of Crayon and Mama of two girls. Steph has had an incredible career in finance, by age 25, Steph was Australia's #1 hybrids stockbroker at the global investment bank UBS. She completed an MBA from Wharton and an MPA from Harvard as the first finance recipient of the General Sir John Monash Scholarship. She then moved to New Zealand and joined New Zealand success story Vend in strategic and operational leadership roles. While at Vend, Steph welcomed her first child. Steph decided to not return to her role at Vend and go out on her own, she spent years working on what is now Crayon. The purpose of Crayon is to reduce financial stress for parents and empower parents to know where they stand when it comes to money. In this episode Steph and I cover:

• what are your legal rights in New Zealand when you go on parental leave and what are you entitled to from your employer and the government

• how do you have the conversation with your employer about going on parental leave

• what are the upfront and hidden costs of having a baby

• what happens to your annual leave while on parental leave

• how can we be financially savvy while on a reduced/single income

• Steph's top tips and steps to take when planning on starting a family to reduce the financial stress

• returning to work after parental leave

• Steph shares with us her experience going on parental leave & also how she juggles career, family and Mum life

Crayon has created the Parental Leave Register which is the most comprehensive database of verified parental leave policies in New Zealand. By creating this register, you are able to easily access NZ Companies Parental leave policies so that you can make informed decisions when considering a new role or wanting to know what you are entitled to in your current role without asking the direct question.

Steph also shares with us her motherhood journey and what her fourth trimester was like with her girls. Steph practiced Chinese Confinement after the births of both her girls and she shares how she found that experience and what the benefit was for her.

Useful links:

• book Steph recommends - https://nyupress.org/9781479835454/what-works-for-women-at-work/#:~:text=What%20Works%20for%20Women%20at%20Work%20tells%20women%20it's%20not,getting%20ahead%20in%20today's%20workplace.

• Parental Leave Register

• Crayon website

• Crayon Instagram

Starting a family is such an exciting time and Steph's hope is that with some planning and knowledge you can take steps to reduce financial stress associated with starting a family & parenthood. I hope you will find this conversation informative and leave you feeling empowered knowing what you are entitled to and how to be smart with your money . I learnt so much in this chat & am incredibly grateful Steph has created Crayon and shared so much of her wisdom with us.

If you enjoyed this chat, please rate & review on your platform of choice and follow along on socials @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

Enjoy Mama's!

Hello Mama's!

I am very excited to share this weeks episode with you with the lovely Hannah Barrett. I have known Hannah since University when we met in a first year tutorial and since then, A LOT has happened!

In this episode Hannah shares with us her motherhood journey and how life is going with her two girls; Billie who is 2.5 years old & Coco who is 5 months old. In this chat we cover:

• where Hannah is at in her motherhood journey today; parts she is loving and parts she is finding more challenging

• how her 4th trimester with Coco was and how it was different to her 4th trimester with Billie who had colic

• what is in "Hannah's Toolbox" when it comes to an unsettled newborn

• how it was for her being one of the first in her close friends group to become a Mama

• what an average week looks life for her juggling work, the girls, her relationship, friends, family and time for herself and how this changes when Beauden is travelling

• how it is for her when Beauden is travelling & what works for her during this time

• advice for new Mama's or Mama's to be

• Hannah shares how she found her recent trip which she did without the girls & Beauden as well as some tips for travelling with little ones

• what is coming up for her family in the second half of the year and what Hannah is really looking forward to

• & so much more!

This was such a fun chat, Hannah is so down to earth, humble and has a really positive attitude and outlook to motherhood which I love. Hannah admits that everyday has its challenges but she is so grateful to be her 2 girls world and she reminds herself of that daily.

I loved recording this episode and hope you will enjoy listening. If you do, please rate & review on Apple podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast.

Enjoy Mama's!

• postpartum preparation - how we can best prepare for this time
• how to embrace the change & challenges of motherhood
• what Jessica's 5 pillars of postpartum care are
• how can we talk more openly about the challenges of motherhood & prepare women without coming across negative
• how can we support our friends/family/mama's in the postpartum season
• meal trains
• returning to work after parental leave
• the mental load of motherhood & some tips/tricks to help prioritise

Hello Mumma's! This weeks episode is with the lovely Sarah who is the Mom to 17 month old Ruby. Trigger warning - in this episode we discuss open heart surgery, hospital stays in NICU, PICU, SCBU & Starship so if this is triggering for you I would suggest skipping this episode.

Sarah, her partner Rupert & Ruby have been on a journey many of us cannot even fathom. After battling Hyperemisis Gravidarum "HG" in her pregnancy, at Sarah's 20 week scan it was discovered that there was something wrong with Ruby's heart. After the scans were looked over by her Obstetrician and what felt like the longest wait ever, Sarah & Rupert were told that Ruby had a Congenital Heart Disease "CHD" and Tetralogy of Fallot "TOF". CHDs affects 1 in every 100 births, Sarah shares with us her pregnancy experience, the conversations, tests and decisions that had to be made in the lead up to Ruby's birth.

After Ruby was born, Sarah shares the experience of what her fourth trimester was like - multiple hospital stays in NICU, SCBU, Starship, helicopter transfers, tests, scans, tubes - hardly the experience Sarah envisioned when she became pregnant. At 12 weeks old, Ruby had open heart surgery to correct the defect in her heart. Sarah takes us through this experience and what life is like for herself, Ruby & Rupert now - spoiler alert Ruby is a thriving, happy, little girl.

Sarah opens up about how this whole experience has impacted her own wellbeing including counselling and needing to go back on anti depressants as well as how it impacted her & Rupert's relationship. Sarah found her heart family village online through community groups both within in NZ and overseas. Heart Kids NZ is a nonprofit organisation in Aoteroa that provides lifelong support to the children, teens, adults and whanau impacted by childhood heart conditions and has been an incredibly important part of Sarah's village.

All she wanted when she was pregnant was to speak to other families going through something similar who had come out the other side. Sarah's hope in sharing her story is to both raise awareness of CHDs but also so that anyone going through something like this knows that they are not alone.

Sarah is happy for people to connect with her on Instagram if they want to chat and you can find her here @sarahkilner. I hope you love this very special episode Mumma's and if you do please rate & review on whichever platform you choose to listen on and follow along on socials @bumptomum.podcast.

Enjoy!

Welcome back Mumma's!I so enjoyed recording this weeks episode so I am very excited to share it with you all. I got to chat with the lovely Simone Anderson (Forsyth) about her motherhood journey with her two boys Asher, 20 old months and Ryder 4 months old (and of course her fur baby Maddox). TRIGGER WARNING - In this episode Simone shares her experience with going through not 1 but 2 miscarriages so if this is a topic that is triggering to you perhaps skip this episode. In this episode Simone shares:

• how life is going with 2 under 2

• whether the close age gap was something her & Trent planned

• her experience of having 2 miscarriages before becoming pregnant with Ryder

• the difference in her births with the two boys and recovery

• how she dealt with the body changes during pregnancy and postpartum

• how she moves her body now

• sleep & what works for her family

• how she juggles motherhood, career & family and what daily habits have helped her do this

• what she is really enjoying about her current season of motherhood & what she is finding challenging

• does she feel that her family is complete now or would she like more babies

• how she deals with criticism/negativity about herself and how she is choosing to raise her boys when she has a large following

Simone also talks about her new venture Embrace Active, which is a luxe activewear range from size 6 -26 which is all about empowering women of all shapes and sizes. You can shop the range here & follow along on socials here.I loved chatting to Simone she was so relatable, down to earth and I felt like I was sitting down with a close friend just chatting about our babies so I hope you enjoy this one. If you do, please rate & review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on socials @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes. Enjoy Mumma's!

Hello lovely Mumma's!

This is an episode I have been looking forward to sharing for some time. Gina Urlich is a Clinical Nutrionist specialised in womens health and infant nutrition and the founder of Norish - https://www.norish.co.nz/. In this episode Gina shares her wisdom in this space and we talk through:

• What was her inspiration for starting Norish

• What the key vitamins and minerals are that we need to ensure our little ones are getting

• How do we incorporate these into meals when they are young & don't eat a huge amount

• Her approach to food for little ones & the whole family

• What are some meals, snacks and lunches that her family have each week

• Tips for creating nourishing meals without blowing the budget

• How to ensure infants are getting enough iron and how to tell if they aren't

• Top 3 foods for supporting kids' winter immunity

• How do we get our babies to eat nutritious food when they don't eat what we offer

• How to encourage children to try new foods when they are hesitant to

I learnt so much in this conversation and it was so nice to speak to an expert in an area of parenting which can feel very overwhelming with the amount of opinions and contradicting advice. The Norish range is such a great addition to your family cupboard whether it is purees for your little one or the meal boosters. They are an easy way to add extra goodness to our families food without the mental load. You can purchase the Norish range here.

If you are wanting further support with your own health, you can book an appointment here. You can also find Gina on Instagram @gina.urlich. I hope you enjoy this episode, if you do please rate & review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast to stay up to date with future episodes.

Enjoy!

Hello Mama's

The festive season is in full swing and I am loving the feeling of getting closer to the end of the year. This is the last episode for the year as I am taking some time to reset, refresh and relax over the festive season. It has been a massive year for me personally and with this podcast and I would love to hear from you as to what you would like to see/hear on the podcast next year. Please message me on IG @bumptomum.podcast with any feedback you have as this really helps me shape the direction for next year.

For the final episode this year I spoke to the lovely Di from Mama's Meals and we talked through everything from starting solids, Di's approach to food for the family, her experience with solids with her two kids and how different/similar they were, her top tips for testing toddler behaviour around meal times, her go to meals for the family, how we can incorporate family meals into our week and what inspired her to start Mama's Meals and how she balances running a business and being a Mama to two.

Starting solids and food in general can be such an overwhelming space so any help in this area is always SO appreciated. If you are wanting some 1:1 support or to download some of the resources Di has created for starting solids, you can find Di's account here or contact her through her website https://www.mamasmeals.co.nz/.

Thank you for all your love and support this year, I hope you enjoy the festive season with your families and I cannot wait to be back in your ears in 2024.

Lots of love Mama's!

• how the transition from 1 to 2 went & how Maeve felt about her new brother
• positive birth experiences and recovery
• dealing with reflux with both Maeve & Munro & how they got through this tough time with both bubs
• travelling tips with babies & toddlers
• having babies at the same time as your best friends
• the comparison trap in motherhood
• sleep training
• most challenging and enjoyable season of motherhood

Hello Mumma's! This week I am bringing you a special conversation with Courtney who is a Mom to 13 month old Molly and works as a Midwife. Courtney has been surrounded by babies throughout her life and career and has always wanted to be a Mom. She felt incredibly prepared, excited and comfortable during her pregnancy and lead up to her birth but unfortunately, things did not go to plan.In this episode we talk through:

• a planned home birth that did not go to plan with Courtney giving birth in the hospital

• birth trauma

• feeding challenges, nipple shields, reflux, mixed feeding, pumping and weaning at 6 months

• sleep (lack of) and the decision to not sleep train

• postpartum depression

• recovery from birth

• how her experience has changed the way she approaches her work as a midwife & conversations with her clients

• advice for other parents dealing with birth trauma or postpartum depression

While Courtney has been through some challenging times she also shares a lot of the highs she has had with Molly and what she is really enjoying about motherhood. I am so grateful for Courtney for coming on and sharing her experience. Courtney wanted to share her journey in the hope that it would show that being a Midwife did not make her exempt from how challenging the fourth trimester can be and that it helps anyone else going through a similar experience.Due to the nature of the content covered in this episode, if you or someone you know is struggling with metal health or, find this content triggering, you can text or call 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counsellor or you can call Lifeline on 0800 543 354 or text 4357.If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on apple podcasts and follow along on @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.Enjoy Mumma's!

Welcome back to Season 2 Mumma's!! After a short break I am back and have some great chats coming your way this season.

This weeks episode is an update from me about how life has been recently, what has been happening in Louie & my world and I answer some questions that were sent in by you lovely listeners.

I talk about:

• how solids with Louie are going

• milestones

• how I told Luke I was pregnant

• how many. kids we want

• least & most favourite part of being a parent

• a moment where I was at my lowest when Louie was a newborn

• what my plan is for returning to work & what Louie will do

• favourite age of Louie so far

You can find the book I recommend here, Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu. Such an inspiring book and so many great tips and lessons learnt.

The pulled pork recipe I mentioned that Louie LOVED from @boobtofood is such a winner for the whole family and you can find it here.

I am really excited for this season of Bump to Mum and really appreciate all of your feedback so please follow along on @bumptomum.podcast to stay in the loop with upcoming episodes and if you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.

Chat soon Mumma's!

• my pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey
• how he felt leading up to the birth & becoming a Dad
• what he did in terms of work &. how the transition back to work went for him
• if there is anything he wished in hindsight we had prepared more for
• how fatherhood has been for him so far, highs and lows, lessons learnt
• the change our relationship has gone through
• his top tips & advice for new Dads
• what he is really looking forward to with Louie

Hello Mumma's!I am beyond excited to share this episode with you! Sara is the Founder of Your Monthly, Dietitian, women's health expert and Mum to a beautiful boy, Toby. Sara works with women to support them in understanding their health, cycle, relationship with food and period experience.I got to know Sara back in 2021 when I needed support with irregular periods and discovered that I had Hypothalamic Ammenhorea. In this conversation, Sara and I talk through what that is and how we worked through this to get my cycle back.Sara breaks down for us what our period is, what happens in our body every month and how we can best nourish our bodies so that we are fertile and ovulate every month. We also talk through what is considered "normal" from a period perspective and what are some signs that something may not be quite right and some medical support is needed.Sara shares her nutrition tips for pre-conception, pregnancy and postpartum as well as de-bunking diet culture and the importance of listening and trusting our bodies.As a Mum to a 11 month old, Sara shares her motherhood experience to date, what has challenged her and what she is really enjoying.If you would like to get in touch with Sara, you can find her on Instagram @yourmonthly or https://www.yourmonthlyclub.co.nz/. I hope you will love this chat, the female body is truly incredible and I learnt so much from speaking with Sara. If you do enjoy this conversation, I would love if you could rate and review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.Enjoy Mumma's!!

Hello Mummas! I am back from our first family holiday overseas to Byron Bay in Australia and excited to be sharing episode 10 with you. I got to chat with Alicia, the Founder of Dear Mumma Maternity about the inspiration for her maternity range, how she has created a functional yet beautiful range and her own motherhood experience.

Alicia also shares what other ranges they will be launching and some tips/tricks for dressing the bump which was something I personally found difficult!

Alicia has been kind enough to share a discount code for all the Bump to Mum listeners, bumptomum15 will get you 15% off and you can shop the range here.

I loved this chat, so cool to chat with a Kiwi Mumma doing her thing & creating beautiful garments for all Mums to enjoy. You can follow Dear Mumma Maternity on Instagram here.

I hope you enjoy this episode, if you do please rate & review on Apple Podcasts. I also love hearing from you and connecting so please follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast and let me know what you are enjoying and who else you would like to hear from or learn about.

Enjoy Mummas!

Hello my lovely Mumma's! Thank you for tuning in again, I can't quite believe we are at episode 9 already & that when this episode is released it will be March,,, where is the year going!

In this episode I speak with Lucy who is a Nurse and certified infant and child sleep consultant. Lucy runs her own business The Sleep Scout where she works with families across NZ providing personalised sleep coaching plans. Lucy is a mother of two boys and it was her motherhood experience with her first which inspired her to become a certified sleep consultant.

Lucy and I talk through so much:

• what sleep training/coaching is

• the different methods you can use based on what you want to achieve and your parenting style

• newborn sleep - what is to be expected in the first few months of babies life

• ways to promote more sleep & establish a routine if you are not in a position to use a sleep consultant

• the importance of establishing feeding first

• signs baby is ready to drop a nap

• sleep environment

• impact on mental health with sleep deprivation

• stigma attached to sleep training

• tips for travel & different time zones

I also share some of my experience with sleep training and how for our family it was absolutely the right path for all of us.

Lucy shares what sleep looks like in her home, her most enjoyable & challenging season of motherhood and advice for new parents.

I love this chat with Lucy, we have tried to keep the advice general so that anyone listening can take something from it. However, with every child and family being so different, if you would like to chat to Lucy you can reach her at https://thesleepscout.com/ or on Instagram @thesleepscout.

If you enjoyed this episode I would love if you could rate and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on upcoming shows & content!

Hello Mummas! I hope the title of this episode caught your attention..this week I am sharing a chat with Emily who is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and pre and postnatal exercise specialist who owns Project Physio NZ.

Emily takes us through all things pelvic floor- where it is and what it does, how it changes during pregnancy and postpartum and how we can look after it. We talk through exercise during pregnancy and postpartum, recovery from birth, exercises we can do to look after our pelvic floor, how ensuring we have healthy bowels will help look after our pelvic floor, what a prolapse is and Emily's top tips for looking after your body during pregnancy and postpartum.

Emily also shares her own pregnancy and postpartum journey, how it changed the way she exercised and what her recovery looked like after the birth of each of her boys.

There are so many things I wish I had known for my own pregnancy but lots of tips I will be implementing moving forward aka Kmart stool for the toilet! Emily shares a lot of tips and tricks on her instagram account so be sure to follow her here.

I hope you enjoy this chat and would love if you could rate & review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram for details on upcoming episodes @bumptomum.podcast. Enjoy Mumma's!

Hello Mama's,

This episode is one that has been requested for a long time and I know there are a lot of Mama's out there that will resonate with this journey.

At 30 weeks pregnant after a very smooth pregnancy, Jess experienced some bleeding in the evening and within 2 hours her baby boy Casey was born by a emergency c-section. Jess shares with us her families journey, we cover:

• what was going through her mind as she came to terms with the fact her baby was going to be born at 30 weeks
• what the cause of Casey being born so early was
• what happened in the moments after he was born
• how they shifted their mindset and stayed positive in the really hard times like having to leave Casey in the hospital and go home
• their feeding journey from tube feeding to mouth feeding to breast & bottle feeding
• what NICU was like; how much they visited, what milestones they had to hit, how long they spent there
• the highs and lows of her motherhood journey to date
• the transition from NICU to home
• advice to parents on a similar journey

Casey is now 9 months old and Jess shares with us what life is like for them now and how this experience while so tough, has made them all closer as a family and is a part of their story. I really loved this chat with Jess, she has such a positive outlook on what was an incredibly challenging time and it is so nice to hear that they are all thriving.

I also wanted to echo Jess's thanks to the amazing NICU nurses who really are angels who make such a challenging time for new parents bearable. And while we are at it, a big thank you to all Nurses and Midwifes who work long hours for in my opinion, not enough pay because of their love for caring for people.

I hope you love this episode, if you do if you could rate & review on Apple Podcasts here. It is also the last few days to nominate Bump to Mum for the Listeners Choice Award in the NZ Podcast Awards so if you have a couple of minutes to nominate, I would be very VERY grateful. You can nominate Bump to Mum here.

A big thank you for Jess for sharing her story and lots of love to the Mama's and Dad's out their on a similar journey.

Chat soon Mama's!

Episode 7 is here and this one really blew my mind! Rebecca is an Occupational Therapist, Paediatric Feeding Specialist and Director of Nourish Feeding Therapy in Christchurch. Rebecca and I cover a lot in this hour, everything from:

• starting solids - baby led weaning vs purees

• what the current guidance and research is on how we should approach food with our children

• choking and allergens

• meal time behaviours

• fussy eating

• should we hide vegetables in secret pasta sauces?!

• signs that it may be more than fussy eating

• increasing variety and range of food

• where and when to seek help

Rebecca had me rethinking the whole way I approach food and I finished this conversation feeling excited and motivated for our feeding journey with Louie!

If you would like to connect with Rebecca you can find her on Instagram at @nourish.therapy or https://nourishtherapy.co.nz/.

If you enjoyed this conversation I would love to hear your feedback so please rate & review on Apple Podcasts and follow a long on Instagram at @bumptomum.podcast.

Enjoy!!

Hello Mummas! Episode 6 is here and you are going to love this chat with Kate. Kate is a NICU nurse, Lactation Consultant and runs her own business, Little Bird Lactation were she offers in-home and virtual consultations as well as breastfeeding products. Kate also shares a lot of information, tips & tricks for Mumma's on her Instagram account which you can check out here.

Kate breaks down for us what actually happens to our boobs when we become pregnant, how they produce colostrum and then milk once our baby is born. We cover:

• tips to prepare for breastfeeding

• top breastfeeding support products

• tips to ensure a successful feeding journey once baby is born

• when & how to introduce a bottle if that is something you are wanting to include in your feeding journey

• nutrition while feeding - are lactation cookies actually going to help?

• extended feeding journeys

• what are some signs that we should look out for in terms of pain in the early days that may signal an issue with latch

• tongue ties & lip ties

• mixed feeding

• flow confusion

• bottle feeding/pumping - this is a big topic and we cover a lot including - best time, how much, returning to work and much more

• what to do if baby refuses a bottle

• protecting your milk supply

• weaning

• do we really need a freezer stash of milk?

Kate also shares with us her own breastfeeding journey with both her daughters, what the fourth trimester was like for her as well as her most & least enjoyable season of motherhood. We talk about the mental load of being a mother and how we need to ask for help and recognise postpartum is forever and that we need to prioritise looking after ourselves so that we can look after our babies.

If you are in need of support in your feeding journey you can contact Kate here or through her Instagram account. If you enjoyed this episode I would love if you could rate & review in Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast to stay up to date with upcoming episodes.

Welcome back Mumma's! In the fifth episode I speak with Sarah who is a Postpartum Doula and an expert in all things postpartum. I know I say this about every conversation but I really did LOVE this chat and its one I hope every Mum/Mum to be out there will listen to as Sarah speaks the truth and has some gold nuggets of advice. Sarah shares with us what a Postpartum Doula is, the services she provides to families and some common themes she sees in the postpartum period for women & their wider family. Sarah also takes us through what postpartum depletion is and how this affects women and the wider family.

Sarah provides some advice for supporting families in the fourth trimester, how we can prepare, what to expect and some general do's and don'ts! We also cover breastfeeding, sleep, mental health and somehow we get onto the top of cleaning.... Sarah validates all the feelings that can arise postpartum and I left this conversation feeling lighter and comforted.

This conversation had me laughing and nodding my head along the entire way! Sarah shared advice that I wish I had known before the birth of my baby and tips that I will definitely be using moving forward.

Sarah also touches on her own motherhood journey; highs, lows and where she is at today.

If you would like to contact Sarah you can connect with her on instagram @routachment or through her website https://www.routachment.com/.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on apple podcasts and follow along on socials @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

Hello Mummas! In episode 4, I speak with Lara who is a mum of 3 beautiful babies; Arthur, Piper & Leo and the founder of myscar. Lara shares with us her caesarean experience with her first baby Arthur and why this experience inspired her to start myscar.

Myscar is the golden solution to your caesarean scar recovery. Lara has spent years researching and testing and in December 2022 launched her product onto the market. Myscar are 100% medical grade silicon strips. The gold standard, non-invasive option for treating and improving caesarean scars. Lara is incredibly passionate about caesarean recovery and removing the stigma association with caesareans. You can purchase myscar direct from the website www.myscar.co.nz and follow along on socials here. Lara also shares about her personal experience with her caesarean, the feelings of disappointment following her caesarean and what she took from this experience.

Lara and I also chat about the challenges of juggling three kids under 5, balancing work & life, what sleep looks like in her home and of course... poo explosion story!

This is a special episode and I am so stoked there are people like Lara out there providing a solution for caesarean mothers!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on apple podcasts and follow along on socials @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

Hello Mumma's (and Dad's), I am back with episode 3!

In episode 3 Caylin shares her experience with mental health struggles following the birth of her first baby, Claire. Caylin had severe postpartum anxiety in her fourth trimester, a baby that wouldn't sleep and had to parent solo for many weeks due to the nature of her husbands career. Caylin talks us through this challenging time, her diagnosis and recovery.

Caylin's hope is that by sharing her experience, it will shed a light on what is many parents reality in the fourth trimester and that it can incredibly hard but you are not alone and there is help out there.

I am so thankful for Caylin sharing her experience and shedding light on what was a very dark time for her in her motherhood journey. Caylin has taken her experience and will be launching a holistic sleep support business mid 2023 called @pepiandparent. Using her psychology background together with sleep training experience, Caylin will specialise in working with families experiencing postnatal mental health struggles, solo parents and those unable to afford a sleep consultant by offering a self-referral/referral process. If you would like to find out more or get in touch you can contact Caylin here.

Caylin is now in a place where she is really enjoying her motherhood journey and her and Claire are best buds! They have recently enjoyed a family holiday to Bali (incoming poo explosion story) and have started solids which Claire is loving.

Due to the nature of the content covered in this episode, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or, find this content triggering, you can text or call 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counsellor or you can call Lifeline on 0800 543 354 or text 4357.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on apple podcasts and subscribe so you don't miss any upcoming episodes! Please also follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

In the 2nd episode I get to speak with the lovely Anna Barlow about her motherhood journey to date. Anna is a mum of two, Hugo who is 2 years old and Lucia who is 5 months old. We cover everything from her fourth trimester, breastfeeding struggles and success, transitioning from 1 to 2, recovery from birth, toddler biting, most and least enjoyable season of motherhood to date, sleep training, running a growing business and so much more.

Anna is the owner of Momstore, an online store of eco-conscious essentials for both Mother and Babe. Everything you need and nothing you don't, a one stop shop for all your needs. You can find the Momstore at:

• https://www.momstore.co.nz/

• or on Instagram @momstorenz

I love this chat with Anna, she is a breath of fresh air and is very open about her motherhood journey in that it isn't always easy and being a Mum can be really hard work. There are plenty of laughs and poo explosion stories as always and I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review this episode if you enjoyed it. Your feedback is so important! Please also follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes.

Welcome to Bump to Mum! Emma will introduce herself to you, share a bit about what to expect with upcoming episodes and also where she is at in her motherhood journey at the moment.

I am so excited to be bringing this podcast to you and hope that it will give you a sense of community, laughter, answers and comfort in your own motherhood journey.

Link to my birth story here - https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/emma-louie-low-bmi-no-ovulation-spontaneous-pregnancy/id1439450873?i=1000577975671

Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review! Your feedback is so important as I want this to be as helpful & relevant to each listener as it can be.

Hello Mama's!

This is a special one, Co- Founder of Viva La Vulva, Stevie has kept a relatively low profile during her career but agreed to speak with me about all things motherhood and business. In this chat we cover:

• her inspiration to start a business focused on postpartum care
• her own pregnancy and postpartum journey
• breastfeeding
• sleep and how co-sleeping works for her family
• the mental load of motherhood
• being overstimulated
• what the work and motherhood juggle looks like for her and what time she took off when her daughter Sunny was born
• what her favourite Viva La Vulva products are and how they can be used during postpartum recovery and beyond
• weaning & the emotions that come in postpartum

Stevie is so honest, relatable and inspiring and I am personally very grateful to have products like the Viva La Vulva range on the market to support women in their postpartum journey and normalise what it is like to give birth.

If you would like to check out the full range of products you can find them here https://www.vivalavulva.co.nz/products. Stevie & the Viva La Vulva team have also kindly shared a discount code for you to use, BUMPTOMUM will get you 15% off the range so happy shopping Mama's!

If you enjoyed this episode and enjoy tuning into Bump to Mum I would be so grateful if you could follow this link - https://www.nzpodcastawards.com/nominate and nominate Bump to Mum for the People's Choice Award in the 2023 NZ Podcast Awards. I love bringing this podcast to you so your support is very appreciated.

Speak soon Mama's!

• her journey to pregnancy
• finding out she was pregnant with twins and how that pregnancy was for her
• the birth of her boys which ended in an emergency caesarean
• recovery from birth and the early fourth trimester days
• what life is like as a Mama to twins - sleep, getting out of the house, routine, feeding, highs and lows
• her feeding journey - pumping and mixed feeding
• returning to high performance sport - what recovery has looked like for her and how she has now got to a point where she is back training with the Blackstick squad to qualify for the 2024 Olympics
• nutrition tips for Mama's and how she has found the solids journey with the boys

Hello Mama's

Anyone else wondering how it's October already?! You are going to love this chat. When Claire and I spoke about recording this episode her initial reaction was that she felt she hadn't had any real struggles in motherhood so it wouldn't be very interesting for anyone to listen to as she has had a really positive journey with Gia but that is exactly why I said we should chat! It is equally as important to share a really positive motherhood journey as it is the struggles in other journeys.

Claire shares with us her pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey with her baby girl, Gia who is now 8 months old. In this chat we cover:

• Claire's pregnancy & birth
• dealing with birth trauma for both Claire and her husband and how they worked through this and how it has changed her perspective on future births
• adjusting to motherhood and learning to slowdown
• Claire's breastfeeding journey
• hardest and most enjoyable season of motherhood
• starting solids
• sleep training
• plans for returning to work & so much more!

This chat was so much fun to record and just a great Mum chat! Claire is so sweet and I loved hearing her share journey with Gia and how content and happy she is in her new chapter of life as a Mama.

If you enjoy this chat, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and follow a long on @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes as well as some general Mama chat.

Enjoy!

• what support and guidance Renee offers families
• her approach to parenting
• the mental load of parenting
• how do we regulate our emotions?
• overstimulated/touched out - how can we still show up for our children?
• how do we set limits with our children?
• when it all feels like chaos, kids behaviours are making you want to snap - what should we do & how do we put measures in place to avoid this?
• often toddlers get a bad wrap when it comes to having big emotions & feelings, tantrums - why does this happen & what can we do as parents to help them understand these feelings?
• how do we draw the line between allowing our children to feel the emotions they have but not set the tone and run the household?
• what are some daily practices you would suggest for families?
• how do we prepare and talk to our children about new siblings?

• Book recommendation from Renee , Fair Play- https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44071899
• Get in touch with Renee to purchase resources for a peaceful place - https://www.littlepeoplebigemotions.co.nz/
• Renee's IG - https://www.instagram.com/_littlepeoplebigemotions/

Welcome back to season 3! I am very excited to share this season of the podcast with you which includes more great Mama chats as well as informative episodes with experts in their field. To kick things off, I spoke to Olivia who is a Mama to 3 under 5; Gus, Greta and Hugo. Olivia takes us through her pregnancy with Hugo where at her antenatal scan they discovered Hugo was missing the lower half of his left arm. Olivia shares with us her journey through pregnancy which involved fetal medicine and genetic testing, her birth and her families experience raising a child with a limb difference. We also talk through:

• how her family explain & talk to their older children about Hugo's disability
• Olivia and her husbands personal journey of coming to terms with Hugo's disability
• what life looks for Hugo now and plans for the future
• hardest and most enjoyable season of motherhood
• Olivia's advice for other families

Olivia really wanted to share her experience as she found it personally very isolating and scary and her hope is that her story will provide comfort for other families experiencing something similar. Olivia is happy for you to connect with her if you want to chat more, her IG is @livvyandluna.I hope you enjoy this conversation, if you do please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Instagram @bumptomum.podcast for updates on future episodes and fun chat.

Chat soon Mama's!

• sleep journey
• feeding journey
• most challenging season
• what I would have done differently and the same
• piece of advice or lesson learnt to share with new Mum me
• navigating grief
• how we celebrated Louie's first birthday
• & much much more!

• Wishbone Flip here.